Latest releases
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74 releases
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of an Assembly debate on the Education Committee's RSE report, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental withdrawal rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected in future reforms.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
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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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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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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Paul Givan’s TransformED plan steers education the wrong way, increasing high‑stakes exams, cutting coursework and narrowing the curriculum while adding pressure on teachers and ignoring academic selection, and calls on 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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TUV welcomes Carla Lockhart move
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister congratulates MP Carla Lockhart for following her conscience and leaving the DUP, saying her move will rejuvenate unionism, boost anti‑Protocol work and enable closer collaboration across issues.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Carla Lockhart leaves the DUP Original release: TUV welcomes Carla Lockhart move
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Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
Ulster Unionist Party Health Minister Robbie Butler announces £1.95m investment in endometriosis services to improve access and reduce waiting times.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
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Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the Education Minister is placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers through the TransformED reforms, ahead of an Assembly motion on the day raising concerns from teachers, principals and parents.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
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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, calling the move a threat to the independence of the prosecution service and to accountability for state forces, and pledges to stand by
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 the slogan ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ cannot be cloaked in unionist unity, criticising the DUP’s alignment with Carla Lockhart on Drumcree and warning that unity should not support Sinn Fein or the Protocol. He calls for genuine unity that advances unionist principles.
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 says the DUP will continue to obstruct progress while taking their wages, citing their record on blocking rights and policies.
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 putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland says the DUP’s attempt to block the Executive from joining a UK‑wide Economic Forum is a cynical stunt that harms families, public‑sector workers and the economy, and calls for an agreed budget and fair pay.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson
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DUP’s sham response beyond pathetic
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister says the DUP’s response today was a sham and pathetic, criticising its refusal to appear jointly with First Minister O’Neill and accusing the party of clinging to office rather than principle, while praising MP Carla Lockhart’s stance.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: DUP’s sham response beyond pathetic
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You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty
The party Leader Jon Burrows criticises DUP's decision to exclude Northern Ireland from an economic forum, saying it punishes Northern Ireland and undermines the Union. He suggests Health Minister Robbie Butler should 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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Wilson responds to Budget
The party's finance spokesperson, Wilson, comments on the Budget. Wilson responds to the Budget.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Wilson responds to Budget
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Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong criticises Labour's Family Farm Tax and red diesel changes. She says these policies are causing stress and financial difficulties for farmers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Labour's Family Farm Tax implementation and red diesel duty changes Original release: Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
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Swann responds to Budget
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes £7.5 m for cyber/AI research and £1 m for an investment summit in the new UK Budget, but says the overall settlement – £270 m via the Barnett formula and the rise in Air Passenger Duty – falls far short of stabilising public services, supporting local industry and giving
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Swann responds to Budget
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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 and Council elections give voters a chance to demand better from Stormont, end deadlock and budget failure, and move Northern Ireland beyond a cycle of political crises.
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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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
Ulster Unionist Party's Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's decision to lift the ban on Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service.
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
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UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood
Alliance Party spokesperson Eastwood says the UK Budget proceeding without a Northern Ireland budget is a shameful indictment, urging a budget of ambition with practical measures to make life affordable, tackle business costs and boost growth.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Budget without NI Budget Original release: UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood
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Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Ulster Unionist Party's Jay Basra calls on Queen's University Belfast to explain its ban on Orange collarettes at Remembrance Sunday services.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban