Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
1,457 releases
-
Lyons launches Veterans Support Line NI
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces the go-live of the Veterans Support Line NI, a free telephone and text service giving veterans, serving personnel and families benefit eligibility information and a confidential needs assessment via the Department for Communities.
Social security and welfare Issue: Veterans Support Line NI launch by Department for Communities Original release: Lyons launches Veterans Support Line NI (opens in a new tab)
-
Anti-Poverty Strategy must define, resource and respect role of councils – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls for the final Anti-Poverty Strategy to define, resource and respect councils' role, following an Assembly motion on council input. He urges the DfC and Minister Lyons to use the Committee's report to restore co-design, which he says has been missing so far.
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Assembly motion on councils' role in the anti-poverty strategy Original release: Anti-Poverty Strategy must define, resource and respect role of councils – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland to stop citing "further judgments" and issue clear guidance after the Supreme Court's Dillon ruling, following the Great Britain commission's updated guidance and revised Code of Practice.
Disability and equality Issue: Equality and Human Rights Commission updated guidance and revised Code of Practice for services Original release: Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further… (opens in a new tab)
-
PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly calls on the PSNI and Policing Federation to listen to Catholic, Nationalist and Republican communities and other under-represented groups, responding to the Federation chairman's annual conference speech. He says 50-50 recruitment should be explored as part of an…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Federation chairman's annual conference speech on PSNI recruitment Original release: PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
-
Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes progress on the Mother and Baby Institutions Bill in the Assembly, saying it will provide a framework for a public inquiry into institutions where women and girls were held. She says victims' priority is exposing the abuse they endured and criticises…
Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Institutions Bill progress in the Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions (opens in a new tab)
-
Time for Health and Education Ministers to deliver for children with complex and additional needs – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate on drafting a bill in the next mandate that would improve support for young people with complex and additional needs, urging them to act without delay.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Time for Health and Education Ministers to deliver for children with complex and additional needs – Baker (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes Assembly backing for her party's Opposition Day motion, urging the Executive to legislate for legal entitlements and consistent, high-quality post-school support for young people with special educational needs up to age 25.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly Opposition Day motion on post-19 special educational needs provision Original release: Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin to hold Endometriosis event
Sinn Féin announces an endometriosis awareness event at Shaftesbury Community & Recreation Centre on 23 May, highlighting diagnosis wait times of almost 10 years and calling on the Health Minister to act on faster referrals and specialist care.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sinn Féin to hold Endometriosis event (opens in a new tab)
-
Victims of domestic violence must be properly supported when applying for social housing – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says domestic abuse victims need proper backing when applying for social housing via the Housing Selection Scheme, and questioned the Communities Minister in the Assembly on what steps are being taken.
Housing Justice and policing Original release: Victims of domestic violence must be properly supported when applying for social housing – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
-
Belfast City Council Irish Language Policy Making a Mockery of Consultation
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council is imposing Irish street signs despite failing to reach the 15% support threshold in the consultation, calling the process an abuse of process. He claims the signage deters Unionist and Protestant residents from moving into areas…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Irish street signage decision after consultation Original release: Belfast City Council Irish Language Policy Making a Mockery of Consultation (opens in a new tab)
-
Gordon Lyons and the DUP are opposed to equality, rights and respect – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of hostility to the Irish language after his Communities Committee appearance, citing the Líofa decision, opposition to Acht Gaeilge and a stalled language strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Gordon Lyons Communities Committee appearance on Irish language policy Original release: Gordon Lyons and the DUP are opposed to equality, rights and respect – Mason (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan: Executive must ensure Irish language strategy is delivered
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA calls on the Executive to make sure an Irish language strategy is brought forward, after the High Court heard the Department for Communities will not deliver it before the current Assembly mandate ends.
Disability and equality Issue: Department for Communities delay on Irish language strategy Original release: Durkan: Executive must ensure Irish language strategy is delivered (opens in a new tab)
-
Latest reports on Irish Language Strategy ‘a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach’ by Gordon Lyons – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach after reports that his department will not produce an Irish language strategy during this mandate. He says the DUP is attacking the language to win back support from hardline…
Disability and equality Issue: Department for Communities delay on Irish language strategy Original release: Latest reports on Irish Language Strategy ‘a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach’ by Gordon Lyons – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to act quickly on autism provision ahead of an Assembly motion tomorrow. She cites long assessment waits, a postcode lottery in respite services, and calls for a plan to cut waiting lists and deliver the Autism Strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on autism services and support Original release: Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
-
Irish Language Policy: AN GHAEILGE FAOI BHLÁTH NÓ FAOI BHAGAIRT?
People Before Profit says it supports the Irish language movement and the right of people across Ireland, North and South, to live fully through Irish. It argues partition divides Irish speakers and calls for uniting Gaeltacht, non-Gaeltacht, urban and rural communities into one movement.
Disability and equality Original release: Irish Language Policy: AN GHAEILGE FAOI BHLÁTH NÓ FAOI BHAGAIRT? (opens in a new tab)
-
Safe access zones law working as intended
The Green Party welcomes a judgment upholding Northern Ireland's Safe Access Zones legislation, saying the courts have confirmed the law is lawful and proportionate and protects people accessing abortion services. Cllr Groogan says the law is working as intended.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court judgment on Safe Access Zones law Original release: Safe access zones law working as intended (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 May 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Inflammatory’ bilingual signage comments have no place in our society – McGurk
Sinn Féin councillor Kathleen McGurk criticises a PUP councillor's remarks that "grinders are waiting" for bilingual signage, calling them reckless and inflammatory. She says the hostility towards the Irish language conflicts with its growing strength and calls for bilingual street signage to…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: PUP councillor's comments on bilingual signage in East Derry Original release: ‘Inflammatory’ bilingual signage comments have no place in our society – McGurk (opens in a new tab)
-
Supreme Court ruling must now be acted upon – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP calls on the Equality Commission to issue guidance to public bodies in Northern Ireland confirming that the recent Supreme Court judgment on the legal meaning of woman applies locally. He argues the ruling removes the Windsor Framework Article 2 argument used to delay…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Supreme Court Dillon ruling on Article 2 of the Windsor Framework Original release: Supreme Court ruling must now be acted upon – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
-
Culture of misogyny in the PSNI needs to be urgently addressed – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the PSNI’s culture of misogyny must be urgently tackled, urges implementation of the Rachel Langdale report’s recommendations for an independent misogyny survey and asks the Chief Constable for a clear timeline, while expressing sympathy for Katie’s family and other v
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Rachel Langdale report on PSNI misogyny Original release: Culture of misogyny in the PSNI needs to be urgently addressed – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister comments on Supreme Court ruling
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP welcomes the Supreme Court's Dillon ruling as limiting the effect of Article 2 of the Protocol/Windsor Framework, but says the Protocol must go in full. He calls on the NIHRC and Equality Commission leaderships to consider their positions and withdraw their guidance…
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court Dillon ruling on Article 2 of the Windsor Framework Original release: Allister comments on Supreme Court ruling (opens in a new tab)