Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Hunter: Concerns of teachers must be listened to
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls on the Education Minister, employers and Executive to listen to teachers after unions rejected a 5.5% pay offer, urging a deal that averts strike action.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teaching unions reject 5.5% pay offer Original release: Hunter: Concerns of teachers must be listened to (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to host Palestine solidarity event in Belfast
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney, MLA, says a solidarity rally for Palestine will be held in Belfast on 9 April at St. Mary’s College, urging an end to the Gaza conflict, calling for BDS and a Palestinian state.
International affairs Issue: Israel-Gaza war civilian casualties Original release: Sinn Féin to host Palestine solidarity event in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew slams latest round of British government austerity cuts
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew criticises the British government's latest austerity cuts, claiming billions are being found for militarisation while welfare payments, international aid and public services are cut following the Chancellor's Spring Statement.
Public finance and taxation Social security and welfare Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Gildernew slams latest round of British government austerity cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison calls for investment in a dedicated care pathway for Facial Palsy patients
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison urges the Health Minister to set up a dedicated facial palsy care pathway, saying Northern Ireland lacks a multi-disciplinary team and patients face long waits and costly travel. He says the Department's pathway work has been slow and the promised 2019 interim service is…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Facial palsy care pathway call at Stormont event hosted by Facial Palsy UK Original release: Mathison calls for investment in a dedicated care pathway for Facial Palsy patients (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey welcomes completion of Belfast flood defence scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes completion of the £33 million Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme by the Department for Infrastructure, which installs defences along the River Lagan to protect over 3,000 homes and businesses. She calls for fairer Executive funding from the British…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme completion Original release: Hargey welcomes completion of Belfast flood defence scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin MEPs announce panel for Irish Unity conference in European Parliament
Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion announce a high‑level panel for the European Parliament conference “The EU and Irish Unity: What Next?” on 8 April, naming Prof Colin Harvey, ESTU’s Esther Lynch and UN expert George Katrougalos as speakers.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: European Parliament Irish Unity conference panel Original release: Sinn Féin MEPs announce panel for Irish Unity conference in European Parliament (opens in a new tab)
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Spring Statement a missed opportunity to change course - Wilson
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says the Chancellor's Spring Statement missed a chance to restore business confidence, criticising the rise in employers' National Insurance and welfare and pension cuts. He welcomes the announced increase in defence spending but calls for a comprehensive defence plan.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Spring Statement a missed opportunity to change course - Wilson (opens in a new tab)
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Grand Central signage to face Committee scrutiny
DUP infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine welcomes the Infrastructure Committee's agreement to examine the £145,000 plan for Irish language signage at Grand Central Station. She questions whether this ranks above Translink's cash reserves, NI Water overspending and potholed roads, and asks…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: Grand Central signage to face Committee scrutiny (opens in a new tab)
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‘British government has made clear it has no regard for workers, families and public services here’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill MLA says the British government, led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is diverting money from public services into weapons of war and has no regard for workers and families in the north.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Reeves budget increase in military and weapons spending Original release: ‘British government has made clear it has no regard for workers, families and public services here’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston writes to Unionist members of the Executive calling for action to prevent Sinn Fein solo run on Irish signage
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says he has written to unionist Executive Ministers asking them to stop the Infrastructure Minister imposing Irish language signage at Belfast Grand Central Station, arguing the decision is significant and controversial and lacks cross-community approval under…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: Gaston writes to Unionist members of the Executive calling for action to prevent Sinn Fein solo run on Irish signage (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes pay agreement for civil service workers
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes a pay agreement for civil service workers announced by Finance Minister John O'Dowd, with a 3% consolidated rise from 1 August 2024 and 6% from 1 August 2025, and says the lowest grades will reach £12.60 an hour.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Civil service pay agreement announced by Finance Minister John O'Dowd Original release: Dolan welcomes pay agreement for civil service workers (opens in a new tab)
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Pressures facing the Chancellor are largely of her own making - Aiken
UUP Finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the Chancellor's statement is unlikely to restore confidence in her economic management, citing a downgraded OBR growth forecast, a £10bn headroom and the £2.2bn defence-funded aid cut. He warns further austerity is likely.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Pressures facing the Chancellor are largely of her own making - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland to bear the brunt of UK Government cuts, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says Northern Ireland will bear the brunt of UK welfare cuts without the mitigations offered elsewhere, such as employability support, and calls on Labour to abandon austerity and seek revenue from billionaires and multinational tech firms instead, also urging a…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Northern Ireland to bear the brunt of UK Government cuts, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Lavery disappointed and confused at Sinn Féin U-Turn on rights and protections for renters
Alliance Lurgan Councillor Peter Lavery says he is disappointed and confused after Sinn Féin and the DUP removed calls for a ban on no fault evictions and a minimum social housing requirement from a renters' rights motion at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council. He cites over 38,000 private…
Housing Local government Issue: Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council renters' rights motion amended by Sinn Féin and DUP Original release: Lavery disappointed and confused at Sinn Féin U-Turn on rights and protections for renters (opens in a new tab)
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McAteer honoured to host Inspire Awards 2025
Alliance's Fiona McAteer, High Sheriff of Belfast, says she is honoured to host the Inspire Awards at Belfast City Hall, recognising young people from East Belfast, and thanks youth workers and community groups for their support.
Other Local government Original release: McAteer honoured to host Inspire Awards 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Cutting welfare support not the way to balance the books
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says welfare recipients should not bear the brunt of UK Government cuts after Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement. She warns disabled people and those with mental health problems face income cuts and urges Executive ministers to act on mitigations.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Hanna: Cutting welfare support not the way to balance the books (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP secures representation in Socialists and Democrats group at EU Parliament
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP announces the party has secured an open invitation to attend meetings of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group at the European Parliament, following engagement after its 'Our European Future' document. She says it will help restore Northern Ireland's voice in Europe…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: SDLP invitation to attend Socialists and Democrats group meetings at European Parliament Original release: SDLP secures representation in Socialists and Democrats group at EU Parliament (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston welcomes DUP statement on Grand Central Station Irish signage
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes DUP’s Deborah Erskine statement on the planned Irish‑language signage at Grand Central station, saying the proposal should be withdrawn and referred to a cross‑community Executive vote, whether via his petition or Unionist ministers.
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: Gaston welcomes DUP statement on Grand Central Station Irish signage (opens in a new tab)
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DfI & Translink must answer questions about Grand Central
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who chairs the Infrastructure Committee, calls on the infrastructure minister and Translink's chief executive to explain why no equality impact assessment was done before £145,000 was allocated to bilingual signage at Grand Central station. She says she will seek full…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: DfI & Translink must answer questions about Grand Central (opens in a new tab)
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Regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments needed to safeguard clients and professionals – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to introduce regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, including an age limit for procedures like botox and dermal fillers, training standards, and an oversight body such as RQIA.