Latest releases
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3,576 releases
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Recycling should be an integral part of our everyday lives, says Muir
Alliance Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA calls for recycling to become an everyday activity in homes, workplaces and public settings, as he launches a 12-week consultation on 26 proposals to improve recycling and waste management.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: Recycling should be an integral part of our everyday lives, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Allister to Host European Victims Day Event
TUV leader Jim Allister announces a European Victims Day event in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings on 11 March, with a minute's silence and five victims of republican, loyalist and European terrorism sharing their stories.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Allister to Host European Victims Day Event (opens in a new tab)
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Jeffrey’s non-existent border requires 150 staff
TUV leader Jim Allister says DAERA employs 151.5 staff on inspections and official controls at ports and plans to fill 28 more posts, arguing the Irish Sea border is real and strengthening, not gone as the DUP claimed.
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA port inspection staffing figures and planned vacancies Original release: Jeffrey’s non-existent border requires 150 staff (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to overhaul special educational needs provision, saying young people and families are being failed by the current system and urging the minister to act on his commitment following a Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Second Von der Leyen term would be bad for Ireland & EU
Sinn Féin calls on the Irish government and Irish MEPs to oppose Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a further Commission presidency, citing Article 16 vaccine export controls, her COVID vaccine contract handling and her Gaza response, and urges all MEP candidates to state their position.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Original release: Second Von der Leyen term would be bad for Ireland & EU (opens in a new tab)
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Irish remains preserve of one community
TUV leader Jim Allister challenges DUP MLA Paul Givan's claim that Irish belongs to everyone, arguing the Irish language is not supported by facts such as its absence from controlled school curricula. He says Irish language legislation aims to promote Gaelicisation as part of a nationalist…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Paul Givan's comments that Irish belongs to all of us Original release: Irish remains preserve of one community (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
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Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border
TUV Braid Councillor Christopher Jamieson says the Department's planned change of livestock tag prefix in Northern Ireland from 'UK' to 'XI' is another example of the Sea Border. He says TUV raised the issue through a question to the Agriculture Minister, which was answered after the Department…
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Northern Ireland livestock tag prefix change from UK to XI Original release: Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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We must be driven by making NI the best it can be
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at East Antrim DUP Association, urges supporters to focus on making Northern Ireland work and warns against a border poll. He also criticises legacy measures from the 1998 Belfast Agreement as corrupting justice and calls for unionism to unite…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: We must be driven by making NI the best it can be (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Sinn Féin, the DUP and TUV have blocked Assembly reform to end the petition of concern, criticising the First Minister for opposing it and for not responding to a debate.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Assembly reform motion to end petition of concern blocked Original release: O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers a keynote at an Irish Unity Summit in New York, dedicating her words to the late Rita O'Hare and calling on US friends to walk with Ireland toward reunification.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York (opens in a new tab)
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Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says it is alarming that the Department of Health has ended Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence. She calls on the Health Minister to review the decision, arguing GP referrals are not an adequate substitute.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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“Irish Unity is the defining issue in today’s Ireland” Declan Kearney speaking in Barcelona
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA, speaking at a CIEMEN conference in Barcelona, says Irish unity is the defining issue and calls for planning for constitutional change to begin now, with the British government to accept partition has failed. He also calls for a permanent…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: “Irish Unity is the defining issue in today’s Ireland” Declan Kearney speaking in Barcelona (opens in a new tab)
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Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says newly published Rivers Trust data showing no Northern Ireland river stretches at good overall status is disappointing but not surprising. He links the decline to agricultural run-off, sewage, invasive species and underinvestment, and calls for…
Environment and climate Issue: Rivers Trust State of Our Rivers 2024 report on Northern Ireland waters Original release: Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin leaders in New York for two days of high level engagements
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Pearse Doherty, on a two-day trip to New York, say they will address an Irish Unity Summit, meet young Irish emigrants and US employers, and meet the Palestinian UN envoy to back a ceasefire.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin leaders in New York for two days of high level engagements (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – the Union is in the hands of our children
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says unionism must recognise the changing demographics and diverse identities in Northern Ireland, and urges Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill to focus on the economy, schools and hospitals rather than calls for a border poll.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Sir Jeffrey – the Union is in the hands of our children (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
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East-West Council meeting welcomed
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP welcomed the plan for the inaugural UK East‑West Council to convene in Belfast by the end of March, saying it will deepen ties between the four nations on trade, education and culture and that Intertrade UK will boost intra‑Union commerce, with further steps to be
Constitutional affairs Issue: First UK East-West Council meeting in Belfast Original release: East-West Council meeting welcomed (opens in a new tab)