Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Social security and welfare: remove filter
3,495 releases
-
Hanna welcomes Taoiseach’s New Ireland Commitment
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the Taoiseach’s New Ireland commitment, calling it a significant step forward and saying the SDLP will partner with the Irish Government to move from ambition to concrete preparation, including a call for a dedicated minister.
Constitutional affairs Issue: British Prime Minister and Taoiseach commitment on cross-border employment issues Original release: Hanna welcomes Taoiseach’s New Ireland Commitment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: People Deserve a Future Beyond Political Petulance
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls the DUP's latest stunt petulant and says health, schools and other public services are suffering while the parties remain without a budget deal at Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Original release: O’Toole: People Deserve a Future Beyond Political Petulance (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Belfast section of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 is long on aspiration and short on firm delivery commitments, questioning how the north-south Glider will be funded without an agreed budget. He also raises concerns about cuts to cycling…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP writes to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, urging targeted help for households facing high energy and bills, including extra money for the home heating oil scheme and an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit. She also proposes a ten-year investment partnership on…
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 future (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Equal citizenship is non-negotiable – Allister
TUV leader Jim Allister, speaking at Oxford University, warns that Labour's Reset would make the whole UK a rule-taker of EU laws and calls for a centre-right government. He says a Reform Government would need to rip up the Windsor Framework to restore UK sovereignty and equal citizenship.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Labour Party Brexit reversal plan announcement Original release: Equal citizenship is non-negotiable – Allister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Those who breach their pledge must face consequences - Robinson
DUP Leader Rt. Hon. Gavin Robinson MP calls on the Government to amend the Northern Ireland Act so that ministers who breach their Pledge of Office face enforceable sanctions, saying political stability depends on accountability for failures to support police, courts and the rule of law.
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Amendment of Northern Ireland Act for ministerial accountability Original release: Those who breach their pledge must face consequences - Robinson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP to Trigger Stormont Brake Over New EU Customs Rules
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley says the party will seek to activate the Stormont Brake against new EU customs rules, which he claims would add red tape, costs and delays for trade with Great Britain. He urges MLAs to back a DUP petition asking the Speaker to object to the legislation.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Stormont brake request on EU customs regulations Original release: DUP to Trigger Stormont Brake Over New EU Customs Rules (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Taoiseach recognition on unity a welcome shift that must be followed by concrete action – Kearney
SF MLA Declan Kearney urges the Irish government to turn the Taoiseach's stated involvement in discussions on Irish unity into concrete planning, and calls for an inclusive all-island Citizens' Assembly covering economic, welfare and rights implications.
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes confirmed arrangements exempting "not at risk" consumer parcels entering Northern Ireland under Windsor Framework schemes from new EU handling fees, ahead of the Joint Committee meeting. He flags unresolved questions over how EU artificial intelligence rules would…
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but says it leaves customs and tariffs in Northern Ireland. He criticises Whitehall for ignoring the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and calls for the Stormont Brake to be applied, and says applying parts of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Proposed UK-EU SPS agreement and Union Customs Code parcel handling fee Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
Alliance Belfast Councillor Michael Long welcomes Belfast City Council's endorsement of an Alliance proposal to have council officers meet the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee before next year's Fleadh. The move follows disability groups' concerns about this year's event.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fleadh 2026 accessibility concerns and proposals Original release: Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
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 UK (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!
Aontú calls on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's sub-committee to halt and reject the proposed sale of public land for a data centre expansion at the Coleraine campus. It argues the project lacks an updated Local Development Plan and demands transparency, public consultation and full…
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Coleraine data centre expansion proposal Original release: CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA expresses concern at Trussell figures showing 21% of people in Northern Ireland reported their household ran out of food in the last year, and calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward an funded Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont poverty statistics release Original release: Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Beyond constant crisis
SDLP calls for a continuing, staged programme of democratic reform, starting with immediate legislative changes, then a structured review of further reforms in the next mandate and a longer-term debate on power-sharing, citing the Budget impasse and falling trust.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Beyond constant crisis (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Draft agreement between EU and British government ‘further evidence of failed Brexit project’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes a draft EU-UK agreement on food and plant products, calling it further evidence that Brexit failed economically, socially and politically. She says she met the British Cabinet Office Windsor Framework team and that Sinn Féin will focus on reducing trade…
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
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 separated from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade disruption.
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV welcomes Carla Lockhart move
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes Carla Lockhart MP's decision to leave the DUP, saying she followed her conscience. He claims the DUP chose Michelle O'Neill over Lockhart due to its 'O'Neill Must Stay' preference, and looks forward to working with her on unionist issues.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Carla Lockhart leaves the DUP Original release: TUV welcomes Carla Lockhart move (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane calls on the British government to drop proposals giving the British Attorney General decisive authority over conflict-related prosecutions, after former DPP Barra McGrory warned of a two-tier justice system. Finucane also urges the Irish government to oppose the plans.
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Unionist Unity and ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ don’t go together
TUV leader Jim Allister says talk of unionist unity is hollow without substance, arguing the DUP has not shifted its platform on the Protocol and questioning what unity would be for. He also says the DUP rejected his unity platform at the last Westminster election and accuses it of using unity as…
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP's unionist unity message with Sinn Fein Original release: Unionist Unity and ‘O’Neill Must Stay’ don’t go together (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)