Latest releases
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2,853 releases
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Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP challenges the Government's proposed Personal Independence Payment changes, saying they will cause anxiety, fail to account for fluctuating mental health needs, and calls on the Government to rethink them and give assurances to those affected.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Community Meeting To Stop Evictions
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll MLA is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday 19 March at the Cultúrlann on the Falls Road about Housing Executive evictions in west Belfast. He says tighter succession rules since September 2024 have led to a wave of evictions, including of people with…
Housing Issue: Housing Executive succession policy evictions in west Belfast Original release: Belfast Community Meeting To Stop Evictions (opens in a new tab)
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‘Planned cuts to welfare are an attack on the most vulnerable’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew condemns expected UK Labour government cuts of billions of pounds to welfare support for sick and disabled people, calling them cynical and disgraceful. He calls on the Communities Minister to tell London the party opposes the measures, which he says will…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Reported £5 billion welfare budget cuts by British Labour government Original release: ‘Planned cuts to welfare are an attack on the most vulnerable’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Government Must Review Benefits Decisions - Swann
UUP MP Robin Swann calls on the Labour Government to review the welfare decisions it announced today, arguing that its changes to disability benefits have caused confusion and fear among vulnerable people. He urges that any legislation avoid harming those with daily challenges.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Labour Government welfare reforms announcement March 2025 Original release: Government Must Review Benefits Decisions - Swann (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government's benefits move cruel and cowardly, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls the UK Government's proposed disability benefit changes cruel and cowardly, warning they would push more people into hardship, and urges it to listen to those affected. Alliance's Sian Mulholland says Alliance will call on the Communities Minister to outline…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: UK Government's benefits move cruel and cowardly, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood says Labour Government must stop balancing the books on backs of vulnerable people
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood accuses the UK Government of cutting welfare to balance the books, opposing proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility and support for those unable to work. She says the measures would push disabled people into hardship and add pressure on health and…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Eastwood says Labour Government must stop balancing the books on backs of vulnerable people (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on bilingual Gaeltacht Quarter road signage welcome – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes progress on a pilot scheme for bilingual road signs in west Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter, after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said work is advancing. She also praises the minister's engagement with Conradh na Gaeilge on the signage.
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Gaeltacht Quarter bilingual road signage pilot scheme progress Original release: Progress on bilingual Gaeltacht Quarter road signage welcome – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Every Labour Election Pledge A Lie
People Before Profit's Gerry Harkin accuses Labour of betraying its Westminster election pledges, citing cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits and its stance on refugees and defence spending. He calls on Stormont parties to resist Westminster policies rather than facilitate them.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Every Labour Election Pledge A Lie (opens in a new tab)
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Crucial we don’t lose momentum on tackling gender-based violence, says Egan
Alliance's Connie Egan MLA, Violence Against Women and Girls spokesperson, urges continued progress on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework and Action Plan after a 16-year-olds attitudes report found many young people would not report abuse for fear of disbelief.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls report on 16-year-olds' experiences and attitudes Original release: Crucial we don’t lose momentum on tackling gender-based violence, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Devlin: Endometriosis Awareness Month should break taboos around women's health
SDLP Mournes councillor Laura Devlin calls for a funded Women’s Health Strategy, saying March’s Endometriosis Awareness Month should be used to break taboos around menstrual health and press the Health Minister to prioritise and fund the strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Endometriosis Awareness Month women’s health strategy call Original release: Devlin: Endometriosis Awareness Month should break taboos around women's health (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew calls out DUP Communities Minister for refusal to meet Conradh na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, criticises Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for refusing to meet Conradh na Gaeilge during Seachtain na Gaeilge. He calls on the Minister to meet Irish language organisations and help co-design and deliver language strategies.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister refusal to meet Conradh na Gaeilge Original release: Gildernew calls out DUP Communities Minister for refusal to meet Conradh na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Respite provision failing families in need – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says health trusts across Northern Ireland lack a clear pathway for respite care, with over 800 unallocated cases and 500 in the South Eastern Trust. She calls for urgent action to cut waiting lists and deliver the respite beds promised by the £13 million investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight ‘I am not OK’ documentary on respite care Original release: Respite provision failing families in need – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Discrimination case should serve as a wakeup call for PSNI – Kelly
Sinn Féin Policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly says a discrimination case brought by four Catholic PSNI officers should serve as a wake-up call and catalyst for change. He points to falling Catholic applicant percentages, retention problems and the end of 50-50 recruitment.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: PSNI discrimination case brought by Catholic officers Original release: Discrimination case should serve as a wakeup call for PSNI – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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Women in agriculture must be supported – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomes cross-party Assembly backing for a motion on women's contribution to agriculture, saying it urges the Agriculture Minister to boost female participation and leadership in the industry. She calls for help for women inheriting farms, owning land and running…
Agriculture and rural affairs Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on women's role in agriculture Original release: Women in agriculture must be supported – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Pan-UK approach to tackle drugs needed : Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell urges the UK Government to work with devolved administrations on a joined-up, pan-UK drugs strategy, prioritising prevention and reviewing enforcement, after raising the issue at Justice Questions in the Commons.
Justice and policing Health Original release: Pan-UK approach to tackle drugs needed : Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan concerned by Ambulance Handover waiting times
Sinn Féin Health Committee Chair Phillip McGuigan, North Antrim MLA, expresses concern at an Audit Office report on ambulance handovers, calling on the Health Department to act on its recommendations and review ambulance workforce and hospital and social care capacity.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: McGuigan concerned by Ambulance Handover waiting times (opens in a new tab)
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End the self-sabotage of our Health Service: Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds, MLA for Upper Bann, calls the Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays devastating and urges an end to what she calls self-sabotage in the health system. She says she has pressed the Health Minister for months to name a senior lead with a dedicated team…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: End the self-sabotage of our Health Service: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Patients will continue to suffer without action to fix crisis in ambulance service, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Department of Health must take definitive action on the ambulance service crisis, citing an NIAO review that found handover delays cost NIAS £50 million and could have harmed over 3,800 patients. He criticises repeated DoH strategies that…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: Patients will continue to suffer without action to fix crisis in ambulance service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Audit Office report underlines ambulances crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says an Audit Office report showing a dramatic rise in ambulance handover times – over 11,000 took more than three hours in 2023/24 – highlights a crisis and calls for fundamental change, welcoming the Health Minister’s willingness to discuss the
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: McGrath: Audit Office report underlines ambulances crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna pushes for increase in maternity pay
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she has tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill proposing that statutory maternity pay be raised to the real living wage. The party also calls on the UK government to support small firms adapting to the reforms and urges the Executive to match the…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Employment Rights Bill returns to the Commons Original release: Hanna pushes for increase in maternity pay (opens in a new tab)