Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
23 releases
-
Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
Alliance Belfast Councillor Michael Long welcomes Belfast City Council's endorsement of an Alliance proposal to have council officers meet the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee before next year's Fleadh. The move follows disability groups' concerns about this year's event.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fleadh 2026 accessibility concerns and proposals Original release: Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to act quickly on autism provision ahead of an Assembly motion tomorrow. She cites long assessment waits, a postcode lottery in respite services, and calls for a plan to cut waiting lists and deliver the Autism Strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on autism services and support Original release: Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
-
Allen welcomes Final Stage passage of Sign Language Bill
Ulster Unionist Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA welcomes the bill’s passage through the Assembly’s final stage, noting it will now proceed to Royal Assent and urging that its duties on British and Irish Sign Language be fully resourced and implemented.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Allen welcomes Final Stage passage of Sign Language Bill (opens in a new tab)
-
Autism Reviewer’s report must be catalyst for real change, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly welcomes the first Annual Report of the Independent Autism Reviewer, Ema Cubitt, saying it must set a benchmark for services. He cites a finding that 90% of respondents felt unheard when seeking help and calls for findings to drive real improvements.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: Autism Reviewer’s report must be catalyst for real change, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
-
Political institutions must be inclusive and representative of persons with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong says political institutions should reflect and include people with disabilities. She made the remarks after being selected by the Assembly to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities regional forum in Edinburgh on 20-21 February 2026.
Disability and equality Original release: Political institutions must be inclusive and representative of persons with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the £6.5 million allocated to the Department for Communities for disability home adaptations. He calls for better support and oversight so adaptations meet specification, and urges the Minister to create a dedicated fund for accessibility in public and community…
Disability and equality Housing Issue: £6.5 million Department for Communities disability adaptations funding Original release: Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding (opens in a new tab)
-
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly is introducing a Bill that would require public authorities in Northern Ireland to give statutory due regard to the rights set out in the UN disability treaty, UNCRPD, when developing and reviewing policies and decisions.
Disability and equality Issue: UNCRPD public authorities due regard Bill introduction Original release: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill (opens in a new tab)
-
Time to deliver on disability rights, says Donnelly, on publication of PMB report
Alliance spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA publishes the consultation report on his proposed Disability Rights Bill, which would require public authorities to take account of the UN disability convention, citing 87% support. He calls the bill a vital first step and urges Northern Ireland to act…
Disability and equality Issue: Donnelly Disability Rights Bill consultation report publication Original release: Time to deliver on disability rights, says Donnelly, on publication of PMB report (opens in a new tab)
-
Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a joint meeting of the Departments for Communities and the Economy to improve disability employment rates, citing a 38.7% disability employment rate against 54.4% in the UK. She highlights Supported Employment from the Mind the Gap report and warns that…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Mind the Gap Summit disability employment and Supported Employment report Original release: Lack of synchronisation threatens the future of people with disabilities, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
Chambers welcomes Health Ministers’ commitment to additional support for children with Disabilities
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the Health Minister's identification of up to £2m for this year, within up to £13m multi-year funding, to improve services for children with disabilities. He links it to the Spotlight documentary 'I am not okay' and praises the Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: Chambers welcomes Health Ministers’ commitment to additional support for children with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
-
McAllister welcomes announcement from Health Minister outlining plans to improve services for children with disabilities, stating it shouldn’t have taken this long.
Alliance Health spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes the Health Minister's plan to invest in children's disability services, including more short breaks and community family and behavioural supports. She says the funding is long overdue and asks for clarity on multi-use…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McAllister welcomes announcement from Health Minister outlining plans to improve services for children with disabilities, stating it shouldn’t have taken this long. (opens in a new tab)
-
Private Members’ Bill first step towards incorporating UNCRPD in NI, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly says his proposed Assembly bill to incorporate the UN disability convention, UNCRPD, into public authority duties is a needed initial move, requiring regular reports on compliance and tackling disability discrimination.
Disability and equality Issue: Danny Donnelly Private Members' Bill on incorporating UNCRPD in public authorities Original release: Private Members’ Bill first step towards incorporating UNCRPD in NI, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
-
More must be done to tackle inequalities facing people with disabilities, following report, says Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly says more must be done at Westminster and Stormont to tackle inequalities facing disabled people after a UN committee report on UK compliance with the UNCRPD. He calls on the Executive Office and Department for Communities to act and urges Assembly action on…
Disability and equality Social security and welfare Issue: UN UNCRPD committee report on rights of persons with disabilities in the UK Original release: More must be done to tackle inequalities facing people with disabilities, following report, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
-
Allen Congratulates Wheelchair Users on Awards
UUP Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA, a wheelchair user, congratulates this year's recipients of the fifth annual Jackie Magee memorial awards in Belfast. He praises the Northern Ireland Regional Wheelchair Service and says peer support and co-design are vital for inclusive services.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Jacqueline Magee Memorial Awards 2023 for wheelchair service recipients Original release: Allen Congratulates Wheelchair Users on Awards (opens in a new tab)
-
Essential those with disabilities have permanent seat at decision-making table, says Skinner, following passing of motion
Alliance Knockagh Councillor Aaron Skinner welcomes the passing of his motion at Mid and East Antrim Council to set up a disability lived experience group as a subcommittee. He says the group would give disabled people a formal route to advise councillors on accessibility, infrastructure and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim Council disability lived experience group motion Original release: Essential those with disabilities have permanent seat at decision-making table, says Skinner, following passing of motion (opens in a new tab)
-
Essential people with learning disabilities are leaders of conversations around their lives, says Armstrong, marking Learning Disabilities Week
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes people with learning disabilities, families and support groups to Parliament Buildings to mark Learning Disability Week 2023. She says the event aims to challenge stigma and myths, and that people with learning disabilities should…
Disability and equality Original release: Essential people with learning disabilities are leaders of conversations around their lives, says Armstrong, marking Learning Disabilities Week (opens in a new tab)
-
Autism and other services should be provided as standard in council facilities, says Kane
Alliance candidate Lee Kane, standing in Ballymoney for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, urges that autism, ADHD and learning disability-friendly services be standard across council facilities. He also backs Changing Places toilets in council buildings and carer-friendly workplace…
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Autism and other services should be provided as standard in council facilities, says Kane (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong calls on Prime Minister and Taoiseach to create an emergency fund to save 1700 jobs in the Community Sector
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, Chair of the All Party Group on Learning Disability, calls on the UK and Irish governments to fund a £40million rescue package to replace expiring European Social Fund money. She says it would keep 1700 community sector jobs and support 17000 people with disabilities…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: End of European Social Fund money affecting community sector jobs Original release: Armstrong calls on Prime Minister and Taoiseach to create an emergency fund to save 1700 jobs in the Community Sector (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities
UUP MLA Robbie Butler warns that budget uncertainty at Stormont risks ending the Department for Infrastructure's Disability Action Transport Scheme and Shopmobility, which have no funding guarantee beyond next month. He blames the lack of an Executive and multi-year budgets.
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Department for Infrastructure disability transport schemes funding at risk Original release: Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities (opens in a new tab)