Latest releases
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5,775 releases
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Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says repealing the ban on Irish in Northern Ireland's courts is regressive on equality, justice and finances. He claims it would make the legal profession less welcoming to Unionists, weaken juries' understanding of defendants, and add translation costs and delays.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister doesn’t know where new Glider route will…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett raises concern that the Infrastructure Minister's announcement excludes Glengormley from the Belfast Rapid Transport extension, and calls for urgent clarity on the new North Belfast Glider route's termination point, which the Minister could not specify in the Assembly…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: Infrastructure Minister doesn’t know where new Glider route will… (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes reports that the British government will repeal its ban on Irish being used in courts, a provision from the 2022 Irish language act that has not yet taken effect. She describes the move as a major step for Irish speakers in the north.
Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: ‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy backs Irish language groups ahead of a Wednesday walkout protesting cuts to their funding, urging a fair, long-term resolution to Foras na Gaeilge funding disputes.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive first step’ as Minister announces way forward on north-south Glider – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes £48 million to advance the north-south Belfast Glider, with bus lanes and a north Belfast park and ride, and says it is a positive first step toward full delivery.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast north-south Glider route £48m funding announcement Original release: ‘Positive first step’ as Minister announces way forward on north-south Glider – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says export procedures on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain show the Irish Sea border is cementing division, and calls on the government to abandon the Parcels Border and pursue Mutual Enforcement instead.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: West – East Irish Sea Border enforcement commencement on Northern Ireland to GB goods Original release: 25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy
DUP peer Lord Browne says the draft gambling levy regulations are too low to meaningfully address gambling harm, citing 2.5% of adults affected and costs possibly near £5 billion, and urges the Minister to raise rates, including to at least 5% for the most harmful remote licences.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Draft gambling harm levy regulations for Great Britain Original release: DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy (opens in a new tab)
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New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara says Sinn Féin lacks ambition on public transport and criticises the Infrastructure Minister's reason for not extending the Glider to Glengormley, citing congestion. Cllr Aine Groogan calls the decision short-sighted and says there is no plan to extend the Glider to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister decision not to extend Glider service Original release: New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party (opens in a new tab)
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Long overdue North/South Glider announcement disappointing, says McReynolds.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the Infrastructure Minister's confirmed extension of the Glider to North and South Belfast disappoints, as key northern and southern areas are left off the planned route. He raises concern over a funding shortfall of over £100m and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: Long overdue North/South Glider announcement disappointing, says McReynolds. (opens in a new tab)
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Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Secretary of State’s decision to start the fourth section of the Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022, which clarifies the repeal of the ban on non‑English languages in courts, and urges the First and deputy First Minister to promptly
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commencement of Section 4 of the Identity and Language Act Original release: Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses Executive Ministers of repeatedly avoiding Assembly scrutiny, citing the Finance Minister's draft Budget and monitoring rounds issued by written statement. He also cites the Health Minister's grant funding cuts and an AERA avian flu update…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Don’t miss deadline for Fibrus compensation claims – Kearney
South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney urges Fibrus customers to submit compensation claims promptly after Storm Éowyn network disruption, noting claims must be made within a set window after service is restored.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fibrus compensation scheme after Storm Éowyn network disruption Original release: Don’t miss deadline for Fibrus compensation claims – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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“We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland”
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald sends condolences after the death of Bik McFarlane, describing him as a lifelong republican and a key figure in the H-Blocks and the peace process. She pays tribute to his music and extends sympathy to his family.
Other Constitutional affairs Original release: “We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland” (opens in a new tab)
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Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Health and Education departments to act urgently on support for children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools, after a joint committee meeting. She says there is no clear picture of allied health professionals in the sector and calls for…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Joint Health and Education Committees meeting on SEN support in Irish-medium schools Original release: Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Department of Health’s Core Grant scheme "exploitative" - Cllr Kendall
Green Party NI Councillor Lauren Kendall says the health department's core grant programme is exploitative, with only 25 of 259 applicants receiving £1.8m for 2025/26 – half the previous allocation – and urges an immediate restoration of funding for community wellbeing services.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Department core grant funding cuts 2025/26 Original release: Department of Health’s Core Grant scheme "exploitative" - Cllr Kendall (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes South Belfast Urban Villages investment
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes a £9 million extension to the Executive Office's Urban Villages initiative, with much of the funding going to Donegall Pass and Market areas in South Belfast. She says it will support regeneration, jobs and childcare and creative…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Office Urban Villages £9 million investment extension Original release: Bradshaw welcomes South Belfast Urban Villages investment (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly expresses concern over disparity in cancer death rates between areas
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA expresses concern over a Cancer Research UK report showing cancer death rates about 45% higher in Northern Ireland's most deprived areas. He urges the Department of Health to introduce lung cancer screening for high-risk people aged 55 to 74 and…
Health Issue: Cancer Research UK report on cancer mortality and deprivation in Northern Ireland Original release: Donnelly expresses concern over disparity in cancer death rates between areas (opens in a new tab)
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£10million in parking fines written off over 5 years
Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen says nearly £10million in parking fines written off over five financial years is evidence of public money being lost under financial pressure. She calls for all steps to be taken to recover debts, citing £1.31million written off in the last year.
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Parking fines written off over five financial years figures Original release: £10million in parking fines written off over 5 years (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hourly Belfast-Dublin train service has been a huge success’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan says the hourly Belfast-Dublin train service has been a huge success after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins reported passenger numbers rose nearly 50% to just under 400,000 between October 2024 and January 2025. He calls for building on the service and says plans for…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast-Dublin hourly train service passenger numbers rise Original release: ‘Hourly Belfast-Dublin train service has been a huge success’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston urges the public to respond to the Assembly committee's call for evidence on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill, which he says would give MLAs a massive pay rise, and shares the TUV's submission opposing the proposals.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill call for evidence Original release: TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise (opens in a new tab)