Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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O’Neill expresses condolences on death of Professor Eileen Evason
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill expresses condolences on the death of Professor Eileen Evason, praising her work protecting vulnerable people, advising the Executive on welfare supports and campaigning on rights and women's issues.
Social security and welfare Original release: O’Neill expresses condolences on death of Professor Eileen Evason (opens in a new tab)
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Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler, who speaks on education for the party, condemns proposed £110m cuts to Department of Education services as unconscionable. He warns they would hit vulnerable children and non-statutory services, and calls on the Secretary of State to reverse the cuts while Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £110m Department of Education budget cuts Original release: Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Chinese New Year
South Belfast MLA and Chair of the All Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities Kate Nicholl wishes people a happy Chinese New Year, marking the Year of the Rabbit and praising Belfast's Chinese community. She calls for joint working between government and stakeholders to secure racial equality…
Disability and equality Original release: Nicholl marks Chinese New Year (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood expresses alarm at reports of landlords claiming energy vouchers
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP expresses alarm that landlords are claiming £600 energy support payment vouchers intended for tenants. He says he has contacted the Post Office about assistance for affected tenants and whether landlords can be prevented from claiming the money.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Landlords claiming £600 energy support payment vouchers intended for tenants Original release: Eastwood expresses alarm at reports of landlords claiming energy vouchers (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Power NI addressing issues around £600 energy payment
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says Power NI is working to fix a technical problem linking its systems with the Post Office that is stopping some customers redeeming their £600 energy support voucher. She says she will keep liaising with the company until the issues are resolved.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Power NI £600 energy support payment voucher technical issue Original release: McLaughlin: Power NI addressing issues around £600 energy payment (opens in a new tab)
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Committee hears benefits of Increasing tax-free childcare allowance
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Chancellor to increase the Tax Free Childcare Allowance, arguing that childcare costs in Northern Ireland, above the UK average, prevent people from working. She cites evidence heard by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on paramilitary activity and organised…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence on paramilitary activity and organised crime Original release: Committee hears benefits of Increasing tax-free childcare allowance (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics
Green Party councillor Rachel Woods reacts to PSNI figures showing a rise in domestic abuse calls over Christmas, with 3,604 calls logged and a 10% increase on Christmas Day. She calls for Northern Ireland to adopt a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, noting it is the sole UK region…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI figures on domestic abuse calls over Christmas 2022 Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Smyth welcomes Westminster intervention to block Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill
TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth welcomes the UK Government's plan to lay a Section 35 order blocking Scotland's Gender Reform Bill, arguing it protects women and girls and accusing Alliance's Stephen Farry and Eóin Tennyson of hypocrisy.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Section 35 order to block Scotland's Gender Reform Bill Original release: Smyth welcomes Westminster intervention to block Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party welcomes Audit Office intervention in fuel poverty hardship fund
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn welcomes the Audit Office's decision to investigate Belfast City Council's use of community groups to distribute fuel poverty hardship fund vouchers. He says the Greens had warned about capacity risks and called for a review of those groups, and criticises the…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Audit Office request for Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund independent review Original release: Green Party welcomes Audit Office intervention in fuel poverty hardship fund (opens in a new tab)
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Retained EU Law Bill threatens gender equality in the workplace, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, due at its remaining Commons stages, threatens workplace protections such as holiday pay, maternity leave and equal pay, and risks women's rights. She says the party will oppose it.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill Commons stages Original release: Retained EU Law Bill threatens gender equality in the workplace, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Audit Office requests copy of report on funding awards after Alliance raises concerns about roll-out of Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund
Alliance's Belfast City Councillor Sam Nelson welcomes the Audit Office's request for a copy of an independent review into Belfast City Council's use of Local Strategic Partners for the Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund and urges it to be completed quickly.
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Audit Office request for Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund independent review Original release: Audit Office requests copy of report on funding awards after Alliance raises concerns about roll-out of Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Martin Luther King Day and says his fight against racial inequality is still just as relevant today
Alliance Spokesperson for Migration Kate Nicholl MLA marks Martin Luther King Day, saying his fight against racial inequality remains as relevant today. She cites the 2022 killing of Keenan Anderson by Los Angeles police and says Black communities face violence from both police and white…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: Nicholl marks Martin Luther King Day and says his fight against racial inequality is still just as relevant today (opens in a new tab)
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Energy Support Payment
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland publishes information on the £600 energy support payment, explaining it combines the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the Alternative Fuel Payment and is automatic for domestic meter customers. It also sets out how direct debit, credit and prepay customers receive…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £600 energy support payment scheme details for Northern Ireland households Original release: Energy Support Payment (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Hub will be transformative for LGBT+ community
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite says a proposed LGBT+ hub in Belfast would be transformative for the city's LGBT+ community after the council launched a public consultation on it. He encourages the public to respond to the consultation.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council LGBT+ hub public consultation launch Original release: de Faoite: Hub will be transformative for LGBT+ community (opens in a new tab)
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Steps need to be taken to prevent 'low income' crisis developing, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for steps to stop the cost of living crisis turning into a longer low-income crisis, after meeting the former chair of an advisory panel that reviewed Department for Communities welfare mitigation measures. She says the panel's recommendations could…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Welfare mitigations advisory panel review recommendations Original release: Steps need to be taken to prevent 'low income' crisis developing, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says Northern Ireland's childcare system is broken and threatening working mothers' incomes amid the cost of living crisis. She calls for restoring the Assembly and delivering a fully costed Early Learning and Childcare Strategy urgently, and urges the DUP to end its…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Tory government savings in reduced energy support should be given to restored Executive – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says savings from the British government's reduced energy support for households in Northern Ireland should go to a restored Executive to fund home insulation and modifications that permanently cut energy bills. She calls the cut cruel and says Sinn Féin is ready to…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: British government reduction in Northern Ireland energy support from January 2023 Original release: Tory government savings in reduced energy support should be given to restored Executive – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence
First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill invites MLAs of all parties to attend a silent vigil at the front of Parliament Buildings at 2 pm on Thursday 5 January, to honour Natalie McNally – who was murdered while pregnant – and all victims of gender‑based violence.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Natalie McNally murder vigil Original release: O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence (opens in a new tab)
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TUV warns against extension of “Gender Recognition” legislation to Northern Ireland
TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth criticises Alliance MP Stephen Farry for welcoming Scotland's Gender Recognition Reform Bill and wanting it extended to Northern Ireland. She claims the bill risks women's safe spaces, allows sex offenders to apply for recognition, and should be repealed.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Scotland Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill passed Original release: TUV warns against extension of “Gender Recognition” legislation to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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£600 energy payment confirmation relief to people struggling to pay bills – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says confirmation that the £600 energy payment will arrive from January as a single payment will ease pressure on households struggling with heating and power bills. She calls for urgent clarity on voucher arrangements for prepaid meter customers and blames DUP and…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British Government confirmation of £600 energy payment timing from January Original release: £600 energy payment confirmation relief to people struggling to pay bills – Archibald (opens in a new tab)