Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Social security and welfare: remove filter
- Education: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Housing: remove filter
- General commentary: remove filter
25 releases
-
Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again
UUP Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken MLA warns that repeated delays to EU-UK reset talks, with the timetable slipping from July to October and now late November, leave agribusiness and manufacturing firms without needed certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: EU-UK reset talks timetable delayed again to late November Original release: Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA calls for the education debate to shift from the transfer test to tackling brain drain and creating properly funded vocational pathways into apprenticeships, while defending parents' right to choose a child's school.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
We must work to ensure everyone in NI has a safe and suitable home, says Armstrong, on Homelessness Awareness Week
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says homelessness is too often reduced to statistics, labels or stereotypes, and calls for work to ensure everyone in Northern Ireland has a safe and suitable home, marking Homelessness Awareness Week.
-
Health Minister: Small steps can make a big difference this winter
The Department of Health, speaking through Health Minister Mike Nesbitt during National Self-Care Week, urges the public to manage their physical health and mental wellbeing this winter, check on older neighbours, and use community pharmacies via the Pharmacy First service for minor illnesses.
-
Focus should be on realistic solutions to health service challenges
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says Northern Ireland's health service needs practical investment and reform, and calls proposals for an all-Ireland healthcare system unnecessary and unrealistic. She says General Practice pressures should be tackled locally through workforce stability and…
-
All-island approach needed to tackle air pollution – Finnegan
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan calls for an all-island approach to tackle air pollution on Clean Air Day, arguing it harms health, worsens health inequalities and contributes to hundreds of deaths each year. She pledges support for the Executive and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and…
Environment and climate Health Original release: All-island approach needed to tackle air pollution – Finnegan (opens in a new tab)
-
The Chill Factor and Irish Signage
TUV says a LucidTalk survey commissioned by Analogical Research shows a "chill factor" among Unionists and Protestants towards Irish language street signs, with 88% of Unionist voters less likely to move to such a road. It claims the signs could drive ethnic cleansing and cut Unionist use of…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: LucidTalk survey on Irish signage and Unionist house-hunting and leisure centre use Original release: The Chill Factor and Irish Signage (opens in a new tab)
-
Executive’s investment in childcare is bringing down costs for workers and families – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says important progress has been made on childcare costs since the Executive was restored, citing a 15% cut in bills from the childcare subsidy scheme and a doubled childcare budget. She urges the education minister to publish the childcare strategy.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Executive’s investment in childcare is bringing down costs for workers and families – Mason (opens in a new tab)
-
Robinson - we call a spade a spade
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP, in his New Year message, sets out 2025 priorities including the childcare subsidy scheme and broadband completion, and rejects new taxes to fix health pressures, calling instead for accountability and better management in the health service.
Constitutional affairs Health Original release: Robinson - we call a spade a spade (opens in a new tab)
-
New Year Message from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, now Health Minister, uses his New Year message to call for change in health and social care and for every Executive party to commit to never collapsing the institutions again.
-
Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA writes in An Phoblacht that the 2024 Irish general election has realigned Dáil politics, ending the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael duopoly, and argues left republican and progressive parties should cooperate as an opposition.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: 2024 Irish general election result and realignment of Dáil politics Original release: Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart argues that the 'dignity' language used by assisted suicide campaigners, such as Dignity in Dying, is a misleading framing. She says legalising assisted suicide would lower the perceived worth of disabled, poor and homeless people, citing a Canadian poll on MAID eligibility.
Disability and equality Health Original release: ‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong visits Simon Community facility.
Alliance's Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has toured a Simon Community facility on Saintfield Road and met staff and people with lived experience of homelessness. She says she will press for more resources for homelessness services.
Housing Original release: Armstrong visits Simon Community facility. (opens in a new tab)
-
Conference 2024 - Cheryl Brownlee MLA
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee, addressing the 2024 party conference, says she is proud to represent East Antrim and pledges to press for better school funding, childcare support and local investment, drawing on her experience as a mother.
Education Original release: Conference 2024 - Cheryl Brownlee MLA (opens in a new tab)
-
Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
-
Delargy meets with Student Union President to discuss vision for students
Sinn Féin higher and further education spokesperson Pádraig Delargy met NUS‑USI President Chloe Ferguson to discuss rising rents, energy and food costs and their impact on students’ studies and mental health, saying the party will champion financial support for university, further‑education, Apprent
Education Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Féin meeting with NUS‑USI President on student cost of living Original release: Delargy meets with Student Union President to discuss vision for students (opens in a new tab)
-
Health, housing and climate top agenda during Brisbane trip
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty and Matt Carthy, Finance and Foreign Affairs spokespeople, open a week-long Australian visit in Queensland, meeting the state's health minister and reviewing social housing, energy transition and jobs plans.
Housing Economy and employment Original release: Health, housing and climate top agenda during Brisbane trip (opens in a new tab)
-
Our Health Service will always be worth fighting for – Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA marks the NHS's 75th anniversary, saying the service faces unprecedented pressure from waiting times, demand, funding uncertainty and staff disputes. He calls for a renewed, adequately funded approach to health and social care with prevention at its core.
-
25 Years Of The Good Friday Agreement – Time To Make Poverty And Sectarianism History
People Before Profit publishes a special report on the impact of the Good Friday Agreement on its 25th anniversary. Councillor Shaun Harkin says the agreement failed to deliver prosperity or end sectarianism, citing poverty, food bank reliance and run-down public services.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement Original release: 25 Years Of The Good Friday Agreement – Time To Make Poverty And Sectarianism History (opens in a new tab)
-
To progress social justice we need political parties to work together, says Armstrong on #WorldSocialJusticeDay
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on political parties to work together rather than put party first on World Social Justice Day, and welcomes the Independent Panel's Review of Welfare Mitigations recommendations on a Carers payment and family support.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: To progress social justice we need political parties to work together, says Armstrong on #WorldSocialJusticeDay (opens in a new tab)