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3,450 releases
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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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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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Blocking of RTÉ content in North ‘unacceptable and must be brought to an end’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Economy Minister's engagement with the Irish and British governments on geoblocking, arguing that restricted access to RTÉ content in the North must end and urging Dublin to press London, regulators and internet providers.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Geoblocking of RTÉ content in Northern Ireland Original release: Blocking of RTÉ content in North ‘unacceptable and must be brought to an end’ – Kearney (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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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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The time to plan and prepare for unity is now – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says recent election results in Wales, Scotland and England show growing demand for constitutional change and urges preparation for Irish unity. He calls on the Irish Government to set up a citizens' forum, draft a consultation paper on constitutional change and work…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Results of recent British elections in Wales, Scotland and England Original release: The time to plan and prepare for unity is now – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald’s claims an attempt to distract from Sinn Fein failure
DUP MLA Paul Frew dismisses Sinn Fein's Caoimhe Archibald's claims about a united Ireland as a distraction from Sinn Fein's record, citing ministerial performance on roads, jobs and the First Minister's absences.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Archibald’s claims an attempt to distract from Sinn Fein failure (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: New Ireland the only guaranteed way back into EU for NI
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says a New Ireland is the only guaranteed route for Northern Ireland back into the EU, ahead of a party motion on the issue after Reform's gains in British local elections.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motion on New Ireland and EU membership Original release: O'Toole: New Ireland the only guaranteed way back into EU for NI (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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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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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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TUV responds to King’s Speech
TUV leader Jim Allister, speaking from Westminster, says the King's Speech was surreal given the government's position, claims the PM's plans would bring the UK closer to the EU, and says the speech offered nothing new to restore confidence in the government.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: King's Speech 2026 reaction from Westminster Original release: TUV responds to King’s Speech (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)
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Delargy welcomes closure of botched RHI scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the closure of the RHI scheme announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald, saying it should be followed by learning from past failings. He blames the scheme's design under a DUP minister for incentivising burning of public money, and says future renewable…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: RHI scheme closure announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Original release: Delargy welcomes closure of botched RHI scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes RHI Closure as first step toward Northern Ireland's clean energy future
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the Assembly's final passage of the RHI non-domestic closure bill, calling it a first step. She urges a credible renewable energy framework covering grid capacity, offshore wind and long-term planning, and says the Renewable Energy Price…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: RHI scheme closure announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Original release: Armstrong welcomes RHI Closure as first step toward Northern Ireland's clean energy future (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes additional funding to reinforce road safety messages
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes an extra £220,000 announced by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to relaunch three road safety awareness campaigns, citing recent road deaths and calling on everyone to help make roads safer.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister Kimmins announces £220,000 road safety campaign relaunch funding Original release: Boylan welcomes additional funding to reinforce road safety messages (opens in a new tab)
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Backing Belfast City Airport Master Plan will deliver jobs and growth…
DUP MLAs Phillip Brett, Diane Forsythe and Jonathan Buckley table a motion in the Assembly backing the George Best Belfast City Airport Master Plan 2040, saying it will create jobs, double the workforce, add a £1.7 billion boost to the economy and improve connectivity with a direct rail link.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: George Best Belfast City Airport Master Plan 2040 Original release: Backing Belfast City Airport Master Plan will deliver jobs and growth… (opens in a new tab)
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Starmer in hopeless denial
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP says Keir Starmer is deluded to think closer alignment with the EU is the answer, arguing it would impose foreign laws on the whole UK and cost large financial contributions. He says Brexit was a democratic instruction Starmer has always wanted to defy.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Starmer in hopeless denial (opens in a new tab)