Latest releases
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4,042 releases
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Targeted intimidation will not silence Ballymena Pride
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns what he calls a targeted intimidation act after slurry was laid along the route of Ballymena's first Pride parade. He praises organisers and volunteers for continuing the event and welcomes two arrests linked to the incident.
Disability and equality Issue: Slurry spread ahead of Ballymena Pride parade Original release: Targeted intimidation will not silence Ballymena Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Cara Hunter MLA: No child should lose their mother to violence
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter calls for urgent support for the children of a woman killed in Donaghadee and for a coordinated government response to violence against women and girls. She says the strategy's funding is at risk and calls for the Executive to work with the UK Government on online…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Donaghadee woman killing and violence against women strategy Original release: Cara Hunter MLA: No child should lose their mother to violence (opens in a new tab)
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Paralympic hero meets SDLP Opposition to drive disabled sport change
SDLP Councillor Declan Norris calls for urgent action to improve disabled people's access to sport in schools, communities and elite competition, citing an 18% fall in participation over five years according to Disability Sport NI figures. The SDLP urges the Executive to work with schools…
Disability and equality Issue: Disability Sport NI report on falling disabled participation in sport Original release: Paralympic hero meets SDLP Opposition to drive disabled sport change (opens in a new tab)
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Intolerance Displayed Once Again Towards Orange Culture, and the Responsibility Does Not Lie Solely with the Perpetrators
TUV deputy leader and Belfast councillor Ron McDowell says Orange parades were attacked verbally and physically in multiple city locations, including his lodge on Royal Avenue, and questions why Loyal Order members receive less police and media protection than other groups.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Attacks on Orange parades in Belfast on 1 July 2025 Original release: Intolerance Displayed Once Again Towards Orange Culture, and the Responsibility Does Not Lie Solely with the Perpetrators (opens in a new tab)
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Allister tables motion in the Commons expressing concern at Equality Commission becoming a cheerleader for trans activism
TUV North Antrich MP Jim Allister says he has tabled an Early Day Motion in the Commons expressing dismay at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland exploring ways to get around the Supreme Court ruling on the legal meaning of "woman" and "man".
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Allister tables motion in the Commons expressing concern at Equality Commission becoming a cheerleader for trans activism (opens in a new tab)
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Councillor Lauren Kendall comments on the murder of Sarah Montgomery
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall mourns the murder of Sarah Montgomery and calls for the perpetrator to be brought to justice. She says the killing is part of a wider pattern of violence against women and calls for urgent action to dismantle the systems and attitudes that allow it.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder of Sarah Montgomery Original release: Councillor Lauren Kendall comments on the murder of Sarah Montgomery (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes publication of Protect Life 2 Action Plan
Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the publication of the Protect Life 2 Action Plan and Implementation Plan on suicide prevention and self-harm. He says a whole-government approach is needed and that the Minister has listened to an independent review and stakeholder…
Health Issue: Protect Life 2 suicide prevention action plan publication Original release: Chambers welcomes publication of Protect Life 2 Action Plan (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison and Guy question Education Minister commitment to SEN provision following placement crisis
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy question the Education Minister's commitment to special educational needs provision, saying he has not adequately responded to about 160 SEN children lacking school places for September. Guy calls on him to set out how every child will be placed and how…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs school placement shortfall for 2025/26 academic year Original release: Mathison and Guy question Education Minister commitment to SEN provision following placement crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance welcomes extra cash to promote social and racial cohesion
Alliance welcomes the Executive Office's announcement of an extra £220,000 for urgent work on social and racial cohesion, with Paula Bradshaw MLA backing a clear stance against racist or xenophobic violence. Stewart Dickson MLA says more direct action on prevention is needed.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office £220,000 funding for social and racial cohesion Original release: Alliance welcomes extra cash to promote social and racial cohesion (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes additional funding for departments
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes the Executive's £118 million allocation after the June monitoring round, citing £25 million each for health and education and £9 million for social and affordable homes. She also calls for an end to British government cuts.
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Executive £118 million allocation following June monitoring round Original release: Dolan welcomes additional funding for departments (opens in a new tab)
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Only a public inquiry can deliver truth for Sean Brown’s family – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan urges the UK government to set up an independent public inquiry into the 1997 killing of Sean Brown without further delay, as the Brown family travels to London to press their campaign.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Only a public inquiry can deliver truth for Sean Brown’s family – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must explain decision to oppose Irish signage at Grand Central Station – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has tabled an Urgent Oral Question to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons over his decision to join a legal challenge against Irish signage at Grand Central Station. Gildernew calls on the minister to explain his opposition to bilingual signs, given his responsibility…
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister legal challenge to Irish signage at Grand Central Station Original release: Communities Minister must explain decision to oppose Irish signage at Grand Central Station – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong comments on the murder of Sarah Montgomery
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong expresses horror at the killing of Sarah Montgomery and says 27 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020. She urges the Executive to hold an emergency meeting on immediate protective steps, including tougher sentences and more PSNI resources.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder of Sarah Montgomery Original release: Armstrong comments on the murder of Sarah Montgomery (opens in a new tab)
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Consistent standards needed to address divisive rhetoric - Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA calls for consistent accountability over multiple provocative statements by the Belfast rap trio Kneecap, arguing their rhetoric has crossed into incitement and that criticism should be applied equally to other divisive acts such as a sectarian bonfire mattress…
Community relations and legacy Original release: Consistent standards needed to address divisive rhetoric - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Labour must completely abandon benefit cuts, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls on the Labour Government to abandon its benefit cuts Bill entirely ahead of Tuesday's vote, arguing the cuts would disproportionately affect Northern Ireland, where over 11% of residents receive PIP.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Commons vote on Labour welfare cuts amendment Original release: Labour must completely abandon benefit cuts, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Spreading of slurry an attempt to intimidate Ballymena Pride – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan condemns the spreading of slurry in Ballymena, calling it a disgraceful hate‑crime intended to intimidate the town’s first pride parade, welcomes the arrest and pledges Sinn Féin’s continued support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Slurry spread ahead of Ballymena Pride parade Original release: Spreading of slurry an attempt to intimidate Ballymena Pride – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance slams those behind slurry spreading, night before first Ballymena Pride
North Antrim Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland condemns those who spread slurry on Ballymena streets the night before the town's first Pride parade. She says she has spoken to organisers and the PSNI, and urges anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Slurry spread ahead of Ballymena Pride parade Original release: Alliance slams those behind slurry spreading, night before first Ballymena Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Compassion and legal clarity needed following Equality Commission’s paper on British Supreme Court judgment on gender – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says compassion and legal clarity are needed after the Equality Commission published a paper on the legal position in the north following the British Supreme Court judgment on gender. She says the Commission's plan to seek clarification from the Court is…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Equality Commission response to Supreme Court sex-based protections judgment Original release: Compassion and legal clarity needed following Equality Commission’s paper on British Supreme Court judgment on gender – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister's attacks on SEN pupils and education staff a new low - Gerry Carroll MLA
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll accuses the Education Minister and Education Authority of shifting blame for a shortage of SEN school places onto schools. He calls for them to listen to families and education unions and reverse their decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Education Minister's attacks on SEN pupils and education staff a new low - Gerry Carroll MLA (opens in a new tab)
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British government should scrap ‘shameful’ welfare cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the British government to scrap its proposed welfare reforms, which he says would remove support disabled people need to enter or stay in work and could affect carers allowance. He made the call after the party submitted its consultation response.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: British government welfare reform consultation Sinn Féin response Original release: British government should scrap ‘shameful’ welfare cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)