Latest releases
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2,759 releases
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Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to overhaul special educational needs provision, saying young people and families are being failed by the current system and urging the minister to act on his commitment following a Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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‘Community heartbroken at tragic death of Caolán Devlin’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill expresses shock and sorrow at the fatal A5 collision that killed Caolán Devlin on Tuesday night, and urges the public to help police with dash cam footage. She also calls for the opponents of the A5 upgrade to drop their objections without further delay.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road fatal collision Omagh to Ballygawley March 2024 Original release: ‘Community heartbroken at tragic death of Caolán Devlin’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Irish remains preserve of one community
TUV leader Jim Allister challenges DUP MLA Paul Givan's claim that Irish belongs to everyone, arguing the Irish language is not supported by facts such as its absence from controlled school curricula. He says Irish language legislation aims to promote Gaelicisation as part of a nationalist…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Paul Givan's comments that Irish belongs to all of us Original release: Irish remains preserve of one community (opens in a new tab)
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A5 road death another ‘absolute tragedy’ – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley offers condolences to the family of a man killed in a crash on the A5 near Omagh, pays tribute to emergency services, and calls for the A5 to be built without further delays.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road fatal collision Omagh to Ballygawley March 2024 Original release: A5 road death another ‘absolute tragedy’ – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to fund weekend nightbus services in Belfast, costing around £150,000 a year, after the Minister said the matter is for Translink. He argues the services would boost the night-time economy and help…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast weekend nightbus funding request to Infrastructure Minister Original release: de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell accuses Alliance leader Naomi Long of using a sectarianism charge to deflect from Casement Park's cost, asking how the £300 million bill would be funded and whether the GAA funding deal bars chanting at the stadium.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park redevelopment funding and sectarianism accusation Original release: Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, raises serious concerns after 14 MOT lifts were found to have hairline cracks, asking the Minister to outline steps to address the situation. She says lessons from 2019 should have been learnt and will press DVA for updates at…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Hairline cracks found in MaHa MOT testing lifts Original release: Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers a keynote at an Irish Unity Summit in New York, dedicating her words to the late Rita O'Hare and calling on US friends to walk with Ireland toward reunification.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York (opens in a new tab)
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Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says it is alarming that the Department of Health has ended Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence. She calls on the Health Minister to review the decision, arguing GP referrals are not an adequate substitute.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says newly published Rivers Trust data showing no Northern Ireland river stretches at good overall status is disappointing but not surprising. He links the decline to agricultural run-off, sewage, invasive species and underinvestment, and calls for…
Environment and climate Issue: Rivers Trust State of Our Rivers 2024 report on Northern Ireland waters Original release: Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
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More help needed to support carers – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says more help is needed for carers, especially women forced to cut hours or leave jobs, reacting to a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report. She calls for investment in social care, stronger workers' rights and better childcare, and welcomes the Economy Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: More help needed to support carers – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine - Audit Office Lessons for Infrastructure
Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA Deborah Erskine calls for an honest review of how major infrastructure is planned and delivered, following a Northern Ireland Audit Office report. She cites the A5, York Street Interchange and planning delays, and says funding must be found to implement the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on major infrastructure delivery Original release: Erskine - Audit Office Lessons for Infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
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Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA expresses concern over a Translink-commissioned report on projected sea level rise threatening rail locations, saying 7 are at high risk by 2040. He calls for urgent consultation with the Department for Infrastructure on moving and re-routing the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Translink report on sea level rise impacts to rail infrastructure Original release: Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
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Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood
Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood MLA says carers need far more support, citing a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report finding nearly 60% of unpaid carers are women. She backs its recommendations, including paid carer's leave, and says she has asked the Economy Minister to include it in a…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly backs SDLP Opposition’s rail plan
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes Assembly backing for a motion urging a fully costed plan to implement the All Island Strategic Rail Review by the end of 2024. He urges the Executive and Infrastructure Minister O'Dowd to work with Irish and British governments, and wants…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Assembly motion on All Island Strategic Rail Review implementation plan Original release: Assembly backs SDLP Opposition’s rail plan (opens in a new tab)
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GAA being unreasonable on Casement
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell says it is unreasonable for the GAA to refuse further contributions to the cost of Casement Park, which he says has risen while the GAA's share stayed static. He calls for the GAA to increase its contribution and for further government funding to be conditional on…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: GAA refusal to increase contribution to Casement Park costs Original release: GAA being unreasonable on Casement (opens in a new tab)