Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Public finance and taxation: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
4,532 releases
-
Nesbitt calls for Stormont departments to renew their match funding for employability schemes
UUP Economy spokesperson Mike Nesbitt MLA backs calls for Stormont departments to immediately renew match funding for employability schemes previously linked to the European Social Fund. He says departments have ignored requests, including one for a senior Civil Service meeting, and warns…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: Nesbitt calls for Stormont departments to renew their match funding for employability schemes (opens in a new tab)
-
Fare increases regrettable and a step backwards as consequence of underinvestment in public transport, says Muir
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA says planned Translink fare rises of around 7% from 6 March will deter public transport use and hit struggling households, calling for a more sustainable funding model for bus and rail.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Bus and train fare increase during cost-of-living crisis Original release: Fare increases regrettable and a step backwards as consequence of underinvestment in public transport, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson and Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says a 7% Translink fares increase, directed by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, will hit families struggling with the cost of living. He calls for sustainable transport to be made more accessible rather than costlier.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Translink 7% fares increase directed by Secretary of State Original release: Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off (opens in a new tab)
-
Energy companies must be charged more over their extortionate profits – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy calls for a higher windfall tax on energy giants including BP, whose profits he says doubled to £23 billion in the last year, and urges the British government to tax these firms more and invest in public services.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: BP profits doubling to £23 billion windfall tax call Original release: Energy companies must be charged more over their extortionate profits – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP Group propose alterative rate in Mid Ulster District Council
DUP group leader Cllr Paul McLean says the party proposed a lower alternative district rate rise of 4.9% for Mid Ulster Council, protecting front-line services. He claims the Sinn Féin and SDLP proposal of a 7.3% rise would close rural recycling centres, introduce Cookstown parking charges and…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Mid Ulster District Council rates meeting and alternative rate proposals Original release: DUP Group propose alterative rate in Mid Ulster District Council (opens in a new tab)
-
Bradshaw marks Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and calls for restoration of the Executive so that vital action can be taken
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw backs this week's awareness campaign and says she has tabled an Assembly motion on infant mental health, urging support for the Mental Health Strategy and its infant-focused action. She blames the DUP's boycott for blocking action and calls for the…
-
It’s time to take notice of the unsustainable way NI is financed
DUP MP Gavin Robinson warns that public service spending for Northern Ireland will fall by about £2,000 per household in real terms over three years, calling for debate on how Northern Ireland is financed. He cites the PSNI shortfall, the Barnett formula and the Fiscal Council.
Public finance and taxation Justice and policing Issue: Northern Ireland public spending cuts and PSNI funding shortfall Original release: It’s time to take notice of the unsustainable way NI is financed (opens in a new tab)
-
Ennis slams invasive use of counselling records in sexual assault trials
Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ennis says the practice of introducing survivors’ counselling notes as evidence in sexual‑assault prosecutions is unacceptable, breaches privacy and could discourage victims from seeking help or reporting crimes.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Counselling records used in sexual assault trials Original release: Ennis slams invasive use of counselling records in sexual assault trials (opens in a new tab)
-
British government needs to fulfil its commitment to replace lost EU funding in full – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald calls on the British government to fully replace lost EU funding, warning that delays to the Shared Prosperity Fund leave ESF-backed local projects facing closure by March. She urges local departments to extend existing funding pro-rata for a year and asks for an…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Delays to Shared Prosperity Fund leaving ESF-funded projects at risk Original release: British government needs to fulfil its commitment to replace lost EU funding in full – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
-
‘No time to waste on forming Executive to deliver for people’ – Michelle O’Neill after Tánaiste meeting
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Leas-Uachtarán, urges the DUP to return to the Executive table and form an Executive quickly, after meeting Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Belfast. She says the DUP's block is hurting public services, energy costs and Dáithí's Law on organ donation.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Michelle O'Neill and Tánaiste Micheál Martin Belfast meeting on Executive formation Original release: ‘No time to waste on forming Executive to deliver for people’ – Michelle O’Neill after Tánaiste meeting (opens in a new tab)
-
Irish translation service costing over £100,000 while Assembly doesn’t sit
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Irish-English interpretation service introduced after a June 2021 Assembly vote has cost the public purse £117,075.41, including agency staff costs, while the Assembly is not sitting. He calls the spending scandalous.
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish/English interpretation service cost figures from Assembly Commission Original release: Irish translation service costing over £100,000 while Assembly doesn’t sit (opens in a new tab)
-
Bradshaw marks World Cancer Day and calls for consistent five-year cancer strategies for NI
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw calls for consistent five-year cancer strategies in Northern Ireland, pointing to Denmark and England as comparators and saying NI has lagged on survival rates since 1995 ahead of World Cancer Day.
-
British government needs to support homeowners struggling with rising mortgage repayments – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald calls on the British government to provide targeted support for homeowners whose mortgage interest rates have risen, after the Bank of England's latest rate increase. She also urges financial institutions to be flexible with borrowers and says she has written to the…
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Bank of England interest rate rise and mortgage repayment support Original release: British government needs to support homeowners struggling with rising mortgage repayments – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
-
Energy companies should pay their fair share – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane calls on the UK government to introduce another windfall tax on energy companies after Shell announced £32 billion in profits, redirecting the revenue to struggling households. He says he will write to the Chancellor.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Shell announces £32 billion profits windfall tax call Original release: Energy companies should pay their fair share – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
-
Record Shell profits on back of trapped customers
DUP MP Carla Lockhart and Economy spokesman Jonathan Buckley say Shell's record annual profits show the Government should drop planned fuel duty rises and raise levies on energy firms. They also cite rising energy bills facing small businesses and households.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Shell announces £32 billion profits windfall tax call Original release: Record Shell profits on back of trapped customers (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA, marking World Wetlands Day, says action is needed now to protect and rebuild NI's wetland ecosystems. He welcomes progress on peatland restoration but says the region trails other jurisdictions and is badly underfunded.
Environment and climate Original release: Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says a meeting with Northern Ireland Office officials on Relationship and Sexuality Education was positive and urges the Secretary of State to implement CEDAW-based RSE as a priority. She cites a Belfast Youth Forum study finding 73% of young people…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Office meeting on Relationship and Sexuality Education Original release: Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
Lord Dodds issues warning over medicines supply to Northern Ireland
The DUP's Lord Dodds warns the Government to act on medicine supply to Northern Ireland, citing a year-end cliff edge that could see vital medicines withdrawn. He calls for medicines to be removed from the Protocol, arguing that EU rules and checks cause the problem.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords sub-committee evidence on Protocol impact on medicine supply Original release: Lord Dodds issues warning over medicines supply to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
-
Wilson – “motorists need a break not a tax hike”
DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson warns that Treasury indications of a fuel duty rise would hit Northern Ireland motorists, especially rural families who rely on cars. He says the party will press the Chancellor to rule out any increase and give motorists a break.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Treasury indications of a fuel duty increase Original release: Wilson – “motorists need a break not a tax hike” (opens in a new tab)
-
‘We will not give up on implementation of life-saving Dáithí’s Law’ – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly calls for Dáithí's Law to be implemented quickly, saying it will save lives, and criticises the British Secretary of State for not committing to legislate to make it fully operational.
Health Issue: Dáithí's Law implementation delay and Secretary of State legislation Original release: ‘We will not give up on implementation of life-saving Dáithí’s Law’ – Reilly (opens in a new tab)