Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
11,733 releases
-
Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's announcement that he will introduce Jade's Law, which would automatically suspend parental responsibility for a parent convicted of killing the other parent. She also points to Sinn Féin TDs backing Valerie's Law in the south.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister announces introduction of Jade's Law Original release: Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Executive must deal with wildfire causes
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath urges the Executive to address the root causes of wildfires after recent fires in the Mournes and elsewhere, saying previous plans lacked funding or were never implemented and calling an end to the repeated cycle.
Environment and climate Issue: Recent wildfires in the Mourne Mountains and other parts of the North Original release: McGrath: Executive must deal with wildfire causes (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP says she has written to the UK Prime Minister and Taoiseach urging them to start formal cross-party talks on Stormont institutional reform, aiming to agree a focused package before the May 2027 Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Original release: SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte welcomes Department of Education money for a major expansion at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, saying the new facilities will transform the learning environment and urging the Minister to prevent further delays.
Education Local government Issue: Funding announced for Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School extension Original release: Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP welcomes Springhill Inquest findings
SDLP welcomes inquest findings that the killing of five civilians in Springhill was unlawful, and calls on the British Government to remove the unlawful disclosure regime in the Troubles Act and bring forward a victim-centred Legacy Bill compliant with international law. SDLP West Belfast…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Springhill and Westrock 1972 inquest verdict Original release: SDLP welcomes Springhill Inquest findings (opens in a new tab)
-
Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA hits back at Justice Minister Naomi Long after her Nolan Show appearance, saying the PSNI is underfunded and blaming the Justice Department and Alliance for failing to fight for policing funding.
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Justice Minister Naomi Long's Nolan Show comments on policing funding Original release: Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis (opens in a new tab)
-
Policing Board Review response a triumph of indecision, says Beattie
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says Justice Minister Naomi Long’s reply to the Independent Review of the Northern Ireland Policing Board is a “triumph of indecision”, criticising the acceptance of only five of 18 recommendations and urging the minister to step aside.
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Minister Naomi Long's response to Policing Board review Original release: Policing Board Review response a triumph of indecision, says Beattie (opens in a new tab)
-
Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes confirmation that the new Regional Mother and Baby Unit will be located at Belfast City Hospital, but says it is disappointing that no interim provision will be in place before the facility opens.
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
-
Egan welcomes commitment to bring forward reforms similar to Jade’s Law
Alliance VAWG spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the Department of Finance's commitment to bring in family law reforms modelled on Jade's Law, but says concrete action must now follow. She cites engagement with Women's Aid and the NSPCC and a meeting with the Finance Minister.
Justice and policing Issue: Finance Minister announces introduction of Jade's Law Original release: Egan welcomes commitment to bring forward reforms similar to Jade’s Law (opens in a new tab)
-
Delay in appointment of Climate Commissioner inexcusable, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA says the continued vacancy of the Climate Commissioner post, which legislation requires, is inexcusable, and accuses the DUP of deliberately stalling the appointment despite regulations being in place for over a year. She argues a commissioner would help deliver…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Delay in appointment of Climate Commissioner inexcusable, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Not just Provo tactics but Provo hardware deployed in police station bomb
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell says reports that a Dunmurry police station bomb used Provisional IRA explosives raise troubling questions about decommissioning, and calls on O'Neill and Republicans who celebrate the IRA to account for this.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Explosion outside Dunmurry police station Original release: Not just Provo tactics but Provo hardware deployed in police station bomb (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Springhill/Westrock massacre families have been inspirational’ – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly sends best wishes to the families of the Springhill/Westrock victims ahead of the inquest verdict due tomorrow, praising their 54-year campaign for truth and justice.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Springhill Massacre inquest verdict date announcement Original release: ‘Springhill/Westrock massacre families have been inspirational’ – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
-
Serious safeguarding questions as school allows return of pupil who made rape threats
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is shocked that City of Armagh High School will readmit a newcomer pupil after a prolonged suspension for rape threats against two 11-year-old girls, and calls on the Education Authority to change its committee investigation guidance so victims' voices are heard. He…
Education Justice and policing Issue: City of Armagh High School readmission of pupil who made rape threats Original release: Serious safeguarding questions as school allows return of pupil who made rape threats (opens in a new tab)
-
Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law
UUP MP Robin Swann and Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcome Royal Assent for the Tobacco and Vapes Act, calling it a landmark for public health in Northern Ireland. Chambers says smoking causes over 2,000 deaths a year locally and credits the Assembly's Legislative Consent Motion request.
Health Issue: Tobacco and Vapes Act receives Royal Assent Original release: Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the passage of Northern Ireland’s inaugural Sign Language Bill is a historic day for Deaf people, welcoming the new law that recognises British and Irish Sign Language and imposes duties on public bodies to improve accessibility.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community (opens in a new tab)
-
Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly’s passage of the Sign Language Bill, saying it gives legal recognition to Irish and British Sign Language and places a duty on bodies to provide accessible services for deaf and deaf‑blind people.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Strategy without action is failing the Mournes – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard calls for political will to protect the Mournes from deliberate landscape fires, saying a new wildfire framework from the Environment Minister is welcome but must be matched by timely action. He urges tighter enforcement, including licensing and penalties, and more…
Environment and climate Issue: Environment Minister's wildfire strategy framework Original release: Strategy without action is failing the Mournes – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
-
Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan call on the Irish government to use its EU Presidency to advance unity, peace and social justice, including starting EU-level discussions on Irish reunification and representation for the North. Boylan also urges calls for suspension of the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency Original release: Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP (opens in a new tab)
-
Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns a Housing Executive eviction in west Belfast, where masked men carried out the removal of a family under PSNI presence. He says the Housing Executive's succession policy has left families homeless after bereavements and blames Stormont for not…
Housing Issue: West Belfast Housing Executive succession eviction of family Original release: Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation
DUP MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Forsythe welcome a motion passed by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council calling for a local planning policy on HMOs to tackle their concentration, particularly in Portadown.
Housing Local government Issue: Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council HMO proliferation motion Original release: DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation (opens in a new tab)