Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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SDLP backs PSNI recruitment campaign
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath MLA backs the PSNI's new recruitment campaign for student officers and police staff, but says confidence and recruitment have been damaged by the data breach, underfunding and legacy issues. He calls for 50:50 recruitment to be revisited and for the…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: PSNI recruitment campaign Original release: SDLP backs PSNI recruitment campaign (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Welcomes Reversal on Commonwealth Games Flag Decision
The UUP welcomes Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland's decision to keep using the Ulster Banner for athletes at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard, Party Chair, questions why the original decision was taken without clear guidance and says the Communities Minister let…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland Ulster Banner flag decision reversal Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Welcomes Reversal on Commonwealth Games Flag Decision (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Welcomes Reports of Government U-Turn on Mandatory Digital ID
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes reports that the Government plans to scrap its proposed mandatory national Digital ID, but calls for clear confirmation that any future digital identification stays voluntary and is not required for accessing work or social welfare.
Other Issue: Government climbdown on compulsory digital ID plan Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Welcomes Reports of Government U-Turn on Mandatory Digital ID (opens in a new tab)
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Sentencing Review Must Deliver Real Change and Restore Public Confidence
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA welcomes the Justice Minister's sentencing review but says it must go beyond individual case areas to reform sentencing guidelines. He calls for a review of sentence credit for very late guilty pleas and for support for a sentencing council.
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Minister's sentencing review announcement Original release: Sentencing Review Must Deliver Real Change and Restore Public Confidence (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Kimmins Must Act After Winter Chaos
Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA urges Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to act after snow and ice disrupted roads, saying gritting was inadequate, grit boxes were slow to refill and planning with councils was lacking.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Northern Ireland snow and ice winter disruption and gritting response Original release: Minister Kimmins Must Act After Winter Chaos (opens in a new tab)
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Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed
UUP Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council decision to accept a 4% pay offer as fair. He calls for action on teacher workload and for a multi-year budget that keeps pace with inflation to give certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed (opens in a new tab)
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Failure to transform education system and address service duplication represents historic budget mismanagement, says Mathison
Alliance’s Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair, MLA Nick Mathison, says the Department of Education has overspent by hundreds of millions, added bureaucracy through the Controlled Schools Unit and TransformEd, and failed to transform schools or address estate duplication, urging a
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Education budget overspend and school estate duplication Original release: Failure to transform education system and address service duplication represents historic budget mismanagement, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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There never was lawful authority to scrap the Ulster Banner
TUV leader Jim Allister MP welcomes confirmation that the Ulster Banner will remain the flag used for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, and says CGNI never showed legal authority for dropping it. He accuses the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council of acting without mandate and…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland discontinues Ulster Banner for athletes Original release: There never was lawful authority to scrap the Ulster Banner (opens in a new tab)
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British and Irish Governments’ joint legacy framework must command the confidence of victims of conflict – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Conor Murphy says a joint British-Irish legacy framework must win victims' confidence, after WAVE Trauma Centre and Raymond McCord addressed the Good Friday Agreement Committee. He says the Stormont House provisions remain the best route to truth and urges the Irish…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Good Friday Agreement Committee session with WAVE Trauma Centre and Raymond McCord Original release: British and Irish Governments’ joint legacy framework must command the confidence of victims of conflict – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the agreement by unions securing a 4% pay award for teachers. He says pay alone will not ease workload pressures and declining morale, and calls for meaningful action on workload and proper investment in education.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after tabling a Commons motion, says public appointments must be fair to every community, citing Protestant under-representation in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and alleged intimidation deterring Catholic recruits to the PSNI, and urges nationalist parties to…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commons motion on public appointments and community representation in public bodies Original release: Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland cannot be a soft touch on illegal working - Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says a 169% rise in immigration arrests in Northern Ireland, reported in Home Office figures, shows illegal working is widespread and calls for tougher enforcement, faster returns and stronger action against employers who break the law.
Immigration Justice and policing Issue: Home Office immigration arrests figures for Northern Ireland Original release: Northern Ireland cannot be a soft touch on illegal working - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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SF, Alliance and SDLP side with higher consumer costs
DUP East Belfast MLA David Brooks challenges Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance MLAs for not backing a DUP motion on new EU fees on small parcels, warning Northern Ireland households could pay more for everyday goods.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: DUP motion on EU fees for small parcels Original release: SF, Alliance and SDLP side with higher consumer costs (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls for a cross‑party delegation meeting with homeless‑support providers, including the People’s Kitchen, the Welcome Centre and the Housing Executive, to devise short‑, medium‑ and long‑term plans so no one feels the street is their only option.
Housing Original release: Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the Health Minister to keep prioritising a Mother and Baby Unit in the North, welcoming a £4 million cut in its estimated cost and calling for it to be set up without delay.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit £4 million cost reduction Original release: New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes progress on six signature Active Travel signature schemes
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes progress on six Department for Infrastructure Active Travel schemes, including the Sydenham Greenway, Newry Inner City Greenway and Coleraine to Portstewart route. He says the work supports cleaner travel and health, and looks forward to further engagement with…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure six signature Active Travel schemes progress Original release: Boylan welcomes progress on six signature Active Travel signature schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council's acceptance of a 4% teacher pay offer, matching England and Wales, with graduate starting salaries rising to £32,916. He also commits to responding to the teacher workload review within weeks.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney commends PSNI anti-drug success and reiterates the importance of community support
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney commends the PSNI for its constituency-wide success in detecting and prosecuting drug dealers during 2025, urging South Antrim residents to report drug dealing information to police or Crimestoppers and to consider setting up Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
Justice and policing Original release: Kearney commends PSNI anti-drug success and reiterates the importance of community support (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney raises road safety concerns following Moira Road fatality
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says he is shocked by the death of a pregnant woman in a serious collision on Moira Road near Nutts Corner market, thanks emergency services, urges witnesses to contact police and will write to the Department for Infrastructure requesting a traffic‑management review of
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fatal traffic collision on Moira Road near Nutts Corner market Original release: Kearney raises road safety concerns following Moira Road fatality (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP invites Executive parties to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she has contacted all Executive party leaders urging them to accept the Prime Minister's offer and attend a meeting with Keir Starmer on Stormont reform proposals. She argues the Executive has done little to advance reform and calls on parties to engage seriously.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive parties invited to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform Original release: SDLP invites Executive parties to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)