Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
1,990 releases
-
Michelle O'Neill speech at Bodenstown - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán and First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the party is ready to form an Executive now, calls on the DUP to stop blocking it, and urges more funding for the cost of living and health service. She also says the Protocol is working and calls for the Irish Government…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Michelle O'Neill speech at Bodenstown - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Sheehan calls on DUP Education Minister to extend Engage II programme for schools - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges Education Minister Peter Weir to extend the Engage II schools tuition scheme, citing uncertainty for teachers and schools planning the coming year. He says funding should be found within the minister's budget without delay.
-
Bomber’s re-appointment to Education Authority reminds us of Alliance and SDLP culpability
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises the re-appointment of Paul Kavanagh, a convicted bomber, to the Education Authority board. He says his Bill to remove Kavanagh was defeated by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance, and accuses Alliance and the SDLP of blocking it.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Paul Kavanagh re-appointment to Education Authority board Original release: Bomber’s re-appointment to Education Authority reminds us of Alliance and SDLP culpability (opens in a new tab)
-
No justification for excluding trans people from ban on so-called conversion therapy, says Farry
Alliance MP Stephen Farry says excluding trans people from a planned ban on so-called conversion therapy has no justification and calls on the UK Government to extend any ban to Northern Ireland while the Executive is not functioning, ahead of a Westminster debate on a petition with over 145,000…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Westminster debate on excluding trans people from conversion therapy ban Original release: No justification for excluding trans people from ban on so-called conversion therapy, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
-
Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says carers must be more visible and valued in society, marking Carers Week 2022. She commits to taking forward Private Members Legislation on carers' rights, initiated earlier by colleague Mervyn Storey, to bring Northern Ireland level with England, Scotland and Wales.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Our carers must be visible & valued: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Western Trust's plan to restart early abortion services in July after their April 2021 suspension, but says the service should never have been suspended. She blames the Health Minister's inaction on commissioning and calls for a fully…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Western Trust early abortion services resumption announcement Original release: ‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish
South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Finance considering reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish or bilingual English and Irish, following a written question. She urges the Finance Minister to make new certificates available as soon as possible.
Disability and equality Issue: Department of Finance consideration of reissuing birth certificates in Irish Original release: Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's agreement to begin work on inclusive play, with officers tasked to produce a full report, while saying the delay is disappointing. He cites PlayBoard NI and Mae Murray Foundation research on families excluded from play parks and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on inclusive play parks Original release: Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast (opens in a new tab)
-
Free school meal payments over summer holidays welcome- Sheehan - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes confirmation that summer holiday payments will continue for around 100,000 children and their families. He urges the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive and Assembly so a permanent scheme can be delivered.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: Free school meal payments over summer holidays welcome- Sheehan - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Others should follow Education Minister's positive example
Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds welcomes Education Minister Michelle McIlveen's announcement of a £12.6million holiday food grant for families of children entitled to free school meals this summer. She urges other parties and ministers to follow that example, criticising them for blaming others.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: Others should follow Education Minister's positive example (opens in a new tab)
-
Summer Food Payment Clarity Welcomed
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth welcomes the Education Minister's announcement of a £12.6million summer school holiday food grant, paying £13.50 per week for each eligible child from 1 July to 31 August. He calls for long-term action on child poverty, low wages and social security reform.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: Summer Food Payment Clarity Welcomed (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong repeats her call for all respite and day care services for disabled people and older people to reopen during Carers Week. She says carers are exhausted, notes the Health Minister has asked for a review of each Trust's reopening pathway, and says carers now need support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan welcomes summer free school meals payment
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan welcomes £12.6m for summer holiday payments to families of children receiving free school meals, but says support must continue for the rest of the year. He calls on the DUP to return to Stormont to secure longer-term funding.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Education Minister's summer school holiday food grant announcement Original release: McCrossan welcomes summer free school meals payment (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin: PSNI must act over sexist WhatsApp group
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the PSNI and Chief Constable Simon Byrne to send a clear message that sexist, pornographic and racist messages shared by serving officers in a WhatsApp group will not be tolerated. She says the case raises concerns about PSNI culture.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: TV documentary allegations about PSNI culture Original release: McLaughlin: PSNI must act over sexist WhatsApp group (opens in a new tab)
-
Action Needed On Cost Of Living Crisis To Protect Women And Girls
People Before Profit Councillor Maeve O'Neill says Derry and Strabane Council will hear from a women's rights agency on its Feminist Recovery Plan and early research into violence against women and girls. She calls for action on the cost of living crisis to protect women.
Justice and policing Economy and employment Issue: Derry and Strabane Council gender‑based violence meeting Original release: Action Needed On Cost Of Living Crisis To Protect Women And Girls (opens in a new tab)
-
Ciara Henry has welcomes the reopening of Ballycopeland Windmill
Green Party NI MLA Ciara Henry welcomes the opening of Ballycopeland Windmill to the public from 2 June as a heritage visitor site. She highlights a Changing Places facility, a cafe run by USEL that will offer jobs to people with disabilities, and the windmill's value to local history.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Ballycopeland Windmill reopening as visitor attraction Original release: Ciara Henry has welcomes the reopening of Ballycopeland Windmill (opens in a new tab)
-
Whether at Westminster or Stormont roll over Unionism cannot wash its hands of Irish language legislation
TUV South Antrim representative Mel Lucas says the DUP agreed the substance of Irish language legislation introduced at Westminster, claiming it conceded the measure to restore Stormont and was passed there to avoid Assembly debate. He warns it will disadvantage non-Irish speakers in public sector…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: British government confirmation of Irish Language Act legislation tabling Original release: Whether at Westminster or Stormont roll over Unionism cannot wash its hands of Irish language legislation (opens in a new tab)
-
Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes Acht Gaeilge breakthrough
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes confirmation that legislation for an Irish Language Act will be tabled, and calls for it to be delivered before Westminster's summer recess. She blames unionist parties for reneging on the commitment in the 2020 New Decade, New Approach agreement.
Disability and equality Issue: British government confirmation of Irish Language Act legislation tabling Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes Acht Gaeilge breakthrough (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Neill welcomes confirmation that Acht Gaeilge is to proceed
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill welcomes confirmation that the British government will table Irish Language Act legislation in Westminster, and calls for it to be done before the summer recess. She also welcomes £4 million funding for An Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge.
Disability and equality Issue: British government confirmation of Irish Language Act legislation tabling Original release: O’Neill welcomes confirmation that Acht Gaeilge is to proceed (opens in a new tab)
-
Time for ‘Practical Measures’ to address HRT shortage, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for practical measures to address the UK-wide HRT shortage affecting women in Northern Ireland, pointing to English pharmacy swap powers and urging a Women's Health Strategy with specialist menopause clinics.
Health Disability and equality Issue: UK HRT shortage affecting women in Northern Ireland Original release: Time for ‘Practical Measures’ to address HRT shortage, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)