Latest releases
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3,696 releases
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Government spinning asylum figures to fit its narrative on EU Migration Pact – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD accuses the Government of manipulating migration numbers to back its EU Migration Pact stance, arguing Minister Colm Brophy's claim that falling applications prove the pact works does not hold up. He calls for IPAS accommodation profiteering to end and for an all-Ireland…
Immigration International affairs Issue: Minister Colm Brophy claims EU Migration Pact reduced international protection applications Original release: Government spinning asylum figures to fit its narrative on EU Migration Pact – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister’s u-turn an important win for girls – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes DUP Education Minister Paul Givan's decision to make schools give girls the option of trousers, calling it an embarrassing U-turn that followed party and campaigner pressure. She says he should have guaranteed this in his school uniforms legislation.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Education Minister’s u-turn an important win for girls – Mason (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes the Education Minister’s move to permit girls to wear trousers in school uniform, calling the U‑turn overdue, demanding an explanation for the delay and urging consistent rollout across all schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows
UUP leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes new guidance giving girls the option to wear trousers as part of school uniform, calling it a common-sense outcome. He says the Education Minister should have acted earlier through uniform guidance rather than forcing the Education…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes Education Minister's U-Turn on girls wearing trousers to school
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the Education Minister's updated legal guidelines on girls' right to wear trousers as school uniform, describing it as a U-turn on an earlier decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Mathison welcomes Education Minister's U-Turn on girls wearing trousers to school (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises issue of low pay for care workers directly with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has pressed the Health Minister for assurances that firms delivering publicly funded social care meet their duties to staff and pay them fairly. She also seeks an update on the promised Real Living Wage for independent sector social care workers.
Economy and employment Health Original release: Dillon raises issue of low pay for care workers directly with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has raised with the Health Minister new figures showing Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate, asking what action is being taken and how inequalities between deprived and affluent areas will be tackled.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New infant mortality figures showing Northern Ireland highest rate Original release: Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Organisations working on suicide prevention need greater support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn, Chair of the All-Party Group on Suicide Prevention, calls for secure, sustainable core funding for community suicide prevention organisations and cross-departmental government action, ahead of the APG Inquiry report launch on 22 September.
Health Original release: Organisations working on suicide prevention need greater support – Flynn (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Allister slams delay in Ballymena GP practice scheme
TUV MP Jim Allister expresses disappointment that multi-disciplinary teams for primary care in Ballymena will not begin until 2029, while other areas get the scheme sooner, and urges decision makers to reconsider the timeline.
Health Issue: Ballymena primary care multi-disciplinary teams delayed until 2029 Original release: Allister slams delay in Ballymena GP practice scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes encourages support for Sherry family cancer services petition
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes urges people to sign a petition launched by the family of Catherine Sherry, who died in 2024, seeking all-Ireland access to CAR-T cell therapy. He says the treatment is unavailable in the north until the early 2030s and that he has raised the issue with health ministers…
Health Issue: Sherry family CAR-T cell therapy cancer services petition Original release: Hughes encourages support for Sherry family cancer services petition (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology families deserve accountability and demonstrable change – McGuigan
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA says the RQIA Neurology Deceased Patients Review findings are deeply concerning and calls on the Health Minister and Department to set out action, responsibility and evidence of change across all Trusts.
Health Issue: RQIA Neurology Deceased Patients Review findings Original release: Neurology families deserve accountability and demonstrable change – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls for an urgent Health Minister response to a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report showing rising infant mortality in the region. He says he will write to the minister seeking a funded plan for the College's recommendations…
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics State of Child Health 2026 report on infant mortality Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a £1.25million second-year Cancer Charities Grant Scheme with Macmillan Cancer Support, funding community wellbeing, rehabilitation, transport and practical support for people affected by cancer.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says Budget 2027 must put workers and families first, setting out proposals to abolish USC on the first €40,000 and provide a €400 energy credit. She also calls on the Irish government to prepare for Irish unity and to put the Triple Lock dismantling plan to a…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Original release: Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Yet another Creswell victim let down by incompetence in investigation, says McAllister
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes a Police Ombudsman report finding the PSNI failed a 2016 complainant over an indecent exposure allegation against Jonathan Creswell. She calls for full transparency, an explanation of why misconduct recommendations are not being followed, and a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman findings on PSNI handling of 2016 Creswell complaint Original release: Yet another Creswell victim let down by incompetence in investigation, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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GAA lack of commitment to equality to blame for McAleese departure – Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Joanna Byrne TD blames the GAA for Dr Mary McAleese's resignation as chair of the Integration Committee, claiming the association has backed away from a workable deadline and from equality. She calls for the GAA to appear before the committee and urges it to restore the…
Disability and equality Issue: Mary McAleese resignation as Integration Committee chair Original release: GAA lack of commitment to equality to blame for McAleese departure – Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive housing failures destroying the dream of homeownership
SDLP Opposition Housing Spokesperson Mark H Durkan warns that homeownership is slipping out of reach for young people, especially in the North West, and calls on the Executive to reform planning, address wastewater constraints and set a legal duty to cooperate on homelessness prevention.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Average Northern Ireland house price reaches £202,000 Original release: Durkan: Executive housing failures destroying the dream of homeownership (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence
UUP Agriculture and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA, during Rural Crime Week, highlights barriers facing rural domestic abuse victims, including distance from refuges and farm ownership issues, and asks the Justice Minister to check whether rural victims get equal refuge and…
Justice and policing Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed that only benefits named in the outgoing regulations will count for priority in next year's pre-school admissions, ending the reading-in of replacement benefits. He announced this alongside a public consultation on the Socially Disadvantaged…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Education Minister immediate changes to pre-school Socially Disadvantaged Circumstances criterion Original release: Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the DUP is using renewed Drumcree controversy to divert attention from the Executive's failure to pass a Budget, as public services face uncertainty. He calls on the DUP and Executive ministers to agree a Budget and address health, waiting…
Public finance and taxation Community relations and legacy Issue: Drumcree parading dispute and Executive Budget impasse Original release: O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)