Latest releases
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1,576 releases
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Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation
DUP's Sammy Wilson welcomes progress of the Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill through Commons scrutiny, saying it is needed to stop trophy hunting of near-extinct animals. He warns the bill cannot cover Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, creating a smuggling loophole, and urges…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill Commons scrutiny Original release: Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP LGBT+ Gender Identity Awareness Training
SDLP LGBT+ is inviting all party members to a two-hour gender identity awareness session run with the Rainbow Project on Monday 13 February at 7:30pm. Topics will include language use, sexual orientation and gender identity, and inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community, with Zoom details sent after…
Disability and equality Original release: SDLP LGBT+ Gender Identity Awareness Training (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard slams intimidatory sign at local school
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard condemns a 'racist and intimidatory' sign placed outside a school in Clough that attacked Irish-language learners and named the school. He urges anyone with information to contact the police.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Clough school intimidatory sign targeting Irish-language learners Original release: Hazzard slams intimidatory sign at local school (opens in a new tab)
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Kelly celebrates introduction of paid bereavement leave for early pregnancy loss and miscarriage for Belfast City Council staff
Alliance Belfast Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Kelly welcomes Belfast City Council's forthcoming paid leave for staff dealing with early pregnancy loss and miscarriage, taking effect on 1 February after equality screening. It gives 10 days at full pay for miscarriage and 3 days for a…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council paid leave policy for pregnancy loss and miscarriage Original release: Kelly celebrates introduction of paid bereavement leave for early pregnancy loss and miscarriage for Belfast City Council staff (opens in a new tab)
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North Down Green councillors attempt to halt Greenway plans
Green Party councillors Stephen Dunlop and Rachel Woods say they will not support the current Kinnegar to Donaghadee Greenway plans, seconding a motion to pause the planning application and calling for smaller sections with community input.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Kinnegar to Donaghadee Greenway planning application pause motion Original release: North Down Green councillors attempt to halt Greenway plans (opens in a new tab)
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Prime Minister challenged on ensuring religious freedom
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP challenges the Prime Minister in the Commons to review UK laws so that religious freedom is protected, after Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for silent prayer near a Birmingham abortion facility.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce arrest and charge under Birmingham buffer zone Original release: Prime Minister challenged on ensuring religious freedom (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Deposit Return Scheme effectiveness depends on cross-border cooperation
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has written to DAERA and Irish Minister Ossian Smyth asking for an all-island approach to the planned Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, which DAERA says will launch in Northern Ireland in 2025. He argues cross-border working would deter fraud and bring economies…
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA confirmation of 2025 Deposit Return Scheme launch in Northern Ireland Original release: Durkan: Deposit Return Scheme effectiveness depends on cross-border cooperation (opens in a new tab)
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Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler, who speaks on education for the party, condemns proposed £110m cuts to Department of Education services as unconscionable. He warns they would hit vulnerable children and non-statutory services, and calls on the Secretary of State to reverse the cuts while Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £110m Department of Education budget cuts Original release: Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Chinese New Year
South Belfast MLA and Chair of the All Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities Kate Nicholl wishes people a happy Chinese New Year, marking the Year of the Rabbit and praising Belfast's Chinese community. She calls for joint working between government and stakeholders to secure racial equality…
Disability and equality Original release: Nicholl marks Chinese New Year (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics
Green Party councillor Rachel Woods reacts to PSNI figures showing a rise in domestic abuse calls over Christmas, with 3,604 calls logged and a 10% increase on Christmas Day. She calls for Northern Ireland to adopt a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, noting it is the sole UK region…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI figures on domestic abuse calls over Christmas 2022 Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Smyth welcomes Westminster intervention to block Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill
TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth welcomes the UK Government's plan to lay a Section 35 order blocking Scotland's Gender Reform Bill, arguing it protects women and girls and accusing Alliance's Stephen Farry and Eóin Tennyson of hypocrisy.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Section 35 order to block Scotland's Gender Reform Bill Original release: Smyth welcomes Westminster intervention to block Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Retained EU Law Bill threatens gender equality in the workplace, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, due at its remaining Commons stages, threatens workplace protections such as holiday pay, maternity leave and equal pay, and risks women's rights. She says the party will oppose it.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill Commons stages Original release: Retained EU Law Bill threatens gender equality in the workplace, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Martin Luther King Day and says his fight against racial inequality is still just as relevant today
Alliance Spokesperson for Migration Kate Nicholl MLA marks Martin Luther King Day, saying his fight against racial inequality remains as relevant today. She cites the 2022 killing of Keenan Anderson by Los Angeles police and says Black communities face violence from both police and white…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: Nicholl marks Martin Luther King Day and says his fight against racial inequality is still just as relevant today (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast is the 50th most congested city in the world - Cllr Mal O'Hara
Green Party councillor Malachi O'Hara responds to a report ranking Belfast 50th most congested city worldwide, blaming successive Executives for failing to invest in public transport and cut car dependence. He says the Assembly's 2020 climate emergency declaration has produced little action, and…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast ranked 50th most congested city worldwide report Original release: Belfast is the 50th most congested city in the world - Cllr Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Hub will be transformative for LGBT+ community
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite says a proposed LGBT+ hub in Belfast would be transformative for the city's LGBT+ community after the council launched a public consultation on it. He encourages the public to respond to the consultation.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council LGBT+ hub public consultation launch Original release: de Faoite: Hub will be transformative for LGBT+ community (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Kate Nicholl say they met DAERA's Permanent Secretary and senior team about pressures from having no Minister, including climate and environmental protection and budgets. Blair calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and reform the institutions.
Environment and climate Issue: Alliance meeting with DAERA Permanent Secretary on Ministerial vacancy Original release: Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan urges the North to move forward with a ban on single-use plastics after England announced one would proceed before year's end. He points to Scotland's ban, Wales' plans and the New Decade, New Approach pledge on plastic pollution.
Environment and climate Issue: England single-use plastics ban announcement January 2023 Original release: Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says Northern Ireland's childcare system is broken and threatening working mothers' incomes amid the cost of living crisis. She calls for restoring the Assembly and delivering a fully costed Early Learning and Childcare Strategy urgently, and urges the DUP to end its…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence
First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill invites MLAs of all parties to attend a silent vigil at the front of Parliament Buildings at 2 pm on Thursday 5 January, to honour Natalie McNally – who was murdered while pregnant – and all victims of gender‑based violence.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Natalie McNally murder vigil Original release: O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence (opens in a new tab)
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2023: Socialism Is The Answer To A World In Crisis
People Before Profit's New Year message looks back at 2022, arguing that inflation, climate inaction, reproductive rights, the war in Ukraine and Irish housing and health crises show capitalism is failing, and calls for Ireland's first left-wing government.
Economy and employment International affairs Original release: 2023: Socialism Is The Answer To A World In Crisis (opens in a new tab)