Latest releases
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62 releases
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Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
Alliance councillor Murray says a call-in found serious concerns over transparency and fairness in Belfast City Council's £339,242 discretionary funding redirection, which DUP and Sinn Féin backed with UUP and SDLP support. He claims legal opinion validated Alliance's concerns about procedures and…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast City Council discretionary funding allocation call-in Original release: Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
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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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TUV welcomes Carla Lockhart move
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes Carla Lockhart MP's move away from the DUP, saying she followed her conscience, and says he looks forward to working with her on unionist issues. He claims the DUP's stance on Michelle O'Neill caused the split and is eroding its electoral base.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Carla Lockhart leaves the DUP Original release: TUV welcomes Carla Lockhart move
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Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says the British government must drop proposals to give the British Attorney General final authority over conflict‑related prosecutions, arguing it would undermine the independent prosecution service established after the Good Friday Agreement and place state forces beyond
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: British government proposals to give Attorney General final say on conflict-related prosecutions Original release: Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane
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Unionist Unity and ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ don’t go together
TUV leader Jim Allister says talk of unionist unity is not substantive while the DUP keeps Sinn Féin in power and implements the Protocol, and calls for the DUP to show unity with Carla Lockhart MP over Drumcree.
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP's unionist unity message with Sinn Fein Original release: Unionist Unity and ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ don’t go together
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Carroll: DUP Will Pocket the Wage and Wreck the Work
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll responds to a DUP statement on its continued engagement in the Executive, saying the party will keep ministerial salaries while using the Petition of Concern to obstruct Assembly business. He cites the age of criminal responsibility, the Good Jobs Bill and…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Stormont brake request on MLA wages and ministerial cars Original release: Carroll: DUP Will Pocket the Wage and Wreck the Work
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DUP’s sham response beyond pathetic
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister says the DUP’s response to First Minister Michelle O’Neill was a sham, calling it pathetic, pointless and lacking principle, and contrasts it with Carla Lockhart MP’s principled stance on what must be done.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: DUP’s sham response beyond pathetic
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Council’s Armed Forces jobs fair ban is insulting and ridiculous
TUV West Tyrone Assembly candidate Stevan Patterson says Derry City and Strabane District Council’s decision to withdraw from any future jobs fairs involving the UK Armed Forces is ridiculous and insulting, calling the ban regressive and urging the council to allow the fair, citing recent bomb‑dis‑p
Local government Economy and employment Issue: Derry City and Strabane District Council Armed Forces jobs fair ban Original release: Council’s Armed Forces jobs fair ban is insulting and ridiculous
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You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty
Ul Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows says the DUP's choice to exclude Northern Ireland from tomorrow's Glasgow Economic Forum harms NI's economy and the Union, urging another executive minister— such as Health Minister Robbie Butler—to attend instead.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP's decision to exclude Northern Ireland from Economic Forum in Glasgow Original release: You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty
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Assembly election an opportunity to break the cycle of crises, says Tennyson, following re-selection
Alliance MLA Tennyson says the upcoming Assembly election offers voters a chance to demand better from Stormont and break the cycle of political crises, urging a shift away from deadlock, division and budget failures.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont deadlock and public services disarray Original release: Assembly election an opportunity to break the cycle of crises, says Tennyson, following re-selection
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Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
UUP peer Lord Empey says the recent Drumcree stand‑off has back‑fired on republicans, accusing Gerry Adams of strategic interference and Michelle O’Neill of unlawful action, and warns that sectarian attacks and rising immigration undermine a united Ireland vision.
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Garvaghy Road residents' protest against Orange Order march Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
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SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
The SDLP backs a bid for a third year of the Fleadh Cheoil in Belfast, saying the festival showcased the city’s culture, attracted 1.6 million visitors and delivered strong economic, social and civic benefits, and welcomes the council’s move to develop a strong bid.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
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Harkin: FinTrU Redundancy Process Must be Restarted
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls for the redundancy process at FinTrU in Derry to be restarted, backing the Financial Services Union's demand and requesting a meeting with management. He says Derry staff are treated differently from Belfast workers and claims public money is funding…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: FinTrU proposed redundancies at Derry site Original release: Harkin: FinTrU Redundancy Process Must be Restarted
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McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP Councillor Catherine McDaid criticised the Education Authority's advice that pupils should “ wear more clothes” in D Derry schools, arguing it reflects cut budgets and inadequate heating rather than protecting children and staff, and she urged action on heating and repairs.
Education Local government Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
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SDLP selects Malachy Quinn as Assembly Candidate for Mid Ulster
The SDLP selects Councillor Malachy Quinn as its Mid Ulster candidate for the 2027 Assembly election, noting his work on Caoimhé’s Law, school‑bus safety legislation and an All‑Island Animal Cruelty Register.
Other Local government Original release: SDLP selects Malachy Quinn as Assembly Candidate for Mid Ulster
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Allister: West Tyrone Can Vote for Strength, Not Weakness
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says High Court revelations show the PIRA continues to exist and influenced policing of Drumcree, and calls on the DUP to resign Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy First Minister, urging West Tyrone voters to back TUV candidate Stevan Patterson at next year's election.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Portadown policing controversy Original release: Allister: West Tyrone Can Vote for Strength, Not Weakness
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Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds
Alliance MLA McReynolds says the planning system is holding back economic growth, citing June 2026 figures showing over 30% of live applications were over a year old and only three councils met statutory timeframes. She calls for a comprehensive reform programme with mandatory timeframes and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Planning system statistics and business concerns Original release: Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds
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Robinson welcomes Secretary of State’s openness to ministerial…
The party's leader, Robinson, welcomes the Secretary of State's openness to ministerial roles.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State's openness to ministerial roles Original release: Robinson welcomes Secretary of State’s openness to ministerial…
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Green Party call for independent mediation as Drumcree "fails" the people of Garvaghy Road
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica says the Drumcree stalemate is a failure of politics and process, and calls for independent international mediation to address the Garvaghy Road dispute and establish a human‑rights‑based peace mechanism.
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Drumcree dispute Original release: Green Party call for independent mediation as Drumcree "fails" the people of Garvaghy Road
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for a dumped car in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, including whether a battery is leaching into the water. They criticise Alliance and the UUP over years of inaction and urge…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On