Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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Hunter: Reforms must have buy-in from education sector
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says planned education reforms need the confidence of schools and buy-in from the sector, and that the Education Minister must show how changes to SEN provision will improve outcomes. She warns against using reforms as leverage in a dispute…
Education Issue: Education Minister's consultation on five-year budget strategy Original release: Hunter: Reforms must have buy-in from education sector (opens in a new tab)
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Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty
UUP Communities Spokesperson and East Belfast MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes recent additional investment in NISEP and calls on the Economy Minister to sustain it and align it with the wider fuel poverty strategy, including renewable biofuel options for rural areas.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Additional investment in Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) Original release: Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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One Calamity After Another
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says the latest PSNI data breach, involving names of serving officers disclosed by the courts, is another failure by the Department of Justice and a Minister who avoids responsibility. He claims a Memorandum of Understanding with the courts could have…
Justice and policing Issue: Further publication of PSNI officer names exposed in 2023 data breach Original release: One Calamity After Another (opens in a new tab)
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Yet Another Failure in PSNI Data Breach Handling
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says the Justice Minister must urgently clarify how names of 41 officers, claimants in civil actions, were published on public court listings and how long they stayed visible. He calls for stronger safeguards for officers after the PSNI data breach.
Justice and policing Issue: Further publication of PSNI officer names exposed in 2023 data breach Original release: Yet Another Failure in PSNI Data Breach Handling (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Publication of officers’ names after data breach defies belief
SDLP MLA Matthew McGrath says the publication of police officers' names following a data breach defies belief, without a release text beyond the headline to confirm further detail.
Justice and policing Issue: Further publication of PSNI officer names exposed in 2023 data breach Original release: McGrath: Publication of officers’ names after data breach defies belief (opens in a new tab)
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We will not acquiesce in any legacy process that disregards victims’ rights – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane marks the anniversary of the New Lodge Six killings by the British Army in 1973 and calls on Hilary Benn to grant the families an inquest. He says any referral to a British government-controlled process would be unacceptable.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: New Lodge Six anniversary commemoration and inquest call Original release: We will not acquiesce in any legacy process that disregards victims’ rights – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: End to academic selection decades overdue
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter says ending academic selection is decades overdue and calls on the Executive and Education Minister to act, not just debate. She says today's non-binding Assembly motion, brought by Sinn Féin, will not deliver change and points to progress in the South.
Education Issue: Assembly motion on academic selection, February 2026 Original release: Hunter: End to academic selection decades overdue (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna backs removal of two-child welfare cap
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Commons progress on a Bill to scrap the Universal Credit two-child limit, arguing it has pushed children into poverty and could benefit over 50,000 households in Northern Ireland.
Social security and welfare Issue: Removal of the two-child welfare cap Original release: Hanna backs removal of two-child welfare cap (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Kilkeel death heartbreaking tragedy
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath offers sympathy to the family and friends of a young boy killed in a road collision in Kilkeel. He urges anyone with information or dash-cam footage to contact police.
Other Issue: Kilkeel road traffic collision child death Original release: McGrath: Kilkeel death heartbreaking tragedy (opens in a new tab)
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More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a more coordinated storm response on the Portaferry Road and A20 ahead of her Stormont adjournment debate. She asks the Department for Infrastructure to set out closure procedures, inter-agency communication and signposting of an alternative…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Storm Bram impact on A20 Portaferry Road and Ards Peninsula Original release: More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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TUV publish legal opinion on standards committee report
The TUV has published a legal opinion on the Standards Committee report concerning Timothy Gaston, and has provided a link for readers to access it.
Other Issue: Standards Committee report into Timothy Gaston legal opinion Original release: TUV publish legal opinion on standards committee report (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Two years of failure shows Stormont must change
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Executive parties must recognise Stormont needs far-reaching change, citing a poll finding only one in four people think the return of the institutions has improved their lives. He points to slow progress on Lough Neagh pollution, healthcare…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Two-year anniversary of Stormont's restoration and public poll on the Executive Original release: O’Toole: Two years of failure shows Stormont must change (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing on suicide prevention after confirmation that its mental wellbeing working group has met just once in two years. He points to funding cuts to mental health and suicide prevention strategies, a 31% rise in…
Health Issue: Executive suicide prevention working group meeting frequency confirmed Original release: Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland Needs a Sporting Museum
UUP MLA Alan Chambers is bringing a motion to the Assembly urging the Economy and Communities Ministers to set up a working group of sporting stakeholders to test whether a Northern Ireland sports museum is viable and wanted. He cites Dame Mary Peters' long-running efforts and the Titanic Centre's…
Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on a Northern Ireland sporting museum working group Original release: Northern Ireland Needs a Sporting Museum (opens in a new tab)
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The Labour Government Continues to Mislead Our Veterans
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says the Labour Government, NIO and MOD must stop misleading veterans about the six protections in the Northern Ireland Legacy Commission Bill, claiming five apply to everyone, including terrorists. He has written to Minister for the Armed Forces Al…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UK Government Legacy Commission Bill veterans protections and victim definition Original release: The Labour Government Continues to Mislead Our Veterans (opens in a new tab)
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US actions appear determined to cause a humanitarian crisis in Cuba – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA condemns the latest US Executive Order targeting Cuba, calling the threats against Mexico and other trading partners outrageous and urging immediate de-escalation and withdrawal of those threats.
International affairs Economy and employment Issue: US Executive Order and threats against countries trading with Cuba Original release: US actions appear determined to cause a humanitarian crisis in Cuba – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Richard Boyd Barrett Speaking in Derry 54th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett says he will attend the Bloody Sunday anniversary in Derry, sending solidarity to the families and campaigners and calling for accountability for state killings. He criticises the £4.3 million spent defending Soldier F, the Legacy Act and British…
Community relations and legacy International affairs Original release: Richard Boyd Barrett Speaking in Derry 54th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday (opens in a new tab)
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2 years on from the Protocol lies was it worth it?
TUV leader Jim Allister says the DUP should ask whether returning to the Executive to implement the Protocol was worth it, citing border posts, trade diversion and no improvement in health, education or housing. He calls for TUV MLAs to be elected to block any Protocol-implementing Executive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: 2 years on from the Protocol lies was it worth it? (opens in a new tab)
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Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes the committee's decision to write to the Executive backing the Health Minister's minimum unit pricing legislation for alcohol. He argues it would reduce harm and urges all parties to progress the law this mandate.
Health Issue: Health Committee briefing on minimum unit pricing for alcohol Original release: Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid: Executive must prioritise free school meals
SDLP Councillor Catherine McDaid says the Executive must prioritise universal free school meals across the North, after a Derry City and Strabane council motion she brought forward will see the council write to the Education Minister seeking a funded plan by 2030.
Education Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council motion on universal free school meals Original release: McDaid: Executive must prioritise free school meals (opens in a new tab)