Latest releases
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4,460 releases
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Providing defibrillators to schools will save lives: Martin
DUP MLA Peter Martin welcomes the Education Minister's announcement that defibrillators will be funded and rolled out to every school in Northern Ireland, noting over 600 schools still need them and that maintenance and replacement will also be funded.
Education Health Issue: Education Minister announcement on defibrillators for every school Original release: Providing defibrillators to schools will save lives: Martin (opens in a new tab)
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Allister defends Ulster Banner display at Commonwealth Games
TUV leader Jim Allister has written to Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland chief executive Conal Heatley criticising comments about changing the Ulster Banner's use at the Games. He says the remarks politicise CWGNI, cites the Flags, Identity, Culture and Traditions Report, and argues athletes…
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland proposal to change Ulster Banner use Original release: Allister defends Ulster Banner display at Commonwealth Games (opens in a new tab)
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Only a Sinn Féin government will drive forward plans for a United Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says a Sinn Féin-led administration alone would push forward reunification plans, pledging to begin preparations and seek border polls by the end of the decade. Her plan includes a Green Paper, a reunification unit and a minister for reunification.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Only a Sinn Féin government will drive forward plans for a United Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey expresses concern at plan to close south Belfast out of hours GP service
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey raises concern over the Belfast Trust's plan to close the out-of-hours GP provision at Knockbreda Health and Wellbeing Centre, calling it vital for local people. She says she will write to the trust about the lack of consultation with the community.
Health Issue: Belfast Trust plan to close Knockbreda out-of-hours GP service Original release: Hargey expresses concern at plan to close south Belfast out of hours GP service (opens in a new tab)
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Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion.
Alliance Comber Councillor Rachel Ashe welcomes Ards and North Down Borough Council's agreement to install communication boards in Tier 1 play parks, after the feasibility report on her motion was approved. Ashe says the boards will help children with speech, language or autism-related…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Ards and North Down communication boards in Tier 1 play parks Original release: Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion. (opens in a new tab)
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Improving mental health services must be a priority – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for more to be done on mental health services and suicide prevention after the Registrar General's 2023 Annual Report showed an increase in suicide deaths. She says she intends to bring legislation requiring suicide prevention training for all frontline public…
Health Issue: Registrar General's 2023 Annual Report on suicide deaths increase Original release: Improving mental health services must be a priority – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes NI Select Committee in Lords
Lord Dodds of Duncairn welcomes the House of Lords’ approval of a newly formed Northern Ireland Select Committee to examine EU legislation and the Protocol/Windsor Framework, noting it will spotlight rules that currently lack input from NI elected representatives.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: House of Lords approves NI Select Committee on EU legislation Original release: Dodds welcomes NI Select Committee in Lords (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive dysfunction leaves hospitals facing very difficult winter
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says Executive dysfunction will leave hospitals facing a very difficult winter after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced proposed budget cuts. He calls for the Executive to take responsibility for its decisions, arguing the Health Service's…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announces proposed cuts from Executive budget allocation Original release: McGrath: Executive dysfunction leaves hospitals facing very difficult winter (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Bill published
TUV North Antrim MP Jim Allister says his private members' Bill would restore UK law-making sovereignty and replace the Irish Sea customs border with a mutual enforcement arrangement, removing the need for fixed border posts. It would also require cross-community support for any Stormont vote on…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Jim Allister private members' Bill on Protocol and mutual enforcement published Original release: Allister Bill published (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Department of Education to improve special educational needs support in Irish medium schools, saying they need access to educational psychologists who work in Irish and other health professionals. She welcomes the department's acknowledgement of the issues.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the Department of Education to publish its transformation plan for special educational needs services, noting over 200 recommendations from reports so far without a delivery plan. He calls on the Education Minister to release the SEN Reform Agenda and its delivery…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Gavin Robinson: Building Common Ground
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at a John & Pat Hume Foundation event in Westminster, says the NI Protocol upset the three-stranded balance and calls for the Government to restore Northern Ireland's place within the UK, including removing EU law and the Irish Sea border.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: John & Pat Hume Foundation Building Common Ground event Westminster Original release: Gavin Robinson: Building Common Ground (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Ministerial team to attend Economic Conference in Ballygawley
Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty says partition makes no economic sense and urges an all‑Island economic strategy, promoting the Sinn Féin‑hosted conference in Canavan’s, Ballygawley on 22 November to discuss unity’s benefits.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Féin economic conference on partition in Ballygawley Original release: Sinn Féin Ministerial team to attend Economic Conference in Ballygawley (opens in a new tab)
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Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says antisemitic graffiti has remained on a Royal Victoria Hospital wall in west Belfast for months after a complaint to the Belfast Trust, and calls on the Trust to explain why it has not been removed.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Antisemitic graffiti at Royal Victoria Hospital wall remains unremoved Original release: Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months (opens in a new tab)
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‘Huge opportunities lie ahead in a new Ireland’ – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says Irish unity offers huge opportunities for investment, jobs and public services, and calls on the incoming Irish government to prioritise planning for constitutional change. He sets out plans for a green paper, a Citizens' Assembly and a Minister for Reunification.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Labour for Irish Unity 'Towards Irish Unity' Westminster event Original release: ‘Huge opportunities lie ahead in a new Ireland’ – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Allister comments on assisted suicide Bill
TUV North Antrim MP Jim Allister says he is appalled by the assisted suicide Bill published ahead of a Commons debate on 29 November, warning of coercion of the elderly and NHS cost impacts. He welcomes a review of the proposals' costs ordered by the Health Secretary.
Health Issue: Assisted suicide Bill publication ahead of Commons debate Original release: Allister comments on assisted suicide Bill (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition presses for representation in the EU Parliament
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls for Northern Ireland to have representation in the European Parliament, through directly elected MEPs or observer status, ahead of an Opposition Day motion on future EU relations.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motion on future relationships with Europe Original release: SDLP Opposition presses for representation in the EU Parliament (opens in a new tab)
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TUV leader warns unionism over Protocol vote
TUV leader Jim Allister MP warns that the upcoming Stormont vote on continuing the Protocol will entrench EU lawmaking powers in 300 areas and move Northern Ireland further from the UK, urging unionists not to operate Stormont under Protocol rule.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State triggers Stormont vote on Windsor Framework Original release: TUV leader warns unionism over Protocol vote (opens in a new tab)
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Harpur welcomes passing of motion around combatting both HIV and the stigma associated.
Alliance Castlereagh South Councillor Jamie Harpur welcomes Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council's passing of his motion on HIV, which calls for ending the epidemic locally and globally and tackling stigma through integrated healthcare and the HIV Fast Track Cities initiative.
Health Local government Issue: Lisburn and Castlereagh council motion on ending HIV epidemic Original release: Harpur welcomes passing of motion around combatting both HIV and the stigma associated. (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling violence against women requires joined-up approach - Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes a Government commitment to work with devolved institutions, including the Assembly, on tackling violence against women and girls. She cites 22,403 recorded offences in Northern Ireland and says the Minister has spoken to the PSNI Chief Constable and intends to visit…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Government commitment on violence against women and girls in Commons questions Original release: Tackling violence against women requires joined-up approach - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)