Over 74,000 residents in Northern Ireland cannot vote in our national elections - and over 12,000 residents in Northern Ireland have no right to vote at all. These are our neighbours, friends and colleagues who live, work and call Northern Ireland their home. Yet, they do not have the right to vote and participate in our democracy. Change is possible. Scotland and Wales have already extended the right to vote to all their residents. Westminster will soon be introducing an Elections Bill - extending the franchise to 16-17 year olds in national elections across the UK. We want this electoral reform to extend the vote to all residents - regardless of where they were born. We want Stormont to pass a motion in support of extending the franchise. To show Westminster that we recognise the importance of making sure that everyone who lives, and has a stake in our society, gets to have a say in how they are governed. To show that we want Votes for All.

3 counties have already pushed the GAA to drop Allianz. Join the stand against genocide and for the upholding of international law.  Stand with Tyrone and Fermanagh’s recent decisions to support the motion. 

Receiving a nutritious, hot meal in school has huge benefits for children and young people. Nutrition is crucial for concentration, learning and physical health. School meals are particularly important for children from low income families, helping them get a decent start in life and tackling inequality. Unfortunately, many families on low incomes do not qualify for Free School Meals and so the cost of paying is already a struggle. An increase of 20% will cause a lot of stress and could make it impossible for some families to keep buying meals for their children in school. As the cost of living continues to rise and the Northern Ireland Executive is promising to tackle poverty, it is appalling that the Education Authority would be forced to increase the cost of school meals. At a time when the UK Government is increasing its investment in school meals in England and expanding access to Free School Meals, families here in NI should not have to face higher costs. We call on the Education Minister Paul Givan to fund school meals as a priority in the education budget and stop this price increase.

Currently F-35 warplanes are carrying out a  genocide in Gaza. On our doorstep in South Derry, components are being manufactured for those very warplanes. 

Open letter text: "To the Members of Parliament, the Northern Ireland Executive and our regional media, We write to you today with urgency and with hope. Northern Ireland must come together, across every culture and community and do more to stand for Palestine. And we must do it now. Across Europe, the tide is turning. France will recognise the State of Palestine. Other nations are stepping forward. The UK is under growing pressure to follow. People everywhere are saying: enough is enough. We thank those who have spoken up;  Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, Alliance, the Greens and the SDLP and all who have called for a ceasefire, for justice and for the recognition of Palestine as a nation among nations. However, too many still stand back, the DUP, the UUP, the TUV, hiding behind stale lines and tired rhetoric while neighbourhoods are reduced to rubble, families left stranded and starving, and the promise of peace is buried with the dead. All of us on this island know what it means to have allies who did not look away, who stood with us when we chose the hard road to peace. Now we owe that same to others. We say this plainly: Gaza’s children need more than careful words. They need the courage of leaders willing to name this horror for what it is; Collective punishment, Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide, War Crimes. They need the courage of leaders willing to act when red lines have long been crossed. We call on every elected representative to: • Demand a permanent ceasefire — make this your first task. • Demand the recognition of the State of Palestine — today, not someday. • Demand that aid flows freely, under UN oversight — not at the mercy of siege and blockade. • Back a UN mission to protect lives and rebuild what hope can still be saved. • Demand justice for every war crime, whoever commits it. • Help build the foundations of a peaceful, democratic Palestine where extremism finds no ground to grow. • Do not stand silent. Do not stand by. Do not look away. Stand for peace. Stand for justice. Stand for Palestine — Now."

Dear Belfast Pride,  In 1991, Northern Ireland was a vastly different place—far less safe for our community. But you stood up. Despite immense political opposition and social backlash, you took to the streets and demonstrated that we exist, that we matter, and that we would not be silenced. Your bravery helped transform our country, creating a more inclusive society and saving countless lives through visibility and representation.  We recognise and appreciate the impact Belfast Pride has had in shaping our community’s progress. It is because of your courage that grassroots movements like Causeway Pride exist today. However, we now find ourselves facing a new crisis—one that requires decisive action.  The recent decision by the NI Executive to ban puberty blockers is an attack on the trans community, an act of political negligence that directly endangers young lives. Our community has been exploited and betrayed by politicians time and time again, and we refuse to accept it any longer. That is why we urge Belfast Pride to stand with us in rejecting participation from political parties complicit in this decision.  Stormont has consistently failed to deliver for LGBTQ+ people in Northern Ireland, with a long history of neglect, broken promises, and a lack of concrete action on equality. Despite repeated commitments, no minister with responsibility for equality has allocated specific funding to LGBTQ+ issues since 2005. This lack of financial support has left vital services, advocacy groups, and community initiatives struggling to survive, relying instead on limited charity funding or UK-wide grants rather than dedicated local investment.  Beyond funding, there has been a persistent failure to develop a comprehensive strategy to address LGBTQ+ inequality. Since 2007, the Northern Ireland Executive has promised to introduce an LGBTQ+ strategy, but nearly two decades later, no such strategy has been implemented. This has left gaps in crucial areas such as healthcare, education, housing, and protection from discrimination. While other parts of the UK have made significant strides in advancing LGBTQ+ rights, Northern Ireland has lagged behind, with its government failing to take meaningful action.  The absence of a strategy means there is no coordinated approach to tackling homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, nor is there a clear commitment to improving LGBTQ+ mental health services, addressing homelessness within the community, or ensuring inclusive education in schools. The continued inaction from Stormont highlights a pattern of neglect that has left LGBTQ+ people in Northern Ireland without the support and protections they deserve.  Pride has always been a protest. It is not a platform for those who legislate against us, who refuse to protect our most vulnerable, or who remain silent in the face of oppression. Other Pride organisations, such as Foyle Pride, have already taken a firm stance—banning parties involved in the puberty blocker ban from their festival. We ask Belfast Pride to do the same.  Rather than holding a consultation, we believe that now is the time for decisive leadership. This is not an issue that requires deliberation; it is a fundamental question of whether Belfast Pride will allow those who harm our community to march beneath its banner. We ask you to cancel the consultation and take a clear, principled stand: political parties involved in the puberty blocker ban should not have a place at Pride.  Pride belongs to the people—not to politicians who betray us. We urge you to make your decision reflect this. Stand with us. Speak out. Fight back. 

Trust and confidence in leadership is essential for the reassurance of any community and many constituents have been looking forward in general terms to the new Minister’s  delivery on the Sinn Fein 2024 election manifesto, “Strong Leadership, Positive Change”.  In the Warrenpoint area, residents and businesses look forward specifically to leadership towards a solution within an area of Infrastructure responsibility to the waste stench and odour nuisance which dates back to a Council abatement notice going back almost ten years to  2015. Positive change would be greatly welcomed here. Recent confusion around the chemicals used by Re-Gen Waste in what appears to be a losing battle in negating the impact of their organic waste stench in Warrenpoint Port has led to claims and counter-claims by WHA and Re-Gen Waste as to which chemicals have been used. Their lack of agreement has resulted in the withdrawal of an Environmental Audit from the WHA website at the end of October and, in the three and a half months since then, no clarification has been forthcoming from the two bodies forming crucial cogs in the infrastructure of the NI Waste Industry.  That confusion has been escalated by WHA claims that HSENI had made a specific review into those chemicals, a position which has been categorically undermined by HSENI. Stakeholders can have no confidence and no trust in the running of the Trust Port in Warrenpoint by the  Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Board until WHA has replaced their withdrawn Environmental Audit on their website and also fully explained the answers received by a Warrenpoint resident from HSENI as follows :   QUESTIONS TO HSENI Can you please provide me the following: 1. Copies of all emails relating to the statement made by Mr Holmes especially the email of how you informed Mr Holmes of the results of the “specific review” on the Chemicals used by Re-Gen. 2. Copies of any evidence that you hold that supports the claim Mr Holmes has made relating to your organisation. HSENI RESPONSE : A search has been carried out on HSENI’s electronic and paper records based on the parameters of your request. I can confirm that HSENI holds no information in relation to your request. In response to question 1, requesting copies of all emails relating to the statement made by Mr Holmes especially the email of how you informed Mr Holmes of the results of the specific review on the Chemical's used by Re-Gen. I can confirm that HSENI holds no information in relation to this question. In response to question 2, requesting copies of any evidence that you hold that supports the claim Mr Holmes has made relating to your organisation. I can confirm that HSENI holds no information in relation to this question. In response to question 3, requesting copies of the information where Mr Holmes states that you have informed WHA not to modify any of its practices. I can confirm that HSENI holds no information in relation to this question.

The genocide in Gaza has been livestreamed to the world since October 7 2023. Conservative estimates put the number of people killed as approx. 68,000 (recent figures published by The Lancet) with over 100,000 maimed and injured. Every step of this genocide has been funded and supported by the United States. Our governments have paid lip service rather than take any meaningful action against Israel. The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel is guilty of committing plausible genocide in Gaza. Israel has displayed intent in the words of its government officials, in its deliberate denial of humanitarian aid, food, preventing safe births to mention a few. In 2024 our petition to Boycott the White House St Patrick's Day Celebrations got more than 20,000 signatures. The pressure we put on politicians not to go resulted in several prominent politicians not going, as well as protests in Ireland and the US against the betrayal. This year we have an opportunity to build on this. Through constant lobbying and pressure, Ireland is now a party to the case South Africa is taking against Israel in the International Courts of Justice. People pressure also forced Israel to close its embassy in Ireland. We call on all political parties on the island of Ireland to listen to the people and not go to Washington on St. Patrick's Day to shake hands soaked with the blood of Palestinians. Petition endorsed by: Derry IPSC Mid Ulster IPSC Cairde Palestine Gaels Against Genocide Mothers Against Genocide QUB Palestine Assembly Artists Against Genocide Teachers for Palestine Fermoy IPSC D7 For Palestine Lurgan IPSC Minority teachers Ireland Louth IPSC The People of Clare Against Genocide BadAds  Hcworkers for Palestine Derry Anti-War Coalition Swords For Palestine United Against Racism NW BDS Strabane NYirish4palestine Newry IPSC South Kerry Friends Of Palestine East Derry IPSC Armagh IPSC ATU Friends of Palestine 

Filthy mining corporation Dalradian is fighting to be able to rip up our stunning Sperrin Mountains, pollute our waters, and damage our health - so they can get rich by mining for gold. After 50,000 written objections, over a decade of tireless campaigning and numerous legal interventions, Save Our Sperrins have taken their fight to a landmark public inquiry that will decide if the mine will go ahead. As Save Our Sperrins says: “The inquiry is a rare opportunity for all of us to come together and have our voices heard. Together, we can stand for what truly matters.” They’ve been fighting for years, and now we stand with them. No toxic mining in Sperrins!

'The People's Housing Bill' aims to alleviate the devastating housing crisis being felt in communities throughout the North, and is being brought forward by Gerry Carroll MLA. Social housebuilding is at a 60-year low, while private rents are at an all-time high.  48,366 households are on the housing waiting list - this amounts to around 90,000 people. 36,741 of those households are in “housing stress", dealing with issues like damp and mould, overcrowding and facing homelessness. The bill proposes to cut and cap rents, and increase housing supply by turning empty houses into homes.  Meaningful action to tackle the housing crisis is long overdue - it's time to show Stormont that people demand change. Sign the petition today! 

Invest NI has given over £19 million pounds of public money to four companies based in Belfast, Crumlin, Newtownabbey, Dunmurry and Castledawson that make parts for F-35 war planes - the very ones which are raining bombs down on Gaza. Crumlin and Newtownabbey based company RLC Group, and Dunmurry based company RFD Beaufort Limited are named by Campaigns Against the Arms Trade as manufacturers of parts for the F-35 fighter jets. According to their website, Moyola Precision Engineering manufacture "airframe parts for F35" and received £5.67 million of taxpayers money from Invest NI with some of that allocated in 2023/2024. Our member-funded research has revealed that Electronic Automation Engineers (EAE), has links to a programme for building F-35 fighter jets and received £157,365 from Invest NI since 2018/19. And what’s more, the UK arms industry produces 15% of every one of those jets that are made, including the 39 being used by Israel’s to bomb Gaza. There’s a real chance that our money has been used to support companies involved in aiding Israel. Internal emails revealed by the Belfast Telegraph shows that Invest NI believes there are companies based in Northern Ireland “supplying components to larger companies that may ultimately end up in Israel.” Furthermore, our member-funded report reveals that Invest NI not only offered these four companies important financial support to help develop their factories, labour force and more; but also provided key administrative support to win contracts - including ones related to F-35s - and support with strategic plans. Most recently, our research has revealed customer approvals from major arms companies such as BAE Systems for Moyola Precision Engineering that enable the company to supply components for F-35s. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald, who is in charge of Invest NI, needs to come clean, and reveal if our money is being given to companies aiding the slaughter in Gaza. 

On February 8th 2024, the UK government blocked a British Phonographic Industry (BIP) funding award that would help Belfast rap trio Kneecap to expand their music in global markets. Their application was approved and signed off by an independent selection board, but he UK government overruled this decision. A spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch cited that the UK government "didn't want to hand out UK tax money to people that oppose the United Kingdom itself." The British government blocking arts funding for a group because they aren't pro-union goes against the very essence of the Good Friday Agreement, artistic freedom and free speech. No government should be removing funding due to an artist’s position on constitutional the future of the north.