Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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EU needs to prepare for a referendum on Irish Unity – Lynn Boylan MEP and Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion call on the EU to start preparatory work now for a possible Irish Unity referendum and urge the Irish government to engage, proposing a citizens' assembly and asking EU institutions to spell out financial and political support.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: European Parliament Irish Unity conference Original release: EU needs to prepare for a referendum on Irish Unity – Lynn Boylan MEP and Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Environment Minister Andrew Muir's written answer on the Mobuoy Road waste site, including monitoring, a criminal case against former operators and remediation planning, and urges public participation in the spring consultation on next steps.
Environment and climate Issue: Mobuoy Road illegal waste site remediation update Original release: Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Political Establishment Not Taking the Tariff War Seriously – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says the Irish political establishment has not taken the US tariff war seriously, noting the Dáil had no debate until Aontú's Private Members Bill and citing Ireland's €72 billion of exports to the US.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: US tariffs imposed on Irish businesses and Dáil Private Members Bill debate Original release: Irish Political Establishment Not Taking the Tariff War Seriously – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Secures Belfast City Council Support For Return Of Culture Night in 2025
Green Party councillors on Belfast City Council say Culture Night will return to the city in September 2025, backed by £150,000 secured in this year's rates setting. Councillor Áine Groogan says the free event will support the arts and night-time economy.
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Culture Night 2025 return funding Original release: Green Party Secures Belfast City Council Support For Return Of Culture Night in 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler
Ulster Unionist spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says farmers must not bear the cost of climate action, calling for codesigned measures after recent changes to create a Climate Commissioner office raised concerns. He says the changes should not pit environmental goals against agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance wants to see Culture Night back on the annual agenda, says McAteer
Alliance Councillor Fiona McAteer calls for Culture Night to return to the annual calendar in Belfast, following a City Growth and Regeneration Committee discussion of plans for a 2025 event. She says it should restore its purpose of celebrating cultural expression and supporting local artists and…
Local government Issue: Belfast City Council plans for Culture Night 2025 Original release: Alliance wants to see Culture Night back on the annual agenda, says McAteer (opens in a new tab)
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First and deputy First Minister must speed up work on legislative backlog, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw urges the First and deputy First Minister to speed up clearing the legislative backlog after the Executive Office confirmed fewer than half of the 2024 Legislative Programme Bills have been introduced. She says the Department of Health has produced little…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Executive Office confirmation on 2024 Legislative Programme Bills introduced Original release: First and deputy First Minister must speed up work on legislative backlog, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe
Alliance's Cllr Eddie Roofe expresses dismay at blue-green algae found at Martray Lough near Ballygawley. He urges other parties to back DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's water quality measures, including action on NI Water and farm nutrient runoff, and accuses some councillors and MLAs of opposing them.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Blue-green algae appearance at Martray Lough near Ballygawley Original release: Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive sham fights can’t mask shambolic legislative record
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive's update on its legislative programme admits little over half the legislation has been introduced, and accuses it of using sham fights and culture wars to distract from delivery failures.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive Office confirmation on 2024 Legislative Programme Bills introduced Original release: O’Toole: Executive sham fights can’t mask shambolic legislative record (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Inconceivable flooding support funding handed back
SDLP councillors say it is inconceivable that under half of the £10m flood support fund for Newry and Downpatrick businesses was paid out, with the rest handed back to Stormont. Doire Finn calls for scrutiny of how the Department for the Economy designed the schemes, and Conor Galbraith says…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Department for the Economy flood support funding underspend returned to Stormont Original release: SDLP: Inconceivable flooding support funding handed back (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Common sense must prevail over Trump tariffs
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the EU’s pause of counter‑tariffs after Donald Trump announced a 90‑day suspension of his 20% tariff on EU goods, saying decisions must protect families and businesses in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Trump 20% EU tariff pause Original release: Hanna: Common sense must prevail over Trump tariffs (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: No surprise at high deprivation levels
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty says Queen's University research showing 25% deprivation across the North is unsurprising, blaming underinvestment in public services, jobs and housing. He calls for the Executive to produce an anti-poverty strategy.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Queen's University research on deprivation levels across the North Original release: Doherty: No surprise at high deprivation levels (opens in a new tab)
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Loss of core funding for Northlands has caused shock and worry – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson urges the Health Minister to consider support for the Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre in Derry after losing core Department of Health funding. A delegation including Padraig Delargy MLA will meet staff.
Health Issue: Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre loss of core funding Original release: Loss of core funding for Northlands has caused shock and worry – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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‘Through strong, unified international pressure, we can bring this genocide to an end’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Party Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA reports on a Palestine solidarity event in west Belfast hosted with Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot, and calls for strong, unified international pressure to end the war in Gaza and hold Israeli leaders to account.
International affairs Original release: ‘Through strong, unified international pressure, we can bring this genocide to an end’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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UCD ‘Constitutional Futures’ Conference demonstrates appetite to discuss change – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD commends UCD and Dr Paul Gillespie for a constitutional futures conference, and calls on the Irish government to widen its role in the constitutional debate and set up a citizens' assembly and a referendum on Ireland's future.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UCD 'Constitutional Futures' conference on Ireland, Britain and Europe after Brexit Original release: UCD ‘Constitutional Futures’ Conference demonstrates appetite to discuss change – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Bank access should not be a barrier to business - Forsythe
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe raises concern at a Finance Committee session about declining local banking services hurting small businesses and rural communities, including farmers facing long journeys to the nearest branch.
Economy and employment Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Bank access should not be a barrier to business - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland’s interests must be protected: Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says he pressed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on issues facing Northern Ireland and the UK, and calls on the Secretary of State to act as Northern Ireland's voice in national government and protect local businesses and the economy.
Economy and employment Original release: Northern Ireland’s interests must be protected: Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Where are the Minister’s priorities? Asks Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to state she will prioritise the Northern Ireland economy over the all-island economy in any EU-US tariff dispute. He says businesses are asking politicians to stand up for Northern Ireland and blames the Northern Ireland…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Economy Minister Archibald's stated priorities amid EU-US tariff dispute Original release: Where are the Minister’s priorities? Asks Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed to ensure families can attain a pre-school place – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to allow flexibility in pre-school place allocation, citing families left waiting while some pre-schools still have unused capacity. She urges identifying areas with high numbers of unplaced children and allocating places where capacity…
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Sinn Féin MPs call for public inquiry into British government’s role in war on Gaza
Sinn Féin's seven MPs have signed a letter to the British government seeking a public inquiry into its role in the war on Gaza, following Jeremy Corbyn's earlier request. South Down MP Chris Hazzard says successive British governments must be examined alongside Israel's accountability.
International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin MPs letter calling for public inquiry into British role in Gaza war Original release: Sinn Féin MPs call for public inquiry into British government’s role in war on Gaza (opens in a new tab)