Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Housing: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Immigration: remove filter
- Congratulations or recognition: remove filter
67 releases
-
McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath welcomes Newcastle's Bendy Tree being named UK Tree of the Year 2026 by the Woodland Trust, the first Northern Ireland tree to take the award. He has written to Newry, Mourne and Down Council asking for a permanent commemorative plaque beside it.
Environment and climate Issue: Newcastle Bendy Tree named UK Tree of the Year 2026 Original release: McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Middleton marks October 7 anniversary
DUP MLA Julie Middleton marks the third anniversary of October 7, remembering victims and hostages and condemning antisemitism in Northern Ireland. She cites the exclusion of Israeli athletes from a Londonderry triathlon as a shameful moment and says antisemitism must be named and confronted every…
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: Middleton marks October 7 anniversary (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Blacks Gate site a fantastic example of what can be achieved – Flynn
West Belfast MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes the redevelopment of the former Visteon site on Blacks Road into Black's Gate, which she says delivers 195 social and 48 affordable homes through a £30 million investment. She calls for continued investment in social and affordable housing.
Housing Issue: Black's Gate former Visteon site redevelopment completion Original release: Blacks Gate site a fantastic example of what can be achieved – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Reilly welcomes first bilingual directional signs erected in the heart of the Gaeltacht quarter
West Belfast MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes the start of installing new bilingual road signs and road markings across the Gaeltacht Quarter in west Belfast, calling the first directional signs a milestone and crediting Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for the investment.
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Gaeltacht Quarter bilingual road signage installation begins Original release: Reilly welcomes first bilingual directional signs erected in the heart of the Gaeltacht quarter (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the passage of Northern Ireland’s inaugural Sign Language Bill is a historic day for Deaf people, welcoming the new law that recognises British and Irish Sign Language and imposes duties on public bodies to improve accessibility.
Disability and equality Original release: Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community (opens in a new tab)
-
Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the installation of a new sensory unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, a multisensory 'Cubbie' purchased with Little Heroes NI funding, which she says will officially open this week.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children sensory unit installation Original release: Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Dowd congratulates Woodside Hill residents following ‘significant’ bilingual signage court case
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd congratulates Woodside Hill residents in Portadown after their High Court win over Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council's refusal of bilingual street signage. He says unionist councillors blocked a proposal backed by most residents and that the council wasted public…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Woodside Hill bilingual signage High Court ruling against council Original release: O’Dowd congratulates Woodside Hill residents following ‘significant’ bilingual signage court case (opens in a new tab)
-
Bilingual signage at Ulster University students’ union ‘another positive step for equality’ – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Ulster University's decision to install bilingual Irish and English signage across its students' union, citing a 2018 student vote, and commends Irish language campaigners for their work.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Ulster University students' union bilingual signage installation Original release: Bilingual signage at Ulster University students’ union ‘another positive step for equality’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
-
Holocaust Memorial Day
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he signed a Holocaust commemoration pledge book on Holocaust Memorial Day and calls for antisemitism to be confronted wherever it appears, with action matching remembrance.
Disability and equality Original release: Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
-
McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, calling for better public services, expanded supports, a narrower employment gap and accessible transport and public spaces.
Disability and equality Original release: McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister meets RNIB in Westminster
TUV MP Jim Allister thanks the RNIB after a Westminster meeting, praising its vision rehabilitation teams and guide dog work, and cites local figures of about 3,470 people in North Antrim with sight loss and roughly 130 new cases each year.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Allister meets RNIB in Westminster (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister Lyons opens £29m shared housing development in Ballymena
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons opened a £29 million scheme of 135 shared homes at Ballymena’s St Patrick’s regeneration site, saying it advances affordable, sustainable housing and supports the wider community regeneration.
Housing Local government Issue: Opening of St Patrick’s shared housing development in Ballymena Original release: Minister Lyons opens £29m shared housing development in Ballymena (opens in a new tab)
-
Pride more important than ever, says Murray, wishing all celebrating a happy Belfast Pride
Alliance councillor Micky Murray, a former Belfast Lord Mayor, wishes everyone celebrating Belfast Pride a safe and happy event, saying the 'No Going Back' theme is especially fitting given the present social climate.
Disability and equality Original release: Pride more important than ever, says Murray, wishing all celebrating a happy Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
-
Stewart welcomes recognition of Portstewart Strand as UK Beach of the Year
Alliance Alderman Richard Stewart, Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council, welcomes Portstewart Strand being ranked the top beach in the UK and Northern Ireland in a Times and Sunday Times guide, praising its scenery, water quality and community spirit.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Portstewart Strand ranked UK top beach in Times and Sunday Times guide Original release: Stewart welcomes recognition of Portstewart Strand as UK Beach of the Year (opens in a new tab)
-
Amanda Grehan officially installed as first female Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Alliance Alderman Amanda Grehan has been installed as Lisburn and Castlereagh's inaugural woman mayor, pledging inclusive leadership and naming Action Cancer as her mayoral charity, with an inclusivity-for-disabilities theme for her year.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Amanda Grehan installed as Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Original release: Amanda Grehan officially installed as first female Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (opens in a new tab)
-
Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney welcomes council backing for a commemoration to abolitionist Frederick Douglass, including a £25,000 stained-glass memorial window at Lisburn First Presbyterian Church. The window would also honour two other abolitionists who spoke locally in the mid-1800s…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Lisburn council approval of Frederick Douglass commemoration window Original release: Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration (opens in a new tab)
-
Ulster Unionist Councillor, Leah Kirkpatrick, becomes first-ever female Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor
The Ulster Unionist Party announces that councillor Leah Kirkpatrick will become Antrim and Newtownabbey's first woman mayor, succeeding a run of ten men since the 2015 super council was formed. Alderman Mark Cosgrove and South Antrim MLA Steve Aiken praise her record on accessibility and…
Local government Disability and equality Original release: Ulster Unionist Councillor, Leah Kirkpatrick, becomes first-ever female Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor (opens in a new tab)
-
Gillian McCollum and Vicky Moore selected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down
Alliance Councillors Gillian McCollum and Vicky Moore say they have been appointed Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down for 2025/26, pledging to promote belonging, support families with learning disabilities, tackle the mental‑health crisis, end violence against women and girls, fightpover
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down Original release: Gillian McCollum and Vicky Moore selected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down (opens in a new tab)
-
Richard Stewart announced as Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Alliance Causeway Councillor Richard Stewart says he will become Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, making him the first openly gay person to take that role in the Council's history. He says he hopes the appointment signals that everyone has a place in public life.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Richard Stewart appointed Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Original release: Richard Stewart announced as Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (opens in a new tab)
-
Marriage Equality was a vote for hope, equality and inclusion – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald marks the tenth anniversary of the Irish marriage equality referendum, calling it a vote for hope, equality and inclusion, and says transphobia and homophobia must be challenged.
Disability and equality Original release: Marriage Equality was a vote for hope, equality and inclusion – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)