Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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SDLP launches plan to reduce pressure on ambulance service and emergency departments
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA launches 'Help Can't Wait', a plan to ease ambulance and emergency department pressure by adopting London's W45 45-minute patient handover policy, which he says could cut handover times by 50% and free up 60,000 operational hours.
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UK-Irish cooperation essential to meet challenges: Campbell
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell says strong, respectful UK-Republic of Ireland cooperation is essential to meet geopolitical challenges after the UK-Ireland summit in Cheshire. He calls for an Irish inquiry into the Omagh bombing and for barriers within the UK internal market to be removed.
International affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: UK-Ireland summit in Cheshire Original release: UK-Irish cooperation essential to meet challenges: Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency and accountability needed on hospital building projects
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds calls for an independent review of new Belfast Trust building projects after rot and black mould were discovered in the Acute Mental Inpatient centre, urging the Minister to provide details on repairs, costs, timelines and patient impact.
Health Issue: Rot and black mould found in Belfast Trust Acute Mental Inpatient centre Original release: Transparency and accountability needed on hospital building projects (opens in a new tab)
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‘Extension will help motorists stay on the road legally’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's decision to extend Temporary Exemption Certificates for a further year, saying the scheme has helped cut MOT waiting times to 30 days. He also points to extra staff recruitment and Sunday and bank holiday testing.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Extension of MOT Temporary Exemption Certificates for a further year Original release: ‘Extension will help motorists stay on the road legally’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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DUP delivering on yet another Republican demand
TUV vice chairman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle says the Executive Office's start of recruitment for an Irish language commissioner gives Sinn Féin a route to directions over the role, and contrasts it with a weaker Ulster Scots commissioner, which he says the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner application process opening announcement Original release: DUP delivering on yet another Republican demand (opens in a new tab)
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Minister celebrates World Book Day with local pupils
The DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says he visited Waterside Library with pupils from Oakgrove Integrated Primary School to mark World Book Day and hear their views on this year's "Read Your Way" theme, and calls for libraries to foster a lifelong love of reading.
Education Original release: Minister celebrates World Book Day with local pupils (opens in a new tab)
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Republic sponging off U.K. and Europe on defence
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says the Republic of Ireland is relying on others for its defence, criticising its neutrality and low defence spending amid the European security crisis. He also links the First Minister's condemnation of a military hardware order to Thales to an anti-Western stance.
International affairs Original release: Republic sponging off U.K. and Europe on defence (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes SoS commitment to progressing votes at 16.
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes the Secretary of State's commitment to progressing votes at 16 in Northern Ireland, following a letter from Naomi Long MLA. Armstrong says the process will take time and planning, and pledges continued engagement.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State commitment to lowering voting age to 16 Original release: Armstrong welcomes SoS commitment to progressing votes at 16. (opens in a new tab)
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Reducing MOT backlog must remain a priority, says McReynolds, welcoming extension of TECs
Alliance infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA welcomes the extension of Temporary Exemption Certificates to continue reducing the MOT backlog. He credits DVA staff for weekend and bank holiday appointments and recruitment of more vehicle examiners, and says Alliance supports exploring…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Extension of MOT Temporary Exemption Certificates for a further year Original release: Reducing MOT backlog must remain a priority, says McReynolds, welcoming extension of TECs (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time we start recognising the benefits of renewable energy, says Honeyford
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA says Department for Economy figures showing a decline in renewable electricity use in Northern Ireland are shocking. He calls on the Economy Minister to deliver faster on renewables and meet the 2030 target of 80 percent renewable electricity.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Department for Economy electricity consumption and renewable generation report 2025 Original release: It’s time we start recognising the benefits of renewable energy, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson welcomes Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland appointment
Alliance spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA welcomes the Executive Office's appointment of Siobhan Casey as Older People Commissioner for Northern Ireland, starting 7 April, and says she has shown a commitment to championing older people's needs.
Disability and equality Issue: Older People Commissioner for Northern Ireland appointment of Siobhan Casey Original release: Dickson welcomes Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland appointment (opens in a new tab)
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Government must engage with urgency on the development and management of artificial intelligence, says Nicholl, following commitment to establish AI Office
Alliance Economy spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA says Northern Ireland is well placed to benefit from artificial intelligence and urges government to engage far more to seize the opportunities, after the Programme for Government listed plans for a new AI and digital office.
Economy and employment Issue: Final Programme for Government publication Original release: Government must engage with urgency on the development and management of artificial intelligence, says Nicholl, following commitment to establish AI Office (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Every area should benefit from community healthcare funding
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says all parts of the North should receive multidisciplinary care teams, welcomes the £61 m funding for five new GP Federation areas but urges the Health Minister to fund and roll out MDTs to the remaining five areas lacking the service.
Health Issue: Finance Minister announces £61m MDT funding for five GP Federation areas Original release: McGrath: Every area should benefit from community healthcare funding (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone welcomes overdue progress on Irish Language Commissioner
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA welcomes the start of recruitment for language commissioners but says the move is long overdue. He questions the timing of the announcement and says he has asked the First and deputy First Ministers for a timescale and budget.
Disability and equality Issue: Recruitment launch for language commissioners announced March 2025 Original release: McGlone welcomes overdue progress on Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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‘Fógra ar Choimisnéir Gaeilge céim eile chun cinn don chomhionannas’ – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes The Executive Office's announcement that applications for the Irish Language Commissioner role will open in the coming days, calling it another step forward for equality and for Gaeilgeoirí.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Commissioner application process opening announcement Original release: ‘Fógra ar Choimisnéir Gaeilge céim eile chun cinn don chomhionannas’ – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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More than 8,000 pupils to participate in phone-free pilot
Education Minister Paul Givan announces that nine post-primary schools, with more than 8,000 pupils, will take part in a phone-free pilot from September 2025, with pupils' phones sealed in pouches during the school day. The Minister says the pilot will assess the benefits of restricting mobile…
Education Issue: Phone-free school pilot scheme nine schools announcement Original release: More than 8,000 pupils to participate in phone-free pilot (opens in a new tab)
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Minister should bring forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy without delay – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the Communities Minister to prioritise an Anti-Poverty Strategy after a High Court ruling found the Executive Committee breached its statutory duty to adopt one. He says campaigners should not have had to go to court.
Social security and welfare Issue: High Court ruling on Executive Anti-Poverty Strategy breach Original release: Minister should bring forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy without delay – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson questions possibility of rehabilitation for remand prisoners
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson questions whether the UK Government will consider rehabilitation for offenders held on remand, citing high remand figures in Northern Ireland prisons and court backlogs. He urges the issue be addressed through two ongoing criminal justice reviews.
Justice and policing Issue: Robinson questions rehabilitation for remand prisoners after Commons exchange with Lord Chancellor Original release: Robinson questions possibility of rehabilitation for remand prisoners (opens in a new tab)
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‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan says her first Assembly speech at the International Women’s Day debate reaffirms her commitment to gender equality for all and urges upgrading rural schools, including a new programme for St Patrick’s Primary in Crossmaglen.
Disability and equality Education Issue: International Women’s Day Assembly debate Original release: ‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton welcomes £1.2M investment in Austins Building
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes a £1.2 million funding package, announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, to buy and restore the vacant former Austins department store in Londonderry's walled city. He says the project will revive the city centre and boost local economic prosperity.
Economy and employment Issue: £1.2M Austins Building purchase and restoration funding announcement Original release: Middleton welcomes £1.2M investment in Austins Building (opens in a new tab)