Closest matches to “NIO priorities misplaced”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include DUP · Back to the release
-
NIO prepared to underfund education but impose left wing ideology when it comes to RSE
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises the NIO's decision to impose access to abortion within relationships and sexuality education in Northern Ireland schools, regardless of school ethos, while saying schools face budget pressure. He reminds parents they can withdraw children from RSE and encourages…
Education Issue: NIO decision to add abortion access to RSE teaching Original release: NIO prepared to underfund education but impose left wing ideology when it comes to RSE (opens in a new tab)
-
Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's abortion announcement shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster is willing to act on abortion but reluctant to act on Protocol concerns. He questions whether London expects Unionists to return to devolution regardless of…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE
UUP Education Spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says he has been contacted with concerns about compulsory Relationships and Sex Education, which the Secretary of State wants introduced, and calls for any new curriculum to be created by Northern Ireland parents, children and teachers rather than…
Education Issue: Secretary of State's plans to introduce compulsory RSE in Northern Ireland Original release: Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE (opens in a new tab)
-
Disappointing no Education Minister to engage with non-teaching staff ahead of strikes, says Mathison
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison criticises the lack of a sitting Education Minister to negotiate with non-teaching school staff before their full strike on 16 November. He calls for fair pay for these workers and says he has raised pay and minimal disruption for pupils with special educational needs…
Education Economy and employment Issue: School support staff strike over pay on 16 November 2023 Original release: Disappointing no Education Minister to engage with non-teaching staff ahead of strikes, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
-
Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges the Secretary of State to act now on underinvestment in Special Educational Needs provision, saying shortfalls in SEN places in special and mainstream schools are failing children and families, with no Executive or Assembly in place.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs (opens in a new tab)
-
Announcement concerning the commissioning of abortion services welcome, says Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's confirmation that the UK Government will commission abortion services in Northern Ireland, but Bradshaw says no funding plan has yet been provided and calls for a clear roadmap.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland announced by Secretary of State Original release: Announcement concerning the commissioning of abortion services welcome, says Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
Border poll harassment of the Secretary of State has to stop
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA defends the Good Friday Agreement's legal test for calling a border poll after the Prime Minister said a referendum is "not on the table". He says the test is clear, calls Sinn Féin's border poll focus a distraction from its record in government, and criticises media…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's statement that a border poll is not on the table Original release: Border poll harassment of the Secretary of State has to stop (opens in a new tab)
-
Education Minister has no plans to reverse RSE changes
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises the DUP Education Minister for declining to say whether he will revise RSE guidance for schools, and says devolution cannot reverse changes requiring teaching on access to abortion. He cites the consultation responses and MLA correspondence from parents.
Education Issue: Education Minister's RSE statutory guidance revision answer Original release: Education Minister has no plans to reverse RSE changes (opens in a new tab)
-
Egan pleased by U-turn on youth service cuts but dismayed at treatment of organisations
Alliance's Connie Egan MLA welcomes the Education Department's decision to drop planned cuts to youth and early years programmes, including Sure Start and Bright Start, but says the department's handling of affected groups was poor. She also calls on the DUP to end its deadlock and restore…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Halt to youth services and early years funding cuts Original release: Egan pleased by U-turn on youth service cuts but dismayed at treatment of organisations (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent need for commissioning of abortion services, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan call for urgent commissioning of abortion services on the third anniversary of decriminalisation in Northern Ireland, saying women face a postcode lottery in access. Egan urges the Secretary of State to step in and commission full services under UN…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Third anniversary of abortion decriminalisation in Northern Ireland Original release: Urgent need for commissioning of abortion services, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
Too many schools are being failed by successive DUP Ministers – Sheehan
Sinn Féin's Sheehan says a Public Accounts Committee report on the schools estate is alarming, blaming successive DUP education ministers for an £800 million maintenance backlog. He calls on the Department and Education Authority to deliver the promised estate strategy in early 2026 and urges…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on schools estate maintenance backlog Original release: Too many schools are being failed by successive DUP Ministers – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's ringfenced funding and formal instruction to the Department of Health to commission reproductive health services, calling it a further step, while urging swift full provision locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
Our schools are beyond crisis point and minister is needed, says Mathison, ahead of further strike action
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says schools are beyond crisis point ahead of NAHT joining teaching unions in strike action on 29 November. He calls for a locally elected Education Minister in post and blames the DUP's boycott of the Executive.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NAHT strike action announcement for 29 November schools dispute Original release: Our schools are beyond crisis point and minister is needed, says Mathison, ahead of further strike action (opens in a new tab)
-
Greater clarity on abortion required
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Department of Health's abortion statistics published today understate figures he obtained through Assembly questions, citing 8,488 abortions since 2020 against 5,497 in the release. He also calls for Northern Ireland data on reasons for abortion and maternal…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion statistics publication June 2024 Original release: Greater clarity on abortion required (opens in a new tab)
-
Lack of a budget is undermining youth services and putting vital work at risk, says Egan
Alliance's Connie Egan MLA criticises Education Authority cuts to funding for Voluntary Youth Organisations, which reduce 12-month commitments to one twelfth while the Department awaits its budget. She urges the EA and Department to reverse course and blames the DUP for blocking Stormont's…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority funding uncertainty for voluntary youth organisations from May 2023 Original release: Lack of a budget is undermining youth services and putting vital work at risk, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP challenges NI Secretary over jobs at risk due to loss of ESF funding
SDLP MP Claire Hanna challenges the Secretary of State to set out what is being done to protect over 1,300 voluntary and community sector jobs at risk when European Social Fund money ends in March. SDLP's Daniel McCrossan says the sector faces a cliff edge without confirmation of UKSPF replacement…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Voluntary and community sector jobs at risk from ESF funding end Original release: SDLP challenges NI Secretary over jobs at risk due to loss of ESF funding (opens in a new tab)
-
NIO hopelessly beholden to Dublin on legacy
TUV leader Jim Allister says Secretary of State Hilary Benn is too beholden to the Dublin Government on legacy, criticising his performance before the NI committee and claiming he will give Dublin representatives seats on the Legacy Oversight Body. He also calls for action on IRA victims, the…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Secretary of State's appearance before NI committee on legacy Original release: NIO hopelessly beholden to Dublin on legacy (opens in a new tab)
-
Green Party deputy leader criticises cuts to free, centralised counselling for children in NI
Green Party deputy leader Lesley Veronica criticises cuts to free, centralised counselling for children who have suffered sexual abuse, after Nexus said it can no longer see 4–7-year-olds and has paused help for a large group of older children. She argues underinvestment will shift costs onto…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Nexus withdraws child sexual abuse counselling services Original release: Green Party deputy leader criticises cuts to free, centralised counselling for children in NI (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill says the British Secretary of State's U-turn leaves Northern Ireland in political limbo with no Executive, Assembly or caretaker ministers during a cost-of-living crisis. She blames the DUP for refusing to join an Executive and says she will press the…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: ‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
-
There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says there should be no further impediments to fully commissioning abortion services in Northern Ireland. She urges Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to take immediate steps ahead of his expected plans to speed up delivery.
Health Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Secretary of State has failed at the first hurdle
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken says the Secretary of State's decision undermines Windsor Framework safeguards, arguing the Democratic Scrutiny Committee has become a party political tool and that the Stormont Brake was ignored. He claims divergence from EU rules is increasing and that the Secretary of…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's Stormont Brake decision on EU Regulation 2024/2865 Original release: Secretary of State has failed at the first hurdle (opens in a new tab)
-
Abortion decision will leave many questioning value of devolution
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's decision to commission abortion services shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster acts on abortion while Unionist concerns about the Protocol go unaddressed.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Abortion decision will leave many questioning value of devolution (opens in a new tab)
-
Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says a Westminster-set budget forcing cuts to the Department of Education stems from political failure and financial mismanagement. He blames the DUP for enabling Chris Heaton Harris to set spending and calls for an Executive to be formed.
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Westminster budget allocations and Department of Education cuts Original release: Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure (opens in a new tab)
-
Egan welcomes updated relationship and sexuality education curriculum
Alliance MLA Connie Egan welcomes the Secretary of State's confirmation that he will update the relationship and sexuality education curriculum in Northern Ireland, saying it is overdue given a legal duty to comply with UN CEDAW recommendations on adolescent sexual health.
Education Disability and equality Issue: NIO decision to add abortion access to RSE teaching Original release: Egan welcomes updated relationship and sexuality education curriculum (opens in a new tab)
-
Forming Executive must be immediate priority for new British Secretary of State – O’Neill
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the new British Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, must make forming a Northern Ireland Executive his immediate priority, and calls on the British government to act on energy bills, the National Insurance rise and VAT on energy.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Chris Heaton-Harris appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Original release: Forming Executive must be immediate priority for new British Secretary of State – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan: Pathway Fund must be protected from cuts
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan calls for the Pathway Fund to be protected from cuts, warning that interim funding for early years providers ends in June and that over 10,000 children could lose support.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed removal of the Pathway Fund Original release: McCrossan: Pathway Fund must be protected from cuts (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Neill urges Heaton-Harris to immediately award pay rise to public sector workers
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill has written to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris asking him to quickly grant a pay award to public sector workers, blaming the DUP's blockade of the Assembly. She also calls for proper Executive funding, with no conditions on clearing the overspend.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Public sector pay award letter to Chris Heaton-Harris Original release: O’Neill urges Heaton-Harris to immediately award pay rise to public sector workers (opens in a new tab)
-
British Secretary of State indecision adds to political limbo – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill says Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has given no clarity on when he will call an Assembly election, adding to political limbo caused by the DUP's boycott. She calls for urgent action to support workers, families and health services.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State Heaton-Harris meeting on Assembly election timing Original release: British Secretary of State indecision adds to political limbo – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: Heaton-Harris threats show idiocy of DUP handing power to Tories
SDLP Stormont Leader Matthew O'Toole says Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris's threats to direct permanent secretaries on revenue-raising options show the idiocy of the DUP handing power to the Tories. He calls for the SDLP's Triple Lock proposals as an alternative that avoids harsh cuts and…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris directs permanent secretaries on revenue-raising options Original release: O’Toole: Heaton-Harris threats show idiocy of DUP handing power to Tories (opens in a new tab)
-
Health funding redirection only further demonstrates minister's financial mismanagement, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the diversion of over £70m of £215m ring-fenced for waiting lists to cut the Department of Health's budget deficit shows the Health Minister cannot manage his budget. She calls on him to clarify other ring-fenced funds redirected and urges…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Minister's confirmation that £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding was redirected Original release: Health funding redirection only further demonstrates minister's financial mismanagement, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)