Latest releases
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11,734 releases
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We’ve had enough media briefings and re-announcements from government on immigration; We need to see delivery – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Justice and Migration spokesperson Matt Carthy TD says recent briefings on a new migration package, including an accommodation-contribution scheme, repeat earlier proposals and calls for delivery. He urges faster asylum processing, an end to profiteering in IPAS accommodation, enforced…
Immigration International affairs Issue: Cabinet migration measures package Original release: We’ve had enough media briefings and re-announcements from government on immigration; We need to see delivery – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin representatives welcome Health Minister to Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew and Councillor Nuala McLernon welcome the Health Minister's visit to Woodlawn House in Dungannon, which provides adult respite for people with learning disabilities, and call for urgent action on repeated last-minute respite cancellations.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister visit to Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Original release: Sinn Féin representatives welcome Health Minister to Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Minister must have ambition to deliver free school meals
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Minister must show ambition on universal free school meals, following the Assembly's passage of her party's motion on Tuesday. She accuses the Minister of deflecting, warns that children are going hungry and says Northern…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly Opposition Day motion on universal free school meals Original release: Hunter: Minister must have ambition to deliver free school meals (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Executive must take responsibility following Budget
SDLP leader Claire Hanna welcomes the scrapping of the two-child welfare limit and a £370m boost for Northern Ireland in the Budget, but calls on Executive Ministers to act on health, housing, justice and childcare rather than blaming Westminster.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: November 2025 Budget income tax threshold freeze Original release: Hanna: Executive must take responsibility following Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Swann Slams Autumn Budget as ‘Failure for Workers and Rural Communities’
UUP MP Robin Swann says the Autumn Budget fails workers, households and farm families, criticising the threshold freeze and the absence of Farm Family Inheritance Tax changes. He also says the £370m Barnet consequential falls short of the Finance Minister's £400m shortfall and that the Internal…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Autumn Budget 2025 Northern Ireland funding and tax threshold freeze Original release: Swann Slams Autumn Budget as ‘Failure for Workers and Rural Communities’ (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Welcomes Cut in Electricity Connection Costs as Boost for Rural Growth and Renewable Energy
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the Department's move to limit connection charges to the cables and equipment needed to reach the main grid, arguing it will boost rural businesses, developers and renewable energy projects. She says small initial rises in bills should level…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Department for the Economy electricity connection cost reduction Original release: Armstrong Welcomes Cut in Electricity Connection Costs as Boost for Rural Growth and Renewable Energy (opens in a new tab)
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Budget leaves Northern Ireland behind and fails to deliver for working families, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says the UK Budget fails working families, small businesses and vulnerable people, welcoming the removal of the two child benefit cap but criticising the income tax threshold freeze and the lack of a hospitality VAT cut. She urges the Finance Minister to replicate…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: November 2025 Budget income tax threshold freeze Original release: Budget leaves Northern Ireland behind and fails to deliver for working families, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy welcomes the Education Committee's decision to take forward a single-issue bill allowing girls to choose trousers as part of school uniform. She says the Education Minister could have made the change through his uniform guidance and urges him to update the guidelines…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee proposal on girls' right to wear trousers in school Original release: Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns south Belfast racist graffiti
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns graffiti on a property near Ravenhill Embankment in south Belfast that she describes as racist. She says the community is diverse and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti on property near Ravenhill Embankment, south Belfast Original release: Hargey condemns south Belfast racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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No case for handing Sinn Fein greater fiscal powers – Forsythe
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe rejects an SDLP motion in the Assembly seeking additional tax-raising powers for a Sinn Fein Finance Minister, arguing such powers would mean higher taxes and that the Minister has not shown sound financial management.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: SDLP Assembly motion on additional devolved fiscal powers Original release: No case for handing Sinn Fein greater fiscal powers – Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin working to properly invest in public services – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan praises Finance Minister John O'Dowd's efforts to secure fairer funding for public services during Assembly debate on the Executive's multi-year budget. She says the Executive remains underfunded and calls on the British government for powers to raise money locally.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive multi-year budget debate in the Assembly Original release: Sinn Féin working to properly invest in public services – Dolan (opens in a new tab)
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Costs faced by families in schools must be reduced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to move towards free school meals for all children, ahead of an Assembly debate on school meals. He also says he is bringing forward legislation to support families during school holidays.
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly debate on school meals Original release: Costs faced by families in schools must be reduced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Do nothing Executive letting Belfast Lough go same way as Lough Neagh
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive lacks any plan to tackle sewage pollution in Belfast Lough, after the Office for Environmental Protection reported spills there are damaging the environment. He calls for the Infrastructure Minister and Executive to bring forward…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough Original release: O'Toole: Do nothing Executive letting Belfast Lough go same way as Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin secures review into social services after raising concerns with Minister
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's confirmation that officials will review how social services operate alongside family courts, after she raised parents' cases with him. She says the review must move quickly and questions why concerns did not reach the…
Health Issue: Health Department review of social services and family courts Original release: McLaughlin secures review into social services after raising concerns with Minister (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Executive can’t blame London for own failures
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Executive Ministers cannot keep blaming the UK Government for their own failures, ahead of the UK Budget. He calls on Ministers to use the powers they hold on health, housing and the environment, and urges the Finance Minister to open the books.
Public finance and taxation Issue: UK Budget and Executive Ministers' use of powers at SDLP Opposition Day Original release: O'Toole: Executive can’t blame London for own failures (opens in a new tab)
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MPs join forces to end eight-year freeze on Tax-Free Childcare cap
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP, with cross-party MPs, urges the Chancellor to raise the Tax-Free Childcare cap in line with inflation, saying the £2,000 annual limit has been frozen since 2017 while childcare prices rose about 34%. The call comes ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Cross-party MPs letter on Tax-Free Childcare cap ahead of Autumn Budget Original release: MPs join forces to end eight-year freeze on Tax-Free Childcare cap (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Lough investigation must prompt action from Infrastructure Minister, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Stewart Dickson and Connie Egan call on the Infrastructure Minister to act after an Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough. They urge green-lighting Kinnegar Wastewater Treatment Works upgrades and criticise Executive…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough Original release: Belfast Lough investigation must prompt action from Infrastructure Minister, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence brings renewed focus to ending violence against women and girls, says Egan
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan says gender-based violence has no place in society and highlights this year's 16 Days of Activism theme, 'No Excuse for Online Abuse', amid a rise in deepfake videos of women.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence brings renewed focus to ending violence against women and girls, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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All-island census can help inform better decision making – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes Assembly endorsement of the joint all-island census report, noting a population rise to 7.1 million and rising cross-border commuting for work. She urges Executive departments to use the findings to shape services and policies.
Economy and employment Issue: Assembly endorsement of all-island census report findings Original release: All-island census can help inform better decision making – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Tinkering around the edges will not fix a fundamentally flawed system…
DUP MLA David Brooks says a £16 million Treasury package for businesses affected by Windsor Framework supply chain disruption is "too little, too late" and calls for radical change beyond the framework, not limited damage control. He argues the funding does not remove the at-risk customs test, SPS…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Treasury £16 million Windsor Framework business support package Original release: Tinkering around the edges will not fix a fundamentally flawed system… (opens in a new tab)