Latest releases
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4,460 releases
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Gildernew welcomes confirmation that Executive agrees to extend welfare mitigations
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Executive's agreement to extend welfare mitigations to 2028, citing support for DLA-to-PIP transition, the benefit cap and bedroom tax. He calls on the Labour government to build a fairer benefits system.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Executive agreement to extend welfare mitigations to 2028 Original release: Gildernew welcomes confirmation that Executive agrees to extend welfare mitigations (opens in a new tab)
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Time Conquers All
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson, writing in The Orange Standard, calls for greater unionist co-operation ahead of the 2027 Assembly and Local Government elections, arguing pro-Union candidates must be elected and that division must end.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Time Conquers All (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister responses to Secretary of State’s legacy announcement
TUV MP Jim Allister welcomes the Government's decision to appeal the Dillon judgment on article 2 of the Windsor Framework and asks whether the Secretary of State will legislate so article 2 has no effect in domestic law if the appeal fails. He also questions why a Finucane inquiry is needed if…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: British Secretary of State's Legacy Act announcement on ICRIR and inquests Original release: Jim Allister responses to Secretary of State’s legacy announcement (opens in a new tab)
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So-called 'conversion' practices have no place in society, says Tennyson, launching Private Members' Bill.
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson, the Upper Bann MLA, launches a consultation on a Private Members' proposal to criminalise so-called conversion practices in Northern Ireland, open until 20 March 2025, saying such practices cause lasting harm.
Disability and equality Issue: Consultation launch on banning conversion practices in Northern Ireland Original release: So-called 'conversion' practices have no place in society, says Tennyson, launching Private Members' Bill. (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Chaotic Executive wasting everyone’s time
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive's chaos is wasting time at Stormont, citing a press conference where journalists were left waiting and no Budget was agreed for next week's Assembly.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive press conference delay and Budget not agreed, December 2024 Original release: O’Toole: Chaotic Executive wasting everyone’s time (opens in a new tab)
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British Secretary of State announcement falls short of commitment to ‘repeal and replace’ Legacy Act – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says the British Secretary of State's legacy announcement falls well short of Labour's manifesto pledge to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, focusing on reforming the ICRIR. He criticises plans to appeal rulings on redacting family reports and calls for a joint approach…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British Secretary of State's Legacy Act announcement on ICRIR and inquests Original release: British Secretary of State announcement falls short of commitment to ‘repeal and replace’ Legacy Act – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency and accountability needed from Health Committee meeting:…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds calls for an urgent, independent inquiry into the Belfast Trust's handling of the new Regional Maternity Hospital ahead of the Trust's appearance before the Health Committee. She says the Health Minister's late-notified issue shows the need for scrutiny, and…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust and Department of Health appearance before Health Committee on maternity hospital Original release: Transparency and accountability needed from Health Committee meeting:… (opens in a new tab)
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Ongoing inaction on racial equality increasingly indefensible, says Bradshaw.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: Ongoing inaction on racial equality increasingly indefensible, says Bradshaw. (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP to launch Our European Future paper in Brussels
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP and Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA launch proposals in Brussels calling for the post-consent-vote Protocol review to cover Brexit's all-island economic impacts, not only east-west trade. The paper proposes an EU Commission office in Belfast and observer…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: SDLP 'Our European Future' paper launch in Brussels Original release: SDLP to launch Our European Future paper in Brussels (opens in a new tab)
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TUV challenges Government on Efficacy of Assembly Protocol consent motion
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP argues that approving the Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 in the 10 December Assembly consent vote would keep Article 6 of the Acts of Union suspended, contrary to Section 38 of the EU Withdrawal Act 2020, and says this throws the vote's validity into doubt. Timothy…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: TUV challenges Government on Efficacy of Assembly Protocol consent motion (opens in a new tab)
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Incorporating UNCRPD into law is essential to eliminate discrimination, says Donnelly.
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly urges the public to respond to the consultation on his Private Member's Bill to incorporate the UNCRPD into domestic law, arguing it would help eliminate discrimination against disabled people. He says the Assembly and Executive have not acted since 2009 and calls for a…
Disability and equality Issue: Donnelly Private Member's Bill UNCRPD consultation launch Original release: Incorporating UNCRPD into law is essential to eliminate discrimination, says Donnelly. (opens in a new tab)
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Opportunity to tackle Assembly dysfunction missed, says Guy
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy says Sinn Féin, the DUP and UUP voted down her call at the Assembly Executive Review Committee for action on designations and the First Minister and deputy First Minister appointment process, and calls for reform to prevent future collapse.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Executive Review Committee vote on Assembly institutional reform Original release: Opportunity to tackle Assembly dysfunction missed, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole slams Sinn Féin and DUP failure to engage with reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Sinn Féin and the DUP want to keep Stormont's status quo for their own benefit, after AERC members turned down an SDLP-Alliance proposal to review Assembly reform. He also accuses them of holding a collapse threat over the public.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Executive Review Committee vote on Assembly institutional reform Original release: O’Toole slams Sinn Féin and DUP failure to engage with reform (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes passing of motion calling for improved regulation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments
SDLP MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes Assembly passage of Sinn Féin's motion urging better regulation of aesthetic procedures like injectables and fillers. She wants the health minister to ensure safe storage and administration by qualified practitioners and to bring forward proposals.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on regulating non-surgical cosmetic treatments passed Original release: Kimmins welcomes passing of motion calling for improved regulation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments (opens in a new tab)
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Plan needed to address waiting times for PEG surgery - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds says she welcomed Parents4Pegs to Stormont and calls for a plan to cut waiting times for PEG insertion surgery at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, where a backlog of 55 children is reported. She also wants parents better informed about ongoing discussions…
Health Issue: Parents4Pegs visit to Stormont over PEG surgery waiting times Original release: Plan needed to address waiting times for PEG surgery - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer…
North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett calls for an urgent review of Ulster Boxing Council policies and procedures after the body agreed a settlement with boxer Daryl Clarke, who was excluded from the 2022 Commonwealth Games team. He also says he has contacted funders and wants Commonwealth Games NI to…
Disability and equality Community relations and legacy Issue: Daryl Clarke settlement with Ulster Boxing Council over 2022 Commonwealth Games selection Original release: Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer… (opens in a new tab)
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Vote a disappointing step towards monumental change: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Commons Second Reading vote on the assisted dying bill is disappointing, though she welcomes that most Northern Ireland MPs voted against it. She says the Bill's flaws will be highlighted at Committee Stage and before the final vote.
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: Vote a disappointing step towards monumental change: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says over £437,000 has been spent on Irish language interpretation in the Assembly, calling it a waste, and criticises the simultaneous translation system made permanent after a six-month review. His release also cites Assembly Commission answers on the Interpretation and…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Commission review of Irish language interpretation service Original release: Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a £1.2million pilot Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund for young children with special educational needs. Settings with a child undergoing statutory assessment will receive £750 per month per class, with payments in tranches.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund pilot announcement Original release: Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with… (opens in a new tab)
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We should protect life: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the NHS must focus on protecting life and the vulnerable ahead of Friday's Commons debate on assisted dying. She argues palliative care must be properly addressed, claims assisted suicide schemes widen over time, and says the bill's safeguards lack detail on preventing…
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: We should protect life: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)