Latest releases
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3,576 releases
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Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says over £437,000 has been spent on Irish language interpretation in the Assembly, calling it a waste, and criticises the simultaneous translation system made permanent after a six-month review. His release also cites Assembly Commission answers on the Interpretation and…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Commission review of Irish language interpretation service Original release: Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a £1.2million pilot Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund for young children with special educational needs. Settings with a child undergoing statutory assessment will receive £750 per month per class, with payments in tranches.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund pilot announcement Original release: Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with… (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit.
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes plans to extend free sight tests, dental treatment and hospital travel help to Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland, saying realignment with the UK should happen within six months, followed by a six-week consultation.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit eyecare and health cost entitlement realignment with UK Original release: Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit. (opens in a new tab)
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Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote.
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair calls the AERA Committee's rejection of tougher penalties for repeat waterway polluters "shameful", blaming Sinn Féin, DUP, UUP and SDLP for blocking the restrictions and demanding they account for their reversal on environmental protection.
Environment and climate Issue: AERA Committee vote on tougher waterway pollution penalties Original release: Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote. (opens in a new tab)
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Website launched to build support for Mutual Enforcement Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister says a new website urges people across the UK to write to their MPs backing his Mutual Enforcement Bill ahead of its Second Reading on 6 December. He highlights support from Unionist MPs, several Conservative and Reform UK figures and Labour MP Graham Stringer.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Website launch to build support for Mutual Enforcement Bill Original release: Website launched to build support for Mutual Enforcement Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson challenges Prime Minister
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says he challenged the Prime Minister over the Labour budget in a Westminster meeting, claiming it is taxing businesses to death. He calls on Labour to implement Safeguarding the Union commitments and says Intertrade UK and the Independent Monitoring Panel must be…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Labour budget and DUP meeting with Prime Minister Starmer Original release: Robinson challenges Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Executive must do more to support frontline services, after Women's Aid's annual report showed almost 11,000 referrals in 2023/24, up 600 on the previous year. She calls for greater investment across all departments.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Women's Aid annual report 2023/24 referrals increase Original release: McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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Dublin silence on border checks highlights hypocrisy: Dodds
DUP peer Lord Dodds says Irish immigration checks on people crossing the border expose Irish governments' earlier opposition to a hard border as hypocrisy, calling for the UK government to assert sovereignty over the Irish Sea border and pointing to mutual enforcement as an alternative.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Irish immigration checks on people crossing the border Original release: Dublin silence on border checks highlights hypocrisy: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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‘Decisive general election can be a watershed for a new future’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA writes in An Phoblacht that voters in the 26 counties face a choice between Sinn Féin's plan for change and more of the same from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. He calls for unity referendum dates to be set before the decade ends, citing housing…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Irish general election 2024 Sinn Féin campaign and Irish unity Original release: ‘Decisive general election can be a watershed for a new future’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart argues that the 'dignity' language used by assisted suicide campaigners, such as Dignity in Dying, is a misleading framing. She says legalising assisted suicide would lower the perceived worth of disabled, poor and homeless people, citing a Canadian poll on MAID eligibility.
Disability and equality Health Original release: ‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives
Education Disability and equality Original release: Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Allister defends Ulster Banner display at Commonwealth Games
TUV leader Jim Allister has written to Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland chief executive Conal Heatley criticising comments about changing the Ulster Banner's use at the Games. He says the remarks politicise CWGNI, cites the Flags, Identity, Culture and Traditions Report, and argues athletes…
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland proposal to change Ulster Banner use Original release: Allister defends Ulster Banner display at Commonwealth Games (opens in a new tab)
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‘Anyone contaminating waterways must face full extent of the law’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney says he is deeply concerned that no one will be prosecuted over the 2023 Crumlin River pollution that killed fish, and calls for anyone polluting waterways to face the law fully, plus legislative change and stronger enforcement, urging DAERA to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Crumlin River pollution incident 2023 no prosecutions Original release: ‘Anyone contaminating waterways must face full extent of the law’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Only a Sinn Féin government will drive forward plans for a United Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says a Sinn Féin-led administration alone would push forward reunification plans, pledging to begin preparations and seek border polls by the end of the decade. Her plan includes a Green Paper, a reunification unit and a minister for reunification.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Only a Sinn Féin government will drive forward plans for a United Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald (opens in a new tab)
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Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion.
Alliance Comber Councillor Rachel Ashe welcomes Ards and North Down Borough Council's agreement to install communication boards in Tier 1 play parks, after the feasibility report on her motion was approved. Ashe says the boards will help children with speech, language or autism-related…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Ards and North Down communication boards in Tier 1 play parks Original release: Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion. (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes NI Select Committee in Lords
Lord Dodds of Duncairn welcomes the House of Lords’ approval of a newly formed Northern Ireland Select Committee to examine EU legislation and the Protocol/Windsor Framework, noting it will spotlight rules that currently lack input from NI elected representatives.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: House of Lords approves NI Select Committee on EU legislation Original release: Dodds welcomes NI Select Committee in Lords (opens in a new tab)
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Environmental governance review is encouraging news for Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the DAERA Minister's launch of an independent panel to review environmental governance, praising its Lough Neagh focus and backing a possible Independent Environmental Protection Agency. He expects the panel's report next summer.
Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir review of environmental governance announcement Original release: Environmental governance review is encouraging news for Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Bill published
TUV North Antrim MP Jim Allister says his private members' Bill would restore UK law-making sovereignty and replace the Irish Sea customs border with a mutual enforcement arrangement, removing the need for fixed border posts. It would also require cross-community support for any Stormont vote on…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Jim Allister private members' Bill on Protocol and mutual enforcement published Original release: Allister Bill published (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Department of Education to improve special educational needs support in Irish medium schools, saying they need access to educational psychologists who work in Irish and other health professionals. She welcomes the department's acknowledgement of the issues.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the Department of Education to publish its transformation plan for special educational needs services, noting over 200 recommendations from reports so far without a delivery plan. He calls on the Education Minister to release the SEN Reform Agenda and its delivery…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker (opens in a new tab)