Latest releases
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1,981 releases
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McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin voices concern that the Executive Office has warned work on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy may stall without a functioning Executive, blaming the DUP boycott for putting it at risk.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office warning on delayed Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Original release: McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill.
Green Party leader Councillor Mal O'Hara welcomes Royal Assent for the Buffer Zones Bill, which he says will be enforceable from 7 May 2023 and end intimidation of people accessing abortion services. He credits former MLA Clare Bailey and campaigners.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Safe Access Zones Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming law Original release: Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson and Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says a 7% Translink fares increase, directed by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, will hit families struggling with the cost of living. He calls for sustainable transport to be made more accessible rather than costlier.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Translink 7% fares increase directed by Secretary of State Original release: Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA, marking World Wetlands Day, says action is needed now to protect and rebuild NI's wetland ecosystems. He welcomes progress on peatland restoration but says the region trails other jurisdictions and is badly underfunded.
Environment and climate Original release: Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says a meeting with Northern Ireland Office officials on Relationship and Sexuality Education was positive and urges the Secretary of State to implement CEDAW-based RSE as a priority. She cites a Belfast Youth Forum study finding 73% of young people…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Office meeting on Relationship and Sexuality Education Original release: Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation
DUP's Sammy Wilson welcomes progress of the Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill through Commons scrutiny, saying it is needed to stop trophy hunting of near-extinct animals. He warns the bill cannot cover Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, creating a smuggling loophole, and urges…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill Commons scrutiny Original release: Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard slams intimidatory sign at local school
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard condemns a 'racist and intimidatory' sign placed outside a school in Clough that attacked Irish-language learners and named the school. He urges anyone with information to contact the police.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Clough school intimidatory sign targeting Irish-language learners Original release: Hazzard slams intimidatory sign at local school (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods welcomes a successful final attempt to establish financial assistance in Ards and North Down
Green Party Councillor Rachel Woods welcomes Ards and North Down Council's backing of her amendment to set aside £50,000 from current reserves for a fund for foodbanks and partner organisations. She says a report on the cost of living crisis, including a rise in Bangor Foodbank demand, prompted…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Council £50,000 hardship fund for foodbanks Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods welcomes a successful final attempt to establish financial assistance in Ards and North Down (opens in a new tab)
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Kelly celebrates introduction of paid bereavement leave for early pregnancy loss and miscarriage for Belfast City Council staff
Alliance Belfast Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Kelly welcomes Belfast City Council's forthcoming paid leave for staff dealing with early pregnancy loss and miscarriage, taking effect on 1 February after equality screening. It gives 10 days at full pay for miscarriage and 3 days for a…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council paid leave policy for pregnancy loss and miscarriage Original release: Kelly celebrates introduction of paid bereavement leave for early pregnancy loss and miscarriage for Belfast City Council staff (opens in a new tab)
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North Down Green councillors attempt to halt Greenway plans
Green Party councillors Stephen Dunlop and Rachel Woods say they will not support the current Kinnegar to Donaghadee Greenway plans, seconding a motion to pause the planning application and calling for smaller sections with community input.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Kinnegar to Donaghadee Greenway planning application pause motion Original release: North Down Green councillors attempt to halt Greenway plans (opens in a new tab)
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Prime Minister challenged on ensuring religious freedom
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP challenges the Prime Minister in the Commons to review UK laws so that religious freedom is protected, after Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for silent prayer near a Birmingham abortion facility.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce arrest and charge under Birmingham buffer zone Original release: Prime Minister challenged on ensuring religious freedom (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Deposit Return Scheme effectiveness depends on cross-border cooperation
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has written to DAERA and Irish Minister Ossian Smyth asking for an all-island approach to the planned Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, which DAERA says will launch in Northern Ireland in 2025. He argues cross-border working would deter fraud and bring economies…
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA confirmation of 2025 Deposit Return Scheme launch in Northern Ireland Original release: Durkan: Deposit Return Scheme effectiveness depends on cross-border cooperation (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey pays tribute to work of Professor Eileen Evason
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey pays tribute to Professor Eileen Evason, describing her as a champion of protecting the most vulnerable and recalling their work together on welfare support when Hargey was communities minister.
Social security and welfare Original release: Hargey pays tribute to work of Professor Eileen Evason (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill expresses condolences on death of Professor Eileen Evason
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill expresses condolences on the death of Professor Eileen Evason, praising her work protecting vulnerable people, advising the Executive on welfare supports and campaigning on rights and women's issues.
Social security and welfare Original release: O’Neill expresses condolences on death of Professor Eileen Evason (opens in a new tab)
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Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler, who speaks on education for the party, condemns proposed £110m cuts to Department of Education services as unconscionable. He warns they would hit vulnerable children and non-statutory services, and calls on the Secretary of State to reverse the cuts while Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £110m Department of Education budget cuts Original release: Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Chinese New Year
South Belfast MLA and Chair of the All Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities Kate Nicholl wishes people a happy Chinese New Year, marking the Year of the Rabbit and praising Belfast's Chinese community. She calls for joint working between government and stakeholders to secure racial equality…
Disability and equality Original release: Nicholl marks Chinese New Year (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood expresses alarm at reports of landlords claiming energy vouchers
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP expresses alarm that landlords are claiming £600 energy support payment vouchers intended for tenants. He says he has contacted the Post Office about assistance for affected tenants and whether landlords can be prevented from claiming the money.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Landlords claiming £600 energy support payment vouchers intended for tenants Original release: Eastwood expresses alarm at reports of landlords claiming energy vouchers (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Power NI addressing issues around £600 energy payment
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says Power NI is working to fix a technical problem linking its systems with the Post Office that is stopping some customers redeeming their £600 energy support voucher. She says she will keep liaising with the company until the issues are resolved.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Power NI £600 energy support payment voucher technical issue Original release: McLaughlin: Power NI addressing issues around £600 energy payment (opens in a new tab)
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Committee hears benefits of Increasing tax-free childcare allowance
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Chancellor to increase the Tax Free Childcare Allowance, arguing that childcare costs in Northern Ireland, above the UK average, prevent people from working. She cites evidence heard by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on paramilitary activity and organised…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence on paramilitary activity and organised crime Original release: Committee hears benefits of Increasing tax-free childcare allowance (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics
Green Party councillor Rachel Woods reacts to PSNI figures showing a rise in domestic abuse calls over Christmas, with 3,604 calls logged and a 10% increase on Christmas Day. She calls for Northern Ireland to adopt a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, noting it is the sole UK region…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI figures on domestic abuse calls over Christmas 2022 Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics (opens in a new tab)