Latest releases
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1,373 releases
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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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Gerard Herdman Selected To Contest the Black Mountain DEA in West Belfast for Aontú
Aontú has selected Gerard Herdman, a West Belfast plumbing tutor, as its candidate for the Black Mountain district electoral area ahead of the upcoming local elections. Herdman says the Stormont parties have left West Belfast behind and calls for MLAs to lose salaries if they fail to work, and for…
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Aontú selects Gerard Herdman as Black Mountain local election candidate Original release: Gerard Herdman Selected To Contest the Black Mountain DEA in West Belfast for Aontú (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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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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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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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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Housing Executive Strikers Determined To Win Fair Pay Rise
People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin says party members joined Housing Executive maintenance workers on picket lines in Derry as their strike resumed, and calls on NIHE and employers to agree cost of living pay rises. He warns of escalation if parties able to influence NIHE management do…
Economy and employment Housing Issue: NI Housing Executive maintenance workers strike resumes over pay Original release: Housing Executive Strikers Determined To Win Fair Pay Rise (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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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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2023: Socialism Is The Answer To A World In Crisis
People Before Profit's New Year message looks back at 2022, arguing that inflation, climate inaction, reproductive rights, the war in Ukraine and Irish housing and health crises show capitalism is failing, and calls for Ireland's first left-wing government.
Economy and employment International affairs Original release: 2023: Socialism Is The Answer To A World In Crisis (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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‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse
SDLP Representative for Cusher Emmajayne McKernan urges people experiencing domestic abuse to seek support over the festive period, after a meeting with Women's Aid. She directs people to Armagh Down Women's Aid for confidential help.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: ‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald, speaking after Leo Varadkar's election as Taoiseach, says the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green coalition has failed, citing the housing emergency, hospital waiting lists and foodbank reliance.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following nomination of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says the Taoiseach nomination of Leo Varadkar will not be supported, citing housing, healthcare and rent rises under Fine Gael and arguing the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government has failed people.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following nomination of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people
Alliance representatives express concern at planned Education Authority cuts to youth services, which could close LGBTQ youth groups. Connie Egan MLA says she has written to the EA seeking Section 75 protections in funding applications, while Andrew Muir MLA calls for the decision to be reversed.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Authority cuts to youth services and LGBTQ youth groups Original release: Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people (opens in a new tab)
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Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement
Alliance Communities Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for the NI Act to be updated to remove designation in the Assembly, following the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Annual Statement. She advocates a weighted majority system to replace the current designation system.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: NIHRC Annual Statement 2022 on equality law and Assembly designation Original release: Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement (opens in a new tab)
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Risk of homelessness exacerbated by the combination of a number of different pressures, including the lack of an Executive, says Cllr Donnelly
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly warns that combined pressures, including rising energy prices and the lack of a Stormont Executive, will increase homelessness risk. He says the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Brexit Committee unanimously backed Alliance requests on public information…
Housing Local government Original release: Risk of homelessness exacerbated by the combination of a number of different pressures, including the lack of an Executive, says Cllr Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín writes to Speaker over ‘unacceptable comments’
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says UUP leader Doug Beattie’s remarks about women on the Assembly floor were totally unacceptable and fell below expected standards, and she has written to the Speaker urging the incident be formally acknowledged.
Disability and equality Issue: Doug Beattie comments on women in Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín writes to Speaker over ‘unacceptable comments’ (opens in a new tab)