Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
17 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)
-
Independent Autism Reviewer report will play key role in informing policy to improve the lives of those with Autism – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the Independent Autism Reviewer's initial findings will help shape policy to improve services for autistic people, and says the report exposes a gap between policy and reality. He calls for the Assembly and Health Committee to keep scrutinising delivery and press…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: Independent Autism Reviewer report will play key role in informing policy to improve the lives of those with Autism – McGuigan (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)
-
All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú says the government should adopt an All‑Ireland inclusion strategy and a shared North‑South definition of disability, and work harder to boost employment for disabled people, following the ESRI report on island‑wide disability rates.
Disability and equality Issue: ESRI report on disability rates across the island Original release: All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (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)
-
New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Department for Communities' draft Disability Strategy, published as it goes out for public consultation, calling it a step toward real equality for disabled people. He urges the Communities Minister to bring forward legislative change and encourages people…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Lockhart Secures High-Level Meeting with Airport Chiefs Over…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Belfast International Airport senior executives have agreed to meet her and constituents over reports of humiliating security screening experiences involving stoma bags. She also says she has contacted Belfast City Airport about sharing training, and will work with…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Belfast International Airport meeting over stoma bag security screening complaints Original release: Lockhart Secures High-Level Meeting with Airport Chiefs Over… (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds welcome investment in provision for children with disabilities
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds, the Upper Bann MLA, welcomes new investment in services for children with disabilities and says it is long overdue. She calls for the recommendations of Professor Ray Jones's report on children's social care to be taken forward.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: Dodds welcome investment in provision for children with disabilities (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)
-
McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath welcomes £13m multi-year funding from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to increase short break respite for children with disabilities. He says he will seek urgent clarity on the impact on other health services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Additional investment in services for children with disabilities Original release: McGrath welcomes funding to support respite for children with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
-
Cameron welcomes appointment of Independent Autism Reviewer
DUP MLA Pam Cameron welcomes the appointment of Ema Cubitt as Independent Autism Reviewer, taking up post in September, saying the role follows from her Private Members' Bill and will provide independent scrutiny of autism services.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Appointment of Independent Autism Reviewer Ema Cubitt Original release: Cameron welcomes appointment of Independent Autism Reviewer (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)
-
Bangor West Councillor welcomes announcement that the Promote Learning Disability Service has been saved from closure
Green Party Bangor West councillor Cllr McKee welcomes the signing of a contract for charity Orchardville to take over the Promote Day Opportunities Service in Bangor, saving it from closure. She criticises the South Eastern Trust's handling and calls for a return of the Stormont Executive to…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Promote Day Opportunities Service in Bangor saved from closure Original release: Bangor West Councillor welcomes announcement that the Promote Learning Disability Service has been saved from closure (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent clarification needed on budgets, says Armstrong, after charity announces redundancy notices
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for urgent clarity on budgets after Mencap NI issued 30-day redundancy notices to staff running its employment support services, citing a lack of funding information from Departments and the UK Government.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Mencap NI employment services redundancy notices over funding uncertainty Original release: Urgent clarification needed on budgets, says Armstrong, after charity announces redundancy notices (opens in a new tab)
-
A sad day for rights of the disabled – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who chairs the All-Party Pro-Life Group at Westminster, says the Court of Appeal's rejection of Heidi Crowter's challenge to allow abortion up to birth for babies with Down's syndrome is a sad day for disabled people's rights. She hopes Crowter will take the case to the…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Court of Appeal rejects Heidi Crowter challenge on Down's syndrome abortion law Original release: A sad day for rights of the disabled – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)