Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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Irish neutrality incompatible with EU militarisation – Mairéad Farrell TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Mairéad Farrell TD welcomes an Oireachtas Committee report on EU defence funding under ReArm Europe and the SAFE Regulation, saying it raises concerns over Irish neutrality and taxpayer-backed loans for weapons. She argues EU budget guarantees could conflict with EU law and…
International affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Oireachtas Finance Committee report on SAFE defence loan programme Original release: Irish neutrality incompatible with EU militarisation – Mairéad Farrell TD (opens in a new tab)
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Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes DAERA's announcement of a support payment for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, but urges the department to work closely with fishing families on a lasting plan to rebuild the lough's commercial fishing sector.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA financial support for Lough Neagh eel fishermen Original release: Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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DUP delivering for working families - Middleton
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes the launch of a new consultation on the draft early years and childcare strategy, saying it offers parents and providers a real chance to shape reforms that are affordable, high‑quality and supportive of working families. He praises Education Minister Paul Givan for
Education Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: DUP delivering for working families - Middleton (opens in a new tab)
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The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey warns that eight prisoners in Britain on collective hunger strike face grave risk, and urges Justice Secretary David Lammy to engage with their lawyers. He says Qesser Zuhrah's condition has rapidly worsened and calls for immediate clarity on her health.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling disappointing and concerning for families campaigning for truth and justice – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey says the Supreme Court decision in the Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson case effectively lets the British Secretary of State block inquests and any further investigations, calling the ruling extremely disappointing and concerning for the Thompson family and other victims’ families,and
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson case Original release: Supreme Court ruling disappointing and concerning for families campaigning for truth and justice – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Support The Hunger Strikers
People Before Profit urges mass pressure on the British government to meet the demands of hunger-striking Palestine Action prisoners, including bail, a fair trial and closure of Elbit Systems in Britain, with a Dublin demonstration set for today.
Justice and policing International affairs Original release: Support The Hunger Strikers (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls the Labour Government's proposals to offer free TV licences to benefit claimants a slap in the face for working people. He says the plans would shift the burden onto working households, questions how they would be funded, and urges Labour to focus on easing pressures…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Labour proposals for free TV licences for benefit claimants Original release: Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein Has No Moral Authority on the Past While IRA Victims Remain in Unmarked Graves
TUV legacy and justice spokesman Sammy Morrison condemns the failed latest search for Columba McVeigh's remains, accusing Sinn Fein of shielding IRA crimes and lacking moral authority to lecture others on the past.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Failed search for Columba McVeigh's remains Original release: Sinn Fein Has No Moral Authority on the Past While IRA Victims Remain in Unmarked Graves (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty criticises Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for confirming no Department for Communities funding for Belfast City Council's Hardship Fund in 2025/26. He says the decision will hit projects such as school breakfast clubs and calls on the Executive to take…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Hardship Fund no Department for Communities funding 2025/26 Original release: Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna warns information suppression will undermine legacy commission
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says that the Supreme Court judgment will embolden security service figures who want to withhold information on agent handling and Troubles-era intelligence. The party calls on the UK Government to urgently review sensitive disclosure rules and the NCND policy, and…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson case Original release: Hanna warns information suppression will undermine legacy commission (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin questions how the Education Minister's draft childcare strategy will be financed, noting no agreed multi-year budget exists for the roughly £500 million needed over four years. She also criticises its release so close to Christmas after a promised autumn timetable.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive must outline how they will find data breach compensation
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, a Policing Board member, says significant questions remain over how the Executive will fund compensation for PSNI officers and staff affected by the data breach. He asks the Justice and Finance Ministers to set out how the money will be found.
Public finance and taxation Justice and policing Issue: PSNI data breach compensation funding from Executive budget Original release: McGrath: Executive must outline how they will find data breach compensation (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party responds to the Supreme Court Ruling on the Thompson case
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says full disclosure to victims is essential but redaction may be justified where national security or covert methods are at risk, and argues redaction should be exceptional. He says national security is hard to see as compromised in the Liam Paul…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson case Original release: Ulster Unionist Party responds to the Supreme Court Ruling on the Thompson case (opens in a new tab)
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Mercosur Agreement Could Undercut Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food Sector
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA warns the EU-Mercosur deal could push down beef prices and standards after up to 99,000 tonnes of South American beef imports are proposed. He says the UK Government has yet to set out any exemptions to protect Northern Ireland, and calls for robust…
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: EU-Mercosur trade agreement decision by EU member states Original release: Mercosur Agreement Could Undercut Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must tangibly deliver for families, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA welcomes the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy but says it lacks clear targets. She raises concern over the absence of a mechanism to stop public subsidies being absorbed into fees and over plans to consult on removing admissions priority…
Education Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must tangibly deliver for families, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Project Gigabit will improve access to broadband to rural premises across the north – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Economy Minister's announcement that Fibrus Networks will deliver Project Gigabit, saying it will bring high-quality broadband to thousands of rural homes and businesses and support regional balance.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Project Gigabit broadband delivery contract awarded to Fibrus Networks Original release: Project Gigabit will improve access to broadband to rural premises across the north – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh calls for a single all-island health data system to enable comparable healthcare planning, and says the Good Friday Agreement Committee will ask the Health Minister to examine adopting Encompass in the south as an interim measure.
Health Issue: ESRI briefing to Good Friday Agreement Committee on all-island health data Original release: Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Mercosur safeguards are ‘weak and insufficient’ – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan describe the EU Mercosur bilateral safeguard procedure as weak and insufficient, arguing it would not protect farmers from Mercosur beef and agricultural imports and calling for Member States and MEPs to vote the trade deal down.
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: EU Mercosur bilateral safeguard procedure Original release: Mercosur safeguards are ‘weak and insufficient’ – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be…
Lagan Valley DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Home Office to urgently release hundreds of empty homes it holds across Northern Ireland through Mears Housing, and says the arrangement lacks transparency and accountability.
Housing Immigration Original release: Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be… (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons: Make the Call Wraparound Service generates over £63million in…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons hails the Make the Call Wraparound Service for delivering over £63million in unclaimed benefits last year, including £7.9million in Pension Credit and £16million in Attendance Allowance, and urges people who may be entitled to use the free service.
Social security and welfare Original release: Lyons: Make the Call Wraparound Service generates over £63million in… (opens in a new tab)