Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Other: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
2,922 releases
-
A moment of truth for DUP
TUV leader Jim Allister says a BBC Spotlight programme will test the DUP's claim it never received complaints about Jeffrey Donaldson's behaviour, and calls for full transparency over when senior DUP figures knew of alleged misconduct.
Other Justice and policing Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: A moment of truth for DUP (opens in a new tab)
-
Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan expresses serious concern that the Special Educational Needs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 have been delayed from September 2026 to September 2027 after extended Education Committee scrutiny. He says the delay postpones reduced assessment timescales…
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
-
Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, chair of the Education Committee, rejects the Education Minister's criticism of the committee's handling of SEN regulations, saying the rules need proper examination and accusing the DUP of responsibility for the special educational needs system and placement shortages.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Mathison hits back at Minister’s statement on SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
-
Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless'
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll condemns the head of the Civil Service's decision to withdraw staff from the Pride march, calling it regressive and reckless. He accuses political figures of stoking transphobia for gain and urges civil servants who wish to march to do so.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: Carroll: Civil Service Pride Withdrawal 'Regressive and Reckless' (opens in a new tab)
-
Mallaghan welcomes major investment to tackle Lough Neagh water quality
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan welcomes €33 million of Shared Island funding for a water quality programme in the Lough Neagh catchment running to 2031. He says it must be matched by sustained delivery to safeguard the lough.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island funding for Lough Neagh water quality Original release: Mallaghan welcomes major investment to tackle Lough Neagh water quality (opens in a new tab)
-
Whyte: Irish Government funding for Sailortown Bridge project must be matched by DFI.
SDLP North Belfast councillor Carl Whyte welcomes €800,000 from the Shared Island Fund for the next design phase of the Sailortown–Odyssey pedestrian and cycle bridge in Belfast. He calls on the Department for Infrastructure to guarantee funding to completion, warning against repeating the…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund €800,000 for Cork–Belfast Docklands Bridges project Original release: Whyte: Irish Government funding for Sailortown Bridge project must be matched by DFI. (opens in a new tab)
-
Blair welcomes huge investment in future of Lough Neagh
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's announcement of £49 million through the Shared Island Initiative for a five-year Lough Neagh Catchment Programme to help farmers improve water quality. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to bring forward a credible…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh Catchment Programme £49 million Shared Island funding Original release: Blair welcomes huge investment in future of Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
-
Murphy welcomes funding for Ulster Canal
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomes a £26m Shared Island Fund allocation for restoring the Ulster Canal between Clones and Upper Lough Erne. She credits the Infrastructure Minister and her Southern counterpart and says she will keep pressing for timely delivery of the cross-border scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund £26m allocation for Ulster Canal restoration Original release: Murphy welcomes funding for Ulster Canal (opens in a new tab)
-
£200m funding will improve rail network and support better services for passengers – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes almost £200 million from the Shared Island Fund for rail, including £100 million for track renewal and continuing the hourly Enterprise service to 2030. She links it to the approved Enterprise replacement fleet programme.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund rail investment announcement £200 million Original release: £200m funding will improve rail network and support better services for passengers – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
-
Community and voluntary sectors play vital role in our communities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew pays tribute to community and voluntary groups and welcomes modernisation measures in the Charities (Amendment) Bill after its second stage, while pledging scrutiny to stop larger out-of-region charities gaining an edge.
Other Issue: Charities (Amendment) Bill second stage passage Original release: Community and voluntary sectors play vital role in our communities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes an Assembly motion on IVF equality, calling for access to fertility treatment to be based on need rather than ability to pay and describing IVF as essential healthcare.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on IVF equality and access to fertility treatment Original release: Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP Opposition sets out impact of Executive Budget chaos
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive’s inability to agree a Budget could slash almost £1bn from spending, risking thousands of nurse, teacher and police posts, delaying housing, school and university projects and threatening welfare payments, and urges action before 1
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Executive failure to agree Budget Original release: SDLP Opposition sets out impact of Executive Budget chaos (opens in a new tab)
-
Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes a Scottish Court of Session judgment ruling that prison accommodation must be segregated by biological sex, and says it should prompt reflection in Northern Ireland. He points to Rule 90 of the 1995 Prison Rules and says his Amendment 97 to the Justice Bill will be…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Court of Session ruling on prison accommodation by biological sex Original release: Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin has selected three candidates to stand in Newry and Armagh in the next Assembly election in May 2027
Sinn Féin says it has chosen MLAs Liz Kimmins, Aoife Finnegan and Cathal Boylan to stand for Newry and Armagh at the May 2027 Assembly election, with President Mary Lou McDonald TD setting a goal of electing three MLAs there and the largest-ever Sinn Féin Assembly team.
Other Issue: Sinn Féin selects Newry and Armagh candidates for 2027 Assembly election Original release: Sinn Féin has selected three candidates to stand in Newry and Armagh in the next Assembly election in May 2027 (opens in a new tab)
-
Muckamore inquiry details serious failings in health and social care system – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry report must be a turning point, calling for its recommendations to be implemented in full and for failings in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Department of Health to be acknowledged and addressed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Publication of Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry report Original release: Muckamore inquiry details serious failings in health and social care system – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
-
Mallaghan calls for urgent clarity on support for Lough Neagh fishing communities
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan calls on DAERA to provide clear details of financial assistance for Lough Neagh fishing communities after new eel‑fishery measures were announced, saying the support must be fair, comprehensive and promptly communicated.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: New Lough Neagh eel fishery measures Original release: Mallaghan calls for urgent clarity on support for Lough Neagh fishing communities (opens in a new tab)
-
Ennis welcomes announcement of funding for four greenway projects
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes funding for four border-region greenway projects under the Shared Island Greenways Development Fund, including €25,000 for the Warrenpoint to Newcastle project. She commends Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for work with the Irish government to secure it.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Shared Island Greenways Development Fund announcement for four border greenway projects Original release: Ennis welcomes announcement of funding for four greenway projects (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: First Ministers' response to racist riots woefully inadequate
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says the First Ministers' response to last week's racist disorder is woefully inadequate, criticising the lack of an Executive Office policy and practical support for affected migrant communities and displaced families.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Belfast racist pogroms and attacks on homes, June 2026 Original release: O’Toole: First Ministers' response to racist riots woefully inadequate (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath challenges Minister on health workers' security
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he pressed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in an urgent Assembly question after racist disorder targeted health workers, and calls for protective measures, support for affected staff and assurances for migrant staff.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: McGrath challenges Minister on health workers' security (opens in a new tab)
-
McAllister condemns racially-motivated arson attack on a car in Rathcoole
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister condemns the arson attack on a car belonging to a Nigerian man in Rathcoole, a man she says has been targeted three times in five months. She urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Rathcoole car arson attack on Nigerian man Original release: McAllister condemns racially-motivated arson attack on a car in Rathcoole (opens in a new tab)