Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
1,373 releases
-
Cost of living support must be given to carers, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says carers are being left out of the UK government's £650 cost of living payments, because carers' allowance is not a qualifying benefit. She calls on the Communities Minister to find ways to support carers facing the ongoing financial crisis.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: UK government £650 cost of living payments for benefit recipients Original release: Cost of living support must be given to carers, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
Roe V Wade Decision Is A Wake Up Call To Repeal Movement In Ireland
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith urges the Taoiseach in the Dáil to complete the ongoing review of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, citing the US Roe v Wade ruling as a warning against complacency on abortion rights.
Disability and equality Health Issue: US Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade Original release: Roe V Wade Decision Is A Wake Up Call To Repeal Movement In Ireland (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Children with no school places need certainty from education minister’ – Sheehan - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister and Education Authority to give pupils with special educational needs and their families clarity on school placements for September, after reports that 300 such children lack a place. He also blames the DUP's boycott for stalling an Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 300 SEN pupils without school places for September Original release: ‘Children with no school places need certainty from education minister’ – Sheehan - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Cost of Fuel could leave some motability car users housebound - Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle says rising fuel and maintenance costs are pushing some disabled Motability car users in Derry to consider handing back their vehicles, and calls on Motability to extend its fuel-price payment to existing customers with long-term agreements.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: Cost of Fuel could leave some motability car users housebound - Doyle (opens in a new tab)
-
Children with special educational needs left behind yet again, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says children with special educational needs have been left behind again after reports that over 300 lack a school place for September. She blames area planning failures by the Education Minister and the Education Authority, and calls for the…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 300 SEN pupils without school places for September Original release: Children with special educational needs left behind yet again, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan dismayed at lack of school places for SEN children
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan says he is dismayed that more than 300 children with special educational needs lack a school place for September, and blames the Education Authority for repeated failures and weak strategic planning. He calls for the placements to be confirmed…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 300 SEN pupils without school places for September Original release: McCrossan dismayed at lack of school places for SEN children (opens in a new tab)
-
Figures for women still travelling to GB for healthcare nothing short of an outrage, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says latest figures showing 161 women travelled from Northern Ireland to England or Wales for reproductive healthcare in 2021 are outrageous. She says the law on abortion is not being implemented and calls for those services to be provided locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Figures on Northern Ireland women travelling to GB for reproductive healthcare in 2021 Original release: Figures for women still travelling to GB for healthcare nothing short of an outrage, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
PSNI ‘Spit Hood’ Justification Can’t Be Trusted
People Before Profit Cllr Maeve O'Neill says the PSNI's decision to make spit hood use permanent is unjustifiable, citing refusal to publish consultation findings on equality impact and reported disproportionate use on disabled people, Catholic-background people and children.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI decision to make spit hood use permanent Original release: PSNI ‘Spit Hood’ Justification Can’t Be Trusted (opens in a new tab)
-
Cllr Lee Calls For Regional Model For Learning Disability Services
Cllr Simon Lee urges the Health Minister to acknowledge pandemic‑induced isolation and reduced provision for people with learning disabilities, and calls for a rapid rollout of a regional service model to end postcode‑based inequities.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Learning Disability Week service disruption Original release: Cllr Lee Calls For Regional Model For Learning Disability Services (opens in a new tab)
-
Michelle O'Neill speech at Bodenstown - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán and First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the party is ready to form an Executive now, calls on the DUP to stop blocking it, and urges more funding for the cost of living and health service. She also says the Protocol is working and calls for the Irish Government…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Michelle O'Neill speech at Bodenstown - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
No justification for excluding trans people from ban on so-called conversion therapy, says Farry
Alliance MP Stephen Farry says excluding trans people from a planned ban on so-called conversion therapy has no justification and calls on the UK Government to extend any ban to Northern Ireland while the Executive is not functioning, ahead of a Westminster debate on a petition with over 145,000…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Westminster debate on excluding trans people from conversion therapy ban Original release: No justification for excluding trans people from ban on so-called conversion therapy, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
-
Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says carers must be more visible and valued in society, marking Carers Week 2022. She commits to taking forward Private Members Legislation on carers' rights, initiated earlier by colleague Mervyn Storey, to bring Northern Ireland level with England, Scotland and Wales.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
-
Ferguson hails planning approval for new homes at Derry H2 site - Sinn Féin
Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes planning approval for 740 homes on the H2 site between Whitehouse and Coshquin in Derry, saying it will bring social and affordable housing and a new community to the city.
Housing Issue: Derry H2 site planning approval for 740 homes Original release: Ferguson hails planning approval for new homes at Derry H2 site - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Housing and Infrastructure Ministers should convene a housing summit – Allen
UUP MLA and Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE urges the Communities and Infrastructure Ministers to hold a joint housing summit, citing 44,426 people on the waiting list as of 31 March and calling for at least 5,000 new homes a year.
-
‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Western Trust's plan to restart early abortion services in July after their April 2021 suspension, but says the service should never have been suspended. She blames the Health Minister's inaction on commissioning and calls for a fully…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Western Trust early abortion services resumption announcement Original release: ‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Working together key to tackling homelessness - Ferguson - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson calls on the DUP to return to the Executive and work with other parties on homelessness, pledging to work with homeless, housing and community groups after her election as chair of a cross-party homelessness group.
-
Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish
South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Finance considering reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish or bilingual English and Irish, following a written question. She urges the Finance Minister to make new certificates available as soon as possible.
Disability and equality Issue: Department of Finance consideration of reissuing birth certificates in Irish Original release: Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's agreement to begin work on inclusive play, with officers tasked to produce a full report, while saying the delay is disappointing. He cites PlayBoard NI and Mae Murray Foundation research on families excluded from play parks and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on inclusive play parks Original release: Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong repeats her call for all respite and day care services for disabled people and older people to reopen during Carers Week. She says carers are exhausted, notes the Health Minister has asked for a review of each Trust's reopening pathway, and says carers now need support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin: PSNI must act over sexist WhatsApp group
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the PSNI and Chief Constable Simon Byrne to send a clear message that sexist, pornographic and racist messages shared by serving officers in a WhatsApp group will not be tolerated. She says the case raises concerns about PSNI culture.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: TV documentary allegations about PSNI culture Original release: McLaughlin: PSNI must act over sexist WhatsApp group (opens in a new tab)