Latest releases
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1,986 releases
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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)
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Children and families of St Columba’s deserve to be heard – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson presents a 6,160-signature petition to the Assembly to save St Columba's Primary School in Newbuildings, and urges the Education Authority and Department to examine all alternatives before any closure decision.
Education Original release: Children and families of St Columba’s deserve to be heard – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Continuation of incredABLE adult short break services warmly welcomed – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes the withdrawal of a 'cease and desist' order on incredABLE's adult short break services in the Southern Trust area, saying the services can continue. He calls on the Department of Health to engage with stakeholders when designing new regulatory guidelines.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Continuation of incredABLE adult short break services warmly welcomed – Hughes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP writes to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, urging targeted help for households facing high energy and bills, including extra money for the home heating oil scheme and an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit. She also proposes a ten-year investment partnership on…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget request for household support and infrastructure investment Original release: Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA expresses concern at Trussell figures showing 21% of people in Northern Ireland reported their household ran out of food in the last year, and calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward an funded Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont poverty statistics release Original release: Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
SF MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to make Relationships and Sex Education suitable for each developmental stage, grounded in research and responsive to young people's needs, following a recent Assembly debate. She argues it helps pupils spot abuse, understand consent and challenge…
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of the Assembly debate on the Education Committee's report into RSE, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected. She asks the Education Minister to clarify withdrawal rights…
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents” (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services
TUV councillor Anna Henry welcomes the £1.95 million funding for endometriosis services across Northern Ireland, including £250,000 for the Northern Trust and a new Regional Endometriosis Pathway. She says more work is needed to cut waiting times and improve diagnosis.
Health Disability and equality Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn welcomes investment in Endometriosis services and new surgical technology
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes a new gynaecological surgical robot in Belfast, used in 130 surgeries, and the £1.95 million for regional endometriosis centres. She calls for the investment to improve diagnosis and access, and says she has written to the Health Minister on an all-island…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Introduction of new gynaecological surgical robot in Belfast Original release: Flynn welcomes investment in Endometriosis services and new surgical technology (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Egan welcomes Bail Support Pilot for women
Alliance Justice Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the Department of Justice’s new bail‑support scheme for women in Belfast and Ballymena, saying it recognises complex needs, offers early help for women on remand and should improve outcomes for them, families and community safety.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Bail Support Pilot announcement Original release: Egan welcomes Bail Support Pilot for women (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal allowing Orange collarettes at its 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected groups before future changes.
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its decision to ban Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, crediting his direct intervention with senior management and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra urges Queen's University Belfast to explain why its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service bars Orange collarettes, noting they were worn at earlier services without problems. He asks the university to reconsider the restriction.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
Aontú's Liam Reichenberg, representing Slieve Gullion, says residents of Radius sheltered accommodation in Crossmaglen and Keady have been excluded from the £100 heating oil voucher. He is calling on the minister and department to urgently review the eligibility criteria.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Home Heating Oil Support Scheme voucher eligibility criteria review Original release: Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urging the UK Government to intervene over proposed BBC Northern Ireland cuts to Irish-language services, including a reported halving of its Irish-language unit staffing.
Disability and equality Issue: BBC NI Irish-language services proposed cuts announcement Original release: Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)