Latest releases
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1,523 releases
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Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's decision to waive building control fees for individual loft insulation applications, saying it will make insulation more affordable amid the cost of living crisis.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's ringfenced funding and formal instruction to the Department of Health to commission reproductive health services, calling it a further step, while urging swift full provision locally.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
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The UCU Strikes
People Before Profit interviews Aisling O'Beirn, a UCU representative at Ulster University, on the picket line over the strike. She describes casualised contracts, rising workloads, staff shortages and cuts to pension benefits as the central issues.
Education Economy and employment Issue: UCU strike at Ulster University Original release: The UCU Strikes (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges progress on tackling sexual offences
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin says new PPS figures on sexual offences, showing prosecution rates rose from 23.6% to 31.6% in 2021/22, show the need for a violence against women and girls plan from a reformed Executive.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: McLaughlin urges progress on tackling sexual offences (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson calls for a review of support mechanisms for staff experiencing domestic abuse
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA calls on employers to review their policies and procedures so staff experiencing domestic abuse get the right support, citing the 16 days of activism campaign. He urges employers to consider paid leave for appointments, workplace security and…
Justice and policing Economy and employment Original release: Dickson calls for a review of support mechanisms for staff experiencing domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes campaign to raise awareness of the signs of all types of domestic abuse
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the PSNI's Tis' the Season Christmas campaign on domestic abuse, citing holiday-period call and crime figures, and calls for the Executive to be restored so parties can take forward violence-against-women measures.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Dillon welcomes campaign to raise awareness of the signs of all types of domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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“British Court of Appeal Permits Abortion Up Until Birth on Grounds of Down Syndrome For North of Ireland” – Cllr Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle criticises a British Court of Appeal ruling that allows abortion on grounds of Down syndrome up to birth, saying it will apply in Northern Ireland. He calls on Stormont to oppose abortion in the North and accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP of supporting the change.
Disability and equality Health Original release: “British Court of Appeal Permits Abortion Up Until Birth on Grounds of Down Syndrome For North of Ireland” – Cllr Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
Alliance Spokesperson for Migration Kate Nicholl MLA marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, calling for enhanced protections for women human rights defenders, especially those at risk in migration contexts, from violence, discrimination and harassment.
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: Nicholl marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs endorse “Never Cross the Line” campaign
Alliance MLAs endorse Ulster GAA's "Never Cross the Line" campaign on violence against women, which aims to teach young people about consent. Sports Spokesperson David Honeyford calls for similar campaigns across other sports, and Connie Egan urges sporting bodies to host workshops.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Alliance MLAs endorse “Never Cross the Line” campaign (opens in a new tab)
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A sad day for rights of the disabled – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who chairs the All-Party Pro-Life Group at Westminster, says the Court of Appeal's rejection of Heidi Crowter's challenge to allow abortion up to birth for babies with Down's syndrome is a sad day for disabled people's rights. She hopes Crowter will take the case to the…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: A sad day for rights of the disabled – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Education Authority proposes huge unnecessary expense on Irish – but includes no costings
TUV leader Jim Allister urges the public to respond to the Education Authority's interim Irish-language services policy, arguing its proposals, such as Irish voicemail options and translator meetings, carry vast unCosted expense amid budget pressures.
Disability and equality Education Original release: Education Authority proposes huge unnecessary expense on Irish – but includes no costings (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
Green Party Councillor Rachel Woods calls for a Northern Ireland Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, saying the lack of an Executive has stalled delivery despite promises, and urges mandatory relationship and sexuality education alongside recent abuse legislation.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan
Alliance Spokesperson for Violence Against Women & Girls Connie Egan MLA says targeted gender-based violence must be eliminated, citing 32,000 PSNI domestic abuse incidents in 2021 and calling for the stalled Executive Office VAWG strategy to move forward without ministerial sign-off.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson, speaking as COP27 closed with a deal on loss and damage funding for vulnerable nations, says wealthy industrialised countries bear disproportionate blame for climate harm and calls for justice for affected communities. He welcomes the new fund and points to Alliance's…
Environment and climate International affairs Original release: Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency (opens in a new tab)
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Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says unpaid carers are among those worst affected by rising living costs, citing higher energy, heating, food and transport bills. She points to new figures showing 27% of carers struggling to make ends meet and 23% cutting back on essentials, and blames the DUP's…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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"Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers."
Aontú's Kieran Mc Causland, Upper Bann representative, calls for urgent funding and reliable respite breaks for unpaid carers, citing the £69.70 weekly carer's allowance and the loss of entitlement for those earning above £132.
Social security and welfare Health Original release: "Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers." (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes new air route announcement
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair welcomes plans by Fly Atlantic to launch a transatlantic route from Belfast International Airport from summer 2024. He calls on the UK Government to protect connectivity for outlying parts of the UK while cutting aviation's carbon footprint.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Blair welcomes new air route announcement (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup
SDLP Sports Spokesperson Justin McNulty criticises FIFA's threat of bookings against teams wearing OneLove armbands at the World Cup, calling it a disgrace and urging players to find other ways to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community in Qatar.
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes the COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance for poorer countries but says it does not go far enough. He calls for radical action on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and urges restoration of the Executive so Northern…
Environment and climate International affairs Original release: Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language not part of “shared heritage”
TUV North Down spokesperson John Gordon criticises Alliance's Stephen Farry and the party for welcoming the Identity and Language Bill and describing Irish as shared heritage, arguing Irish is not a shared heritage because unionists do not regard it as part of their identity and citing 2021 Census…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Original release: Irish language not part of “shared heritage” (opens in a new tab)