Latest releases
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1,457 releases
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Durkan: Struggling households asked to pay £6 million in ‘official error’ benefit overpayments
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan criticises Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey over £6.1 million requested from benefit claimants for 2021/22 overpayments caused by official error, figures he obtained show.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Department for Communities £6.1 million official error benefit overpayments 2021/22 Original release: Durkan: Struggling households asked to pay £6 million in ‘official error’ benefit overpayments (opens in a new tab)
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Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for clarity on whether energy support payments will reach Northern Ireland households, after details of a £400 GB scheme were revealed without equivalent detail for Northern Ireland. She blames the lack of an Executive and urges the DUP to end its…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 GB energy support scheme details and Northern Ireland uncertainty Original release: Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Failure to ban conversion therapy inexcusable
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite says the delay in banning conversion therapy in the North is inexcusable, rejecting Communities Minister Deidre Hargey's explanations ahead of Belfast Pride. He urges her to report on progress and make the legislation a priority once the institutions are restored.
Disability and equality Original release: de Faoite: Failure to ban conversion therapy inexcusable (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls on Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to tackle the rise in benefit fraud and error, which the Northern Ireland Audit Office found had reached £209m. He says processes must be put in place to stop such losses and address the auditor's concerns.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office benefit fraud and error review Original release: Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole calls on caretaker Executive Ministers to set out what they are doing on the cost of living crisis and to prepare plans ready for when the Executive is restored. He says he has written to all caretaker Ministers and permanent secretaries, and blames…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts (opens in a new tab)
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Gerry Carroll MLA Supports Campaign For Women’s Refuge.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll calls on the Communities Minister and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to urgently commission a replacement women-only supported hostel after the Regina Coeli service closed and its workers' promised replacement accommodation was not delivered.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Regina Coeli women’s hostel shutdown and occupation Original release: Gerry Carroll MLA Supports Campaign For Women’s Refuge. (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is shocked after writing to the Minister for Communities and finding rents exceed housing benefit allowances by upwards of £100. She calls for urgent action on the gap, which she links to a shrinking private rental market.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Cost of living support not enough to help households
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says cost of living support offered to households so far is not enough, citing £83.9m resource and £35.9m capital underspends across Executive Departments in 2021-22 provisional outturn figures. He calls on Ministers to direct support to households and to expand free…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2021-22 provisional outturn figures showing Executive Departments underspends Original release: Eastwood: Cost of living support not enough to help households (opens in a new tab)
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Functioning Executive needed now to help tackle cost of living crisis – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges the DUP to end its refusal to take part in the Executive now, so the £435 million held in its account can support workers, families and businesses facing rising costs. He also calls on the British government to tax large companies' profits and cut VAT.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: First tranche of cost of living payments rollout in Northern Ireland Original release: Functioning Executive needed now to help tackle cost of living crisis – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly welcomes step forward towards Acht Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes the Irish Language Bill's progress through the House of Lords and calls for an Acht Gaeilge delivering official recognition, an Irish language commissioner, repeal of laws restricting Irish in courts, and access to public services through Irish.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish language legislation passing through the House of Lords Original release: Reilly welcomes step forward towards Acht Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges help for working families excluded from support
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for financial support for working families struggling with the cost of living crisis, arguing they are being excluded from welfare-linked payments. He says the Assembly and Executive's absence is failing them and blames the DUP's blockade for…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Cost of living welfare payments for households across the North Original release: Durkan urges help for working families excluded from support (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone welcomes progress of Irish language legislation
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone welcomes the passage of Irish language legislation through the House of Lords at Westminster, which also includes Ulster Scots protections. He calls for the Bill to pass the Commons without delay and says Irish language rights should have been introduced in the North rather…
Disability and equality Issue: Irish language legislation passing through the House of Lords Original release: McGlone welcomes progress of Irish language legislation (opens in a new tab)
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“There is a Crisis in Education with Learning Supports. Our Children Deserve Better” - Brolly
Aontú Education Spokesperson and East Derry representative Gemma Brolly calls for permanent learning support in schools, citing long assessment waits, reduced educational psychology time and rising numbers of pupils recorded with special educational needs.
Education Disability and equality Original release: “There is a Crisis in Education with Learning Supports. Our Children Deserve Better” - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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"Pupils are being denied their basic human right to access the education they deserve."- Brolly
Aontú Education Spokesperson and East Derry representative Gemma Brolly calls for permanent learning support in schools, citing rising numbers of pupils recorded with special educational needs and reduced educational psychology time.
Education Disability and equality Original release: "Pupils are being denied their basic human right to access the education they deserve."- Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald – Welcomes engineering bursary for women and girls
Education Disability and equality Original release: Archibald – Welcomes engineering bursary for women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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"Urgent Action for Children With Special Needs Awaiting Support or Assessment"
Aontú Education Spokesperson Gemma Brolly welcomes the Education Minister's Special Needs Provision announcement but urges similar urgent action for children awaiting support or assessment. She says the move only reaches pupils with statements, and calls for more staff to improve pupil-to-staff…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister's Special Needs Provision announcement for mainstream schools Original release: "Urgent Action for Children With Special Needs Awaiting Support or Assessment" (opens in a new tab)
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"Overturning of Roe Vs Wade Only Beginning Of Human Rights Campaign"
Aontú representative for East Derry Gemma Brolly welcomes the overturning of Roe v Wade but says the wider campaign must continue, calling for better supports for pregnant women and rejecting claims that pro-life laws would block ectopic pregnancy surgery.
Disability and equality Issue: US Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade Original release: "Overturning of Roe Vs Wade Only Beginning Of Human Rights Campaign" (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to marriage law reflect changing Northern Ireland, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes Finance Minister Conor Murphy's announced plan to give non-religious marriages equal legal standing with faith marriages and raise the minimum marriage age to 18. She says a public consultation showed a clear majority in favour and urges permanent changes…
Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister Conor Murphy announces marriage law reforms on non-religious marriage and minimum age Original release: Changes to marriage law reflect changing Northern Ireland, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Lisa McGee to become the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City
SDLP councillor Martin Reilly welcomes the unanimous council vote to nominate 'Derry Girls' creator Lisa McGee for the Freedom of the City of Derry, making her the first woman to receive the honour. He says a special meeting will now be arranged to confer it.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Lisa McGee Freedom of the City of Derry council vote Original release: Lisa McGee to become the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Energy price rises will leave families in desperation
SDLP Communities Spokesperson and Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says energy price rises taking effect across the North could add around £375 to typical annual bills and leave families unable to afford heating. He calls on Stormont to release the £300m held in its accounts and asks the DUP to explain its…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Northern Ireland energy price rises taking effect July 2022 Original release: Durkan: Energy price rises will leave families in desperation (opens in a new tab)