Latest releases
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56 releases
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Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says he will vote against the Education Minister's amendments to the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at Further Consideration Stage and back the Education Committee's amendments, so payments are never below a school dinner's cost.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry (opens in a new tab)
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Bower welcomes passing of motion to make public spaces safer for those with severe allergies
Alliance Belfast Councillor Christine Bower welcomes the council's passing of her motion seeking to improve safety and accessibility in public places for people with severe allergies.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Bower welcomes passing of motion to make public spaces safer for those with severe allergies (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin opposed to conversion therapy – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says the party opposes conversion therapy during the Second Stage debate on the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill. She says Sinn Féin will keep engaging with the Bill sponsor to make the legislation fit for purpose.
Disability and equality Original release: Sinn Féin opposed to conversion therapy – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA calls on Assembly members from all parties to back the Conversion Practices Bill at Second Stage, describing it as a historic opportunity to ban conversion practices he calls cruel and archaic.
Disability and equality Original release: Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate (opens in a new tab)
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes an Assembly motion on IVF equality, calling for access to fertility treatment to be based on need rather than ability to pay and describing IVF as essential healthcare.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform
SDLP MLA Hunter welcomes the Assembly's backing for reform of special educational needs (SEN) provision for young people aged over 19, saying it is a step toward better support for those students.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly’s passage of the Sign Language Bill, saying it gives legal recognition to Irish and British Sign Language and places a duty on bodies to provide accessible services for deaf and deaf‑blind people.
Disability and equality Original release: Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Historic day for the Deaf Community as Sign Language Bill passes
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood's colleague Durkan welcomes the passage of the Sign Language Bill, calling it a historic day for the Deaf community.
Disability and equality Original release: Durkan: Historic day for the Deaf Community as Sign Language Bill passes (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes Final Stage passage of Sign Language Bill
Disability and equality Original release: Allen welcomes Final Stage passage of Sign Language Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Baker welcomes Holiday Hunger Bill progressing to next stage
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the Holiday Hunger Bill clearing second stage in the Assembly and moving to committee, saying it will help 90,000 disadvantaged children and families during holidays. He criticises the Education Minister for not backing the bill and pledges cross-party work to…
Social security and welfare Original release: Baker welcomes Holiday Hunger Bill progressing to next stage (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna raises violence against women and girls in House of Commons
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood's colleague Hanna Bunting raises violence against women and girls in the House of Commons, according to the release.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Hanna raises violence against women and girls in House of Commons (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes progress on delivering Sign Language Bill
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes progress on the Sign Language Bill after it was approved at Consideration Stage. He says the Bill is an important step towards giving the deaf and deafblind community access to public services in their own language, and praises their input into shaping it.
Disability and equality Original release: Gildernew welcomes progress on delivering Sign Language Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter to bring forward Assembly motion on online harm against women
SDLP MLA Hunter says he will bring forward an Assembly motion on online harm against women. The release gives no further detail on the motion's wording or timing.
Disability and equality Original release: Hunter to bring forward Assembly motion on online harm against women (opens in a new tab)
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Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes cross-party support on the Education Committee for a proposal giving girls a clear right to wear trousers in school. She says the DUP Education Minister missed a chance to modernise school uniform policy and pledges to work with others to deliver it.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy welcomes the Education Committee's decision to take forward a single-issue bill allowing girls to choose trousers as part of school uniform. She says the Education Minister could have made the change through his uniform guidance and urges him to update the guidelines…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew to meet groups working to tackle poverty as Sinn Féin brings cost of living motion to the Assembly
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Original release: Gildernew to meet groups working to tackle poverty as Sinn Féin brings cost of living motion to the Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s…
East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Health Minister's update on a sensory room for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, following a DUP adjournment debate. She says the Minister asked officials to work with the Belfast Trust on the proposed facility.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s… (opens in a new tab)
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Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language policy must be fair and reasonable, says McDonough-Brown
Alliance Botanic Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown says Irish language policy must be fair and reasonable ahead of a Belfast City Council vote on a new policy to promote Irish use across Council services.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Irish Language policy must be fair and reasonable, says McDonough-Brown (opens in a new tab)