Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Education: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Criticism: remove filter
688 releases
-
DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the DUP's Petition of Concern against an Assembly bill on Irish-medium education punishes children and schools. He calls for reform of Stormont so no single party can block progress.
Education Disability and equality Original release: DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan slams the DUP's plan to veto his Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill via a petition of concern, saying it would harm children learning through Irish. He calls on the DUP to abandon the move and let the Assembly vote, describing the opposition as anti-Irish bigotry.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
8 Years 9 Months wait for urgent dermatology appointment in Northern Trust
TUV MP Jim Allister says the Northern Trust has confirmed an 8 years 9 months wait to see a dermatologist for an urgent referral in a constituency case. He calls the situation a catastrophic failure, encloses redacted correspondence, and says he will press the Trust's chief executive on it next…
Health Issue: Northern Trust dermatology service wait times criticism Original release: 8 Years 9 Months wait for urgent dermatology appointment in Northern Trust (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -…
DUP MLA Pam Cameron says a Committee for Communities survey shows 93.55% of 1,379 respondents opposed the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill, and calls on the Alliance Party to heed the public and halt the Bill. She argues prosecutors flagged vague harm thresholds and reach into family…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Alliance Conversion Practices Bill Original release: Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Belfast section of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 is long on aspiration and short on firm delivery commitments, questioning how the north-south Glider will be funded without an agreed budget. He also raises concerns about cuts to cycling…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Education Minister Paul Givan's TransformED reform plans would add exam pressure, cut coursework and narrow the curriculum, and calls on him to rethink them and stop avoiding academic selection.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the Education Minister's TransformED reforms are placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers, and is bringing a motion to the Assembly on 2 November raising concerns from teachers, principals and parents.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid criticises Education Authority guidance telling pupils to dress warmer in schools amid high energy costs, linking it to cuts and crumbling school buildings. She raised the issue at a Derry City and Strabane council committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath accuses the Executive of drawing health workers into a dispute with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant over pay, after the BMA confirmed further doctors' strike action in November. He says the Executive should stop trading blame and act for patients and staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Stormont handling of health service pay disputes Original release: McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Harkin: DUP Incitement of Sectarian Tensions Must be Challenged
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says sectarian attacks on young people in Belfast must be condemned, and accuses the DUP of inflaming sectarian and racist tensions to deflect from its political crisis, linking this to Stormont cuts and housing failures.
Community relations and legacy Economy and employment Original release: Harkin: DUP Incitement of Sectarian Tensions Must be Challenged (opens in a new tab)
-
Education Committee boycott is an affront to democratic scrutiny, says Burrows
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says the Education Minister’s decision to keep senior Department of Education officials out of the Assembly’s Education Committee undermines democratic scrutiny and urges the Committee, via Chair Nick Mathison MLA, to use its formal powers to summon the ‑
Education Original release: Education Committee boycott is an affront to democratic scrutiny, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Education Minister cannot simply opt out of scrutiny, says Guy
Alliance Education Spokesperson Michelle Guy says the Education Minister must stop refusing to let departmental officials, including the Permanent Secretary, attend the Education Committee. She calls the move unacceptable amid a projected overspend and unclear school funding.
-
Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Health Minister's decision not to build a new Altnagelvin Emergency Department shows regional disparity against Derry and the North West. He announces a Guildhall deputation on 26 October by UNISON, UNITE, NIPSA and the RCN on A&E pressures and cuts.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin. (opens in a new tab)
-
Doctors strike and nurses ballot highlights failure of Minister to prioritise pay awards, says Nuala McAllister MLA
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the announced BMA strike involving consultants, SAS doctors and resident doctors, plus the Royal College of Nursing's planned ballot of its members, reflects the Health Minister's failure to prioritise pay awards.
Health Economy and employment Original release: Doctors strike and nurses ballot highlights failure of Minister to prioritise pay awards, says Nuala McAllister MLA (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation
SDLP Opposition challenges the Executive over delayed racial equality legislation after record race hate incidents and crimes in 2025/26, and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain the delay. Its Black History Month Opposition Day motion also recognised black communities.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunter Condemns Minister's Cynical Attempt to Evade Departmental Scrutiny
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA accuses the Education Minister of avoiding accountability by pulling Department officials from Education Committee scrutiny. She calls on the Committee to hear from academics, experts and civil society instead.
Education Original release: Hunter Condemns Minister's Cynical Attempt to Evade Departmental Scrutiny (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Wear more clothes advice shows how out of touch the Education Authority has become
UUP Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA criticises Education Authority advice telling pupils and staff to "wear more clothes" over rising energy costs, calling for the guidance to be revised for pupils with sensory needs and for the Department to engage with the Education Committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: Wear more clothes advice shows how out of touch the Education Authority has become (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds says £2.3 million in new neurology funding, announced alongside a Neurology Delivery Team, falls far short of the over £65m the Department's Regional Review said is needed. He calls on the Health Minister to act urgently to fully fund neurology services.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
-
If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine challenges First Minister Michelle O'Neill to condemn abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA, contrasting her refusal with John O'Dowd's condemnation and urging her to tell those responsible to stop.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –… (opens in a new tab)