Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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14 Years of Waiting, Yet Football Fund Falls Short
TUV chairman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle says the £36.2m football fund award is disappointing, as it matches the 2011 ring-fenced sum without inflation adjustment, and calls for a similar approach to Casement Park. He says Coleraine FC's unsuccessful bid deserves a full explanation.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Football Fund performance programme first cohort of 20 club projects Original release: 14 Years of Waiting, Yet Football Fund Falls Short (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces clubs moving forward under NI Football Fund
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces that 20 club projects will move to the next funding assessment stage of the Football Fund's performance strand, while warning that club demand exceeds the £36.2million budget and promising further funding bids.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Football Fund performance programme first cohort of 20 club projects Original release: Lyons announces clubs moving forward under NI Football Fund (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcomes comments in Grand Central case and challenges DUP approach to Irish going forward
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP welcomes a judge's comments in the Grand Central case, saying the decision required Executive agreement, and calls on the DUP to block Irish language signage there and any Irish Language Commissioner proposal to impose signs.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Grand Central Irish language signage court case comments Original release: TUV welcomes comments in Grand Central case and challenges DUP approach to Irish going forward (opens in a new tab)
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Justice Minister Missing as Law and Order Close to Collapse – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says law and order is close to collapse and blames Justice Minister for under-resourced policing, court backlogs, lenient sentencing and a prisoner on the run. He calls for clear leadership and a response to the Policing Board review.
Justice and policing Original release: Justice Minister Missing as Law and Order Close to Collapse – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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SF dramatic U-turn on Lough Neagh welcome: SDLP
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes Sinn Féin's reversal on the Lough Neagh Action Plan, after its MLAs joined a successful Assembly motion removing a planned Nutrients Action Programme consultation. He calls on the Executive to take meaningful action to restore the lough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Assembly motion on Lough Neagh Nutrients Action Programme consultation Original release: SF dramatic U-turn on Lough Neagh welcome: SDLP (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP selects King as Downpatrick councillor
SDLP confirms Aurla King as its new Downpatrick councillor, succeeding Gareth Sharvin who is standing down after nearly 15 years of service to the area.
Local government Issue: Appointment of Aurla King as Downpatrick councillor Original release: SDLP selects King as Downpatrick councillor (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Executive must deliver on promise of affordable childcare
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Executive and Education Minister to produce a childcare strategy that cuts costs for parents, stabilises providers and builds a sustainable workforce. Her remarks follow a Stormont event on childcare.
Education Economy and employment Issue: A Childcare Strategy for All event at Stormont Original release: McLaughlin: Executive must deliver on promise of affordable childcare (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Toxins in Lough Neagh fish underlines need to act
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone says toxins found in some fish in Lough Neagh show action is urgently needed, warning the Food Standards Agency's safe-to-eat advice must not change. He calls for all Stormont parties to back plans to save the lough and welcomes Sinn Féin's shift after an SDLP…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Toxins found in Lough Neagh fish Original release: McGlone: Toxins in Lough Neagh fish underlines need to act (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte urges bold investment to increase public transport use
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte says new Department for Infrastructure figures show public transport use remains below pre-pandemic levels, and calls for bold investment, safer cycle lanes and a year-round night bus network in Belfast.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland 2024-25 report Original release: Whyte urges bold investment to increase public transport use (opens in a new tab)
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Finn welcomes new Arts Working Group
SDLP Councillor Doire Finn welcomes the creation of a new Arts Working Group at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, which he says gained cross-chamber support and will give artists and cultural groups a stronger voice in council policy.
Local government Issue: Newry, Mourne and Down council Arts Working Group approval Original release: Finn welcomes new Arts Working Group (opens in a new tab)
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O'Hanlon demands urgent clarity on future of Middletown Centre for Autism
SDLP Councillor Thomas O'Hanlon has written to Education Ministers Paul Givan and Helen McEntee seeking urgent answers after staff at the Middletown Centre for Autism were told to work from home indefinitely. He asks whether the Ministers knew in advance and demands assurances that the centre will…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Middletown Centre for Autism staff instructed to work from home Original release: O'Hanlon demands urgent clarity on future of Middletown Centre for Autism (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Police culture must change after further misconduct revelations
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath says repeated cases of officers behaving inappropriately and predatorily show PSNI leadership must acknowledge a cultural problem. He says he will seek assurances from the Chief Constable on tackling that culture, safeguarding victims and holding officers accountable.
Justice and policing Issue: PSNI officer final written warning after Police Ombudsman investigation into relationship with domestic abuse victim Original release: McGrath: Police culture must change after further misconduct revelations (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan slams exclusion of Derry from NI Football Fund
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA slams the exclusion of Brandywell Stadium and Derry City from the first stage of Northern Ireland Football Fund awards. He says he will challenge Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to explain the outcome, and claims clubs raised concerns…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Football Fund performance programme first cohort of 20 club projects Original release: Durkan slams exclusion of Derry from NI Football Fund (opens in a new tab)
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Murder of Charlie Kirk
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP mourns the murder of Charlie Kirk and offers thoughts to his family. He says media use of terms like 'right-wing extremist' has been uneven and calls for all political violence to be condemned without bias.
Justice and policing Issue: Murder of Charlie Kirk Original release: Murder of Charlie Kirk (opens in a new tab)
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Committee endorses substantial Sinn Féin amendments to Broadcasting Bill Report – Joanna Byrne TD and Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Joanna Byrne TD welcomes Committee agreement to substantial Sinn Féin amendments to the draft report on the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill, including an AV content levy and Irish-language and artist supports, while saying Government TDs rejected proposals on bogus…
Economy and employment Issue: Oireachtas Arts Committee report on Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill Heads of Bill Original release: Committee endorses substantial Sinn Féin amendments to Broadcasting Bill Report – Joanna Byrne TD and Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood comments underscore leadership problem
DUP MLA Gary Middleton says SDLP MP Colum Eastwood's radio comments on a Derry jobs fair, which opposed Ministry of Defence involvement, showed a lack of leadership and a casual acceptance of threats of violence. He says Eastwood should answer whether terrorists should have a veto over events.
Justice and policing Issue: Londonderry jobs fair with Armed Forces participation opposition Original release: Eastwood comments underscore leadership problem (opens in a new tab)
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World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the public to respond to the consultation on her proposed Suicide Prevention Training Bill, which would require public bodies to train frontline staff in suicide prevention. The consultation closes on 17 September 2025.
Health Issue: Suicide Prevention Training Bill public consultation Original release: World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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‘Starmer welcoming Israeli president highlights his moral bankruptcy’ – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard criticises Keir Starmer for welcoming Israeli president Isaac Herzog to Downing Street and calls on the British government to impose sanctions on Israel and demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
International affairs Issue: Israeli president Isaac Herzog's visit to Downing Street Original release: ‘Starmer welcoming Israeli president highlights his moral bankruptcy’ – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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This Is only the Beginning: Education Minister updates the Assembly…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan hailed early progress on TransformED, his education reform strategy launched in March 2025, in an Assembly update listing initiatives such as a £31million Teacher Professional Learning Fund, a CPD Academy and curriculum reviews, with further reforms…
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School inspections are fundamental for safeguarding young people, but scrutiny is required – Burrows
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA says the party supports the Education Minister's bill strengthening legal protection for school inspections in principle, but will scrutinise it at committee stage to protect industrial rights outside inspection periods.
Education Issue: Education Minister's proposals restricting teacher union activity Original release: School inspections are fundamental for safeguarding young people, but scrutiny is required – Burrows (opens in a new tab)