Latest releases
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2,985 releases
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Rise in race hate crimes reinforces need for new Race Relations Strategy, says Alliance TEO representatives
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan say a reported rise in race hate incidents in 2023/24, shown in PSNI and NISRA figures, makes the case for publishing and implementing a revised race relations framework and modernised laws, and urge the First and deputy First Minister to act.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI and NISRA race hate incident figures for 2023/24 Original release: Rise in race hate crimes reinforces need for new Race Relations Strategy, says Alliance TEO representatives (opens in a new tab)
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More work needed on restraint and seclusion guidance, say Mathison and Nicholl
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Kate Nicholl say more work is needed on the Department of Education's draft statutory guidance on restraint and seclusion in schools, citing concerns over SEND children, teacher training and misalignment with Department of Health guidance.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education draft restraint and seclusion statutory guidance Original release: More work needed on restraint and seclusion guidance, say Mathison and Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Call for action against ‘deep fake’ content influencing elections
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls for action against AI-generated 'deep fake' video and other offensive content, particularly where it could be used to influence the General Election outcome. He raised the issue with the Minister for Women and Equalities in Parliament and urges continued action and…
Disability and equality Original release: Call for action against ‘deep fake’ content influencing elections (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must take action to ensure continued supply of ADHD medication, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls on the Health Minister to take steps to ensure continued supply of ADHD medication such as methylphenidate, citing manufacturing problems and rising global demand. He says he has submitted urgent questions on actions, contingency plans and…
Health Issue: ADHD medication shortage methylphenidate supply Original release: Health Minister must take action to ensure continued supply of ADHD medication, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland highlights the issues of perinatal mental health during Mental Health Awareness Week
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland, North Antrim, urges action on perinatal mental health during Mental Health Awareness Week, pointing to the absence of a Mother and Baby Unit locally for women with severe maternal mental illness and calling for it to be urgently addressed.
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Tennyson pledges to work on banning cruel conversion practices
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says he will seek the Speaker's permission to introduce a private member's bill banning conversion practices if the Communities Minister does not bring forward legislation. He cites recent research on their continued harm in Northern Ireland, ahead of LGBT Awareness Week.
Disability and equality Original release: Tennyson pledges to work on banning cruel conversion practices (opens in a new tab)
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Egan and Mathison welcome fair employment legislation for teachers coming into operation
Alliance's Connie Egan and Nick Mathison welcome the start of operation of fair employment legislation covering teachers, which ends their exclusion and bars recruitment discrimination on grounds of religion across Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Fair employment legislation for teachers comes into operation Original release: Egan and Mathison welcome fair employment legislation for teachers coming into operation (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister calls for urgent and meaningful engagement on junior doctor pay from the Health Minister
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA expresses concern that the Health Minister has not personally engaged with the BMA before planned junior doctor strikes. She says Alliance is bringing an Assembly motion urging the Minister to meaningfully engage with the BMA on junior doctor pay.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Junior doctor strikes and Health Minister's engagement with BMA on pay Original release: McAllister calls for urgent and meaningful engagement on junior doctor pay from the Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne calls for introduction of Baby Loss Certificates in Northern…
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne calls on the Finance Minister to work quickly with the Health Minister to introduce a Baby Loss Certificate scheme in Northern Ireland, similar to the one in England. He says the Minister gave no timescale for its introduction during Assembly Question Time.
Health Issue: Assembly Question Time on Baby Loss Certificate scheme timescale Original release: Dunne calls for introduction of Baby Loss Certificates in Northern… (opens in a new tab)
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Baker calls on education minister to explore ‘SEN first’ approach
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the education minister to make children with special educational needs a priority in school admissions, proposing a system that incorporates SEN pupils into schools’ planned enrolment figures so they receive support from the start of term.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Baker calls on education minister to explore ‘SEN first’ approach (opens in a new tab)
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Conor Murphy advised to rest pending medical tests – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Leas-Uachtarán, says Conor Murphy has been told by his doctor to rest ahead of scheduled medical tests, and wishes him a swift recovery. She notes he has withdrawn from an Assembly economy motion and a Covid Inquiry hearing this week.
Health Issue: Conor Murphy medical rest advice and absences from Assembly and Covid Inquiry Original release: Conor Murphy advised to rest pending medical tests – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister welcomes progress on GP contracts
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes a new GP contract agreement that includes indemnity charge costs, and calls on the Health Minister to progress outstanding negotiations with junior doctors, consultants and dentists to avoid further industrial action.
Health Issue: New GP contract agreement including indemnity charges Original release: McAllister welcomes progress on GP contracts (opens in a new tab)
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Every child deserves access to literature, says Bower, as motion passes on reading materials for refugee children
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Christine Bower says her motion, passed at the People & Communities Committee, asks the Council to examine free native-language reading materials and literacy tools for refugee children. A report on costings and delivery will return to committee for a final vote.
Education Local government Issue: Council motion on free native-language reading materials for refugee children Original release: Every child deserves access to literature, says Bower, as motion passes on reading materials for refugee children (opens in a new tab)
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Where Stormont never fails – dysfunctionalism
TUV leader Jim Allister says Covid Inquiry revelations show the flaws of mandatory coalition, citing rivalry, blame-avoidance and destroyed WhatsApp records, and calls for a police investigation into possible misconduct in public office.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Covid Inquiry findings on Executive decision-making during the pandemic Original release: Where Stormont never fails – dysfunctionalism (opens in a new tab)
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Covid inquiry raising more questions than just the dysfunctionality of the Executive - Beattie
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says COVID inquiry revelations suggest an attempt to isolate the Health Minister and that DUP and Sinn Féin ministers resisted unpopular regulations. He says he will write to Head of the Civil Service Jayne Brady over a senior civil servant's suggestion that the Health…
Health Issue: Covid Inquiry findings on Executive decision-making during the pandemic Original release: Covid inquiry raising more questions than just the dysfunctionality of the Executive - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Inadequate pay and conditions risk patient safety, says Donnelly, calling for urgent dialogue between DoH and junior doctors
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA urges the Health Minister to engage urgently with the BMA before planned junior doctor strikes on 22-24 May and 6-8 June. He warns that inadequate pay and conditions threaten recruitment, retention and patient safety in Northern Ireland.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA junior doctors strike action announced for May and June 2024 Original release: Inadequate pay and conditions risk patient safety, says Donnelly, calling for urgent dialogue between DoH and junior doctors (opens in a new tab)
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Autism reviewer must be appointed: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine calls for an autism reviewer to be appointed without further delay, arguing the post costs under £40,000 of the Health budget and that the Minister's deferral over funding pressures is unjustified.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Delay in appointing autism reviewer under Autism Act Original release: Autism reviewer must be appointed: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Number of cervical cancer serious adverse incidents extends well into…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed by letter that 13 to 19 cervical cancer cases from 2019 to 2022 are being investigated as serious adverse incidents, mostly in the Western Trust. She questions whether differing review approaches explain the variation and calls for…
Health Issue: Cervical cancer serious adverse incidents investigation numbers in Western Trust Original release: Number of cervical cancer serious adverse incidents extends well into… (opens in a new tab)
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Westminster must step-up for Health - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA says he met a senior NIO official to warn that the Assembly budget will further damage Health services. He calls for urgent talks with the Prime Minister and Chancellor to find extra Westminster funding to cover a £300 million Health shortfall.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly budget Health funding shortfall Original release: Westminster must step-up for Health - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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More must be done to tackle inequalities facing people with disabilities, following report, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly says more must be done at Westminster and Stormont to tackle inequalities facing disabled people after a UN committee report on UK compliance with the UNCRPD. He calls on the Executive Office and Department for Communities to act and urges Assembly action on…
Disability and equality Social security and welfare Issue: UN UNCRPD committee report on rights of persons with disabilities in the UK Original release: More must be done to tackle inequalities facing people with disabilities, following report, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)