Latest releases
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1,879 releases
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Almost 15,000 waiting for autism assessment
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, Upper Bann, says a Health Minister response shows almost 15,000 people are awaiting autism assessment, including over 11,000 children with waits up to four and a half years. She calls the waits unacceptable and urges the appointment of a Lead for Adult Autism and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister response on autism assessment waiting lists Original release: Almost 15,000 waiting for autism assessment (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns ‘sickening’ racist graffiti
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns racist graffiti daubed on a home in Finaghy, South Belfast, calling it a despicable attempt to intimidate and stir up hate. She urges political representatives to stand together against it and asks anyone with information to come forward as PSNI investigates…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Finaghy graffiti on South Belfast home threatening resident who spoke out Original release: Hargey condemns ‘sickening’ racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl condemns those behind 'sinister' graffiti which appeared on South Belfast home
Alliance South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl condemns the 'sinister' graffiti on a home in Finaghy, calling it a threat to a local person who spoke out. She reports the graffiti to the PSNI, urges anyone with information to contact them, and calls on all parties to condemn racism together.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Finaghy graffiti on South Belfast home threatening resident who spoke out Original release: Nicholl condemns those behind 'sinister' graffiti which appeared on South Belfast home (opens in a new tab)
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Commissioning adult ADHD services in NI of vital important, says McReynolds, after launching petition
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds calls on the Department of Health to commission adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland and to develop a comprehensive ADHD strategy, after launching a public petition to be presented to the Assembly’s Speaker.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Petition to commission adult ADHD services in NI Original release: Commissioning adult ADHD services in NI of vital important, says McReynolds, after launching petition (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Easter Rising Commemoration
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Easter Rising Commemoration (opens in a new tab)
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No Congestion Charges – Free Public Transport
People Before Profit opposes congestion charges, which it says would create class barriers to city centres, and calls for free, frequent public transport in urban centres instead. It responds to a proposal by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan that councils prepare traffic plans by 2026 and consider…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Eamon Ryan congestion charges proposal Original release: No Congestion Charges – Free Public Transport (opens in a new tab)
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Rates refund for Victoria Square apartments welcomed
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the decision that owners of Victoria Square apartments will no longer be liable for rates, with refunds for rates paid since 2019. She calls for refunds to be processed quickly and for the wider problems facing owners to be resolved.
Public finance and taxation Local government Issue: Victoria Square apartments rates liability decision and refunds Original release: Rates refund for Victoria Square apartments welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Over £7 million spent on asylum seekers and immigrant support in Northern Ireland in 2022/2023 and 2023/24
TUV leader Jim Allister says Northern Ireland departments received over £7 million for asylum seekers, £4,324,250 in 2022/2023 and £2,863,750 in 2023/24, citing a Stormont answer. He links the figure to Reform UK's policy on stopping small boat crossings.
Immigration Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont departments' asylum seeker funding figures for 2022/23 and 2023/24 Original release: Over £7 million spent on asylum seekers and immigrant support in Northern Ireland in 2022/2023 and 2023/24 (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to improve water quality – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan calls for an urgent review of how water quality is addressed across the north, following an Audit Office report finding no improvement in water quality over almost a decade. She urges full implementation of the report's recommendations by the Department of Agriculture…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes Original release: Urgent action needed to improve water quality – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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Mal O’Hara is likely to be successfully elected to the Seanad
The Green Party welcomes news that party leader Mal O'Hara is likely to be elected unopposed to the Seanad, making him its fifth sitting Senator. O'Hara says a Northern Ireland voice must remain in the Seanad and pledges to amplify voices from across the north.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Mal O'Hara likely unopposed Seanad by-election win Original release: Mal O’Hara is likely to be successfully elected to the Seanad (opens in a new tab)
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Consequences of failing to act to protect our environment are evident, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA responds to the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes, saying Northern Ireland trails the Republic on ecological status. He calls for cross-departmental action and welcomes the DAERA minister's planned…
Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes Original release: Consequences of failing to act to protect our environment are evident, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Delivering more social homes must be a priority – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson urges the Communities Minister to urgently produce a housing supply strategy with a delivery timeline, after briefings showed the social housing stock is shrinking at an unsustainable rate.
Housing Issue: Social housing stock decline briefing to Stormont committee Original release: Delivering more social homes must be a priority – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production
Green Party councillors in Ards and North Down say the council backed Cllr Kendall's proposal that its response to a Department consultation on onshore petroleum should back a moratorium and legislative ban. Cllr Kendall says the Executive has not acted on the ban despite the previous mandate's…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Council backs onshore petroleum moratorium and ban Original release: Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production (opens in a new tab)
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Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery
Alliance South Down MLA Patrick Brown raises alarm over a reported cut of more than 60% to flood management funding in 2023/24 and questions why it was cut so deeply. He also queries how a £100k flood recovery grant scheme for businesses will be rolled out.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI flood management funding cut figures for 2023/24 Original release: Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors welcome the passing of their motion at Belfast City Council calling for gender pay gap reporting, noting no legal obligation exists in Northern Ireland. Councillor Tara Brooks, who proposed it, says the council should lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council gender pay gap reporting motion passes Original release: Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council
Alliance Newry Mourne and Down councillors welcome the council's plans for photovoltaic solar farms on two redundant landfill sites at Aughnagun and Drumnakelly, which they say could bring in about £250,000 a year net. They also claim further Alliance-identified sites could help ease rates pressure.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Newry Mourne and Down council PV farms on Aughnagun and Drumnakelly landfill sites Original release: Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council (opens in a new tab)
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Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to make children with special educational needs a priority, after figures showed over 1,000 such children will need a school place in September. He urges the minister to work with the Health Minister and other parties to overhaul the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 1,000 children with SEN needing school places in September Original release: Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna calls on the Work and Pensions Secretary to make an urgent statement to Parliament on correcting the WASPI women's pension age situation after the Ombudsman found they were owed compensation.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI compensation finding Original release: Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women (opens in a new tab)
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Minister outlines vision for housing ahead of opening new £100m…
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons sets out housing priorities at the Northern Ireland Housing Conference, including more social and affordable homes, and opens the 653-home Black Ridge development in west Belfast.
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Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter challenges Education Minister Paul Givan over whether all schools should be required to teach violence against women and girls, after he said school autonomy should be respected. She calls for uniform mandatory education on the subject across…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's answer on schools teaching violence against women and girls Original release: Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)