Latest releases
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4,181 releases
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Classroom Assistants deserve proper recognition and support, says Alliance Education representatives.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy call on the Education Minister to set out a clear plan to support, develop and reward Classroom Assistants, following an Ulster University report into the workforce. They raise concerns about temporary recruitment and incomplete Access NI checks.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University report on Classroom Assistants in Northern Ireland Original release: Classroom Assistants deserve proper recognition and support, says Alliance Education representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes removal of intimidation points and planned review of Primary Social Needs.
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes the Communities Minister's plan to scrap intimidation points in social housing applications and review the Primary Social Needs section. She says moving away Troubles-era measures aids peacebuilding and urges action against perpetrators of violence.
Housing Community relations and legacy Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Armstrong welcomes removal of intimidation points and planned review of Primary Social Needs. (opens in a new tab)
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Never Again: Why We Remember The Holocaust
People Before Profit marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, warning that fascism grows from racism and antisemitism. It cites the AfD in Germany, Elon Musk's rally appearance and online conspiracy theories in Ireland, and urges socialists to oppose all racism, including…
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: Never Again: Why We Remember The Holocaust (opens in a new tab)
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We must stand united against all prejudice, hatred, and violence, says Bradshaw, marking Holocaust Memorial Day.
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, the South Belfast MLA, marks Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 by calling for unity against prejudice, hatred and violence, citing Northern Ireland's record of offering sanctuary to refugees and rejecting antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry.
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: We must stand united against all prejudice, hatred, and violence, says Bradshaw, marking Holocaust Memorial Day. (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Belfast City councillors welcome funding for local community and environmental initiatives.
Alliance councillors Sam Nelson and Jenna Maghie welcome Belfast City Council funding agreed by the Strategic Policy & Resources Committee for more street litter bins, an enhanced alleyways scheme and urban wildflower projects, subject to full council ratification.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Strategic Policy & Resources Committee funding for litter bins, alleyways and wildflowers Original release: Alliance Belfast City councillors welcome funding for local community and environmental initiatives. (opens in a new tab)
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People's Housing Bill Consultation
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll introduces the People's Housing Bill, aiming to ease the North’s housing crisis affecting nearly 48,000 households. The plan would cap rents, convert vacant homes into dwellings, set up a Rental Board, tighten landlord duties and enforce basic housing standards
Housing Issue: People's Housing Bill proposal Original release: People's Housing Bill Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins calls for transparency and accountability on cervical screening failures
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for greater transparency and accountability over past cervical screening failures in the Southern Trust, saying many questions remain unanswered after a committee briefing on the review of 17,500 women's tests. She urges women to keep attending smear tests.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening failures review briefing Original release: Kimmins calls for transparency and accountability on cervical screening failures (opens in a new tab)
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NI Executive agreement for Sign Language Bill
The DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA says Executive Ministers have agreed to introduce his Sign Language Bill to the Assembly, which recognises British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language. He plans to introduce it in February and points to departmental investment in trained…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive agreement to introduce Sign Language Bill to Assembly Original release: NI Executive agreement for Sign Language Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives emphasise importance of regular cervical screenings during Cervical Screening Awareness Week.
Alliance MLAs Nuala McAllister and Michelle Guy urge women to attend regular cervical screenings during Cervical Screening Awareness Week. They call for a Department of Health response to Southern Trust misread screening results and back a statutory public inquiry.
Health Issue: Cervical Screening Awareness Week Original release: Alliance representatives emphasise importance of regular cervical screenings during Cervical Screening Awareness Week. (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan encourages public to have its say on MOT consultation
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan encourages the public to respond to a Department for Infrastructure consultation on moving some vehicles from annual to two-yearly MOT testing, open until 16 April 2025. He says Minister John O'Dowd is working to cut MOT wait times through recruitment and Sunday and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure consultation on biennial MOT testing Original release: Boylan encourages public to have its say on MOT consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Gender inequalities a stark reality in health, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to explore expanding robotic-assisted surgery to other specialties, after Health Minister figures showed 513 of 599 such surgeries since 2019 were on males. She says the split reflects unequal access to…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Minister's figures on gender split in robotic surgery Original release: Gender inequalities a stark reality in health, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will oppose unlimited public funds to assisted suicide legislation
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says the party will vote against a money resolution in the House of Commons giving uncapped public spending for developing the assisted suicide legislation. He argues it risks diverting scarce resources from palliative care and mental health support, and calls for…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Commons money resolution on assisted suicide bill uncapped spending Original release: DUP will oppose unlimited public funds to assisted suicide legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn welcomes support for reducing stigma surrounding mental ill-health
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes backing from across parties for a motion aimed at reducing stigma around mental ill-health. She credits the Health Minister's work so far, while urging further practical steps and more accessible mental health services under the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Cross-party motion on reducing stigma around mental ill-health Original release: Flynn welcomes support for reducing stigma surrounding mental ill-health (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes additional funding to help communities tackle violence against women and girls
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes an additional £1.2 million for grassroots organisations to raise awareness of violence against women and girls, following an earlier £2 million commitment to local communities.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Additional £1.2 million funding for violence against women and girls awareness Original release: Sheerin welcomes additional funding to help communities tackle violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes cross-party support for improved autism mental health support
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes cross‑party support for a motion urging the health minister to devise specialist autism mental health services, saying many with ASD lack needed care and the minister must work with families to deliver fully accessible support.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion calling for specialist autism mental health services Original release: Kimmins welcomes cross-party support for improved autism mental health support (opens in a new tab)
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Thousands of Houses Empty and Thousands Homeless: Time for Action
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is using unreliable data on vacant properties to excuse inaction on housing, and calls on the Finance and Communities Ministers to ensure empty homes records are accurate and up to date.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Thousands of Houses Empty and Thousands Homeless: Time for Action (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer welcomes new veterinary nursing degrees at Ulster University
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer welcomes Ulster University's announcement that its Coleraine campus will offer veterinary nursing degrees, and a part-time animal healthcare and practice degree for registered veterinary nurses. He hopes the courses will keep veterinary careers in Northern Ireland…
Agriculture and rural affairs Education Issue: Ulster University Coleraine veterinary nursing degree announcement Original release: McAleer welcomes new veterinary nursing degrees at Ulster University (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party welcome rejection of UUP anti-trans motion
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn welcomes the failure of a UUP motion on trans prisoners, calling it a distraction. He says the Assembly should instead deliver the LGBTQ equality strategy promised since 2007 and address hate crime and health inequalities.
Disability and equality Issue: UUP motion on trans prisoners rejected in Assembly Original release: Green Party welcome rejection of UUP anti-trans motion (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive inaction on empty homes is a missed opportunity after Department of Finance figures showed 21,081 vacant properties across the North. He calls for immediate action, including a review of the Empty Homes Strategy and a scheme similar to Scotland's Empty Home…
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister will be judged on delivery of SEN provision, says Alliance representatives, calling for urgent action.
Alliance Education MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy urge the Education Minister to publish a detailed delivery plan for special educational needs, saying his recent statements lack concrete actions, timescales and funding and that his performance will be judged on SEN provision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Education Minister will be judged on delivery of SEN provision, says Alliance representatives, calling for urgent action. (opens in a new tab)