Latest releases
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3,062 releases
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Guy pays tribute to those campaigning for Harry’s Law.
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA pays tribute to Deirdre Shakespeare and campaigners after a Public Services Ombudsman report on restraint of her autistic, non-verbal son. She calls for statutory restraint guidance timelines, repeal of Article 4(1)(c) of the Education (NI) Order…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Public Services Ombudsman report on restraint of Harry Shakespeare Original release: Guy pays tribute to those campaigning for Harry’s Law. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath welcomes £13m multi-year funding from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to increase short break respite for children with disabilities. He says he will seek urgent clarity on the impact on other health services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP highlighted the surge in violence against women and girls during a Commons debate, citing a femicide rate twice that of Britain and urging immediate, cross‑government action, clear funding for the Executive strategy and societal behavioural change.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women and girls debate in Commons Original release: Hanna raises violence against women and girls in Commons (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for action to cut vaping in schools’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes an Assembly motion urging the education and health ministers to draw up a plan against vaping among pupils, citing principals asking for help and harm to young people.
Education Health Issue: Assembly motion on tackling vaping in schools Original release: ‘Time for action to cut vaping in schools’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Action must be taken on Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units:…
DUP Health Spokesperson and Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds welcomes the Department of Health's independent review of midwifery services, but presses the Health Minister to ensure Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units are fully staffed and can operate effectively, and questions Southern Trust…
Health Issue: Independent review of midwifery services and Daisy Hill maternity staffing Original release: Action must be taken on Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units:… (opens in a new tab)
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Interim report on drugs "positive to see progress on saving lives and reducing harm" - Senator O'Hara
Green Party Senator Mal O'Hara welcomes an Oireachtas joint committee interim report on drugs, which recommends a health-led approach, repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997 and decriminalising possession of all substances for personal use. He urges the Executive parties in Northern…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Oireachtas joint committee interim report on drugs policy Original release: Interim report on drugs "positive to see progress on saving lives and reducing harm" - Senator O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy welcome the Education Minister’s response to the Independent Review of Education but say essential recommendations lack ambition, urging immediate action on raising participation age, SEN, academic selection, integrated schooling and an Early Childhood
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education recommendations response Original release: Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report. (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed in terms of approach to HIV and ending stigma, says Harpur, proposing motion.
Alliance Castlereagh South Councillor Jamie Harpur calls on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to back a motion recognising the urgent need to end HIV and its stigma, including joining the HIV Fast Track Cities initiative to end the epidemic by 2030.
Health Local government Issue: Lisburn and Castlereagh council HIV motion on ending stigma and epidemic Original release: Urgent action needed in terms of approach to HIV and ending stigma, says Harpur, proposing motion. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath welcomes the Assembly's backing for more respite care for children and adults with complex needs and severe behavioural challenges. He says the SDLP amended a motion on adult provision to cover children, and he calls on the Health Minister…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Workforce key to addressing maternity issues
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says workforce shortages must be tackled now, urging more midwife training places and recruitment before next September. He responds to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's Assembly statement on the independent maternity and neonatal review, calling for regional…
Health Issue: Independent review of midwifery services and Daisy Hill maternity staffing Original release: McGrath: Workforce key to addressing maternity issues (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Health Minister to rethink his decision not to develop a dedicated Women's Health Strategy, after he cited budget constraints in an Assembly answer. She calls the refusal a backwards step for women's health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister decision not to develop Women's Health Strategy Original release: McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Assembly's passage of a party motion urging the health minister to swiftly produce a plan to expand respite care for adults and children with learning disabilities and their carers.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces the launch of Language Launchpad, a project funded under the £25m Early Learning and Childcare package to support speech, language and communication development in early years, running until March 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Language Launchpad early years speech and language project launch Original release: Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Councillor welcomes the first step at Westminster to introduce Assisted Dying in England & Wales
Green Party councillor Barry McKee welcomes the first reading of the Choice at the End of Life Bill at Westminster and urges Northern Ireland MPs to back legal change on assisted dying. He says the Stormont Executive should ensure residents are not left without choice.
Health Issue: Choice at the End of Life Bill first reading at Westminster Original release: Green Party Councillor welcomes the first step at Westminster to introduce Assisted Dying in England & Wales (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins raises concerns for Southern Trust maternity services with health minister
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says she has contacted Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and senior Department of Health officials over staffing shortages and patient safety in Southern Trust maternity services. She cites reported difficulties recruiting obstetrics and gynaecology consultants and a recent…
Health Issue: Southern Trust maternity services consultant recruitment concerns Original release: Kimmins raises concerns for Southern Trust maternity services with health minister (opens in a new tab)
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‘Fairhill Health Centre patients must have access to GP’ – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin urges the Department of Health to help patients of Fairhill Health Centre in Magherafelt keep access to a GP as the centre closes in two weeks, including support for GPs taking on extra patients.
Health Issue: Fairhill Health Centre Magherafelt closure Original release: ‘Fairhill Health Centre patients must have access to GP’ – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation
Ógra Aontú condemns new Taliban "vice and virtue" laws requiring women to veil fully in public and banning women's voices outside the home. President John Bryan calls on the UN and EU to stop normalising relations with the Taliban and to hold it accountable.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Taliban vice and virtue laws restricting women's public voices and faces Original release: Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation (opens in a new tab)
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OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth says the new Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report condemns the Stormont Executive, warning that current agri‑industry practices are unsustainable, polluting land, rivers and air, and urging urgent nutrient cuts, habitat recovery
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report Original release: OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women.
Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland urges wider recognition of the difficulties rural women encounter, pointing to job insecurity, limited childcare, and poor access to healthcare and transport in North Antrim, on International Day of Rural Women.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Original release: Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women. (opens in a new tab)
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Decision to strike down proposals for charities' use of council facilities disappointing, says Skinner.
Alliance councillor Aaron Skinner says he is disappointed that DUP, TUV and Sinn Féin councillors voted down plans at Mid and East Antrim Council letting charities use council facilities free at set times. He argues the decision blocks services such as Positive Life's proposed free HIV testing…
Local government Health Issue: Mid and East Antrim Council rejects free charity use of council facilities Original release: Decision to strike down proposals for charities' use of council facilities disappointing, says Skinner. (opens in a new tab)