Latest releases
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1,874 releases
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Durkan: Rising rent arrears underline strain on social housing system
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says new Department for Communities figures showing 26,844 Housing Executive tenancies in rent arrears by end September 2025 underline strain on social housing. He calls for providers to be properly supported and social housing adequately…
Housing Issue: Department for Communities rent arrears figures September 2025 Original release: Durkan: Rising rent arrears underline strain on social housing system (opens in a new tab)
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Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after tabling a Commons motion, says public appointments must be fair to every community, citing Protestant under-representation in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and alleged intimidation deterring Catholic recruits to the PSNI, and urges nationalist parties to…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commons motion on public appointments and community representation in public bodies Original release: Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls for a cross‑party delegation meeting with homeless‑support providers, including the People’s Kitchen, the Welcome Centre and the Housing Executive, to devise short‑, medium‑ and long‑term plans so no one feels the street is their only option.
Housing Original release: Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the Health Minister to keep prioritising a Mother and Baby Unit in the North, welcoming a £4 million cut in its estimated cost and calling for it to be set up without delay.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit £4 million cost reduction Original release: New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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North Down TUV demands accountability from local council
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson accuses Ards and North Down Council of poor governance after it funded a first-time Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor alongside the Ulster Pipe Band Championships. He says a formal complaint has been lodged, demands an Equality Impact Assessment, and questions why…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor clashing with Ulster Pipe Band Championships Original release: North Down TUV demands accountability from local council (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs a campaign by Foras na Gaeilge for TG4 to gain formal status as a public broadcaster in the North and move to Freeview Channel 8. She welcomes Minister Ian Murray's pledge to examine the issue but says progress must come soon.
Disability and equality Issue: Foras na Gaeilge campaign for TG4 recognition and Freeview Channel 8 placement Original release: Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address offered warm words but not the action needed to restore farmers' confidence. He calls for concrete progress on bovine TB, ammonia regulation and farm transfer, rather than pilots and timelines.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address Original release: Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to urgently set out a dedicated women's health plan, citing rising gynaecology waiting lists and long delays for women and girls with endometriosis. She urges specialist services with clear diagnosis and treatment targets.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must protect the security of tenants and put an end to no-fault evictions, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Communities Minister to strengthen private renters' protections and end no-fault evictions, as the minister launches a consultation on notice to quit periods under the Private Tenancies Act 2022.
Housing Issue: Department for Communities consultation on extending notice to quit periods Original release: Minister must protect the security of tenants and put an end to no-fault evictions, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to urgently explain how gynaecology waiting lists will be cleared, citing around 60,000 women reported by the RCOG and no timetable for a Women's Health Action Plan.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes over £1m in active travel funding from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for greenway projects in Belfast, Derry and Strabane, and Newry, Mourne and Down councils. He says the projects will provide cleaner connections and support health and the economy.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Active travel greenway funding for three councils from Infrastructure Minister Original release: Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects (opens in a new tab)
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Protections for renters must be fit for purpose- Gildernew
Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, says proposed Department for Communities regulations extending notice to quit periods must better protect renters from eviction. He welcomes the consultation and says Sinn Féin will respond to it.
Housing Issue: Department for Communities consultation on extending notice to quit periods Original release: Protections for renters must be fit for purpose- Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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As Stonewall nears financial ruin why is Stormont still sending it out money?
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls on the Finance Minister, First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain why departmental ties with Stonewall continue and whether they will end them, citing its reported £906,000 deficit and written answers on civil service membership and training payments.
Public finance and taxation Disability and equality Issue: Stonewall reported £906,000 deficit and Stormont funding ties Original release: As Stonewall nears financial ruin why is Stormont still sending it out money? (opens in a new tab)
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Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell criticises the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for advocating gender self-identification after the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex. He calls for the Executive Office to hold the Commission to account and says the Health Minister will be held…
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission gender self-identification advocacy Original release: Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes DAERA's announcement of a support payment for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, but urges the department to work closely with fishing families on a lasting plan to rebuild the lough's commercial fishing sector.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA financial support for Lough Neagh eel fishermen Original release: Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be…
Lagan Valley DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Home Office to urgently release hundreds of empty homes it holds across Northern Ireland through Mears Housing, and says the arrangement lacks transparency and accountability.
Housing Immigration Original release: Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be… (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong says she is shocked by the first confirmed case of invasive Quagga Mussel in Lower Lough Erne and criticises DAERA for failing to implement robust biosecurity measures. She calls for urgent action to protect waterways, citing gaps in guidance on power-washing and regulation…
Environment and climate Issue: First confirmed Quagga Mussel case in Lower Lough Erne Original release: Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew presses the Communities Minister to publish the analysis behind cutting funding for housing associations, after new research claimed the move would halve social home numbers, particularly in Belfast and Lisburn.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says repeated Executive failures directly contribute to the high number of homeless deaths, reacting to new statistics recording 58 such deaths in 2024. He calls for sustained investment in prevention, housing, mental health and addiction…
Housing Health Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure (opens in a new tab)