Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Other: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Policy proposal: remove filter
56 releases
-
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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 15 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP launches integrated 111 service plan to reduce pressure on health service
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath unveils a policy proposal for an integrated 111 service across Northern Ireland, modelled on a Greater Manchester system that triages patients online and by phone. He says it would ease pressure on emergency departments and urgent care, and will be put to the Health Minister.
Health Issue: SDLP integrated 111 service policy proposal launch Original release: SDLP launches integrated 111 service plan to reduce pressure on health service (opens in a new tab)
-
The Case for an Integrated 111 Service
SDLP calls for a single, integrated 111 urgent care service for Northern Ireland, offering 24/7 access, clinical triage and direct booking, to ease pressure on emergency departments and support the Department of Health's 'shift left' approach.
Health Original release: The Case for an Integrated 111 Service (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin submits recommendations for new Cancer Strategy to Minister for Health – David Cullinane TD
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane TD says the party has sent the Health Minister 42 recommendations for a new cancer strategy, citing regional access gaps, scanner and bed shortfalls, and calling for ringfenced funding and all-island cooperation.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Féin submission of recommendations for new cancer strategy Original release: Sinn Féin submits recommendations for new Cancer Strategy to Minister for Health – David Cullinane TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin publishes plan for new cancer strategy to tackle slipping standards – David Cullinane TD
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane TD publishes a discussion paper with 42 recommendations for a new cancer strategy, urging a guaranteed €30 million annual fund, targeted investment to end postcode‑lottery access, equipment upgrades and extended service hours.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Sinn Féin publishes plan for new cancer strategy to tackle slipping standards – David Cullinane TD (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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)
-
Consistent mental health data needed to support those struggling – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says the lack of accurate, consistent mental‑health data in the north hampers service planning and delivery, and calls for a single, standardised data system to help health trusts better plan and support those in need.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion for single mental health data system Original release: Consistent mental health data needed to support those struggling – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
All-island approach to paediatric pathology is necessary – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says an all-Ireland approach to paediatric pathology is needed, after an Assembly motion on all-island collaboration passed. She says families currently travelling to England face extra strain, and that recruitment for specialist vacancies has been difficult.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on all-island collaboration for paediatric pathology services Original release: All-island approach to paediatric pathology is necessary – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
An all-Ireland health system would deliver better services – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen says two separate healthcare systems on the island are failing people and calls for an all-island national health service. He urges the Irish government to start preparing for such a system, which would make specialist care available north and south based on need.
-
Suicide Prevention Training Bill will help equip frontline workers with skills that can save lives – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes strong support for her proposed Suicide Prevention Training Bill after a consultation closed. It would require public-sector employers to train frontline staff in health, education and social care on preventing suicide.
Health Issue: Suicide Prevention Training Bill consultation outcome Original release: Suicide Prevention Training Bill will help equip frontline workers with skills that can save lives – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Brolly launches multi-step policy to support bereaved families of baby loss
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly launches an All-Ireland strategy calling for a cross-border paediatric pathology and bereavement service, so bereaved families in the North no longer have babies and children sent to Liverpool for post-mortems. The plan seeks a national bereavement care standard…
Health Issue: Aontú All-Ireland paediatric pathology and bereavement policy launch Original release: Brolly launches multi-step policy to support bereaved families of baby loss (opens in a new tab)
-
Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
-
Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has re-submitted amendments to the School Uniforms Bill to reduce family costs, proposing limits on branded items, generic alternatives, girls' right to wear trousers, support for children with additional needs, and uniform banks and swap schemes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments re-submitted in the Assembly Original release: Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin: Index showing Belfast and Derry among worst places to live highlights need for Regional Balance Bill
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin cites a UK Better Lives Index ranking Belfast and Derry poorly and says she is seeking to introduce a Regional Balance Bill to ensure every part of Northern Ireland gets fair investment and opportunity.
Disability and equality Issue: UK Better Lives Index ranking of Belfast and Derry Original release: McLaughlin: Index showing Belfast and Derry among worst places to live highlights need for Regional Balance Bill (opens in a new tab)
-
World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the public to respond to the consultation on her proposed Suicide Prevention Training Bill, which would require public bodies to train frontline staff in suicide prevention. The consultation closes on 17 September 2025.
Health Issue: Suicide Prevention Training Bill public consultation Original release: World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the public to respond to a consultation on her Private Member's Bill that would create an offence for discouraging breastfeeding in public, require premises to be breastfeeding-friendly, and penalise discrimination. The consultation closes on 24 October 2025.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Linda Dillon Private Members Bill breastfeeding consultation launch Original release: Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill (opens in a new tab)
-
Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Begins with Consistent Sentencing – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA calls for a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland, arguing inconsistent sentencing is undermining confidence in the courts. He cites a recent case where a man received a suspended sentence for striking a teenage girl, and urges the Justice Minister to…
Justice and policing Education Original release: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Begins with Consistent Sentencing – Beattie (opens in a new tab)