Latest releases
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4,448 releases
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Durkan: Failure to seize opportunities of public transport will limit NI’s growth
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes rising bus and rail use in the North, citing 2023-24 statistics, but urges the Executive to invest in public transport, arguing that per-head spending lags behind other UK jurisdictions.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland 2023-24 report Original release: Durkan: Failure to seize opportunities of public transport will limit NI’s growth (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson welcomes introduction of hate crime legislation by Justice Minister
Alliance Justice Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA welcomes the Justice Minister's plan to bring in hate crime legislation this mandate, citing recent racially motivated disorder and backing a statutory aggravation model in a forthcoming Sentencing Bill plus victim support in a Victims Bill.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Justice Minister's written statement on hate crime legislation Original release: Dickson welcomes introduction of hate crime legislation by Justice Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Maghie welcomes further expansion of kerb side glass recycling services.
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Jenna Maghie welcomes Belfast City Council's decision to extend kerbside glass recycling to over 6,000 more homes in Greater Belfast, with collections due to begin by March 2025. She says Alliance proposed the extra funding and pledges to push for citywide expansion.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council kerbside glass recycling expansion decision Original release: Maghie welcomes further expansion of kerb side glass recycling services. (opens in a new tab)
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Planning and preparation for a new Ireland should start now, Cullen tells TUC meeting
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls for planning and preparation for a new Ireland to start now, urging the Irish government to lead this and immediately establish a Citizens' Assembly, while asking trade unionists and progressives in Britain and beyond to join the effort.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Planning and preparation for a new Ireland should start now, Cullen tells TUC meeting (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Cllrs welcome Grand Central Station opening
Green Party Councillors Áine Groogan and Anthony Flynn welcome the opening of Belfast's new Grand Central Station, calling it a historic moment for the city. Flynn calls for much greater public transport spending in Northern Ireland compared with Great Britain and the South.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Belfast Grand Central Station opening Original release: Belfast Cllrs welcome Grand Central Station opening (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong marks International Day of Democracy by calling for Votes at 16.
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for the voting age to be lowered to 16 and 17-year-olds, marking International Day of Democracy and pointing to Scotland, Wales and other regions that have already made the change.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Armstrong marks International Day of Democracy by calling for Votes at 16. (opens in a new tab)
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Long outlines proposed hate crime legislative provisions
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long sets out hate crime measures she plans to introduce before the mandate ends, including a statutory aggravation model in a Sentencing Bill and enhanced victim protections in a Victims Bill. She says a standalone Hate Crime Bill is not feasible given the reduced…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Justice Minister's written statement on hate crime legislation Original release: Long outlines proposed hate crime legislative provisions (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds urges the Executive to work together to finance public transport, following the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA urges the Executive to pool efforts on better funding for public transport after attending the partial opening of Belfast Grand Central Station. He says Northern Ireland's per-head public transport spending trails England by £272 and calls…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Grand Central Station opening Original release: McReynolds urges the Executive to work together to finance public transport, following the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station (opens in a new tab)
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United Against Racism Holds Successful Public Forum
People Before Profit says a Dublin forum of United Against Racism, attended by around 150 people, heard speakers on far-right attacks on people of colour, deprivation on Dublin's Northside, and anti-Islamophobia campaigning. Workshops covered unions, countering the far right and social media.
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: United Against Racism Holds Successful Public Forum (opens in a new tab)
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PM does not uphold Belfast Agreement in all its parts – hypocrisy exposed
TUV leader Jim Allister MP accuses the UK and Irish Prime Ministers of hypocrisy over the Belfast Agreement, claiming Stormont is denied a cross-community vote on the Windsor Framework (the Protocol) and that Sir Keir Starmer only upholds its nationalist-favouring parts.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont consent vote on the Northern Ireland Protocol by simple majority Original release: PM does not uphold Belfast Agreement in all its parts – hypocrisy exposed (opens in a new tab)
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TB and critical industry issues on agenda for DUP and UFU
DUP MP Carla Lockhart and MLA Michelle McIlveen, after meeting the Ulster Farmers' Union, call for Stormont and DAERA to implement the bTB eradication strategy outlined by former minister Edwin Poots, and for urgent action on the freeze on farm building planning applications.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: TB and critical industry issues on agenda for DUP and UFU (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds welcomes opening of Belfast Grand Central Station
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA welcomes the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station, saying it will boost the regional economy and help tackle climate change. He calls for sustained investment in public transport.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast Grand Central Station opening Original release: McReynolds welcomes opening of Belfast Grand Central Station (opens in a new tab)
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Allister highlights challenges faced by sheep farmers in Westminster Hall debate
TUV MP Jim Allister, speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on sheep farming, calls for a sheep support scheme in Northern Ireland, criticising the Department's failure to act on a taskforce recommendation and warning of a 17% basic payment cut from 2025.
Agriculture and rural affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: Westminster Hall debate on sheep farming Original release: Allister highlights challenges faced by sheep farmers in Westminster Hall debate (opens in a new tab)
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Allister welcomes PSNI climb down on LGBT training
TUV MP Jim Allister welcomes the PSNI's reversal of planned LGBT-only training for promotion examinations, and asks why the plan was permitted and whether the Equality Commission or the PSNI first raised the issue. He says the episode should end special treatment for the LGBT Network.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI LGBT Network promotion exam revision support email Original release: Allister welcomes PSNI climb down on LGBT training (opens in a new tab)
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Progress welcome but still long way to go in embracing renewable energy, says Honeyford.
Alliance energy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA welcomes 46% renewable electricity in the Department for the Economy's consumption and generation report but says progress has practically stopped. He calls for urgent planning reform to stop investment being lost to delays.
Environment and climate Issue: Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation of Northern Ireland report 2024 Original release: Progress welcome but still long way to go in embracing renewable energy, says Honeyford. (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes expresses condolences following ‘tragic’ death of care worker
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes expresses condolences to the family of care worker Anu Okusanya, who died in hospital after collapsing while trying to raise the alarm over an attack in Newry. He condemns racist violence and intimidation against migrant workers.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Death of care worker Anu Okusanya after Newry attack Original release: Hughes expresses condolences following ‘tragic’ death of care worker (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI corrupt their own promotion process
TUV MP Jim Allister says the PSNI has corrupted its promotion process by backing an LGBT+ Network offer of exam coaching that excludes straight officers, after the Equality Commission commented on the scheme. He says the PSNI is inviting a discrimination complaint and should stop facilitating the…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI LGBT Network promotion exam revision support email Original release: PSNI corrupt their own promotion process (opens in a new tab)
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Impending forced majority vote is anything but democracy
TUV says the forced majority vote under Article 18 of the Windsor Framework, due at Stormont before year end, is not democracy. It argues the vote cannot scrutinise four years of imposed EU laws, and that a 'no' vote would still endorse two more years of new legislation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont consent vote on the Northern Ireland Protocol by simple majority Original release: Impending forced majority vote is anything but democracy (opens in a new tab)
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Young expresses condolences following death of care worker in Newry.
Alliance Slieve Croob Councillor Helena Young expresses condolences over the death of Anu Okusanya, a care worker who died in hospital after fleeing an assault near her home in Newry. Young says she had reported being targeted with abuse on earlier occasions and calls the situation shameful.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Death of care worker Anu Okusanya after Newry attack Original release: Young expresses condolences following death of care worker in Newry. (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray alarmed by NI Water discharging waste along NI’s coast
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andrew McMurray MLA expresses alarm at NI Water discharging large volumes of untreated sewage into coastal bathing waters, citing high E. coli levels near Newcastle, and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to present a plan to upgrade wastewater systems.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: NI Water coastal sewage discharges near bathing sites Original release: McMurray alarmed by NI Water discharging waste along NI’s coast (opens in a new tab)