Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
1,531 releases
-
Brogan welcomes plan for two new special schools
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes Education Authority plans to build two new special schools, citing a rise of about 500 pupils in special schools in a year to around 7,150 in September 2022.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority plan to build two new special schools Original release: Brogan welcomes plan for two new special schools (opens in a new tab)
-
Sheehan welcomes plan to increase Irish medium schools
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Education Authority plans to expand Irish-medium post-primary provision across the north, citing rising enrolments. He calls on the EA to deliver the plan and secure new first-class facilities for Irish-language pupils.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority Irish-medium post-primary expansion plan Original release: Sheehan welcomes plan to increase Irish medium schools (opens in a new tab)
-
Tennyson launches new All Party Group on LGBTQIA+ Equality
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says he is launching an All Party Group on LGBTQIA+ Equality to make LGBTQIA+ rights a priority this Assembly term. It will examine healthcare inequalities, school bullying, hate crime, the long-delayed LGBTQI+ strategy and banning conversion therapy.
Disability and equality Issue: Launch of All Party Group on LGBTQIA+ Equality Original release: Tennyson launches new All Party Group on LGBTQIA+ Equality (opens in a new tab)
-
Pakistan Floods: Bearing The Brunt Of Capitalism’s Crimes
People Before Profit says Pakistan's floods, with over 1,400 dead and 33 million affected, are a consequence of capitalism and fossil fuel extraction. It calls for cancellation of Pakistan's national debt alongside international aid, and for ecosocialist solutions.
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: Pakistan floods 2022 humanitarian crisis Original release: Pakistan Floods: Bearing The Brunt Of Capitalism’s Crimes (opens in a new tab)
-
Acute Transport Crisis Affecting Children with Special Needs - Brolly
Aontú's education spokesperson Gemma Brolly has asked the Infrastructure Minister to urgently review school transport arrangements, especially for children with special educational needs, citing a shortage of licensed taxi drivers and operators. She urges reinstating earlier support measures that…
Education Infrastructure and transport Original release: Acute Transport Crisis Affecting Children with Special Needs - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP deadlock causing climate delay, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says the absence of a functioning Assembly is holding back climate action, with Climate Act actions delayed by the DUP's refusal to form an administration. He calls for an urgently restored Executive and a Green New Deal.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: DUP deadlock causing climate delay, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent action required to prevent further fish kills after latest incident, says Eastwood
Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood calls for DAERA to investigate a reported fish kill at the River Lagan near Dromore and other major fish kills across Northern Ireland to prevent repeats, and renews Alliance's call for an independent Environment Agency.
Environment and climate Issue: River Lagan fish kill at Thorneyford near Dromore Original release: Urgent action required to prevent further fish kills after latest incident, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for health Trusts to clarify how ending free lateral flow COVID tests from Monday will affect respite and day‑care provision, urging assurances that these services are restored to pre‑pandemic levels.
Health Disability and equality Issue: End of free lateral flow COVID tests Original release: Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests (opens in a new tab)
-
Time to ‘supercharge’ town centre regeneration, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for a Green New Deal and investment in town centre regeneration, including EV charging hubs, to boost footfall, decarbonise the economy and create green jobs. He also blames ongoing political deadlock for risking economic growth.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Time to ‘supercharge’ town centre regeneration, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter urges action on banning single-use plastics in the North, noting Scotland introduced such a ban last week. She says the New Decade, New Approach pledge to end plastic pollution has seen little progress and blames the lack of a functioning Stormont.
Environment and climate Issue: Scotland single-use plastics ban introduction Original release: Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
-
Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara
The Green Party NI announces that Cllr Mal O'Hara has been selected as its new leader, unopposed, after Clare Bailey chose not to stand following the Assembly election. O'Hara says he will offer green solutions to cost of living, housing and climate challenges.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Green Party NI election of new leader Mal O'Hara Original release: Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for a review of how Maternity Allowance is treated under Universal Credit, where it is deducted from awards unlike Statutory Maternity Pay, and urges the Communities Minister to press Westminster on the policy.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent intervention needed for adult ADHD provision – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls on Health Minister Robin Swann to intervene urgently for adult ADHD services after a constituent was refused NHS medication following a private diagnosis and the Northern Trust reportedly refuses adult referrals.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Urgent intervention needed for adult ADHD provision – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
McKee calls for plan to finally end plastic pollution this Marine Week
Green Party councillor Barry McKee calls on DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to produce a plan to end plastic pollution during Marine Week, noting no plan has followed a 2021 call for evidence. He also points to Ards and North Down council's single-use plastic ban and refill scheme and urges a shift to…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: McKee calls for plan to finally end plastic pollution this Marine Week (opens in a new tab)
-
Woodland restoration vital if Northern Ireland serious about a green recovery, says Burbank
Alliance Councillor Jay Burbank says investment in woodland restoration is essential for a credible green recovery. He welcomes Antrim & Newtownabbey council's talks with Forest Service NI on improving public access to three local forests, and calls for large-scale protection, restoration and…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Woodland restoration vital if Northern Ireland serious about a green recovery, says Burbank (opens in a new tab)
-
No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane expresses dismay at attempts to stop children and young people playing Gaelic Games at Victoria Park in East Belfast. He calls for work on a playing surface there to continue, saying discrimination based on choice of sport has no place in society.
Disability and equality Issue: Victoria Park East Belfast Gaelic Games pitch works halted Original release: No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
-
Green Party Statement on British Petroleum posting it’s biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years.
Green Party Deputy Leader Cllr Mal O'Hara calls for the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive and for emergency action on energy bills, after BP reported its biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years. He urges restoring the Universal Credit uplift and expanding renewable energy.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: BP biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years Original release: Green Party Statement on British Petroleum posting it’s biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years. (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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)
-
Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says Northern Ireland is lagging behind on electric vehicle charging after the Department for Infrastructure confirmed it is still only in discussions with other departments. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to set out how DFI will meet impending EU-derived minimum…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: DFI response on electric vehicle charging provision discussions Original release: Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir (opens in a new tab)