Latest releases
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4,793 releases
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Minister’s School Uniforms Bill far from ambitious, says Mathison
Alliance Education Chair and Strangford MLA Nick Mathison says the Education Minister's school uniforms bill is far from ambitious and lacks clarity on outcomes. He says Alliance has submitted an accountability clause requiring the Minister to report to the Assembly every three years, and has…
Education Issue: Education Minister's school uniforms bill Original release: Minister’s School Uniforms Bill far from ambitious, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Index showing Belfast and Derry among worst places to live highlights need for Regional Balance Bill
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin cites a UK Better Lives Index ranking Belfast and Derry poorly and says she is seeking to introduce a Regional Balance Bill to ensure every part of Northern Ireland gets fair investment and opportunity.
Disability and equality Issue: UK Better Lives Index ranking of Belfast and Derry Original release: McLaughlin: Index showing Belfast and Derry among worst places to live highlights need for Regional Balance Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of Department for Communities trilingual logo a ‘backwards step for equality’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, criticises Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for dropping the trilingual Irish and Ulster-Scots logo from official paperwork, calling it a retrograde move on inclusion and equality and saying attempts to roll back rights will fail.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Department trilingual logo removal under new ministerial guidelines Original release: Removal of Department for Communities trilingual logo a ‘backwards step for equality’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland Against Racism Carnival
People Before Profit urges support for the Ireland Against Racism Carnival, a demonstration on 27 September, noting more than 70 backing organisations including the trade union congress. It condemns rising racism and a recent attack in Tallaght, and calls for unity against far-right scapegoating…
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: Ireland Against Racism Carnival (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland must invest properly in palliative care - Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says Northern Ireland must invest properly in end-of-life services instead of relying on fundraising, and calls for a statutory obligation on commissioning of palliative beds with funding matched to need. She also urges the government to prioritise palliative care over assisted…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill House of Lords debate Original release: Northern Ireland must invest properly in palliative care - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes rise in Magee student applications
SDLP... no, Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy credits his party's ministers with a 21 per cent rise in applications to Ulster University's Magee campus, citing it as proof of regional balance. He backs Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's plan to accommodate 10,000 students at Magee.
Education Issue: Ulster University Magee campus 21 per cent rise in applications Original release: Delargy welcomes rise in Magee student applications (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces clubs moving forward under NI Football Fund
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces that 20 club projects will move to the next funding assessment stage of the Football Fund's performance strand, while warning that club demand exceeds the £36.2million budget and promising further funding bids.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Football Fund performance programme first cohort of 20 club projects Original release: Lyons announces clubs moving forward under NI Football Fund (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcomes comments in Grand Central case and challenges DUP approach to Irish going forward
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP welcomes a judge's comments in the Grand Central case, saying the decision required Executive agreement, and calls on the DUP to block Irish language signage there and any Irish Language Commissioner proposal to impose signs.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Grand Central Irish language signage court case comments Original release: TUV welcomes comments in Grand Central case and challenges DUP approach to Irish going forward (opens in a new tab)
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SF dramatic U-turn on Lough Neagh welcome: SDLP
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes Sinn Féin's reversal on the Lough Neagh Action Plan, after its MLAs joined a successful Assembly motion removing a planned Nutrients Action Programme consultation. He calls on the Executive to take meaningful action to restore the lough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Assembly motion on Lough Neagh Nutrients Action Programme consultation Original release: SF dramatic U-turn on Lough Neagh welcome: SDLP (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Executive must deliver on promise of affordable childcare
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Executive and Education Minister to produce a childcare strategy that cuts costs for parents, stabilises providers and builds a sustainable workforce. Her remarks follow a Stormont event on childcare.
Education Economy and employment Issue: A Childcare Strategy for All event at Stormont Original release: McLaughlin: Executive must deliver on promise of affordable childcare (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Toxins in Lough Neagh fish underlines need to act
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone says toxins found in some fish in Lough Neagh show action is urgently needed, warning the Food Standards Agency's safe-to-eat advice must not change. He calls for all Stormont parties to back plans to save the lough and welcomes Sinn Féin's shift after an SDLP…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Toxins found in Lough Neagh fish Original release: McGlone: Toxins in Lough Neagh fish underlines need to act (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte urges bold investment to increase public transport use
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte says new Department for Infrastructure figures show public transport use remains below pre-pandemic levels, and calls for bold investment, safer cycle lanes and a year-round night bus network in Belfast.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland 2024-25 report Original release: Whyte urges bold investment to increase public transport use (opens in a new tab)
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O'Hanlon demands urgent clarity on future of Middletown Centre for Autism
SDLP Councillor Thomas O'Hanlon has written to Education Ministers Paul Givan and Helen McEntee seeking urgent answers after staff at the Middletown Centre for Autism were told to work from home indefinitely. He asks whether the Ministers knew in advance and demands assurances that the centre will…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Middletown Centre for Autism staff instructed to work from home Original release: O'Hanlon demands urgent clarity on future of Middletown Centre for Autism (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan slams exclusion of Derry from NI Football Fund
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA slams the exclusion of Brandywell Stadium and Derry City from the first stage of Northern Ireland Football Fund awards. He says he will challenge Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to explain the outcome, and claims clubs raised concerns…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Football Fund performance programme first cohort of 20 club projects Original release: Durkan slams exclusion of Derry from NI Football Fund (opens in a new tab)
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World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the public to respond to the consultation on her proposed Suicide Prevention Training Bill, which would require public bodies to train frontline staff in suicide prevention. The consultation closes on 17 September 2025.
Health Issue: Suicide Prevention Training Bill public consultation Original release: World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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This Is only the Beginning: Education Minister updates the Assembly…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan hailed early progress on TransformED, his education reform strategy launched in March 2025, in an Assembly update listing initiatives such as a £31million Teacher Professional Learning Fund, a CPD Academy and curriculum reviews, with further reforms…
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School inspections are fundamental for safeguarding young people, but scrutiny is required – Burrows
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA says the party supports the Education Minister's bill strengthening legal protection for school inspections in principle, but will scrutinise it at committee stage to protect industrial rights outside inspection periods.
Education Issue: Education Minister's proposals restricting teacher union activity Original release: School inspections are fundamental for safeguarding young people, but scrutiny is required – Burrows (opens in a new tab)
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Collective effort needed to address Lough Neagh – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says Lough Neagh's pollution is a national emergency needing joint action from the Assembly and Irish government, citing the 2025 eel fishing shutdown and calling for immediate supports for affected fishermen.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Lough Neagh 2025 eel fishing season termination Original release: Collective effort needed to address Lough Neagh – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Cliff Path is a vital local amenity which must be restored – McMullan
Sinn Féin Councillor for the Glens DEA and Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council Oliver McMullan calls for urgent restoration of the Cliff Path in Cushendall, welcoming PEACE PLUS funding and urging the council to get the work out to tender and start it as soon as possible.
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Cushendall Cliff Path restoration PEACE PLUS funding Original release: Cliff Path is a vital local amenity which must be restored – McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Childcare strategy must be delivered without delay – Mason
SDLP... no, Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges Education Minister Paul Givan to set a date for publishing the long-delayed childcare strategy, which he has said will come in the coming weeks. She says rising costs leave parents and providers under strain and wants the strategy to cover children with…
Education Issue: Childcare strategy publication timing from Education Minister Original release: Childcare strategy must be delivered without delay – Mason (opens in a new tab)