Latest releases
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3,373 releases
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Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a 17% year-on-year rise in new social home starts in 2025/26, to 1,765, credited to a £210 million building programme and the largest-ever Social Housing Development Programme investment. He says more work remains and points to reviews of grant rates…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Social home starts rise 17% in 2025/26 Original release: Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin and DUP allergic to scrutiny, says Tennyson, after they block amendment to look at cost of division
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the DUP of being unwilling to face scrutiny after they voted down an amendment requiring the Fiscal Council to assess the cost of duplicated and segregated services. He says Alliance will keep pressing for transparency and a debate on…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Fiscal Council Bill amendment on cost of division voted down Original release: Sinn Féin and DUP allergic to scrutiny, says Tennyson, after they block amendment to look at cost of division (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín praises fire service after Carrick Hill fire
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín praises emergency services and the local community after a fire forced residents out of an apartment block in Carrick Hill, North Belfast. She says she will contact Choice Housing to secure alternative accommodation for residents whose homes are unfit to live in.
Housing Issue: Carrick Hill apartment block fire evacuation Original release: Ní Chuilín praises fire service after Carrick Hill fire (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin will not accept DUP’s efforts to attack and undermine Irish identity – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, demands that Communities Minister Gordon Lyons appear before MLAs over his decision on funding for the Place-Name Project, which he calls a disgrace. He says Sinn Féin will work to ensure the project continues.
Disability and equality Issue: Place-Name Project funding decision by Communities Minister Original release: Sinn Féin will not accept DUP’s efforts to attack and undermine Irish identity – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says his Voting Rights in Presidential Elections Bill, which passed second stage, would let Irish citizens across the island vote in presidential elections, enfranchising around one million people, with the change taking effect at the next election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise
TUV's Lord Dodds and Jim Allister KC MP say the Independent Monitoring Panel failed to explain why it measured goods value rather than freight movements in assessing the Internal Market Guarantee. They demand revised figures on the UK Internal Market System share of GB-NI freight, saying the 96%…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Independent Monitoring Panel first Internal Market Guarantee report on freight Original release: Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise (opens in a new tab)
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TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he is dismayed by the low number of Protestant-background legal staff in the PPS, citing figures showing 46 Protestant and 105 Catholic legal staff, and criticises the Justice Minister for not pursuing the issue.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PPS legal staff community background figures Original release: TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe backs extending the presidential vote to Irish citizens abroad and in the North, regardless of residence, and says a Peadar Tóibín bill debated in the Dáil is a narrower but important first step.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)
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There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan
SF MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes progress on a perinatal mental health unit for mothers and babies in Belfast following a Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announcement. He says interim support has not been agreed and urges the minister to avoid further delays, secure…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's announcement that he will introduce Jade's Law, which would automatically suspend parental responsibility for a parent convicted of killing the other parent. She also points to Sinn Féin TDs backing Valerie's Law in the south.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister announces introduction of Jade's Law Original release: Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP says she has written to the UK Prime Minister and Taoiseach urging them to start formal cross-party talks on Stormont institutional reform, aiming to agree a focused package before the May 2027 Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Original release: SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the passage of Northern Ireland’s inaugural Sign Language Bill is a historic day for Deaf people, welcoming the new law that recognises British and Irish Sign Language and imposes duties on public bodies to improve accessibility.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly’s passage of the Sign Language Bill, saying it gives legal recognition to Irish and British Sign Language and places a duty on bodies to provide accessible services for deaf and deaf‑blind people.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan call on the Irish government to use its EU Presidency to advance unity, peace and social justice, including starting EU-level discussions on Irish reunification and representation for the North. Boylan also urges calls for suspension of the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency Original release: Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns a Housing Executive eviction in west Belfast, where masked men carried out the removal of a family under PSNI presence. He says the Housing Executive's succession policy has left families homeless after bereavements and blames Stormont for not…
Housing Issue: West Belfast Housing Executive succession eviction of family Original release: Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction (opens in a new tab)
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DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation
DUP MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Forsythe welcome a motion passed by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council calling for a local planning policy on HMOs to tackle their concentration, particularly in Portadown.
Housing Local government Issue: Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council HMO proliferation motion Original release: DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation (opens in a new tab)
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2026 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis motions demonstrate commitment to tackling gender violence in communities across Ireland – Máire Devine TD
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: 2026 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis motions demonstrate commitment to tackling gender violence in communities across Ireland – Máire Devine TD (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Historic day for the Deaf Community as Sign Language Bill passes
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the passage of the Sign Language Bill, which provides free sign language classes for children and families and recognises British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language. He pays tribute to campaigners.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Durkan: Historic day for the Deaf Community as Sign Language Bill passes (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes Final Stage passage of Sign Language Bill
Ulster Unionist Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA welcomes the bill’s passage through the Assembly’s final stage, noting it will now proceed to Royal Assent and urging that its duties on British and Irish Sign Language be fully resourced and implemented.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Allen welcomes Final Stage passage of Sign Language Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Independent Autism Reviewer report will play key role in informing policy to improve the lives of those with Autism – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the Independent Autism Reviewer's initial findings will help shape policy to improve services for autistic people, and says the report exposes a gap between policy and reality. He calls for the Assembly and Health Committee to keep scrutinising delivery and press…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: Independent Autism Reviewer report will play key role in informing policy to improve the lives of those with Autism – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)