Latest releases
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1,574 releases
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‘Children with no school places need certainty from education minister’ – Sheehan - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister and Education Authority to give pupils with special educational needs and their families clarity on school placements for September, after reports that 300 such children lack a place. He also blames the DUP's boycott for stalling an Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 300 SEN pupils without school places for September Original release: ‘Children with no school places need certainty from education minister’ – Sheehan - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Cost of Fuel could leave some motability car users housebound - Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle says rising fuel and maintenance costs are pushing some disabled Motability car users in Derry to consider handing back their vehicles, and calls on Motability to extend its fuel-price payment to existing customers with long-term agreements.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: Cost of Fuel could leave some motability car users housebound - Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Children with special educational needs left behind yet again, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says children with special educational needs have been left behind again after reports that over 300 lack a school place for September. She blames area planning failures by the Education Minister and the Education Authority, and calls for the…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 300 SEN pupils without school places for September Original release: Children with special educational needs left behind yet again, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan dismayed at lack of school places for SEN children
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan says he is dismayed that more than 300 children with special educational needs lack a school place for September, and blames the Education Authority for repeated failures and weak strategic planning. He calls for the placements to be confirmed…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 300 SEN pupils without school places for September Original release: McCrossan dismayed at lack of school places for SEN children (opens in a new tab)
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Figures for women still travelling to GB for healthcare nothing short of an outrage, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says latest figures showing 161 women travelled from Northern Ireland to England or Wales for reproductive healthcare in 2021 are outrageous. She says the law on abortion is not being implemented and calls for those services to be provided locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Figures on Northern Ireland women travelling to GB for reproductive healthcare in 2021 Original release: Figures for women still travelling to GB for healthcare nothing short of an outrage, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI ‘Spit Hood’ Justification Can’t Be Trusted
People Before Profit Cllr Maeve O'Neill says the PSNI's decision to make spit hood use permanent is unjustifiable, citing refusal to publish consultation findings on equality impact and reported disproportionate use on disabled people, Catholic-background people and children.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI decision to make spit hood use permanent Original release: PSNI ‘Spit Hood’ Justification Can’t Be Trusted (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Lee Calls For Regional Model For Learning Disability Services
Cllr Simon Lee urges the Health Minister to acknowledge pandemic‑induced isolation and reduced provision for people with learning disabilities, and calls for a rapid rollout of a regional service model to end postcode‑based inequities.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Learning Disability Week service disruption Original release: Cllr Lee Calls For Regional Model For Learning Disability Services (opens in a new tab)
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Michelle O'Neill speech at Bodenstown - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán and First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the party is ready to form an Executive now, calls on the DUP to stop blocking it, and urges more funding for the cost of living and health service. She also says the Protocol is working and calls for the Irish Government…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Michelle O'Neill speech at Bodenstown - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Dereliction of Exec Duty on Clean Air, Says Green Party Deputy Leader
Green Party Deputy Leader Cllr Malachai O'Hara accuses the Executive parties of neglecting air quality by not producing a Clean Air Strategy, as Clean Air Day passes. He calls for the adoption of WHO air pollution limits, a ban on polluting fuels, and enabling legislation for clean air zones.
Environment and climate Health Original release: Dereliction of Exec Duty on Clean Air, Says Green Party Deputy Leader (opens in a new tab)
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Dereliction of Duty on Clean Air, Says Green Party Deputy
Green Party Deputy Leader Mal O'Hara accuses the Executive parties of neglecting their responsibilities by not producing a Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland, and calls for one that bans polluting fuels, enables clean air zones and adopts WHO pollution limits.
Environment and climate Health Issue: Clean Air Day and absence of a Northern Ireland Clean Air Strategy Original release: Dereliction of Duty on Clean Air, Says Green Party Deputy (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald criticises awarding of mineral licences for Dalradian Gold - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Economy Caoimhe Archibald criticises the Department of the Economy's award of mineral licences to Dalradian Gold, saying local concerns about environmental and health impacts were not addressed. She calls for a public inquiry, an urgent review of the mineral licensing…
Environment and climate Issue: Dalradian Gold mineral licences awarded by Department of the Economy Original release: Archibald criticises awarding of mineral licences for Dalradian Gold - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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No justification for excluding trans people from ban on so-called conversion therapy, says Farry
Alliance MP Stephen Farry says excluding trans people from a planned ban on so-called conversion therapy has no justification and calls on the UK Government to extend any ban to Northern Ireland while the Executive is not functioning, ahead of a Westminster debate on a petition with over 145,000…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Westminster debate on excluding trans people from conversion therapy ban Original release: No justification for excluding trans people from ban on so-called conversion therapy, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says carers must be more visible and valued in society, marking Carers Week 2022. She commits to taking forward Private Members Legislation on carers' rights, initiated earlier by colleague Mervyn Storey, to bring Northern Ireland level with England, Scotland and Wales.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Western Trust's plan to restart early abortion services in July after their April 2021 suspension, but says the service should never have been suspended. She blames the Health Minister's inaction on commissioning and calls for a fully…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Western Trust early abortion services resumption announcement Original release: ‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Long way to go on emissions – Cllr Mal O'Hara
Green Party NI Deputy Leader Cllr Mal O'Hara says Northern Ireland still has a long way to go to cut greenhouse gas emissions, citing 2020 statistics showing a 23.9% fall since 1990 that lags behind England, Scotland and Wales. He calls for implementation of the Climate Change Act and changes to…
Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland greenhouse gas emissions statistics 2020 publication Original release: Long way to go on emissions – Cllr Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish
South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Finance considering reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish or bilingual English and Irish, following a written question. She urges the Finance Minister to make new certificates available as soon as possible.
Disability and equality Issue: Department of Finance consideration of reissuing birth certificates in Irish Original release: Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's agreement to begin work on inclusive play, with officers tasked to produce a full report, while saying the delay is disappointing. He cites PlayBoard NI and Mae Murray Foundation research on families excluded from play parks and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on inclusive play parks Original release: Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Ards and North Down Sustainability Policy welcomed
Green Party councillors in North Down welcome Ards and North Down Borough Council's approval of a new Sustainability Policy, with Cllr Barry McKee calling it a first step and urging immediate action on fuel poverty, insulation and retrofitting. Cllr Stephen Dunlop and Cllr Lauren Kendall back a…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Borough Council Sustainability Policy approval Original release: Ards and North Down Sustainability Policy welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong repeats her call for all respite and day care services for disabled people and older people to reopen during Carers Week. She says carers are exhausted, notes the Health Minister has asked for a review of each Trust's reopening pathway, and says carers now need support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: PSNI must act over sexist WhatsApp group
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the PSNI and Chief Constable Simon Byrne to send a clear message that sexist, pornographic and racist messages shared by serving officers in a WhatsApp group will not be tolerated. She says the case raises concerns about PSNI culture.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: TV documentary allegations about PSNI culture Original release: McLaughlin: PSNI must act over sexist WhatsApp group (opens in a new tab)