Latest releases
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3,069 releases
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McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath welcomes £13m multi-year funding from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to increase short break respite for children with disabilities. He says he will seek urgent clarity on the impact on other health services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP highlighted the surge in violence against women and girls during a Commons debate, citing a femicide rate twice that of Britain and urging immediate, cross‑government action, clear funding for the Executive strategy and societal behavioural change.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women and girls debate in Commons Original release: Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons (opens in a new tab)
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A Sinn Féin government would prioritise planning for Irish unity – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carthy TD says the next government must prioritise preparing for Irish unity, proposing a green paper, a Citizens' Assembly and a Minister for Reunification in the Department of An Taoiseach, citing an Irish News poll showing rising support for unity.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish News poll on Irish unity and constitutional change Original release: A Sinn Féin government would prioritise planning for Irish unity – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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‘Incoming Irish government must make planning for Irish unity a priority’ – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says a poll in the Irish News shows growing demand for decisions on the island of Ireland to be taken at home. He calls on the incoming Irish government to prioritise planning for constitutional change, including a green paper on Irish unity and a Minister for…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish News poll on Irish unity and constitutional change Original release: ‘Incoming Irish government must make planning for Irish unity a priority’ – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy welcome the Education Minister’s response to the Independent Review of Education but say essential recommendations lack ambition, urging immediate action on raising participation age, SEN, academic selection, integrated schooling and an Early Childhood
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education recommendations response Original release: Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath welcomes the Assembly's backing for more respite care for children and adults with complex needs and severe behavioural challenges. He says the SDLP amended a motion on adult provision to cover children, and he calls on the Health Minister…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Health Minister to rethink his decision not to develop a dedicated Women's Health Strategy, after he cited budget constraints in an Assembly answer. She calls the refusal a backwards step for women's health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister decision not to develop Women's Health Strategy Original release: McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Assembly's passage of a party motion urging the health minister to swiftly produce a plan to expand respite care for adults and children with learning disabilities and their carers.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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PIRA and Army Council still raising questions for Sinn Fein coalition partners
TUV leader Jim Allister says a 2015 assessment still stands, that PIRA kept an Army Council overseeing Sinn Fein, retained departments and held undecommissioned weapons, and accuses unionist parties sustaining Sinn Fein in government of tolerating this.
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Original release: PIRA and Army Council still raising questions for Sinn Fein coalition partners (opens in a new tab)
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TUV seek to raise status of PIRA in Stormont
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the PSNI’s unchanged assessment of the PIRA and its Army Council conflicts with the Ministerial Pledge’s non‑violence commitment, and argues it is undemocratic for a party influenced by the PIRA to lead Stormont. He condemns the DUP’s partnership with Sinn Fein and says a
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Issue: PSNI assessment of PIRA status unchanged Original release: TUV seek to raise status of PIRA in Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces the launch of Language Launchpad, a project funded under the £25m Early Learning and Childcare package to support speech, language and communication development in early years, running until March 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Language Launchpad early years speech and language project launch Original release: Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad (opens in a new tab)
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RHI report findings “damning” for unreformed Stormont: O’Toole
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says a NI Audit Office finding that just over half of the RHI inquiry recommendations have been implemented is damning for Stormont's failure to reform itself. He says the Executive sub-committee has not met since 2020 and calls the Executive parties and civil service…
Constitutional affairs Issue: NI Audit Office report on implementing RHI inquiry recommendations Original release: RHI report findings “damning” for unreformed Stormont: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Bill to end the injustice of the Irish Sea Border introduced in Parliament today
TUV leader Jim Allister, now an MP, has introduced a Bill in Parliament to reverse the Windsor Framework's constitutional effects on Northern Ireland, including an Irish Sea goods border. It would set constitutional requirements, limit section 7A of the EU Withdrawal Act and allow alternative…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Introduction of Jim Allister's European Union (Withdrawal Amendments) Bill in Parliament Original release: Bill to end the injustice of the Irish Sea Border introduced in Parliament today (opens in a new tab)
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The DUP must act to remove O’Neill after yet another Sinn Fein scandal
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell says the DUP must demand First Minister Michelle O'Neill's resignation over the Michael McMonagle and Niall Ó Donnghaile matters, warning Sinn Féin's leadership is implicated. He calls for DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to resign to force her removal…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Michael McMonagle and Niall Ó Donnghaile scandals involving Sinn Féin Original release: The DUP must act to remove O’Neill after yet another Sinn Fein scandal (opens in a new tab)
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Civil Service recruiting new head to oversee regulatory divergence
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Civil Service advertising a Head of Regulatory Divergence Co-ordination post at up to £59,000 a year shows the Protocol's constitutional damage remains, calling it a sign the UK internal market is being undermined.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Civil Service recruitment of Head of Regulatory Divergence Co-ordination Original release: Civil Service recruiting new head to oversee regulatory divergence (opens in a new tab)
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Now EU wants to rule our pets
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says the Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations 2024, laid in Parliament this week, impose EU control on pets moving from GB to NI and restrict Common Travel Area rights. He says he will oppose them in Parliament.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations 2024 Original release: Now EU wants to rule our pets (opens in a new tab)
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Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation
Ógra Aontú condemns new Taliban "vice and virtue" laws requiring women to veil fully in public and banning women's voices outside the home. President John Bryan calls on the UN and EU to stop normalising relations with the Taliban and to hold it accountable.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Taliban vice and virtue laws restricting women's public voices and faces Original release: Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women.
Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland urges wider recognition of the difficulties rural women encounter, pointing to job insecurity, limited childcare, and poor access to healthcare and transport in North Antrim, on International Day of Rural Women.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Original release: Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women. (opens in a new tab)
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Public health proposals not fit for purpose – Kimmins
Sinn Féin spokesperson for health Liz Kimmins says the Department of Health's public health consultation is not fit for purpose, citing the lack of Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments. She says Sinn Féin does not back the Health Minister's approach to a new Public Health Bill.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health consultation on new Public Health Bill powers Original release: Public health proposals not fit for purpose – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Joanne Bunting leads call for urgent practical action on violence…
East Belfast MLA Joanne Bunting calls for the Justice Minister to swiftly outline and implement practical measures to help people escape abusive relationships, after four women were murdered in six weeks and a further death in Donaghadee.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Recent murders of four women in Northern Ireland Original release: Joanne Bunting leads call for urgent practical action on violence… (opens in a new tab)