Latest releases
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76 releases
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Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its Job
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes any UK Budget support for Northern Ireland households facing rising energy and bill costs, but says the Executive must agree its own Budget and move away from short-term crisis management. She calls for recognition of home heating oil users and rural communities.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its JobArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole calls for firm delivery commitments on the Belfast transport plan, saying it is long on aspiration but short on commitments.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitmentsArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Chief Constable’s clarification changes a word, not the substance: PIRA’s stance should not shape policing
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP says the Chief Constable's clarification on the Provisional IRA's 'stance' does not change the substance, asking why its position was relevant to policing Drumcree and what weight it was given. He calls on the DUP to explain how it can sustain Sinn Fein in government.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Drumcree policing assessment controversy Original release: Chief Constable’s clarification changes a word, not the substance: PIRA’s stance should not shape policingArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the Chancellor to use the 2026 Budget to fund extra Home Heating Oil Support, an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit and extend Rural Fuel Duty Relief, and to pledge a ten‑year partnership investing in infrastructure, housing and skills to build a stronger
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget request for household support and infrastructure investment Original release: Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's futureArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Equal citizenship is non-negotiable – Allister
TUV leader Jim Allister says equal citizenship is non‑negotiable and urges a centre‑right Reform Government to scrap the Windsor Framework, restore UK sovereignty and complete Brexit, warning Labour’s ‘Reset’ would reverse Brexit and bind the UK to EU law.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Labour Party Brexit reversal plan announcement Original release: Equal citizenship is non-negotiable – AllisterArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Hargey calls on unionist leaders to condemn discovery of weapons linked to far-right extremists
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls on unionist political leaders to unequivocally condemn the discovery of pipe bombs, Tasers and detonators in the Shankill area linked to far-right extremists. She says she will raise the find with the Chief Constable at the Policing Board and asks what the…
Justice and policing Issue: Shankill area explosives and weapons discovery linked to far-right extremists Original release: Hargey calls on unionist leaders to condemn discovery of weapons linked to far-right extremists
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Taoiseach recognition on unity a welcome shift that must be followed by concrete action – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Irish government to turn the Taoiseach’s announcement on constitutional change into concrete action, urging an all‑island Citizens’ Assembly to plan for Irish unity, covering public services, jobs, pensions, citizens’ rights and protecting all identities,
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach recognition of constitutional change on Irish unity Original release: Taoiseach recognition on unity a welcome shift that must be followed by concrete action – Kearney
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Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes UK-EU decisions confirmed ahead of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 10 November, under which 'not at risk' parcels moving to Northern Ireland consumers would avoid new EU handling fees. He says uncertainty remains over how the EU AI Act applies under the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
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Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
The party welcomes a proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but criticises EU customs rules and AI Act application in Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
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Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong calls for investment in rural fire services after farm fire costs rose 73% in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025 statistics release Original release: Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UKArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Burrows rejects call for dissident deal as PSNI marks 25 years
The party Leader Jon Burrows MLA rejects a call for a deal with dissident republicans, paying tribute to the PSNI on its 25th anniversary.
Justice and policing Issue: PSNI 25th anniversary Original release: Burrows rejects call for dissident deal as PSNI marks 25 yearsArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Sinn Féin to target three Assembly seats in North Belfast
Sinn Féin announces its three candidates for the next Assembly election in North Belfast: MLAs Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín, and councillor Maighréad Ní Chonghaile. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald says the party aims to win all three seats in the May election.
Other Original release: Sinn Féin to target three Assembly seats in North Belfast
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Burrows: ‘I’ll take no lectures from Sinn Féin on democracy, on equality or on the past’
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says he will not accept Sinn Féin’s accusations of supremacism, rejects their right to lecture on democracy, equality or the past, and criticises their government record after North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan’s scripted attack in the Assembly.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Philip McGuigan's Assembly speech accusing Jon Burrows MLA of supremacist attitude Original release: Burrows: ‘I’ll take no lectures from Sinn Féin on democracy, on equality or on the past’
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Pressure must stay on the Southern Trust and the Health Minister to save Daisy Hill maternity services – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes calls for the Southern Trust and Health Minister to reinstate Daisy Hill maternity services after the Trust's decision to approve temporary relocation.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: Pressure must stay on the Southern Trust and the Health Minister to save Daisy Hill maternity services – Hughes
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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to ensure Relationships and Sex Education is age‑appropriate, evidence‑based and tailored to young people’s development, after yesterday’s Assembly debate.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
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Draft agreement between EU and British government ‘further evidence of failed Brexit project’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes a draft agreement between the EU and the British government on food and plant products, calling it further evidence that Brexit was a failed political project. She says she met the British Cabinet Office Windsor Framework team about the announcement.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Draft agreement between EU and British government ‘further evidence of failed Brexit project’ – Ferguson
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Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken welcomes the draft UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on food checks, but warns that Northern Ireland will stay split from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade divergence.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Paul Givan’s TransformED is steering education the wrong way, warning it would increase high‑stakes exams, cut coursework, narrow the curriculum and add pressure on teachers while ignoring academic selection, and urges the Minister to listen to ‑
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
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Belfast to bid for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Belfast City Council’s decision to launch a bid to bring the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to Belfast in 2028, praising the 2023 event’s impact and urging everyone to support the bid for another historic year.
Local government Issue: Belfast City Council bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 Original release: Belfast to bid for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 – Maskey
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Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services
Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million funding for endometriosis services across Northern Ireland, including £250,000 for the Northern Trust and a new Regional Endometriosis Pathway. She hopes it brings shorter waiting times and better diagnosis.
Health Disability and equality Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services