Latest releases
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3,341 releases
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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)
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DUP - “A victory for commonsense and biological reality”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the UK Supreme Court judgment, brought by For Women Scotland, holding that legal womanhood rests on biological sex. She says it restores clarity in law and criticises the Alliance Party for avoiding the question.
Disability and equality Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: DUP - “A victory for commonsense and biological reality” (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcome victory for women in Supreme Court judgement
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes the UK Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of sex in equality law, and calls on Stormont to withdraw the Finance Department's Inclusive Language Guide, end Stonewall funding and revisit prison housing policy for men.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: TUV welcome victory for women in Supreme Court judgement (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland cannot be the outlier in Equality Legislation – Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex has major implications for Northern Ireland equality law. He asks the Justice Minister whether women prisoners could sue over transgender prisoner placements, and calls on the Equality Commission to advise…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex definition in law Original release: Northern Ireland cannot be the outlier in Equality Legislation – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for urgency in addressing crisis at Lough Neagh
SDLP AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says the AERA Minister is delaying key water quality plans, including the River Basin Management Plan and Nutrient Action Plan, as blue-green algae appears in Lough Neagh for 2025. He calls for urgent action rather than what he describes as PR-driven responses.
Environment and climate Issue: Blue-green algae confirmed in Lough Neagh for 2025 Original release: McGlone calls for urgency in addressing crisis at Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin's Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an ESRI economic overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it shows an all-island approach to public health would improve care, and calls on the Irish government to resource Irish unity planning and establish a citizens' assembly.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI 'Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland' report launch Original release: ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls for more support for jurors after trials, following a BBC interview in which a former juror described developing PTSD after a traumatic case. She urges the Justice and Health Ministers to work together on continuous support and asks the Justice Minister to review…
Justice and policing Health Issue: Juror PTSD claims after traumatic court case BBC interview Original release: More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew
Colm Gildernew MLA, Sinn Féin’s communities spokesperson, says DUP ministers must be subject to intense, ongoing scrutiny and urged to prioritise equality, inclusion and respect over personal projects. Sinn Féin will examine public‑fund allocations and robustly challenge any breaches.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Original release: Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Platform: We don’t need another quango - Emma Little-Pengelly MLA
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Assembly to remove the legal requirement for a climate change commissioner, arguing the £1million-a-year post duplicates the UK-wide Climate Change Committee and that the money should fund public services instead.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Platform: We don’t need another quango - Emma Little-Pengelly MLA (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Irish Government’s €630,000 allocation to Foras na Gaeilge, saying it eases pressure and will boost language promotion, and urges a fair, sustainable funding model while condemning the DUP’s blockage of further Irish‑government support.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: €630,000 funding for Foras na Gaeilge Original release: Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Council far behind goal of planting one million trees by 2035, says Maghie
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Jenna Maghie says Belfast City Council is around 220,000 trees behind schedule on its One Million Trees initiative, which aims to plant one million native trees by 2035. She calls for the project to be reinvigorated and back on track, pointing to the Belfast Tree…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council One Million Trees initiative progress concerns Original release: Council far behind goal of planting one million trees by 2035, says Maghie (opens in a new tab)
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Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin's Gaeilge, Gaeltachta and Ealaíon spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD welcomes the Dublin government's decision to cover Bord na Gaeilge's historic pension costs, which lets Foras na Gaeilge avoid threatened cuts, but calls for a new funding approach.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Foras na Gaeilge pension costs funding decision and threatened cuts Original release: Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Environment Minister Andrew Muir's written answer on the Mobuoy Road waste site, including monitoring, a criminal case against former operators and remediation planning, and urges public participation in the spring consultation on next steps.
Environment and climate Issue: Mobuoy Road illegal waste site remediation update Original release: Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler
Ulster Unionist spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says farmers must not bear the cost of climate action, calling for codesigned measures after recent changes to create a Climate Commissioner office raised concerns. He says the changes should not pit environmental goals against agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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First and deputy First Minister must speed up work on legislative backlog, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw urges the First and deputy First Minister to speed up clearing the legislative backlog after the Executive Office confirmed fewer than half of the 2024 Legislative Programme Bills have been introduced. She says the Department of Health has produced little…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Executive Office confirmation on 2024 Legislative Programme Bills introduced Original release: First and deputy First Minister must speed up work on legislative backlog, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe
Alliance's Cllr Eddie Roofe expresses dismay at blue-green algae found at Martray Lough near Ballygawley. He urges other parties to back DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's water quality measures, including action on NI Water and farm nutrient runoff, and accuses some councillors and MLAs of opposing them.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Blue-green algae appearance at Martray Lough near Ballygawley Original release: Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe (opens in a new tab)
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Loss of core funding for Northlands has caused shock and worry – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson urges the Health Minister to consider support for the Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre in Derry after losing core Department of Health funding. A delegation including Padraig Delargy MLA will meet staff.
Health Issue: Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre loss of core funding Original release: Loss of core funding for Northlands has caused shock and worry – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes move to reinstate cross-border healthcare scheme
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's commitment to reinstate the cross-border healthcare scheme closed in 2022. He calls for any new scheme to remove upfront payment and for a fund giving access based on need, not ability to pay.
Health Issue: Health Minister commits to reinstating Cross-Border Healthcare Directive Original release: McGrath welcomes move to reinstate cross-border healthcare scheme (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes approval of Climate Commissioner for Northern Ireland
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA welcomes the Assembly's approval of draft regulations establishing a Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner. She says the independent office is long overdue and calls for faster, joined-up action on climate change and net zero.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: McLaughlin welcomes approval of Climate Commissioner for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Black Mountain fire threatens wildlife and natural habitat – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly expresses shock at a fire burning on Black Mountain in west Belfast, warning it threatens wildlife and natural habitat. She urges the public to give fire crews room and calls for anyone with information on a deliberate start to come forward.
Environment and climate Issue: Black Mountain fire in west Belfast Original release: Black Mountain fire threatens wildlife and natural habitat – Reilly (opens in a new tab)