Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
4,448 releases
-
Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
-
de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to fund weekend nightbus services in Belfast, costing around £150,000 a year, after the Minister said the matter is for Translink. He argues the services would boost the night-time economy and help…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast weekend nightbus funding request to Infrastructure Minister Original release: de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
-
Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border
TUV Braid Councillor Christopher Jamieson says the Department's planned change of livestock tag prefix in Northern Ireland from 'UK' to 'XI' is another example of the Sea Border. He says TUV raised the issue through a question to the Agriculture Minister, which was answered after the Department…
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Northern Ireland livestock tag prefix change from UK to XI Original release: Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell accuses Alliance leader Naomi Long of using a sectarianism charge to deflect from Casement Park's cost, asking how the £300 million bill would be funded and whether the GAA funding deal bars chanting at the stadium.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park redevelopment funding and sectarianism accusation Original release: Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue (opens in a new tab)
-
Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, raises serious concerns after 14 MOT lifts were found to have hairline cracks, asking the Minister to outline steps to address the situation. She says lessons from 2019 should have been learnt and will press DVA for updates at…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Hairline cracks found in MaHa MOT testing lifts Original release: Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts (opens in a new tab)
-
We must be driven by making NI the best it can be
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at East Antrim DUP Association, urges supporters to focus on making Northern Ireland work and warns against a border poll. He also criticises legacy measures from the 1998 Belfast Agreement as corrupting justice and calls for unionism to unite…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: We must be driven by making NI the best it can be (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Sinn Féin, the DUP and TUV have blocked Assembly reform to end the petition of concern, criticising the First Minister for opposing it and for not responding to a debate.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Assembly reform motion to end petition of concern blocked Original release: O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers a keynote at an Irish Unity Summit in New York, dedicating her words to the late Rita O'Hare and calling on US friends to walk with Ireland toward reunification.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York (opens in a new tab)
-
Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says it is alarming that the Department of Health has ended Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence. She calls on the Health Minister to review the decision, arguing GP referrals are not an adequate substitute.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
“Irish Unity is the defining issue in today’s Ireland” Declan Kearney speaking in Barcelona
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA, speaking at a CIEMEN conference in Barcelona, says Irish unity is the defining issue and calls for planning for constitutional change to begin now, with the British government to accept partition has failed. He also calls for a permanent…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: “Irish Unity is the defining issue in today’s Ireland” Declan Kearney speaking in Barcelona (opens in a new tab)
-
Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says newly published Rivers Trust data showing no Northern Ireland river stretches at good overall status is disappointing but not surprising. He links the decline to agricultural run-off, sewage, invasive species and underinvestment, and calls for…
Environment and climate Issue: Rivers Trust State of Our Rivers 2024 report on Northern Ireland waters Original release: Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin leaders in New York for two days of high level engagements
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Pearse Doherty, on a two-day trip to New York, say they will address an Irish Unity Summit, meet young Irish emigrants and US employers, and meet the Palestinian UN envoy to back a ceasefire.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin leaders in New York for two days of high level engagements (opens in a new tab)
-
Sir Jeffrey – the Union is in the hands of our children
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says unionism must recognise the changing demographics and diverse identities in Northern Ireland, and urges Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill to focus on the economy, schools and hospitals rather than calls for a border poll.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Sir Jeffrey – the Union is in the hands of our children (opens in a new tab)
-
Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
-
East-West Council meeting welcomed
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP welcomed the plan for the inaugural UK East‑West Council to convene in Belfast by the end of March, saying it will deepen ties between the four nations on trade, education and culture and that Intertrade UK will boost intra‑Union commerce, with further steps to be
Constitutional affairs Issue: First UK East-West Council meeting in Belfast Original release: East-West Council meeting welcomed (opens in a new tab)
-
Yet another wheel comes off the Donaldson Deal
TUV leader Jim Allister says a High Court ruling undermines the Donaldson Deal, which he claims had assured that EU fundamental rights no longer applied in Northern Ireland. He argues the court relied on Article 2 of the Protocol to disapply key parts of the Legacy Act, and says this confirms…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: High Court ruling on Legacy Act provisions under the Protocol Original release: Yet another wheel comes off the Donaldson Deal (opens in a new tab)
-
More help needed to support carers – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says more help is needed for carers, especially women forced to cut hours or leave jobs, reacting to a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report. She calls for investment in social care, stronger workers' rights and better childcare, and welcomes the Economy Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: More help needed to support carers – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
Erskine - Audit Office Lessons for Infrastructure
Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA Deborah Erskine calls for an honest review of how major infrastructure is planned and delivered, following a Northern Ireland Audit Office report. She cites the A5, York Street Interchange and planning delays, and says funding must be found to implement the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on major infrastructure delivery Original release: Erskine - Audit Office Lessons for Infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
-
Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA expresses concern over a Translink-commissioned report on projected sea level rise threatening rail locations, saying 7 are at high risk by 2040. He calls for urgent consultation with the Department for Infrastructure on moving and re-routing the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Translink report on sea level rise impacts to rail infrastructure Original release: Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure (opens in a new tab)