Latest releases
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1,983 releases
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Proposed budget cuts for Special Educational Needs support ‘deeply concerning’- Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says proposed budget cuts that would halve funding for Special Educational Needs support in schools across the north are 'deeply concerning', blaming Tory cuts and calling for the Executive to be restored urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Proposed budget cuts to Special Educational Needs school support Original release: Proposed budget cuts for Special Educational Needs support ‘deeply concerning’- Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Councillor for Botanic Áine Groogan will be the next Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Green Party announces that Cllr Áine Groogan, Botanic councillor, will be Belfast's deputy Lord Mayor for 2023-2024. She says she will use the role to highlight community and voluntary organisations facing Stormont cuts, and calls for faster action on climate and biodiversity.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Áine Groogan named next deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Original release: Green Party Councillor for Botanic Áine Groogan will be the next Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for support for a New Deal for Unpaid Carers
Alliance Communities Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA urges backing for Carers NI's New Deal for Unpaid Carers report, launched today, and wants parties and departments to build its recommendations into their work plans. She says the report sets out how Health and Social Care systems must change…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI New Deal for Unpaid Carers report launch Original release: Armstrong calls for support for a New Deal for Unpaid Carers (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts will have detrimental effect on pupils with special educational needs, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says Department of Education cuts halving funding for SEN co-ordinators, from £22 million to £11 million, will harm pupils with special educational needs. She calls on the Department to clarify the basis for the cuts and how it will meet its…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education proposed halving of SEN funding Original release: Cuts will have detrimental effect on pupils with special educational needs, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Blair calls for greater cooperation to prevent further environmental damage
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for greater inter-agency cooperation to address threats to Northern Ireland's environment, rivers and oceans, citing plastic pollution on UN World Environment Day. He says the absence of a local minister and Executive has delayed progress and…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Blair calls for greater cooperation to prevent further environmental damage (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald condemns the painting of racist graffiti
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald condemns those who painted racist graffiti in Coleraine and Portrush, calling it an attempt to provoke fear and hatred. She thanks the council for quickly removing the graffiti and says the party is committed to equal rights and an inclusive society.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti in Coleraine and Portrush Original release: Archibald condemns the painting of racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly encourages women to have their say on unity at ‘Belfast Women’s Assembly’
Sinn Féin's Aisling Reilly MLA encourages women from greater Belfast to register for a Belfast Women's Assembly on Irish unity, to be held at the Europa Hotel on 27 June, with childcare available on request. The release says women's voices have often gone unheard and invites written contributions…
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: Belfast Women's Assembly on Irish unity, Europa Hotel, 27 June Original release: Reilly encourages women to have their say on unity at ‘Belfast Women’s Assembly’ (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes decision not to proceed with youth services and early years cuts
SDLP education spokesperson Daniel McCrossan welcomes the Department of Education's decision to drop planned cuts to youth and early years provision, while warning that holiday hunger payments and school counselling cuts still go ahead and blaming the DUP's Stormont boycott.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Halt to youth services and early years funding cuts Original release: McCrossan welcomes decision not to proceed with youth services and early years cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Accessible public transport must be expanded
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP calls for accessible public transport to be expanded, not restricted, and urges people to respond to the Department for Infrastructure's consultation on the Concessionary Fares Scheme. He warns changes to age eligibility or criteria could cut off older and disabled…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Department for Infrastructure consultation on Concessionary Fares Scheme Original release: Eastwood: Accessible public transport must be expanded (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney seeking meeting with Department for Infrastructure following Hightown incinerator court ruling
South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney says he is disappointed that the Hightown incinerator, after a High Court ruling, is expected to return to the Department for Infrastructure for a fresh decision. He says he will seek a meeting with senior officials to clarify the department's position.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Hightown incinerator High Court ruling and Department for Infrastructure reconsideration Original release: Kearney seeking meeting with Department for Infrastructure following Hightown incinerator court ruling (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Independent review of gynaecology services long overdue
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the announcement of a rapid, independent review of gynaecology services, saying it is long overdue. She calls for a fully resourced Women's Health Strategy and warns the review's report must not be left unactioned.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent review of gynaecology services announced by Department of Health Original release: McLaughlin: Independent review of gynaecology services long overdue (opens in a new tab)
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NI homeless shelters missing out on additional funding due to lack of Executive is a disgrace, says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says it is disgraceful that new English night shelter funding cannot reach Northern Ireland while there is no Executive, and calls on the DUP to end its boycott so the Executive can be restored.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: UK Government additional £3 million funding for England night shelters Original release: NI homeless shelters missing out on additional funding due to lack of Executive is a disgrace, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Advisory Committee should rethink approach to British identity:…
DUP MP Gregory Campbell urges the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee on National Minorities to retract its finding that British culture and identity is political and to rethink its approach to Ulster British identity. He objects to recommendation 159 on linking Ulster Scots and Ulster British…
Disability and equality Issue: Advisory Committee report on Framework Convention recommendation 159 Ulster British identity Original release: Advisory Committee should rethink approach to British identity:… (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of Special Education services essential
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the Ipsos review of Special Educational Needs, citing SEN spending of around £500m a year and calls for transformational change, a sustainable funding model and a more skilled classroom assistant workforce.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Ipsos review of Special Educational Needs services in Northern Ireland Original release: Transformation of Special Education services essential (opens in a new tab)
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We need clarity on the implementation of the ammonia strategy, says Blair, following news of investigation into DAERA
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection's investigation into DAERA's handling of environmental law around ammonia guidance, and says he will write to the department seeking a timeline for its draft ammonia strategy.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: OEP investigation into DAERA's application of environmental law on ammonia Original release: We need clarity on the implementation of the ammonia strategy, says Blair, following news of investigation into DAERA (opens in a new tab)
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Achieving decarbonisation of homes possible but only with cross-Departmental commitment, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says decarbonising homes is possible but needs a concerted cross-Departmental commitment, after hosting the launch of the Forum for a Better Housing Market's New Foundations report on low carbon homes. She backs its suggestions on retrofitting social housing, grants…
Environment and climate Housing Issue: New Foundations: The Route to Low Carbon Homes report launch Original release: Achieving decarbonisation of homes possible but only with cross-Departmental commitment, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to Women’s Aid would be catastrophic, says Egan
Alliance's Connie Egan says cutting Department of Health funding for the Women's Aid Federation, due to end in September 2023, would be catastrophic. She calls for the decision to be reversed, arguing it conflicts with proposed Executive strategies on violence against women and girls.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health ending Women's Aid Federation funding from September 2023 Original release: Cuts to Women’s Aid would be catastrophic, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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No place for racism or racist displays – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald condemns racism and racist displays after a Sunday protest in Portrush that included National Front flags. She says those involved do not represent the people of Portrush or the north coast, and calls for a safe, inclusive society for all, including asylum seekers.
Disability and equality Issue: Portrush National Front anti-asylum protest and counter-demonstration, May 2023 Original release: No place for racism or racist displays – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Those carrying out protests against asylum seekers represent nobody, Alliance Councillors say
Alliance Councillors Richard Stewart and Peter McCully condemn a protest against asylum seekers at the Portrush war memorial, saying those involved represent only an extremely small minority. They call on all political representatives to unite in calling for an end to such protests.
Immigration Disability and equality Issue: Portrush National Front anti-asylum protest and counter-demonstration, May 2023 Original release: Those carrying out protests against asylum seekers represent nobody, Alliance Councillors say (opens in a new tab)
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Potential benefits delay could prove catastrophic, says Armstrong, without necessary investment
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA warns that without extra funding for the Department for Communities, Move to UC claimants could wait up to eight weeks for benefits, and urges the DUP to end its boycott so the institutions can be restored.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Move to UC benefit payment delays in Northern Ireland Original release: Potential benefits delay could prove catastrophic, says Armstrong, without necessary investment (opens in a new tab)