Latest releases
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2,476 releases
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Acute Transport Crisis Affecting Children with Special Needs - Brolly
Aontú's education spokesperson Gemma Brolly has asked the Infrastructure Minister to urgently review school transport arrangements, especially for children with special educational needs, citing a shortage of licensed taxi drivers and operators. She urges reinstating earlier support measures that…
Education Infrastructure and transport Original release: Acute Transport Crisis Affecting Children with Special Needs - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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O’Dowd needs to restore transparency on A6
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls on DfI Minister John O'Dowd to give a clear completion date and timeline for the £220m A6 Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway. He says delays persist and claims the Department has been non-transparent about any disputes causing them.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: O’Dowd needs to restore transparency on A6 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP deadlock causing climate delay, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says the absence of a functioning Assembly is holding back climate action, with Climate Act actions delayed by the DUP's refusal to form an administration. He calls for an urgently restored Executive and a Green New Deal.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: DUP deadlock causing climate delay, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Long secures more EV charging in Belfast
Alliance Councillor Michael Long welcomes the rapid installation of two electric vehicle charging points in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. He says there are still too few across Belfast and calls for more to be rolled out to other council facilities.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Two EV charging points installed at Belfast City Hall Original release: Long secures more EV charging in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action required to prevent further fish kills after latest incident, says Eastwood
Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood calls for DAERA to investigate a reported fish kill at the River Lagan near Dromore and other major fish kills across Northern Ireland to prevent repeats, and renews Alliance's call for an independent Environment Agency.
Environment and climate Issue: River Lagan fish kill at Thorneyford near Dromore Original release: Urgent action required to prevent further fish kills after latest incident, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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O’Dowd presiding over MoT Fiasco
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd must tackle the MoT testing backlog after a DVA reply failed to set out a realistic plan. She claims July 2022 test numbers match those of 2014 and 2015 and asks why earlier capacity was not increased.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: DVA reply on MoT testing backlog and capacity plan Original release: O’Dowd presiding over MoT Fiasco (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for health Trusts to clarify how ending free lateral flow COVID tests from Monday will affect respite and day‑care provision, urging assurances that these services are restored to pre‑pandemic levels.
Health Disability and equality Issue: End of free lateral flow COVID tests Original release: Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to meet DFI and contractors on A6 and Dungiven Bypass
Sinn Féin councillor Kathleen McGurk says she, MLA Caoimhe Archibald and Cllr Sean McGlinchey will meet the Department for Infrastructure and the contractor after the planned A6 closure this weekend was postponed, seeking to complete the A6 dualling and Dungiven bypass swiftly while limiting any new
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Postponement of planned A6 closure Original release: Sinn Féin to meet DFI and contractors on A6 and Dungiven Bypass (opens in a new tab)
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O’Dowd needs to get a grip of MoT fiasco – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd MLA to publish the DVA plan to cut record MOT and driving test waiting times, saying the existing plan has failed and needs rewriting. She also urges the use of Temporary Exemption certificates for motorists affected by the delays.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: MOT testing backlog at DVA centres Original release: O’Dowd needs to get a grip of MoT fiasco – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Begley expresses sympathy following A5 death
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley expresses sympathy to the family of a young man killed in an accident on the A5 near Omagh, and pays tribute to the emergency services. She says it is the second fatal A5 crash within a month and calls for the long-overdue A5 upgrade to be delivered.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fatal A5 collision near Omagh Beltany Road August 2022 Original release: Begley expresses sympathy following A5 death (opens in a new tab)
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Time to ‘supercharge’ town centre regeneration, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for a Green New Deal and investment in town centre regeneration, including EV charging hubs, to boost footfall, decarbonise the economy and create green jobs. He also blames ongoing political deadlock for risking economic growth.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Time to ‘supercharge’ town centre regeneration, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: More lives will be lost on A5 without action
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan warns of further deaths on the A5 road unless the upgrade scheme advances, and urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to use every available option to start work sooner after recent fatalities.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road upgrade delays following recent deaths Original release: McCrossan: More lives will be lost on A5 without action (opens in a new tab)
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Muir calls for urgent measures to cope with MOT backlog
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA calls for the Department for Infrastructure to reintroduce temporary exemption certificates for MOT tests to ease the backlog. He also asks for a longer reminder letter period so motorists are not left travelling long distances for test slots.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: MOT testing backlog at DVA centres Original release: Muir calls for urgent measures to cope with MOT backlog (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter urges action on banning single-use plastics in the North, noting Scotland introduced such a ban last week. She says the New Decade, New Approach pledge to end plastic pollution has seen little progress and blames the lack of a functioning Stormont.
Environment and climate Issue: Scotland single-use plastics ban introduction Original release: Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine welcomes progress on road projects
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to prioritise two Fermanagh and South Tyrone road schemes, the Enniskillen bypass on the A4 and the Cornamuck project on the A32, in 2022/23 ahead of procurement. She says they should have been prioritised far earlier.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister prioritises Enniskillen bypass and Cornamuck road schemes Original release: Erskine welcomes progress on road projects (opens in a new tab)
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2022 catalogue of attacks on Translink staff must stop - Buckley
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley voices support for Translink workers after a year of attacks on staff across Northern Ireland. He says attackers should face robust court action and severe punishment, and calls for zero tolerance.
Justice and policing Infrastructure and transport Original release: 2022 catalogue of attacks on Translink staff must stop - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara
The Green Party NI announces that Cllr Mal O'Hara has been selected as its new leader, unopposed, after Clare Bailey chose not to stand following the Assembly election. O'Hara says he will offer green solutions to cost of living, housing and climate challenges.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Green Party NI election of new leader Mal O'Hara Original release: Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for a review of how Maternity Allowance is treated under Universal Credit, where it is deducted from awards unlike Statutory Maternity Pay, and urges the Communities Minister to press Westminster on the policy.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast International Airport a key economic driver in South Antrim – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says he met senior management at Belfast International Airport to hear about plans for future development, including new western and eastern air routes, enhanced site amenities and better public transport and rail links.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: Belfast International Airport a key economic driver in South Antrim – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party welcomes the announcement of bank building reopening
Green councillor Áine Groogan welcomes the announcement that Primark will return to the historic Bank Buildings in Belfast later this year, following the 2018 fire, and praises its investment in the listed building. She calls for better protection of city centre built heritage and for greener…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Primark return to Bank Buildings Belfast announcement Original release: Green Party welcomes the announcement of bank building reopening (opens in a new tab)