Latest releases
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138 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 goneArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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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Allen welcomes opening of new Harland & Wolff fabrication hall
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the opening of Harland & Wolff’s new Resurgent Hall, saying the £100 million investment creates over 900 skilled jobs and apprenticeships, supports Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and boosts Belfast’s shipbuilding future, and urges more work for local workers.
Economy and employment Issue: Harland & Wolff £100 million investment announcement Original release: Allen welcomes opening of new Harland & Wolff fabrication hall
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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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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 putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Naomi Long's colleague Tennyson accuses the DUP of blocking Executive participation in a UK-wide Economic Forum, calling the move self-serving and harmful to families, businesses and public sector workers facing pay disputes.
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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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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Job Fairs decision is discrimination driven by narrow political…
DUP Foyle MLA Julie Middleton condemns Derry City and Strabane District Council's decision to pull backing from job fairs that include the Armed Forces, calling it divisive and discriminatory towards those who serve.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: Job Fairs decision is discrimination driven by narrow political…
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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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Wilson responds to Budget
DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson says the Budget offers little relief from the tax burden, criticises the lack of action on family farm tax and defence spending, and says the minimum wage rise will push costs onto employers and consumers.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Wilson responds to Budget
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Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Budget leaves farm families unchanged, with no amendment to the Family Farm Tax and a red diesel duty cut that ends in July next year. She also criticises the halving of Business Asset Disposal Relief and the expansion of…
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 million for cyber and AI research in Belfast and £1 million for a Northern Ireland Investment Summit, but says the Budget's £270 million Barnett consequentials are spread over four years and fall short. He calls for clarity on allocation this financial year and…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Swann responds to Budget
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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its restriction, allowing Orange Order members to wear collarettes at the 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected…
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
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Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its ban on Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, saying his direct intervention with senior management secured the change and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
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UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood
Alliance Party MLA Eastwood says the UK Budget taking place without a Northern Ireland Budget is a shameful indictment, warning public services are on the brink. He calls for a budget with practical measures to make life more affordable and tackle the cost of doing business.
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
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra calls on Queen's University Belfast to explain its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service, which bars Orange collarettes at the 8 November service, noting such wear was previously allowed without issue.
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
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Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
Aontú representative in Slieve Gullion Liam Reichenberg says residents of Radius sheltered accommodation in Crossmaglen and Keady have been excluded from the £100 home heating oil voucher and calls on the minister and department to urgently review the criteria.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Home Heating Oil Support Scheme voucher eligibility criteria review Original release: Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
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New Invest NI North West Regional Office welcomed
Foyle DUP MLA Julie Middleton welcomes Invest Northern Ireland's decision to open a regional base for the North West at Ebrington Plaza in Londonderry's Waterside, which she says will support local businesses and investment.
Economy and employment Original release: New Invest NI North West Regional Office welcomed
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SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
SDLP Group Leader Séamas de Faoite backs a proposal for Belfast to bid to host a further year of the Fleadh Cheoil, citing 1.6 million visitors and the council's decision to take the bid work forward. The party also says it is exploring bringing the MTV Europe Music Awards to the city.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh