Latest releases
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2,882 releases
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McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn condemns Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee's Dáil remarks comparing calls for a North and north west passport office with wasteful public spending, saying the comparison is disgraceful and insulting to citizens.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: McEntee Dáil remarks on passport office versus public spending waste Original release: McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (opens in a new tab)
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Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who chairs the Assembly's Economy Committee, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report exposes failures in the planning system and calls for reform. He cites planning appeals averaging 73 weeks and a Planning Appeals Commission lacking statutory targets and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is not giving public transport enough priority, after Translink warned of possible bus and rail service cuts and reduced concessionary fares. He blames years of underfunding and calls on the Minister to work…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes progress on the Mother and Baby Institutions Bill in the Assembly, saying it will provide a framework for a public inquiry into institutions where women and girls were held. She says victims' priority is exposing the abuse they endured and criticises…
Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Institutions Bill progress in the Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes progress on Graduated Driver Licensing, with changes to how new drivers obtain licences expected by October and new tests beginning in April 2027. She says the reforms aim to reduce serious road traffic accidents involving new and young drivers.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Graduated Driver Licensing progress following Infrastructure Committee meeting Original release: Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Executive failure risking Translink cuts
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA blames an Executive failure to properly fund Translink for possible service cuts and fare discount removals. He says students, disabled and elderly people and rural communities would be hit, and calls for expanded public transport…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: McNulty: Executive failure risking Translink cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne Calls for Urgent Review of Grass Cutting Policy Amid Road…
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne urges Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to reassess the department's roadside grass cutting approach, citing poor sight lines at junctions and on key routes after a wet, mild spell. He says the current twice-yearly cut is a safety concern and asks for more…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Dunne Calls for Urgent Review of Grass Cutting Policy Amid Road… (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Health and Education Ministers to deliver for children with complex and additional needs – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate on drafting a bill in the next mandate that would improve support for young people with complex and additional needs, urging them to act without delay.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Time for Health and Education Ministers to deliver for children with complex and additional needs – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes Assembly backing for her party's Opposition Day motion, urging the Executive to legislate for legal entitlements and consistent, high-quality post-school support for young people with special educational needs up to age 25.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly Opposition Day motion on post-19 special educational needs provision Original release: Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Stewart welcomes Belfast Harbour expansion plans but warns barriers must be removed
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA welcomes Belfast Harbour's Horizons masterplan as a vote of confidence in the regional economy, but says planning constraints and the ONS classification of Trust Ports still hamper delivery. He urges the Department to keep to the timeline for the…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast Harbour Horizons masterplan announcement Original release: Stewart welcomes Belfast Harbour expansion plans but warns barriers must be removed (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to hold Endometriosis event
Sinn Féin announces an endometriosis awareness event at Shaftesbury Community & Recreation Centre on 23 May, highlighting diagnosis wait times of almost 10 years and calling on the Health Minister to act on faster referrals and specialist care.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sinn Féin to hold Endometriosis event (opens in a new tab)
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Victims of domestic violence must be properly supported when applying for social housing – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says domestic abuse victims need proper backing when applying for social housing via the Housing Selection Scheme, and questioned the Communities Minister in the Assembly on what steps are being taken.
Housing Justice and policing Original release: Victims of domestic violence must be properly supported when applying for social housing – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Strangford Lough bridge would drive economic and social development across East Down – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes a meeting with Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, where he pressed for a study into a permanent crossing between Portaferry and Strangford. He says it could improve year-round transport, support growth across the Ards Peninsula and Lecale, and explore tidal…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Strangford Lough fixed link proposal meeting with Infrastructure Minister Original release: Strangford Lough bridge would drive economic and social development across East Down – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast City Council Irish Language Policy Making a Mockery of Consultation
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council is imposing Irish street signs despite failing to reach the 15% support threshold in the consultation, calling the process an abuse of process. He claims the signage deters Unionist and Protestant residents from moving into areas…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Irish street signage decision after consultation Original release: Belfast City Council Irish Language Policy Making a Mockery of Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Gordon Lyons and the DUP are opposed to equality, rights and respect – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of hostility to the Irish language after his Communities Committee appearance, citing the Líofa decision, opposition to Acht Gaeilge and a stalled language strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Gordon Lyons Communities Committee appearance on Irish language policy Original release: Gordon Lyons and the DUP are opposed to equality, rights and respect – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must ensure Irish language strategy is delivered
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA calls on the Executive to make sure an Irish language strategy is brought forward, after the High Court heard the Department for Communities will not deliver it before the current Assembly mandate ends.
Disability and equality Issue: Department for Communities delay on Irish language strategy Original release: Durkan: Executive must ensure Irish language strategy is delivered (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Sinn Féin incompetence has cost Strabane Athletic FC dearly
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan accuses Sinn Féin, including the Infrastructure Minister, of incompetence and delay over the Strabane Athletic FC development, claiming its land was bought by the Education Authority without the club being informed. He asks how long Sinn Féin knew and why the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Strabane Athletic FC development land purchase by Education Authority Original release: McCrossan: Sinn Féin incompetence has cost Strabane Athletic FC dearly (opens in a new tab)
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Latest reports on Irish Language Strategy ‘a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach’ by Gordon Lyons – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach after reports that his department will not produce an Irish language strategy during this mandate. He says the DUP is attacking the language to win back support from hardline…
Disability and equality Issue: Department for Communities delay on Irish language strategy Original release: Latest reports on Irish Language Strategy ‘a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach’ by Gordon Lyons – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Why We Are Marching For Lough Neagh
People Before Profit calls for a mass march for Lough Neagh on Sunday 17 May, starting at The Batter Bar and ending at Ardboe High Cross, citing toxic algae blooms, pollution from intensive farming and sewage, and unsafe drinking water. It is held 40 years after a 1980s march against lignite mining.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Why We Are Marching For Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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RHI scandal ‘a monument to arrogance in government’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the official closure of the RHI scheme, calling it a scandal that cost the public purse an estimated £500 million and damaged public trust. He accuses the DUP of arrogance and hypocrisy, citing its current conduct in the Assembly.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: RHI scheme closure announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Original release: RHI scandal ‘a monument to arrogance in government’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)