Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Doherty: Long-awaited anti-poverty strategy must deliver
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty says the draft anti-poverty strategy signed off by the Executive must deliver, warning it is meaningless without funding and measures. He urges the Communities Minister to act on poverty now, not wait for consultation.
Social security and welfare Issue: Presentation of draft Anti-Poverty Strategy to Executive Original release: Doherty: Long-awaited anti-poverty strategy must deliver (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes progress on childcare support
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the Education Minister's decision to open the Childcare Subsidy scheme to school-age children, but says it is only a start. She calls for a fully funded childcare strategy, a Department for the Economy support scheme for providers, and UK action…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of £55m early learning and childcare package Original release: McLaughlin welcomes progress on childcare support (opens in a new tab)
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Immediate Action Needed as EU member Bulgaria Rejects Asylum for Saudi Political Activist
People Before Profit says Bulgaria is defying its own courts by refusing to free Saudi activist Abdulrahman Al-Bakr (Al-Khalidi), detained since October 2021 and facing deportation to Saudi Arabia despite two Supreme Court rulings. It calls for immediate action.
Immigration International affairs Issue: Bulgaria detention and deportation of Saudi activist Abdulrahman Al-Bakr Original release: Immediate Action Needed as EU member Bulgaria Rejects Asylum for Saudi Political Activist (opens in a new tab)
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Irish medium early years education must be supported – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the Department of Education must do more to enhance Irish medium early years education, calling for investment in facilities, training and retention of early years educators. Her remarks follow an Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Irish medium early years education must be supported – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Petrol and diesel price rip-off continues – Pa Daly TD
Sinn Féin transport spokesperson Pa Daly TD calls on the government to scrap the planned autumn carbon tax increase and review why southern petrol and diesel prices are 25% above northern ones. He also urges action on EV affordability.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Reports that southern petrol and diesel prices are 25% above northern prices Original release: Petrol and diesel price rip-off continues – Pa Daly TD (opens in a new tab)
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Department must do more to support local business - Dunne
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne urges the Economy Minister to increase Department support for local businesses, saying the Ulster University Cost of Doing Business research shows the impact of National Insurance and minimum wage rises, and calling for a package of support measures.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Ulster University Cost of Doing Business in Northern Ireland research Original release: Department must do more to support local business - Dunne (opens in a new tab)
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Forgotten farming families must be heard on A5 - Buchanan
West Tyrone DUP MLA Tom Buchanan, speaking in an Assembly Adjournment debate, calls on Ministers in the Departments for Infrastructure, Finance and Agriculture to work together and give clarity on compensation and single farm payments for farming families affected by the A5 dual carriageway.
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: A5 dual carriageway land vesting and farm compensation concerns Original release: Forgotten farming families must be heard on A5 - Buchanan (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan calls on MPs to voice their support for Brown family
Sinn Féin MP for Mid Ulster Cathal Mallaghan calls on all Westminster MPs to support the Brown family’s campaign for truth and justice, urging them to raise the case with their parties and Secretary of State Hilary Benn after the British government sought to appeal a court ruling on a public inquiry
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government decision on public inquiry into Sean Brown murder Original release: Mallaghan calls on MPs to voice their support for Brown family (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy launches survey to tackle mobile coverage black spots across Derry
Sinn Féin MLA Padraig Delargy has opened a community survey to map mobile signal dead spots in Derry, saying residents report poor or missing coverage in the city centre and border areas. He wants the data to press mobile providers for investment and upgrades.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Delargy launches survey to tackle mobile coverage black spots across Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Good Jobs Bill Could Mean Bad News for Local Businesses, Armstrong Warns
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Economy Minister's Good Jobs Bill plan to abolish zero-hour contracts contradicts research commissioned by the same minister as Finance Minister, citing a May Ulster University cost of doing business report. She urges an urgent review of the…
Economy and employment Issue: Good Jobs Bill zero-hour contracts abolition proposal Original release: Good Jobs Bill Could Mean Bad News for Local Businesses, Armstrong Warns (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister urges Health Minister to ensure sustainable GP funding as a priority, following rejection of funding contract offer
Alliance health spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister urges the Health Minister to prioritise reopening talks on sustainable GP funding after 99.6% of BMA GP Committee ballot respondents rejected the 25/26 GMS contract offer. She says the proposed terms would cause a net loss of…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: BMA GP Committee rejection of 25/26 GMS contract offer Original release: McAllister urges Health Minister to ensure sustainable GP funding as a priority, following rejection of funding contract offer (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Smartphones have no place in our schools
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls for a ban on smartphones in schools, citing mounting evidence of harm to pupils and staff ahead of an Opposition motion in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Education Issue: SDLP Assembly motion on banning smartphones in schools Original release: Hunter: Smartphones have no place in our schools (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA criticises the award of seven new mineral prospecting licences to four companies, saying it contradicts the Economy Minister's earlier support for a moratorium. She calls for the licences to be suspended until a departmental review of mineral…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities (opens in a new tab)
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Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme
DUP representatives, including Westminster spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP and Stormont agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen, reject DAERA's draft Nutrients Action Programme and call for publication of a full economic impact assessment and the data behind its modelling.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme (opens in a new tab)
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Extending presidential voting rights was agreed in 2013 and now needs to be implemented – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calls on the Taoiseach to set a date for a referendum extending presidential voting to Irish citizens in the North, citing a 2013 Constitutional Convention agreement postponed in 2019. She urges action after the Assembly backed the measure, and says the coming…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont vote on presidential voting rights for Northern citizens Original release: Extending presidential voting rights was agreed in 2013 and now needs to be implemented – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew launches consultation on homelessness prevention legislation
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew invites public views on his proposed bill to extend Housing Executive support for people at risk of homelessness from 28 days to at least 60 days. He says the consultation will help ensure the legislation meets people's needs.
Housing Social security and welfare Issue: Gildernew homelessness prevention bill public consultation Original release: Gildernew launches consultation on homelessness prevention legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is disappointed the Assembly rejected all of his amendments to the MLA pay Bill, including tying any rise to the return of powers ceded to Brussels under the Protocol and requiring public consultation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly second stage vote on MLA pay increase Bill Original release: Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward (opens in a new tab)
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Current cancer waiting times ‘simply not acceptable’ – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says current cancer waiting times are simply not acceptable, following an Assembly motion on the issue. He welcomes the extra £10 million for Rapid Diagnosis Centres and calls for clear targets, timelines and transparency in the upcoming plans.
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Máire Devine TD to welcome nursing representatives to Leinster House in celebration of International Nurses’ Day
Sinn Féin TD Máire Devine will host nursing representatives at Leinster House on 14 May 2025 to mark International Nurses' Day, citing about 120,000 nurses and midwives and calling for retention measures including pay, conditions and affordable housing.
Health Economy and employment Original release: Máire Devine TD to welcome nursing representatives to Leinster House in celebration of International Nurses’ Day (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister welcomes publication of Northern Ireland Childcare…
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the first Official Statistics from the 2024 Northern Ireland Childcare Survey, saying the data improves the evidence base for childcare policy and will shape the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy to be presented to the Executive.
Education Issue: Publication of Northern Ireland Childcare Survey 2024 Official Statistics Original release: Education Minister welcomes publication of Northern Ireland Childcare… (opens in a new tab)