Latest releases
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46 releases
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SDLP proposes “no regrets” actions to enhance all-island cooperation
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the Irish Government to fast-track all-island economic integration in its upcoming 2027 spending plans, seeking more Shared Island Fund investment and an All-Island Economic Task Force. She warns that Stormont's lack of budgets is creating uncertainty for public…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: SDLP proposes “no regrets” actions to enhance all-island cooperation (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Opportunity to build on legacy of Fleadh can’t be squandered
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA urges the First Minister and deputy First Minister to act on proposals for Belfast after the 2026 Fleadh, including a car-free city centre, licensing reform, better transport, good relations funding and an annual music festival.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: O’Toole: Opportunity to build on legacy of Fleadh can’t be squandered (opens in a new tab)
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Construction sector can be a strategic partner for creating jobs and tackling regional imbalance – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard says planning reform and multi-year capital funding are needed for the construction sector to create jobs and tackle regional imbalance. Speaking at the Construction Employers Federation conference, he calls for an independent Infrastructure Commission and a long-term…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Construction sector can be a strategic partner for creating jobs and tackling regional imbalance – Hazzard (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 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 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 Original release: The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Watchdog to scrutinise delivery under new legal powers proposed by SDLP Opposition
The SDLP says a watchdog will scrutinise delivery under new legal powers the party proposed while in Opposition. The release is brief and gives no further detail on the powers or the body involved.
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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 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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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 Original release: Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason (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 Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)
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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 Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
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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 Original release: Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Knockmore Line can unlock opportunities for South Antrim – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says reinstating the Knockmore Line to Belfast International Airport could transform the regional economy and ease transport pressures, and welcomes its inclusion in the All-Island Strategic Rail review.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Knockmore Line can unlock opportunities for South Antrim – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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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 Original release: Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Banning Conversion Practices
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson proposes a Private Members' Bill to ban conversion practices in Northern Ireland, creating two new offences: engaging in conversion practice, and removing a person from Northern Ireland for that purpose.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: Banning Conversion Practices (opens in a new tab)
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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly is introducing a Bill that would require public authorities in Northern Ireland to give statutory due regard to the rights set out in the UN disability treaty, UNCRPD, when developing and reviewing policies and decisions.
Disability and equality Original release: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon Encourages responses to Breastfeeding Bill Consultation
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon launches a public consultation on her proposed Private Members Bill to give statutory protection to breastfeeding in public spaces and require businesses and service providers to be breastfeeding-friendly. The consultation runs until 24 October 2025.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Dillon Encourages responses to Breastfeeding Bill Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Time to deliver on disability rights, says Donnelly, on publication of PMB report
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says his proposed Disability Rights Bill is a long overdue and essential step to safeguard the rights of disabled people in Northern Ireland after his consultation report was published.
Disability and equality Original release: Time to deliver on disability rights, says Donnelly, on publication of PMB report (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes a new Sinn Féin bill, introduced by TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne, to end RTÉ geo-blocking and the exclusion of northern audiences from its competitions. He says the bill would require broadcasters to make reasonable efforts and would ask Coimisiún na…
Disability and equality Original release: Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)