Latest releases
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2,367 releases
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Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed
DUP East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes Communities Minister Gordon Lyons's commitment to reform the Housing Executive points system for intimidated applicants. She urges swift reforms so housing is allocated on genuine need rather than intimidation points, which she says criminals can abuse.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Minister's special educational needs transformation plan must be fully funded, noting the Executive has earmarked no money for it in its latest budget. She welcomes proposals including a child development passport.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded (opens in a new tab)
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Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting
DUP Justice Spokesperson Joanne Bunting MLA asks Justice Minister Naomi Long how she will keep Hydebank Wood women's prison exclusively for biologically female prisoners after a High Court ruling allowed a transfer from Maghaberry. She says the Minister must set out a plan and warns that admitting…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: High Court ruling on transfer of prisoner to Hydebank Wood Original release: Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting (opens in a new tab)
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Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the education minister’s announcement on overhauling provision for children with special educational needs, urging the minister to promptly release a SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan and to adopt a ‘SEN first’ placement policy.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a reform agenda and five-year delivery plan for special educational needs support, moving away from one-to-one adult support toward more flexible school-led models. He also plans a bespoke early-years programme for toddlers aged two and three, including…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs (opens in a new tab)
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Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the Education Minister's statement on SEN transformation offered only empty words, with no finalised action plan, costings or success measures. They call for a clear plan and outcome framework.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin and SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter call for urgent action on violence against women and girls, citing 25 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. Their Opposition Day motions cover new victim-protection laws, online abuse, RSE and gender-based budgeting.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motions on violence against women and girls Original release: SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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Gregory Campbell MP Welcomes Ulster University’s Decision to Revise…
DUP MP Gregory Campbell welcomes Ulster University's decision to revise promotional imagery for its new sports science degree in Derry, after he raised concerns that the original images were exclusive. He urges the university to consider diverse backgrounds in future marketing.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Ulster University revising sports science course promotional imagery Original release: Gregory Campbell MP Welcomes Ulster University’s Decision to Revise… (opens in a new tab)
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Egan welcomes vital funding for ending violence against women and girls, stating it must be co-ordinated effectively.
Alliance spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the Executive Office's launch of the £2 million Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Local Change Fund, administered through councils. She says the funding must be co-ordinated across areas and agencies to avoid a siloed approach and to target…
Justice and policing Local government Issue: Executive Office launch of EVAWG Local Change Fund Original release: Egan welcomes vital funding for ending violence against women and girls, stating it must be co-ordinated effectively. (opens in a new tab)
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Racist signs appalling, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson condemns racist signs tied to railings outside a Lurgan school as appalling and urges anyone with information to contact police. PSNI is investigating the incident on Pollock Drive as a hate crime.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist signs outside Lurgan school on Pollock Drive Original release: Racist signs appalling, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan questions delay to Troubles pension payments
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says Assembly answers show slow progress on the Troubles victims' disability payment scheme, with under a quarter of applications decided. He calls on the Executive to work with the Payment Board to conclude the process quickly.
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disability Payment scheme progress figures Assembly answer Original release: McCrossan questions delay to Troubles pension payments (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes progress on Newry Southern Relief Road
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Boylan welcomes progress on Newry Southern Relief Road (opens in a new tab)
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Actions, not words, required after racial equality review, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw calls on the First and deputy First Minister to urgently set out actions to address deficiencies in the outgoing Racial Equality Strategy, after a review found no clear action plan or budget and no response from them.
Disability and equality Issue: Racial Equality Strategy review findings Original release: Actions, not words, required after racial equality review, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Mid Ulster council needs to wise up when it comes to signage
TUV spokesman Glenn Moore calls for urgent reform of Mid Ulster Council's policy of erecting Irish-language signs after a single resident's request, arguing there is little demand and significant opposition, and urging the council to spend ratepayers' money on local priorities instead.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Mid Ulster council needs to wise up when it comes to signage (opens in a new tab)
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Ending violence against women and girls must be a top priority for the Government across the UK, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood urges the Westminster Government to tackle violence against women and girls UK-wide ahead of a Commons debate, citing online abuse, radicalisation and grooming, and noting social media regulation is reserved to Westminster.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: House of Commons debate on violence against women and girls Original release: Ending violence against women and girls must be a top priority for the Government across the UK, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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2025: A year to advance the Republican vision for Ireland’s future – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says the party will push for a united Ireland in 2025, calling on the incoming government to publish a green paper on Irish Unity, appoint a Minister for Reunification and set up a Citizens' Assembly on Unity.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: 2025: A year to advance the Republican vision for Ireland’s future – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Let's make our roads safer
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who chairs the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, calls for more action on road safety in 2025 after the number of road deaths in Northern Ireland in 2024. She urges DfI to fund and implement the road safety strategy to 2030, asks PSNI to keep enforcing laws on speeding…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Let's make our roads safer (opens in a new tab)
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Concerns about policy on transgender prisons raised in September – but ignored
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department of Justice has conceded a legal challenge by a transgender prisoner to be held in Hydebank Wood, which he claims shows the Executive lacks a policy on housing such prisoners. He argues the situation threatens female safety and questions the purpose of a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Department of Justice concession on Hydebank Wood transfer challenge Original release: Concerns about policy on transgender prisons raised in September – but ignored (opens in a new tab)
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‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has asked to meet the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urge the immediate restoration of funding for the NI Rural Women’s Network, whose grant was suspended over a small HMRC matter, stressing the need to protect rural women’s services.
Disability and equality Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Funding suspension for NI Rural Women’s Network Original release: ‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she met Home Office Minister Jess Phillips to urge a comprehensive UK-wide strategy on violence against women and girls, citing the murders of Natalie McNally and Karen Cummings and calling for tougher sentencing and better victim support.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -… (opens in a new tab)