Latest releases
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3,078 releases
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Consequences of failing to act to protect our environment are evident, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA responds to the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes, saying Northern Ireland trails the Republic on ecological status. He calls for cross-departmental action and welcomes the DAERA minister's planned…
Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes Original release: Consequences of failing to act to protect our environment are evident, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey congratulates new Taoiseach
DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson congratulates Simon Harris on becoming Fine Gael leader and urges him to respect the Three Stranded approach. He also calls on the Republic to reconsider its refusal to establish a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Simon Harris elected Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach-in-waiting Original release: Sir Jeffrey congratulates new Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production
Green Party councillors in Ards and North Down say the council backed Cllr Kendall's proposal that its response to a Department consultation on onshore petroleum should back a moratorium and legislative ban. Cllr Kendall says the Executive has not acted on the ban despite the previous mandate's…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Council backs onshore petroleum moratorium and ban Original release: Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production (opens in a new tab)
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Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery
Alliance South Down MLA Patrick Brown raises alarm over a reported cut of more than 60% to flood management funding in 2023/24 and questions why it was cut so deeply. He also queries how a £100k flood recovery grant scheme for businesses will be rolled out.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI flood management funding cut figures for 2023/24 Original release: Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors welcome the passing of their motion at Belfast City Council calling for gender pay gap reporting, noting no legal obligation exists in Northern Ireland. Councillor Tara Brooks, who proposed it, says the council should lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council gender pay gap reporting motion passes Original release: Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council
Alliance Newry Mourne and Down councillors welcome the council's plans for photovoltaic solar farms on two redundant landfill sites at Aughnagun and Drumnakelly, which they say could bring in about £250,000 a year net. They also claim further Alliance-identified sites could help ease rates pressure.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Newry Mourne and Down council PV farms on Aughnagun and Drumnakelly landfill sites Original release: Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council (opens in a new tab)
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Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to make children with special educational needs a priority, after figures showed over 1,000 such children will need a school place in September. He urges the minister to work with the Health Minister and other parties to overhaul the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 1,000 children with SEN needing school places in September Original release: Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna calls on the Work and Pensions Secretary to make an urgent statement to Parliament on correcting the WASPI women's pension age situation after the Ombudsman found they were owed compensation.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI compensation finding Original release: Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter challenges Education Minister Paul Givan over whether all schools should be required to teach violence against women and girls, after he said school autonomy should be respected. She calls for uniform mandatory education on the subject across…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's answer on schools teaching violence against women and girls Original release: Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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IRA bands once again mar St. Patrick’s Day in Armagh
TUV Cusher councillor Keith Ratcliffe criticises the inclusion of IRA-linked bands in Armagh's St Patrick's Day parade, questioning Council funding for the event and saying he will write to ask that arrangements be re-evaluated for next year.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Armagh St Patrick's Day parade IRA bands participation Original release: IRA bands once again mar St. Patrick’s Day in Armagh (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister and Department to invest properly in accommodation, specialist teacher training and resources for Irish-Medium schools, some of which have been in temporary accommodation for over twenty-five years.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes Gerard Coney inquest findings
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon praised Gerard Coney’s family and said the inquest jury concluded he was killed by a British soldier who fired at his back at Long Kesh in 1974. She condemned the UK Legacy Act that will end such inquests and pledged Sinn Féin’s support for families seeking truth and ‑ the
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Gerard Coney inquest verdict Original release: Dillon welcomes Gerard Coney inquest findings (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing
UUP agriculture spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says farming's role in climate change needs addressing, arguing farmers are partners rather than scapegoats. He points to carbon sequestration, renewable energy on farms and the sector's economic importance, and calls for incentives and collaboration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing (opens in a new tab)
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Republican abuse of City Hall slammed
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell condemns the use of a City Hall function room for the launch of an Easter lily commemoration, which he says honours Republican terrorists, and criticises a Cumann na mBan statue and a motion to light City Hall in green, white and gold, claiming Unionists…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: City Hall function room use for Easter lily launch Original release: Republican abuse of City Hall slammed (opens in a new tab)
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School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston says the Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme excludes Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, which bans trees from Great Britain entering the region. He argues this shows the Windsor Framework has not removed such bans and accuses the DUP…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Woodland Trust Free Trees scheme unavailable in Northern Ireland Original release: School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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£100,000 extra for marching bands welcomed
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Communities Minister's decision to put an extra £100,000 into the marching bands instrument fund, which she says will help around eight more bands from the reserve list of the last round.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister extra £100,000 marching bands instrument funding Original release: £100,000 extra for marching bands welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett says his amendment to a Sinn Fein motion, agreed by the Assembly, should extend statutory leave and pay to workers who suffer a miscarriage up to 23 weeks, matching existing stillbirth provision.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Assembly vote on Sinn Fein workers' rights motion with DUP miscarriage leave amendment Original release: Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Executive to work with employers and trade unions, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to negotiate a new deal for workers and families. He says young people, women and disabled people face wage inequality and poor conditions, and his Assembly…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: ‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes a 12-week DAERA consultation on recycling and waste, saying its 26 proposals could raise household recycling from 51 to 74 per cent. He urges the public to respond.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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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)