Latest releases
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3,578 releases
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Seasann Sinn Féin le hearnáil na Gaeilge sa stailc i gcionne ciorruithe – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Conor McGuinness TD
Sinn Féin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Irish language and Gaeltacht spokesperson, and Conor McGuinness, junior spokesperson for Tuaithe, Pobail agus Gaeltacht, back the Irish-language sector strike against planned Foras na Gaeilge cuts. Ó Snodaigh urges Minister Dara Calleary to fund affected…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Seasann Sinn Féin le hearnáil na Gaeilge sa stailc i gcionne ciorruithe – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Conor McGuinness TD (opens in a new tab)
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Popular aspiration for Irish unity is growing – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney says a LucidTalk poll shows 53% of voters and 60% of under-35s aspire to Irish unity within 20 years. He calls on the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly, draft a green paper and appoint a Minister for Reunification.
Constitutional affairs Issue: LucidTalk poll on Irish unity aspirations Original release: Popular aspiration for Irish unity is growing – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Ofcom’s New Social Media Guidance - Toothless and Ineffective
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says Ofcom's new guidance on online misogyny and deepfake abuse lacks enforcement, calling it symbolic and relying on voluntary compliance. She calls for legally binding obligations and financial penalties for social media platforms.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ofcom online misogyny and deepfake abuse guidance Original release: Ofcom’s New Social Media Guidance - Toothless and Ineffective (opens in a new tab)
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Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says repealing the ban on Irish in Northern Ireland's courts is regressive on equality, justice and finances. He claims it would make the legal profession less welcoming to Unionists, weaken juries' understanding of defendants, and add translation costs and delays.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes reports that the British government will repeal its ban on Irish being used in courts, a provision from the 2022 Irish language act that has not yet taken effect. She describes the move as a major step for Irish speakers in the north.
Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: ‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy backs Irish language groups ahead of a Wednesday walkout protesting cuts to their funding, urging a fair, long-term resolution to Foras na Gaeilge funding disputes.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says export procedures on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain show the Irish Sea border is cementing division, and calls on the government to abandon the Parcels Border and pursue Mutual Enforcement instead.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: West – East Irish Sea Border enforcement commencement on Northern Ireland to GB goods Original release: 25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Secretary of State’s decision to start the fourth section of the Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022, which clarifies the repeal of the ban on non‑English languages in courts, and urges the First and deputy First Minister to promptly
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commencement of Section 4 of the Identity and Language Act Original release: Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses Executive Ministers of repeatedly avoiding Assembly scrutiny, citing the Finance Minister's draft Budget and monitoring rounds issued by written statement. He also cites the Health Minister's grant funding cuts and an AERA avian flu update…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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“We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland”
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald sends condolences after the death of Bik McFarlane, describing him as a lifelong republican and a key figure in the H-Blocks and the peace process. She pays tribute to his music and extends sympathy to his family.
Other Constitutional affairs Original release: “We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland” (opens in a new tab)
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Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Health and Education departments to act urgently on support for children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools, after a joint committee meeting. She says there is no clear picture of allied health professionals in the sector and calls for…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Joint Health and Education Committees meeting on SEN support in Irish-medium schools Original release: Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston urges the public to respond to the Assembly committee's call for evidence on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill, which he says would give MLAs a massive pay rise, and shares the TUV's submission opposing the proposals.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill call for evidence Original release: TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Immediate action needed to address gaps in community SEN services – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges health and justice officials to coordinate so young people and adults with complex needs are not held in the justice system. She cites a teenage girl remanded in custody despite being bail-eligible, citing gaps in respite and residential provision.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Remand of teenage girl with complex needs due to lack of support services Original release: Immediate action needed to address gaps in community SEN services – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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‘On-site nurse must be restored to Knockevin Special School’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Departments of Education and Health to work with the South Eastern Trust to quickly reinstate the on-site nurse at Knockevin Special School, after the Trust withdrew that support. She says the school was not consulted.
Health Education Issue: Knockevin Special School on-site nurse withdrawal by South Eastern Trust Original release: ‘On-site nurse must be restored to Knockevin Special School’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna pays tribute to Bríd Rodgers on 90th birthday
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP marks 90th birthday of party president Bríd Rodgers, praising her as an inspiration and recognising her role in the civil rights movement, the Good Friday Agreement and early Stormont Executive. A birthday event in her honour is due in Derry.
Other Disability and equality Original release: Hanna pays tribute to Bríd Rodgers on 90th birthday (opens in a new tab)
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Sign Language Bill will deliver positive change for deaf community – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly's vote to move the Sign Language Bill to the next stage of scrutiny, saying it will recognise Irish and British Sign Language and improve deaf people's access to education, health and justice services.
Disability and equality Issue: Sign Language Bill second stage Assembly vote Original release: Sign Language Bill will deliver positive change for deaf community – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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British-Irish parliamentary links post reunification mutually beneficial – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an Irish Times and ARINS Project survey finding most people North and South want the east-west link maintained after reunification. She calls for British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meetings to be regularised and prioritised.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Irish Times and ARINS Project east-west link survey Original release: British-Irish parliamentary links post reunification mutually beneficial – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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McAteer names Eastside Greenways one of High Sheriff charities
Alliance Councillor Fiona McAteer, now High Sheriff of Belfast, says she will support Eastside Greenways during her term, praising its work on the Connswater Community Greenway in east Belfast.
Environment and climate Local government Original release: McAteer names Eastside Greenways one of High Sheriff charities (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes Minister’s commitment to explore access to muscular dystrophy drugs
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's pledge to engage the Belfast Trust on getting Givinostat, a drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to young patients such as 12-year-old Alfie Pentony from Newry.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Givinostat access for Duchenne patients raised in Assembly topical question Original release: McGrath welcomes Minister’s commitment to explore access to muscular dystrophy drugs (opens in a new tab)
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Protecting Women and Girls' Spaces.
DUP MLA Peter Martin praises the Northern Ireland Women's Rights Network for its evidence to the Executive Office Committee and says the party will continue to protect women and girls' spaces, criticising other Assembly parties' stance.
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Women's Rights Network evidence to Executive Office Committee Original release: Protecting Women and Girls' Spaces. (opens in a new tab)