Latest releases
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3,078 releases
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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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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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‘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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Why is sectarian sign still up?
TUV spokesperson Stevan Patterson says he is disgusted that a sign urging a boycott of Protestant-owned shops in Castlederg is still up a day after it was publicised. He argues the council should remove it since it stands on council property, and calls on police to act if staff fear taking it down.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Castlederg boycott sign calling for local businesses and religious ceremonies boycott Original release: Why is sectarian sign still up? (opens in a new tab)
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McHugh condemns sign calling for boycott of Castlederg businesses
Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh condemns a sign in Castlederg calling for a boycott of local businesses and religious ceremonies, and calls on those responsible to remove it immediately. He also repeats his call for flags to be removed from the town centre.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Castlederg boycott sign calling for local businesses and religious ceremonies boycott Original release: McHugh condemns sign calling for boycott of Castlederg businesses (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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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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“Extreme difficulty” in removing antisemitic graffiti a depressing…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the Belfast Trust's admission of difficulty finding a contractor to remove antisemitic graffiti from the RVH wall on the Falls Road is depressing. She calls for public backing for removing the slogan and asks local representatives to make clear they would welcome its…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Antisemitic graffiti at Royal Victoria Hospital wall remains unremoved Original release: “Extreme difficulty” in removing antisemitic graffiti a depressing… (opens in a new tab)
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Birmingham pub bombing anniversary a reminder of need for justice
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe marks the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings, saying the families feel overlooked and calling for justice to remain open, while criticising those who have not named the Provisional IRA.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Birmingham pub bombings 50th anniversary Original release: Birmingham pub bombing anniversary a reminder of need for justice (opens in a new tab)
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Allister tables Early Day Motion on 50th anniversary of Birmingham Pub Bombings
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, marks 50 years since the Birmingham pub bombings and calls on the Government to hold a public inquiry into the 1974 attacks, backing the Justice 4 the 21 campaign. He notes that no one has been brought to justice.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Birmingham pub bombings 50th anniversary Early Day Motion Original release: Allister tables Early Day Motion on 50th anniversary of Birmingham Pub Bombings (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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FMdFM must put victims and survivors first in approaching redress for HIA, says Bradshaw.
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says progress on redress for Historical Institutional Abuse is too slow and calls on the First and deputy First Minister to meet victims and survivors urgently on memorialisation. She cites concern over facilitation of institutional redress and an…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Committee evidence on Historical Institutional Abuse redress facilitation Original release: FMdFM must put victims and survivors first in approaching redress for HIA, says Bradshaw. (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)
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Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says antisemitic graffiti has remained on a Royal Victoria Hospital wall in west Belfast for months after a complaint to the Belfast Trust, and calls on the Trust to explain why it has not been removed.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Antisemitic graffiti at Royal Victoria Hospital wall remains unremoved Original release: Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months (opens in a new tab)
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‘All outstanding legacy inquests must be reinstated’ – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan calls on the British government to immediately reinstate all outstanding legacy inquests, arguing the Legacy Act sought to close down families' efforts for truth and justice. He urges Labour to repeal and replace the Act as it pledged.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Reinstatement of outstanding legacy inquests following the Legacy Act Original release: ‘All outstanding legacy inquests must be reinstated’ – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives visit tidal research programme in Strangford
Alliance MLAs Kellie Armstrong, Nick Mathison and Danny Donnelly visited a Queen's University tidal test site in Strangford, where CASE-funded research into blade fatigue life of crossflow turbines is under way. Armstrong says the data supports tidal energy and Mathison calls for renewables across…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Alliance representatives visit tidal research programme in Strangford (opens in a new tab)