Latest releases
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11,734 releases
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Time to establish an Irish passport office in the north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says Department of Foreign Affairs figures showing over 120,000 passport applications from the north in 2024 show the need for a passport office here. He calls on the Irish government to set up one without delay.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Department of Foreign Affairs passport application figures for 2024 Original release: Time to establish an Irish passport office in the north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Appoints Jayne Murray As Chief Executive
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Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirms he remains committed to funding the Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers, saying it will be a priority in 2026/27 planning despite a recent £209million pay direction not covering it.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Real Living Wage funding for independent sector homecare workers Original release: Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers (opens in a new tab)
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Health Committee urges Minister to establish full public inquiry into cervical screening scandal, following Alliance proposal
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Assembly Health Committee has unanimously backed a call for the Health Minister to set up a full statutory public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal, following an Alliance proposal from Nuala McAllister MLA.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening scandal public inquiry call Original release: Health Committee urges Minister to establish full public inquiry into cervical screening scandal, following Alliance proposal (opens in a new tab)
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School uniform guidelines are another attempt to pull the wool over parents’ eyes – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls the DUP Education Minister's new school uniform guidance a 'sham' that will leave families paying too much. He says Sinn Féin's proposals to cap branded items, allow generic alternatives and allow girls to wear trousers were squandered.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new school uniform guidance Original release: School uniform guidelines are another attempt to pull the wool over parents’ eyes – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Residents’ Parking: Time for the Minister to Stop Delaying and Get On With Delivery
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on the Infrastructure Minister to speed up delivery of residents' parking schemes across Northern Ireland after a Department reply offered only further process. He says the Department's own review found the schemes work and that the Minister is still only considering next…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department reply on residents' parking bays rollout Original release: Residents’ Parking: Time for the Minister to Stop Delaying and Get On With Delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons – ICC Belfast secured for UEFA EURO 2028 Qualifying Draw
The DUP says Communities Minister Gordon Lyons welcomes ICC Belfast being confirmed as the venue for the UEFA EURO 2028 qualifying draw on 6 December 2026, saying the tournament will leave a positive football legacy for Northern Ireland.
Other Issue: ICC Belfast confirmed as UEFA EURO 2028 qualifying draw venue Original release: Lyons – ICC Belfast secured for UEFA EURO 2028 Qualifying Draw (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Cannot Hide Behind “Resource Limitations” to Avoid Acting on Sinn Fein Billboard
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is deeply dissatisfied with Infrastructure Minister's written answer on an unauthorised billboard outside Newry bearing Sinn Fein branding, which cited resource limitations and a focus on road safety risks. He calls the response unacceptable and says the Minister…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Newry unauthorised Sinn Fein billboard enforcement written answer Original release: Minister Cannot Hide Behind “Resource Limitations” to Avoid Acting on Sinn Fein Billboard (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Hosting Euros draw highlights missed opportunity
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says Belfast hosting the Euro 2028 draw highlights a huge missed opportunity to stage games in the North, blaming the Communities Minister and the Executive for the failure.
Economy and employment Issue: ICC Belfast confirmed as UEFA EURO 2028 qualifying draw venue Original release: Durkan: Hosting Euros draw highlights missed opportunity (opens in a new tab)
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We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says everyone must do better to reduce plastic waste on beaches after the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report found 84% of beach litter is plastic. He commends DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's work on producer responsibility and a…
Environment and climate Issue: Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report beach plastic findings Original release: We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan praises Hope Magherafelt for vital community support and calls for immediate end to two-child limit
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan praises Hope Magherafelt's community work during a visit, including its café, food support and signposting, and calls for the UK government to scrap the two-child limit immediately.
Social security and welfare Original release: Mallaghan praises Hope Magherafelt for vital community support and calls for immediate end to two-child limit (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must refuse invite to Israel – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges Education Minister Paul Givan to turn down a fresh invitation to travel to Israel, criticising his earlier trip and the use of departmental resources for a school visit there. He says Israel is committing genocide and calls for the minister to focus on school crises…
International affairs Education Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new invitation to visit Israel Original release: Education Minister must refuse invite to Israel – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton welcomes delivery of DUP manifesto commitment on school…
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes Education Minister Paul Givan's issuing of new school uniform guidance, which he says delivers a DUP manifesto commitment. He says the guidance aims to ease cost pressures on families by favouring affordable, generic items and consultation with parents.
Education Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new school uniform guidance Original release: Middleton welcomes delivery of DUP manifesto commitment on school… (opens in a new tab)
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£48.8m NICS sick leave bill demands action from DoF - Forysthe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says rising NICS sick leave costs, up to £48.8m in 2024/25 from £44m, show a failure of leadership at the Department of Finance. She calls on it to set a plan, investigate root causes and introduce absence reduction targets.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: NISRA figures showing NICS sick leave cost £48.8m in 2024/25 Original release: £48.8m NICS sick leave bill demands action from DoF - Forysthe (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey welcomes new homes for south Belfast
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes a council planning decision clearing 104 new social homes at Havelock House, the former UTV headquarters, in south Belfast. She says the £25 million scheme will help reduce housing waiting lists.
Housing Local government Issue: Havelock House social housing scheme approved in south Belfast Original release: Hargey welcomes new homes for south Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP, including the First Minister, of hypocrisy for welcoming the Londonderry to Dublin air route while backing the 2050 net-zero target. She cites environment minister Andrew Muir's confirmation that international aviation…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Londonderry to Dublin air route resumption Original release: Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly calls for stronger action on flu as hospital admissions double and winter pressures mount
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA warns of mounting winter strain on health services after new figures show emergency hospital admissions from flu in the community have doubled. He urges the Department of Health to boost vaccine take-up, publish a winter preparedness plan and say…
Health Issue: New figures showing doubling of flu-related emergency hospital admissions Original release: Donnelly calls for stronger action on flu as hospital admissions double and winter pressures mount (opens in a new tab)
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Brit Card proposal must be scrapped – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the UK government to abandon its proposed mandatory digital ID scheme, and says that if it proceeds, Northern Ireland should be exempted. He argues the policy ignores the rights of Irish citizens and local political realities.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly debate on Labour's Digital ID plans Original release: Brit Card proposal must be scrapped – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)