Latest releases
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4,948 releases
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Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure all schools, including grammar schools, provide special educational needs placements. He says non-selective schools have carried most of the load and calls for a new approach, and has called for a committee inquiry into the issue.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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EU noose now tightens on farm machinery
TUV leader Jim Allister says the EU, through law 2023/1231, now requires agricultural vehicles and machinery moving from GB to NI to carry EU-prescribed labelling, which he calls a sovereignty grab. He argues this exposes the DUP-backed Donaldson deal as failing to remove the Irish Sea border.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Enforcement of EU requirements on used agricultural machinery from Great Britain Original release: EU noose now tightens on farm machinery (opens in a new tab)
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Brolly: Less time on social media videos and more on legislation could have saved A5
Aontú Deputy Leader Mrs Brolly says a court ruling halting the A5 on Climate Change Act grounds is a devastating result for families bereaved on the road. She blames SDLP, Sinn Féin, PBP and Alliance for backing the Act, claims they were warned of its impact, and calls for the Executive to get…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: A5 road scheme judicial review ruling Original release: Brolly: Less time on social media videos and more on legislation could have saved A5 (opens in a new tab)
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Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nick Mathison say the Education Minister must explore all options to resolve the special educational needs placement crisis, after the Education Authority reported over 160 children still lack confirmed school places for next year.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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‘Urgent, universal collective action’ needed to end Israeli impunity in Gaza – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for "urgent, universal collective action" to end Israeli impunity in Gaza after the Assembly backed a motion condemning it, citing deaths, child malnutrition and destroyed health and water systems.
International affairs Health Issue: Assembly motion condemning Israeli impunity in Gaza Original release: ‘Urgent, universal collective action’ needed to end Israeli impunity in Gaza – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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November must be the last Presidential election that excludes citizens in the North and the diaspora – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calls for November's presidential election to be the last to exclude Irish citizens in the North and abroad, and urges the government to set a referendum date and timeline. Her Dáil motion seeks presidential voting rights for citizens across the island and the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Dáil motion on presidential voting rights for citizens abroad Original release: November must be the last Presidential election that excludes citizens in the North and the diaspora – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes a new Sinn Féin bill, introduced by TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne, to end RTÉ geo-blocking and the exclusion of northern audiences from its competitions. He says the bill would require broadcasters to make reasonable efforts and would ask Coimisiún na…
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State should listen to Omagh victims’ families – Robinson
DUP Leader Rt Hon Gavin Robinson MP says the Omagh bombing victims’ families, speaking at the public inquiry, demand that Secretary of State Hilary Benn apologise for praising the UK‑Ireland memorandum of understanding, which they deem unsatisfactory.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Secretary of State's remarks on Omagh Memorandum of Understanding at NIAC Original release: Secretary of State should listen to Omagh victims’ families – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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FSB report confirms dire consequences of Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister says a Federation of Small Businesses report shows worsening economic harm from the Irish Sea border, citing 58% of GB-to-NI traders reporting frictions and 34% having stopped trading. He calls on the UK government to act under Article 16.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: FSB Windsor Framework Realities report on Irish Sea border trade impacts Original release: FSB report confirms dire consequences of Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne say they have been given leave to introduce a first-stage Dáil bill requiring RTÉ to end the exclusion of Six County audiences from its services, including geo-blocking and audience competitions.
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party leader warns against SDLP populism to unpick the Climate Act
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the SDLP of populism over its call to unpick the Climate Act 2022 to fund a road project. He says the SDLP voted to split climate targets and backed Going for Growth, and calls for the money to fund A5 road safety and a Portadown to Derry rail line instead.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: SDLP call to unpick the Climate Act for A5 road Original release: Green Party leader warns against SDLP populism to unpick the Climate Act (opens in a new tab)
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£200 million over next five years will be welcome boost for PSNI – Chambers
UUP Policing Board member Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the £200m over five years for the PSNI but says it is a stopgap, arguing the Patton Report's 7,500 officer target remains unmet after years of under-funding. He questions the £7m figure and whether the Executive has approved the funding, and…
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: £200m five-year PSNI funding announcement Original release: £200 million over next five years will be welcome boost for PSNI – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister ignoring consequences of NI Water underfunding
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Infrastructure Minister is ignoring the scale of the crisis at NI Water, claiming current funding cannot fix ageing wastewater infrastructure and calling for the Minister to deliver the required money.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Water unauthorised overspend investigation report Original release: Durkan: Minister ignoring consequences of NI Water underfunding (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP stands against Welfare Bill
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs two reasoned amendments, signed with Colum Eastwood, to block the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its Commons Second Reading. She warns the welfare reforms will push hundreds of thousands into poverty, hitting Northern Ireland hardest…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Commons Second Reading Original release: SDLP stands against Welfare Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister responds to A5 ruling
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MLA responds to the ruling on the A5 road, saying farmers in West Tyrone will be relieved and blaming MLAs who backed the Climate Change Act for the fallout. He claims Northern Ireland is being strangled by net zero, with infrastructure, agriculture and industry…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road scheme judicial review ruling Original release: Jim Allister responds to A5 ruling (opens in a new tab)
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A5 ruling adds to uncertainty- Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, Chair of the Stormont Infrastructure Committee, says the A5 judicial review ruling creates uncertainty for families, farmers and landowners and calls for urgent clarity from DfI on the scheme's future. She says the handling of the scheme has been deeply flawed and…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: A5 road scheme judicial review ruling Original release: A5 ruling adds to uncertainty- Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Allister tables motion on 9th anniversary of Brexit referendum
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, has tabled a Commons motion marking the ninth anniversary of the Brexit referendum. It says Brexit has not been delivered for Northern Ireland and calls on the UK government to restore control over the whole UK and manage the EU border through mutual…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Commons motion on ninth anniversary of Brexit referendum Original release: Allister tables motion on 9th anniversary of Brexit referendum (opens in a new tab)
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Education system continues to fail vulnerable young SEN people and their families, say Mathison and Guy
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the education system is failing vulnerable SEN children, pointing to poor communication, delayed statements and over 150 pupils still without school places, and call for a radical overhaul and cross‑departmental legislation to secure post‑19 pathways.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Equity in Education event reveals SEN support failures Original release: Education system continues to fail vulnerable young SEN people and their families, say Mathison and Guy (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP condemns ‘appalling and disturbing’ attack on Belfast Islamic Centre
SDLP MPs and MLAs Claire Hanna and Matthew O'Toole condemn an attack on the Belfast Islamic Centre, where a device was thrown through a window during prayers. They call for consistent political leadership against hate and for the Executive to deliver its anti-racism and integration strategies.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Attack on Belfast Islamic Centre while people inside Original release: SDLP condemns ‘appalling and disturbing’ attack on Belfast Islamic Centre (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes new legislation on spiking but urges further action to protect women
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the Justice Minister's move to bring forward a Legislative Consent Motion making drink spiking an offence in its own right, and calls for licensed venues to be required to supply testing kits.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of anti-spiking legislative consent motion Original release: McLaughlin welcomes new legislation on spiking but urges further action to protect women (opens in a new tab)