Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says a single Irish state offers the strongest chance to unlock a New Ireland’s economic potential, unveiling the ‘Success by Design’ paper with proposals for an all‑island infrastructure fund, stronger rail links, skills alignment and a Ministry for a New Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Launch of SDLP Success by Design policy paper Original release: SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes the latest waiting list figures, citing a fall of over 15,000 patients awaiting first outpatient appointments and 7,316 fewer waiting for inpatient or day case admission. He commends healthcare staff and expects further improvement from the Elective Care…
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Government’s Local Growth Fund Decision Puts Community Services at Risk
UUP MLA John Stewart says the Government's decision to keep the current Local Growth Fund arrangements, including the 70/30 split, puts charities and voluntary groups at risk of a funding cliff edge on 31 March. He calls on the Executive to explore additional or bridging funding.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Local Growth Fund 70/30 split retained for charities and voluntary sector Original release: Government’s Local Growth Fund Decision Puts Community Services at Risk (opens in a new tab)
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No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the Environment Minister's Assembly update on stronger wastewater pollution rules, including tougher fines, ending NI Water's licence to pollute and stricter discharge consent standards. He urges Executive approval and urgent Infrastructure…
Environment and climate Issue: Environment Minister's Assembly update on wastewater pollution measures Original release: No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £9million pilot stage of the Grassroots Facilities Programme under the Northern Ireland Football Fund, with awards of £500,000 to £1.5million and applications now open. The DUP-linked release says six projects will be supported.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Grassroots Facilities Programme pilot £9million funding call Original release: Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities (opens in a new tab)
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Reopening Tollymore Outdoor Centre a priority for Sinn Féin – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard says reopening the Tollymore centre in Bryansford is a party priority, after meeting Sports Council chief Richard Archibald on the ongoing review. He calls for a sustainable model serving outdoor recreation and local tourism, and says mountain leadership and safety…
Economy and employment Issue: Tollymore Outdoor Centre review and reopening Original release: Reopening Tollymore Outdoor Centre a priority for Sinn Féin – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the Department for the Economy must be candid about Northern Ireland's 2030 renewable electricity target of 80%, which she calls unachievable on current trajectory. She cites roughly 44% renewable generation today and calls for a credible, deliverable energy…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Economy Committee questioning of Energy Group officials on 2030 renewable electricity target Original release: Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson: UK Must Move Faster to Strengthen Defence Posture
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP warns the UK must respond faster to the Middle East security situation, criticising the timing of HMS Dragon's deployment to Cyprus and calling for defence spending to reach 2.5% of GDP sooner than 2027.
International affairs Issue: Middle East security situation and HMS Dragon deployment to Cyprus Original release: Robinson: UK Must Move Faster to Strengthen Defence Posture (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go
TUV leader Jim Allister says Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds's claim that opposition to Irish is a blow for unification echoes a 1982 IRA-era remark and calls for his removal, urging Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to act.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds comments on opposition to Irish Original release: Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the latest hospital waiting list figures, showing over 542,000 people awaiting a first outpatient appointment and more than 174,000 waiting over two years, raise doubts about whether the Executive treats the backlog as a priority.
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Secretary of State must recognise link between need for reform and Executive’s fiscal doom loop
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says Secretary of State Hilary Benn needs to accept that reforming Stormont's institutions is central to tackling the Executive's financial dysfunction. Speaking after his appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, she argues the current system is broken…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State appearance before Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Original release: Hanna: Secretary of State must recognise link between need for reform and Executive’s fiscal doom loop (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance South Belfast MLAs call for urgent action to restore Rosetta Primary School Hall
Alliance South Belfast MLAs Kate Nicholl and Paula Bradshaw call on the Education Authority to prioritise and fast-track repairs to the closed school hall at Rosetta Primary School, saying the prolonged closure is disrupting assemblies, daily school life and community events.
Education Issue: Rosetta Primary School hall closure and repairs delay Original release: Alliance South Belfast MLAs call for urgent action to restore Rosetta Primary School Hall (opens in a new tab)
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Bill to support Irish-medium education passes first stage – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says his Irish Medium Education Bill has passed its first stage in the Assembly. He says Irish-medium schools struggle to recruit teachers, SEN and early years staff, and calls for the Department of Education to plan the Irish-medium workforce with evidence, targets and…
Education Issue: Irish Medium Education Bill passes first stage in Assembly Original release: Bill to support Irish-medium education passes first stage – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Baker moves bill to tackle holiday hunger
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has introduced his Bill to the Assembly to make payments to parents of around 90,000 children receiving free school meals during school holidays. He says the Bill passed its first stage and calls for cross-party work to progress it.
Social security and welfare Issue: Danny Baker bill on holiday payments for free school meal children Original release: Baker moves bill to tackle holiday hunger (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of two-child limit ‘long overdue’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly's passing of a bill that will scrap the two-child benefit limit next month, calling the removal long overdue after a campaign pressed the British government to reverse it.
Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly passes bill scrapping two-child benefit limit Original release: Removal of two-child limit ‘long overdue’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to set a firm timetable for upgrading the regional eating disorder service, noting an outline business case awaits Finance review under Action 29d of the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Eating disorder service enhancement timetable ahead of Awareness Week debate Original release: Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services (opens in a new tab)
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TUV announces plans to mark Innocent Victims of Terrorism Day
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston announces a Stormont event on Monday 9th March marking European Day for Victims of Terrorism, with a minute's silence and four victims sharing their accounts of republican, loyalist and Islamic terrorism.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: TUV announces plans to mark Innocent Victims of Terrorism Day (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should accept he got it wrong and scrap reform agenda – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the Education Minister's revised statement repackages AS-level proposals already rejected by the public, and objects to moving most GCSEs to end-of-course exams. He urges Paul Givan to scrap the reform agenda and focus on SEN provision, underachievement and childcare…
Education Issue: Education Minister's AS-level and GCSE assessment reform statement Original release: Education Minister should accept he got it wrong and scrap reform agenda – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Answers needed on oil price rise
TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe says home heating oil prices have risen sharply since US and Israeli air strikes on Iran, and calls for transparency and accountability in supplier pricing to rule out profiteering. He also urges the public not to panic buy.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Home heating oil price rise after US and Israeli strikes on Iran Original release: Answers needed on oil price rise (opens in a new tab)
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McDowell supports submission of Call-In on Belfast City Centre anti free speech bye-laws
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says he has joined other unionist councillors in submitting a call-in of proposed Belfast City Centre bye-laws that would require a permit for amplification equipment and regulate displays and activities in the primary retail area. He argues the measures…
Local government Issue: Belfast City Centre bye-laws call-in submission Original release: McDowell supports submission of Call-In on Belfast City Centre anti free speech bye-laws (opens in a new tab)