Latest releases
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81 releases
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Children must come first when the worst has happened - Middleton
DUP Foyle MLA Julie Middleton welcomes a consultation on family law reform that would automatically restrict parental responsibility for a parent convicted of killing the other parent. She urges Northern Ireland to keep pace with England, Wales and the Republic, and says delay in a Bill leaves…
Justice and policing Issue: Family law reform consultation on parental responsibility after serious crimes Original release: Children must come first when the worst has happened - Middleton (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows calls for end to private fireworks sales
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA calls for sweeping changes to Northern Ireland's fireworks rules, proposing a ban on private sales except in rare cases, limiting displays to organised events, moving to quieter fireworks and harsher penalties for illegal use, citing harm to pets and wildlife.
Justice and policing Issue: Fireworks law reform call by party leader Jon Burrows MLA Original release: Burrows calls for end to private fireworks sales (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Bill a step forward in improving experience of victims and witnesses in criminal justice system, says Long
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long pays tribute to victims and witnesses of crime after the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill reached its second stage in the Assembly. She says the Bill's provisions are informed by their lived experiences and represent a step forward.
Justice and policing Issue: Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill second stage vote Original release: Bill a step forward in improving experience of victims and witnesses in criminal justice system, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA introduces the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill to the Assembly, seeking to ban conversion therapy and coercive conversion behaviour in Northern Ireland with penalties of fines or up to two years in custody.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill introduced to Assembly Original release: Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes a Scottish Court of Session judgment ruling that prison accommodation must be segregated by biological sex, and says it should prompt reflection in Northern Ireland. He points to Rule 90 of the 1995 Prison Rules and says his Amendment 97 to the Justice Bill will be…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Court of Session ruling on prison accommodation by biological sex Original release: Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation (opens in a new tab)
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The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD says the DUP’s proposed hard border between the north and south is impossible to police, would damage the all‑Ireland economy and risk a return to Troubles‑era controls, and calls on the Irish government to open talks with the UK, pledging to raise the issue at the BI‑
Constitutional affairs Immigration Issue: DUP proposed hard border between North and South Original release: The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: MLAs cannot miss chance to tackle scramblers and e-scooters
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says MLAs must vote for an amendment to the Justice Bill that would let police seize scramblers and e‑scooters causing alarm, distress or annoyance without a warning, urging cross‑party support to curb dangerous anti‑social use.
Justice and policing Issue: SDLP amendment to Justice Bill on seizing scramblers and e-scooters Original release: Durkan: MLAs cannot miss chance to tackle scramblers and e-scooters (opens in a new tab)
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Frew Tables Amendment to Strengthen Police Powers Against Dangerous…
DUP North Antrim MLA and Assembly Justice Committee Chair Paul Frew tables a Justice Bill amendment to let police seize illegally used e‑scooters and scramblers without first issuing a warning, aiming to curb reckless use on roads and footpaths.
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Bill amendment to remove warning before e‑scooter seizure Original release: Frew Tables Amendment to Strengthen Police Powers Against Dangerous… (opens in a new tab)
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Frew hosts NIACRO Delegation to discuss 'Friday release' amendment
DUP MLA Paul Frew, Justice Committee Chairperson, says he hosted NIACRO and other stakeholders at Stormont to discuss his amendment to the Justice Bill, which would stop prisoner releases on Fridays or before public holidays so support can be arranged.
Justice and policing Issue: Paul Frew amendment to Justice Bill on Friday prisoner release Original release: Frew hosts NIACRO Delegation to discuss 'Friday release' amendment (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP brings forward amendment to give police greater powers to seize scramblers and e-scooters
SDLP Opposition Justice Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the party is bringing forward an amendment to the Justice Bill so police can seize scramblers and e-scooters being used dangerously or anti-socially without first issuing a warning. He urges MLAs to back the proposal.
Justice and policing Issue: SDLP amendment to Justice Bill on seizing scramblers and e-scooters Original release: SDLP brings forward amendment to give police greater powers to seize scramblers and e-scooters (opens in a new tab)
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Frew tables amendment to Boost Support and Reduce Reoffending
North Antrim DUP MLA and Justice Committee Chair Paul Frew tables a Justice Bill amendment to prevent prisoners and young detainees being released on a Friday or before a public or bank holiday, saying the extra days are needed to secure accommodation, mental‑health, substance‑misuse and financial ‑
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Bill amendment to stop Friday releases Original release: Frew tables amendment to Boost Support and Reduce Reoffending (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe tables amendment to allow suspension of public appointment…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe has tabled a change to the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill that would permit the suspension of any holder of a public appointment, such as the Police Ombudsman, while they are under investigation, and she urges parties to back the measure.
Justice and policing Issue: Amendment to suspend public appointees under investigation Original release: Forsythe tables amendment to allow suspension of public appointment… (opens in a new tab)
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Horrifying reports of AI-generated abuse of disabled people highlights need for regulation, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl calls for AI regulation after reports that Meta is investigating accounts sharing AI-generated sexualised content degrading disabled people. She says she will bring an amendment to the Justice Bill banning tools built to create non-consensual sexually explicit images.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Meta investigation into AI-generated sexualised content of disabled people Original release: Horrifying reports of AI-generated abuse of disabled people highlights need for regulation, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Submits Amendment to Justice Bill: 10 is Too Young
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll submits an amendment to the Justice Bill urging that the minimum age at which a child can be held criminally responsible be lifted to 16, with no exceptions, citing developmental science and human‑rights standards.
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Bill amendment to raise minimum age of criminal responsibility Original release: Carroll Submits Amendment to Justice Bill: 10 is Too Young (opens in a new tab)
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Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes the strongly positive response to a survey by the Education Committee on a plan guaranteeing all pupils the right to wear trousers, with about 98% in favour. She says the School Uniform Bill was a missed opportunity and calls for it to pass before next year's…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee survey on pupils' right to wear trousers Original release: Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Egan to repeal archaic blasphemy laws in Northern Ireland
Alliance Justice spokesperson Connie Egan MLA has tabled an amendment to the Justice Bill to repeal common law blasphemy offences in Northern Ireland, arguing they are outdated, unused and infringe free speech and religious freedom. She urges other parties to support it.
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Bill amendment to repeal blasphemy offences in Northern Ireland Original release: Egan to repeal archaic blasphemy laws in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Social media restrictions must be considered to keep children safe online
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter says all options, including age-based social media limits, should be weighed to protect children online. Ahead of Tuesday's Opposition Day motion, she calls for proportionate under-16 restrictions alongside regulation, youth engagement and parental support.
Justice and policing Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motion on under-16 social media restrictions Original release: Hunter: Social media restrictions must be considered to keep children safe online (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland submits amendment to Justice Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland submitted an amendment to the Justice Bill to increase Northern Ireland’s age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, allowing exceptions for the most serious offences, and called on other parties to back the change.
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Bill amendment to raise age of criminal responsibility Original release: Mulholland submits amendment to Justice Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50%
Education Minister Paul Givan launches a draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, with a public consultation, saying it could subsidise working families' childcare costs by more than 50%. It proposes universal full-time pre-school education and an Early Years Curriculum Framework.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50% (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the response to her consultation on a Bill that would give legal protection to breastfeeding in public and require businesses and service providers to make premises breastfeeding-friendly. She urges councils, businesses and public facilities to display…
Disability and equality Issue: Linda Dillon breastfeeding in public Bill consultation closure Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)