Had a great time at Belfast Met SU's games night with @fionamcateer.bsky.social. The SU are raising money in support of White Ribbon NI, a charity engaging directly with boys & men to end violence against women. To make your own donation, please follow this link: www.givengain.com/project/caoi...

Was delighted to attend today’s M.E. event at Stormont, but as frustrated as many there at the lack of progress on three key aims: - alignment with NICE Guidelines; - mandatory undergraduate education and training for healthcare professionals; and - public awareness campaigns.

Thank you to @TRPNI for running a powerful and informative event at Stormont. It was really important to hear the perspective of those who are on the receiving end of such intolerance, toxic behaviour and dehumanising language by some.

A different sort of hockey for me this lunchtime - welcoming the ice cool @BelfastGiants team on the steps of Parliament Buildings at Stormont to celebrate another Elite League triumph!

I was privileged to take part in a short film making the case for availability of thrombectomy procedures 24/7 in Northern Ireland: www.stroke.org.uk/northern-ire... I find it frankly baffling that this service, scheduled to be in place by end 2024, remains time-restricted.

My immediate thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack in Sunnyside Street. If you have any information at all, no matter how small, please contact the police on *101* quoting case 1479. www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast...

I am unclear why job ads have appeared with applicants required to state a “political opinion”; this is not how equality monitoring works in this area. This does reinforce the need for a Single Equality Act, however. m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

In another demonstration of why it must be reformed, the Executive Office won’t even publish a report on how dysfunctional it is because it wasn’t functioning when it was supposed to publish it… m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

The First and deputy First Minister must change their approach to ensure the backlog of legislation is addressed, after fewer than half of bills planned for 2024 have actually been introduced by the end of the financial year. My statement: www.allianceparty.org/first_and_de...

The cost of inaction on tackling pollution would be much greater than that of a Commissioner to ensure we take necessary action. I am pleased the Regulations to create the post, required under the Climate Change Act brought by a DUP Minister, passed today www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

I had a brilliant time at Malone Integrated College's Culture Day on Friday. Well done to all the talented pupils who gave incredible performances, and many thanks to the school for having me! 🌎❤️

Thank you to all those who responded to the public consultation on my proposed Display of Emblems Bill. I am meeting the Bills Office later this morning re analysis of the overall consultation results, including both surveys and meetings.

Although I can see the considerable potential in the Glider increasing footfall to shops and cafes along its route, I remain to be convinced that its impact on necessary loading and delivery requirements have been fully considered. I will continue seeking actual answers on this.

I am this afternoon attending a presentation on Project Shield, an innovative multi-agency initiative designed to enhance protective measures against violence towards women and girls through improved information sharing. This is an opportunity to strengthen our collective response to domestic abuse.

Westminster and Stormont must work together more effectively to help unaccompanied children seeking asylum, and to prevent the need for them to do so in the first place. My comments in the rise in unaccompanied children seeking asylum: m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

Thanks Cllr Tara Brooks for organising such an informative and engaging residents’ meeting with South Belfast PSNI this evening on the issue of preventing and reporting burglary. Thanks also to the Agape Centre for the use of the room!

Executive Office must start acting on their commitments to Ethnic Equality Monitoring, says @paulaballiance.bsky.social and @scdicksonmla.bsky.social. Read more here: www.allianceparty.org/execut...

This morning (or "ar maidin", as I learned!) I joined party colleagues and Irish language groups in a powerful protest outside Stormont against the €820,000 of Irish language community cuts in Northern Ireland announced by Foras na Gaeilge at the end of January.

We've had over 8,000 responses to our Flags and Emblems Bill consultation. If you want to transform how we display flags and emblems in public spaces - then make your voice heard and complete the consultation today: surveymonkey.com/r/emblemsbill

@paulaballiance.bsky.social welcomes evident police shift on removing sectarian and hate displays. Read more here: www.allianceparty.org/bradsh...

Happy to support the “Give 5” campaign for a new script for mental health at Stormont today alongside @allianceparty.bsky.social colleagues.

Wishing everyone a happy and inspiring #IWD2025! Let us celebrate each other, let us never get complacent about the progress we have made, and let us keep striving for a fairness and justice.

I received a response today from the new Infrastructure Minister confirming, with usual conditions, that the contract award for the construction of the new Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge will take place in late summer this year, meaning we can expect the bridge to be constructed by autumn 2027.

"The Alliance Party wants to build an inclusive & vibrant society, and at the centre of this is the premise of equality." - @paulaballiance.bsky.social #APNI25

In other news, congratulations to Belfast-based Club KV on securing the Ulster Senior 3 championship and this a well-earned promotion after a 5-2 win at Cookstown today.

remain very alarmed at the FM and dFM’s inaction on tackling the interlinked appalling scourges of paramilitarism, racism and sectarianism: www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

I used my Member’s Statement in the Assembly yesterday to warn against a repeat of last summer’s racist violence. www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/norther...

@paulaballiance.bsky.social welcomes South Belfast Urban Villages investment. See more here: www.allianceparty.org/bradsh...

Reported over weekend was just latest example of signs placed to exclude and intimidate: m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-… Yet it is a SF Minister with responsibility for delivering the outcome SF is demanding! This is what my PMB is about. Have your say here: surveymonkey.com/r/emblemsbill

Great to be joined by @allianceparty Cllrs and MLAs at the @NIAWomensCaucus event this event. In advance of International Women’s Day, female elected reps from across the political spectrum came together to discuss our pathways to participation and found much common ground ❤️

Alliance's call to back unpaid carers has passed in the Assembly. It’s time to do more to support our carers.

The Executive Office has published a Call for Views on its last Racial Equality Strategy. Please make your voice heard here: consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/teo/racial-e...

I was very alarmed by the amount of drug paraphernalia found during a recent litter pick near Finaghy Train Station. I have been in correspondence with Translink and the PSNI to address the issue. www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/mla-hit...

Another TEO failing is on International Relations where, a year on from restoration, we still lack a Strategy. We should not be spending public money and resources on this without clear objectives. This is even more essential as we approach St Patrick’s. www.allianceparty.org/upcoming_dip...

Appalled to hear of yet another racist attack in South Belfast. My immediate thoughts are with the victim. I am frustrated at having to note that this reinforces the need for TEO to get on with the work required on Race Relations. m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

It is not often a Fact Check returns an outright finding of “inaccurate” - but that is what happened with regard to claims made by an MP about my Private Member’s Bill: mailchi.mp/factcheckni/... To respond to the *actual* proposals, simply click here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/emblemsbill

I am pleased, further to my question to the Finance Minister in the chamber yesterday, to have reassurances around Executive action to combat “Forced Marriage”, including upcoming legislation with cross-party agreement: www.allianceparty.org/bradshaw_wel...

The UK Government's commitment to repeal the Legacy Act means that my colleagues and I have been meeting stakeholders and experts in the field to find an approach to the past which prioritises the needs of victims and survivors and which is human rights-complaint.

It’s hugely disappointing, despite Assembly support for an all-party Committee motion calling for it, that the deputy First Minister refused to have a similar report carried out in NI. We are left to guess whether the conclusions would have been the same: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Out and about in South Belfast today trying to identify issues that need to be reported arising from Storm #Eowyn - obviously I won’t spot everything, so if there’s an issue in your street please email [email protected]

The Education Authority has advised all schools to close tomorrow [Friday 24th] due to the *red* wind warning. Please stay safe over the alert period.

My Private Member’s Bill, as proposed, is all about regulating and enabling flags to be flown respectfully for commemoration or celebration. This, however, is intimidation and exclusion… www.irishnews.com/news/norther... Have your say here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/emblemsbill

I received a brief but useful update from the Minister on the Special Educational Needs Framework, incorporating the new Regulations, today. As you can see from the date, the response was quick so I am hopeful it is indicative of the pace at which things are moving.

“This framework will allow individuals to display flags and emblems lawfully, ensuring we know who is displaying them and when they will be taken down,” says @paulaballiance.bsky.social on her Bill. Help us transform how we display flags and complete the consultation:t.co/yoOV5S31pT

Detail and reform needed to provide reassurance about future public emergencies, says @paulaballiance.bsky.social . Read more here: www.allianceparty.org/detail...

Among a lot of vital and often harrowing information, there was one obvious connection between the evidence we heard today at Executive Office Committee on Historical Institutional Abuse and Historical Clerical Abuse of children, namely that we are still clearly not reaching everyone affected.

Stormont has returned for 2025 but the same old problems remain. Thanks to the continued threat of ransom politics, it is as stable as it was the day before it collapsed. We're reiterating our call to reform our institutions and end vetoes for good.

It is very important, regardless of your viewpoint, that you have your say on the public consultation around my proposed Private Member’s Bill on the Display of Flags & Emblems from street furniture. You can access the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/emblemsbill

It is important that victims and survivors of historical clerical abuse of children come forward to tell their stories, if they feel able, over the coming weeks. This will inform research and then future actions. Further info: www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/articles/inv...