Latest releases
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3,340 releases
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Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew McMurray welcome the designation of seven new bathing waters in Northern Ireland, including Brompton Bay, Donaghadee and Warrenpoint. Egan urges NI Water to progress wastewater treatment upgrades and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to act.
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new bathing waters designated in Northern Ireland Original release: Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Waiting lists plan must show results
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to publish monthly reports on his £50m plan to tackle waiting lists, but says results must be shown. He raises concerns about reliance on outside providers, repurposing staff, upfront payment for…
Health Issue: Health Minister's investment plan to cut waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Waiting lists plan must show results (opens in a new tab)
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TUV expose Stormont’s extreme trans policy on female only spaces, names and pronouns
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Assembly's Transgender Policy lets biological males use female facilities and allows visitor records to reflect self-declared names and gender, and calls for answers on who approved it and for the guidance to be withdrawn.
Disability and equality Issue: Stormont Assembly Transgender Policy on facilities and visitor records Original release: TUV expose Stormont’s extreme trans policy on female only spaces, names and pronouns (opens in a new tab)
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Serious questions arise from planned Stormont event
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Rainbow Project's planned 12 May event at Stormont, which imposes an Events Code of Conduct on pronouns and toilet access, raises serious issues and has tabled questions to the Assembly Commission.
Disability and equality Issue: Rainbow Project Stormont event code of conduct on 12 May Original release: Serious questions arise from planned Stormont event (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Adam Gannon challenges Executive parties to press for restoring emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital, saying none has yet acted on it. He says the SDLP will keep raising the unfairness of long emergency journeys for rural…
Health Issue: Removal of emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital Original release: Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Football Association's new eligibility criteria for women's football in England and urges the same protection for women in Northern Ireland without delay. She says the Supreme Court ruling should guide other bodies across the UK, and that she and a fellow DUP MLA…
Disability and equality Issue: FA eligibility criteria for women's football in England Original release: Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules (opens in a new tab)
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Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme has been poorly publicised in Great Britain, citing 178 applications from England, Scotland and Wales against 3,934 from Northern Ireland. He calls on the Executive Office to step up outreach before…
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme applications low in Great Britain Original release: Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome the National Trust's decision not to consider a bid for land at Thomas's Quarry for the Mournes Gondola project, citing environmental damage from recent fires and economic viability concerns.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA says the absence of nurses in some special schools is unacceptable, and calls for nursing to be reinstated in every special school that needs it, as soon as possible.
Education Health Issue: Nursing provision removal from special schools review Original release: Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair
Alliance's agriculture and environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA's launch of a consultation on reviewing the 2019 Nutrients Action Programme and the proposed programme covering 2026 to 2029.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs risk having no place in September and urges a different method for allocating school places that is suitable, reduces family stress and provides early support. He welcomes the Education Authority’s remarks to the Education C
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority remarks on SEN placement approach Original release: New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education and Health departments to coordinate more closely on support for children with special educational needs, citing rising identification and a shortage of allied health professionals. He says neither the Education Department nor the Education Authority…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department for Infrastructure cited the lack of signatures on his petition against dual-language signage at Grand Central as justification for claiming the decision was not controversial. He calls on every Unionist MLA to explain why they did not support the…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Grand Central Irish signage court hearing and petition signatures Original release: Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Councillor Debbie Coyle
Sinn Féin councillor Debbie Coyle says statements issued by Fermanagh and Omagh council officials on the UK Supreme Court ruling were not authorised by elected councillors. She says the party will raise it at the next council meeting and urges public bodies to await Equality and Human Rights…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fermanagh and Omagh council officials' comments on UK Supreme Court ruling Original release: Statement from Councillor Debbie Coyle (opens in a new tab)
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EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban
DUP Peer Lord Dodds warns that the proposed generational smoking ban cannot apply in Northern Ireland because the EU Tobacco Products Directive still governs it under the Windsor Framework. He calls on the Government to clarify whether it will override the Directive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Generational smoking ban and EU Tobacco Products Directive in Northern Ireland Original release: EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit support the Counter Demo
People Before Profit says it will join UNITED AGAINST RACISM's counter-demonstrations against far-right groups marching on Remigration in Dublin, Belfast and Derry this weekend, arguing that housing and public service failures are a government problem, not a migration one.
Disability and equality Housing Issue: United Against Racism counter-demonstrations against far-right Remigration march Original release: People Before Profit support the Counter Demo (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome National Trust report on Donard recovery
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray and Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome a National Trust report on the condition and recovery of upland habitats around Slieve Donard, citing pressures from recreation, overgrazing and wildfires. McMurray commends the Trust's post-2021 fire recovery work.
Environment and climate Issue: National Trust report on Slieve Donard habitat recovery Original release: Alliance representatives welcome National Trust report on Donard recovery (opens in a new tab)
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Young condemns racist attack in Newry
Alliance Councillor Helena Young condemns a racist attack in Newry on international doctors and their families at a park on 12 April, saying those responsible should be ashamed and the abuse must stop immediately.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attack on international doctors in Newry park Original release: Young condemns racist attack in Newry (opens in a new tab)
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Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan
UUP MLA Robbie Butler calls for a co-designed approach to wildfire risk on upland and designated land, arguing that unmanaged gorse rather than sheep grazing is the main danger to the environment and rural safety. He cites talks with the National Sheep Association and repeated fires, and urges…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan (opens in a new tab)
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Deeply concerning so many SEN children remain without a school place ahead of new academic year, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says it is deeply concerning that around 400 children with SEN statements still lack a school place before September, citing Education Minister Paul Givan's confirmation. She calls for delivery of the SEN reform plan's high-level actions and…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Around 400 SEN pupils without school places ahead of September Original release: Deeply concerning so many SEN children remain without a school place ahead of new academic year, says Guy (opens in a new tab)