Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Ferguson committed to banning unfair letting fees
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes progress on her bill to ban unfair letting fees, following the close of her consultation, and says most respondents backed a ban on charges such as application, administration, credit check and inspection fees. The bill would also require Department for…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Ferguson letting fees ban bill consultation closure Original release: Ferguson committed to banning unfair letting fees (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Trump-Netanyahu ‘deal’ will not bring lasting peace to Palestine
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP warns that the Trump-Netanyahu 'peace deal' will not bring peace or justice to Palestinians, saying it risks worsening conditions in Gaza. She criticises Netanyahu's stated rejection of a Palestinian state and raises concerns about Trump and Tony Blair's roles in any…
International affairs Issue: Trump-Netanyahu Gaza peace deal announcement Original release: Hanna: Trump-Netanyahu ‘deal’ will not bring lasting peace to Palestine (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Sinn Féin failure to back all-island talent agency a missed opportunity
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA says Sinn Féin’s refusal to support the amendment for an all‑island talent development agency missed an opportunity, and calls on the Economy Minister to cooperate with southern counterparts to close the youth‑skills gap.
Economy and employment Education Issue: All‑island talent development agency amendment Original release: McLaughlin: Sinn Féin failure to back all-island talent agency a missed opportunity (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister must stop gaslighting public and deliver on housing
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is deflecting blame for racial tensions onto housing pressures, and calls on him to deliver social homes. He cites 1,504 new social homes started last year and a shortfall against the Executive's…
Housing Issue: Minister Gordon Lyons remarks linking housing pressures to racial tensions Original release: Durkan: Minister must stop gaslighting public and deliver on housing (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: O'Dowd must be transparent on A5 funding future
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls on Finance Minister John O'Dowd to disclose how much of the £180 million A5 allocation for 2025-26 may be lost through reduced requirements after delays, saying the minister could not answer during Assembly questions.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: A5 dual carriageway funding at risk during Assembly questions Original release: O'Toole: O'Dowd must be transparent on A5 funding future (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Nurses deserve pay rise - excuses won’t pay the bills
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA criticises the Finance Minister for not clarifying when nurses will receive a cost of living pay rise. He says the Health and Finance Ministers are passing responsibility between them and calls on the Executive to make a decision now.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses cost of living pay rise timing at Stormont Original release: McGrath: Nurses deserve pay rise - excuses won’t pay the bills (opens in a new tab)
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Opportunity for peace shouldn’t be overlooked – Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Middle East conflict must be ended and urges backing the 21-point plan, which he says sets out a route to a ceasefire, hostage and prisoner releases, aid, and a stabilisation force for Gaza. He also flags risks including Hamas's response and…
International affairs Original release: Opportunity for peace shouldn’t be overlooked – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers calls for tougher charges and sentencing guidelines for ramming police vehicles
UUP MLA Alan Chambers, a Policing Board member, calls for new charges and sentencing guidelines for ramming police vehicles, pointing to incidents in Cookstown and Jonesborough and urging the Justice Minister to consider attempted murder-level charges.
Justice and policing Issue: Cookstown and Jonesborough police vehicle ramming incidents Original release: Chambers calls for tougher charges and sentencing guidelines for ramming police vehicles (opens in a new tab)
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DFI must start taking active travel seriously, says McReynolds
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the Department for Infrastructure must take active travel seriously after an Audit Office report found underspend and missed targets. He calls for a detailed timetable of aims and stakeholder involvement.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office active travel report Original release: DFI must start taking active travel seriously, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
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Women and girls living with endometriosis must be supported – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes cross-party Assembly support for a motion backing specialist endometriosis diagnosis and treatment services. She calls on the Health Minister to act urgently and work with Dublin on an all-island approach.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion backing improved endometriosis care Original release: Women and girls living with endometriosis must be supported – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn calls for onsite drug testing at festivals
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls on the Health Minister to extend onsite drug testing at music festivals and concerts to Northern Ireland, ahead of a party motion due for debate on Tuesday. She says the north is the only part of Ireland without such a scheme.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion on onsite drug testing at festivals Original release: Flynn calls for onsite drug testing at festivals (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald challenges Taoiseach’s complete disregard for the Good Friday Agreement on Irish Unity poll
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald accuses Taoiseach Micheál Martin of disregarding the Good Friday Agreement over a border poll, saying he falsely claimed Sinn Féin invented the provision and is trying to cherry-pick it. She calls on him to prepare for referendums on Irish unity.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's comments on border poll provisions in Good Friday Agreement Original release: Mary Lou McDonald challenges Taoiseach’s complete disregard for the Good Friday Agreement on Irish Unity poll (opens in a new tab)
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Sea Border Absurdity
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says a customs declaration required for a GB resident sending chocolate and soap to parents in NI shows the EU is tightening its grip, and calls the Irish Sea border absurd and Union-dismantling. He says TUV will keep pressing these issues.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sea Border Absurdity (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Stuck on Repeat as Unity Dream Falls Flat - Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says Sinn Féin's renewed calls for a referendum timetable on Irish unity would undermine the Belfast Agreement and the principle of consent. He adds that the Irish Constitution's 1998 amendment prohibits such a timetable.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin calls for Irish unity referendum timetable Original release: Sinn Féin Stuck on Repeat as Unity Dream Falls Flat - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Starmer's latest wheeze 'dead on arrival' in House of Lords – Lord Empey
UUP peer Lord Empey says the Prime Minister's digital identity card plan will fail in the Lords, citing unclear majorities and no manifesto mandate. He also argues the scheme would not curb illegal crossings and warns of weak public trust in government data security.
Immigration Issue: Labour plan to introduce digital ID cards Original release: Starmer's latest wheeze 'dead on arrival' in House of Lords – Lord Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MP warns: vital community services at risk due to funding cliff edge
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood, with Alliance MLAs including Sian Mulholland, says 20 community and voluntary groups at a Stormont roundtable face closures and job losses as funding moves to the Local Growth Fund in 2026. She demands a bespoke Northern Ireland funding model.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Roundtable on community sector funding risk from Local Growth Fund transition Original release: Alliance MP warns: vital community services at risk due to funding cliff edge (opens in a new tab)
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Fixing skills gap essential for our young people and economy, says Honeyford
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA says fixing the skills gap is vital for young people and the economy and urges the Economy Minister, ahead of an Alliance motion, to set up a Talent Development Agency that links education, training and industry.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Alliance motion on talent development agency Original release: Fixing skills gap essential for our young people and economy, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald addresses British Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald calls on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hold Irish unity referendums under the Good Friday Agreement by the end of this decade. She also condemns continued arms supply to Israel and the situation in Gaza.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Mary Lou McDonald addresses British Labour Party Conference in Liverpool (opens in a new tab)
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McDonald calls on British and Irish Governments to agree a timeframe for referendum on Irish Unity
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald calls on the British and Irish governments to lead a systematic process on constitutional futures and set out proposals for legal referenda on Irish unity with a negotiated timeframe by the end of the decade, ahead of a Liverpool event.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: McDonald calls on British and Irish Governments to agree a timeframe for referendum on Irish Unity (opens in a new tab)
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Catherine Connolly will be a President who understands the immense opportunity of Irish Unity – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald says presidential candidate Catherine Connolly will bring a working‑class perspective to the presidency, recognising the huge chance Irish unity offers, defending Ireland’s military neutrality, championing human rights and backing Gaza and Palestine.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Building for Unity Conference Original release: Catherine Connolly will be a President who understands the immense opportunity of Irish Unity – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)