Substance misuse accounted for 3000 deaths in 2021 in Northern Ireland - a 60% increase from the previous 10 years. It is young adults who are at the highest risk of substance misuse related death. A Treatment Centre has been opened in Scotland who have taken a person-centred approach - which has been praised as international best practice. We need to do the same here.

John O'Dowd blaming the British government and "competing work interests" for not being able to pedestrianise a popular street for night-life is as embarrassing as it is ridiculous. On the same day as he announced the decision to put the pedestrianisation of Hill Street on hold, his department started work on repaving the Sydenham by-pass at the cost of £3.8 million.  Why is Minister O'Dowd prioritising roads over people? It's time for him to pedestrianise Hill Street now!

40% of people in Northern Ireland get their drinking water from Lough Neagh. The blue-green algae outbreak - otherwise known as cyanobacteria is releasing toxins which are killing wildlife and fish, and is harmful to humans. The Lough is dying from decades of neglect and pollution and we must act urgently to save it.

Libraries are vital public services for our communities to come together and learn in NI. However, funding has been cut in real terms by almost £20 million pounds over the past decade. The financial situation is so dire that there is no budget to buy books and libraries have had to reduce opening hours. It's time for the government to fund our libraries properly!

All children can learn. All children have a right to an education and we need to stand up for some of the most vulnerable children in our community who are being denied an education.

Books and other media with LGBTQ+ themes are extremely important for young people who may be struggling to understand their own identity, as it gives them role models to look up to and allows them an opportunity to see people like them in the stories they enjoy! Book bans, like the one being pushed by prominent Unionist politicians including MP Carla Lockhart are also incredibly discriminatory and hypocritical [1] - representation of non- heterosexual relationships should no more be banned from Libraries than heterosexual/cis gender relationships. A child will not become gay or be "transed" by reading a book with a gay or trans character included. We must not allow bigoted bad actors to import American culture war nonsense to Northern Ireland. [1] https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/dup-mp-carla-lockhart-calls-for-the-immediate-re[…]ildrens-books-from-northern-irish-public-libraries-4562485

The news is full of the horrendous incident at Belfast Pride when a group made abhorrent comments about and to the LGBTQIA community. In 2022, Belfast City Council was reported to be bringing bye-laws forward to counter this, but nothing has come forward yet. This needs to be acted on immediately.

The plans to introduce a statute of limitations on killings in the conflict in Northern Ireland, ending investigations, inquests, and civil actions are in flagrant breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the rule of law. They show contempt towards thousands of families here who will never receive the truth of what happened to their loved ones. Families of those who died whether at the hands of paramilitaries, the Army or police, deserve truth and justice.

Melted Parents have 4 campaign demands. 1) Immediate financial support for families to support for childcare costs - preventing skilled workers leaving the workforce, supporting families living in poverty, and boosting the economy. 2) Parent representation through decision-making process on policies made on childcare. 3) Long term childcare sector reform with children at the centre that works for families and providers.

NHS services will be impossible to provide under the new Coronavirus Regulations, and those already in poverty will be hit hardest. New regulations requiring dentists to vacate surgeries for one hour after carrying out ‘aerosol generating procedures’ such as drilling, fillings and root canals, will drastically reduce the number of patients they can see, and make it financially impossible for surgeries to offer treatment under the NHS. Those in poverty often delay treatment due to the cost of dental charges. Without a good NHS system their oral health, including diagnoses of serious conditions like mouth cancer is going to suffer and their general health will follow suit.

Yesterday it was reported that a female worker from East Timor, Luciana Viviana da Silva (58), who worked at Moy Park’s Dungannon site, died from coronavirus. Covid19 clusters are rising in workplaces in the meat and poultry industries, which have been recognised to be particularly high risk for workers. Action must be taken now to ensure the scale of outbreaks in meat industry in the USA and Brazil are not repeated in Northern Ireland.

No matter who you are, or where you come from, most of us want to have access to places where we and our families can play sports, keep fit, and build relationship with others. East Belfast GAA is one of the most fast growing sports clubs in Belfast with a proud diverse membership. It uses Henry Jones playing fields and the plans to develop it into a full-size football and full-size GAA pitch are an important sign of progress and community-building in our divided city. We offer our support to and stand with East Belfast GAA.