Latest releases
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1,974 releases
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No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane expresses dismay at attempts to stop children and young people playing Gaelic Games at Victoria Park in East Belfast. He calls for work on a playing surface there to continue, saying discrimination based on choice of sport has no place in society.
Disability and equality Issue: Victoria Park East Belfast Gaelic Games pitch works halted Original release: No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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DUP cannot take Summer off work as people struggle
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses the DUP of seeking a long summer break while households face a cost of living crisis, blaming it for blocking an Executive and Speaker needed to pass SDLP emergency cost of living legislation.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Assembly recall petition as Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passes Commons third reading Original release: DUP cannot take Summer off work as people struggle (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Statement on British Petroleum posting it’s biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years.
Green Party Deputy Leader Cllr Mal O'Hara calls for the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive and for emergency action on energy bills, after BP reported its biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years. He urges restoring the Universal Credit uplift and expanding renewable energy.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: BP biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years Original release: Green Party Statement on British Petroleum posting it’s biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Struggling households asked to pay £6 million in ‘official error’ benefit overpayments
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan criticises Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey over £6.1 million requested from benefit claimants for 2021/22 overpayments caused by official error, figures he obtained show.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Department for Communities £6.1 million official error benefit overpayments 2021/22 Original release: Durkan: Struggling households asked to pay £6 million in ‘official error’ benefit overpayments (opens in a new tab)
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Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for clarity on whether energy support payments will reach Northern Ireland households, after details of a £400 GB scheme were revealed without equivalent detail for Northern Ireland. She blames the lack of an Executive and urges the DUP to end its…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 GB energy support scheme details and Northern Ireland uncertainty Original release: Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Failure to ban conversion therapy inexcusable
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite says the delay in banning conversion therapy in the North is inexcusable, rejecting Communities Minister Deidre Hargey's explanations ahead of Belfast Pride. He urges her to report on progress and make the legislation a priority once the institutions are restored.
Disability and equality Original release: de Faoite: Failure to ban conversion therapy inexcusable (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls on Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to tackle the rise in benefit fraud and error, which the Northern Ireland Audit Office found had reached £209m. He says processes must be put in place to stop such losses and address the auditor's concerns.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office benefit fraud and error review Original release: Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole calls on caretaker Executive Ministers to set out what they are doing on the cost of living crisis and to prepare plans ready for when the Executive is restored. He says he has written to all caretaker Ministers and permanent secretaries, and blames…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts (opens in a new tab)
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Gerry Carroll MLA Supports Campaign For Women’s Refuge.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll calls on the Communities Minister and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to urgently commission a replacement women-only supported hostel after the Regina Coeli service closed and its workers' promised replacement accommodation was not delivered.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Regina Coeli women’s hostel shutdown and occupation Original release: Gerry Carroll MLA Supports Campaign For Women’s Refuge. (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says Northern Ireland is lagging behind on electric vehicle charging after the Department for Infrastructure confirmed it is still only in discussions with other departments. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to set out how DFI will meet impending EU-derived minimum…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: DFI response on electric vehicle charging provision discussions Original release: Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD speech to the National Press Club of Australia
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers an address at the National Press Club of Australia, reflecting on Irish emigration to Australia, the historic bond between the two countries and Australia's role in welcoming Irish people.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD speech to the National Press Club of Australia (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is shocked after writing to the Minister for Communities and finding rents exceed housing benefit allowances by upwards of £100. She calls for urgent action on the gap, which she links to a shrinking private rental market.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Soaring temperatures show need to tackle climate crisis
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter warns that the current heatwave across Ireland and Britain shows the need to act on the climate crisis, and urges action after reports Conservative leadership contenders may weaken the UK's 2050 net zero goal.
Environment and climate Issue: Tory leadership candidates' reported stance on UK net zero 2050 target Original release: Hunter: Soaring temperatures show need to tackle climate crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Cost of living support not enough to help households
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says cost of living support offered to households so far is not enough, citing £83.9m resource and £35.9m capital underspends across Executive Departments in 2021-22 provisional outturn figures. He calls on Ministers to direct support to households and to expand free…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2021-22 provisional outturn figures showing Executive Departments underspends Original release: Eastwood: Cost of living support not enough to help households (opens in a new tab)
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Functioning Executive needed now to help tackle cost of living crisis – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges the DUP to end its refusal to take part in the Executive now, so the £435 million held in its account can support workers, families and businesses facing rising costs. He also calls on the British government to tax large companies' profits and cut VAT.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: First tranche of cost of living payments rollout in Northern Ireland Original release: Functioning Executive needed now to help tackle cost of living crisis – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly welcomes step forward towards Acht Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes the Irish Language Bill's progress through the House of Lords and calls for an Acht Gaeilge delivering official recognition, an Irish language commissioner, repeal of laws restricting Irish in courts, and access to public services through Irish.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish language legislation passing through the House of Lords Original release: Reilly welcomes step forward towards Acht Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges help for working families excluded from support
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for financial support for working families struggling with the cost of living crisis, arguing they are being excluded from welfare-linked payments. He says the Assembly and Executive's absence is failing them and blames the DUP's blockade for…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Cost of living welfare payments for households across the North Original release: Durkan urges help for working families excluded from support (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone welcomes progress of Irish language legislation
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone welcomes the passage of Irish language legislation through the House of Lords at Westminster, which also includes Ulster Scots protections. He calls for the Bill to pass the Commons without delay and says Irish language rights should have been introduced in the North rather…
Disability and equality Issue: Irish language legislation passing through the House of Lords Original release: McGlone welcomes progress of Irish language legislation (opens in a new tab)
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“There is a Crisis in Education with Learning Supports. Our Children Deserve Better” - Brolly
Aontú Education Spokesperson and East Derry representative Gemma Brolly calls for permanent learning support in schools, citing long assessment waits, reduced educational psychology time and rising numbers of pupils recorded with special educational needs.
Education Disability and equality Original release: “There is a Crisis in Education with Learning Supports. Our Children Deserve Better” - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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"Pupils are being denied their basic human right to access the education they deserve."- Brolly
Aontú Education Spokesperson and East Derry representative Gemma Brolly calls for permanent learning support in schools, citing rising numbers of pupils recorded with special educational needs and reduced educational psychology time.
Education Disability and equality Original release: "Pupils are being denied their basic human right to access the education they deserve."- Brolly (opens in a new tab)