Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Education Minister must review procurement policy for schools – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes Assembly passage of her party's motion urging the Education Minister to examine the Education Authority's school procurement rules, which she says slow urgent repairs such as broken boilers.
Education Issue: Assembly motion on Education Authority school procurement policy review Original release: Education Minister must review procurement policy for schools – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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IRC report represents another step into the moral bankruptcy
TUV leader Jim Allister says the latest Independent Reporting Commission report omits the IRA's Army Council and retained weapons, and calls its recommended deproscription process for groups such as the IRA, UVF and UDA an offensive insult to victims. He also criticises a proposed Independent…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Independent Reporting Commission report on paramilitarism and deproscription proposals Original release: IRC report represents another step into the moral bankruptcy (opens in a new tab)
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Ofcom’s New Social Media Guidance - Toothless and Ineffective
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says Ofcom's new guidance on online misogyny and deepfake abuse lacks enforcement, calling it symbolic and relying on voluntary compliance. She calls for legally binding obligations and financial penalties for social media platforms.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ofcom online misogyny and deepfake abuse guidance Original release: Ofcom’s New Social Media Guidance - Toothless and Ineffective (opens in a new tab)
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Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says repealing the ban on Irish in Northern Ireland's courts is regressive on equality, justice and finances. He claims it would make the legal profession less welcoming to Unionists, weaken juries' understanding of defendants, and add translation costs and delays.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: Lifting ban on Irish in our courts wrong on three fronts (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister doesn’t know where new Glider route will…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett raises concern that the Infrastructure Minister's announcement excludes Glengormley from the Belfast Rapid Transport extension, and calls for urgent clarity on the new North Belfast Glider route's termination point, which the Minister could not specify in the Assembly…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: Infrastructure Minister doesn’t know where new Glider route will… (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes reports that the British government will repeal its ban on Irish being used in courts, a provision from the 2022 Irish language act that has not yet taken effect. She describes the move as a major step for Irish speakers in the north.
Disability and equality Issue: British government repeal of ban on Irish in courts Original release: ‘Hugely significant’ as British government to scrap ban on Irish in courts – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy backs Irish language groups ahead of a Wednesday walkout protesting cuts to their funding, urging a fair, long-term resolution to Foras na Gaeilge funding disputes.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive first step’ as Minister announces way forward on north-south Glider – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes £48 million to advance the north-south Belfast Glider, with bus lanes and a north Belfast park and ride, and says it is a positive first step toward full delivery.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast north-south Glider route £48m funding announcement Original release: ‘Positive first step’ as Minister announces way forward on north-south Glider – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Decisive action needed to support high streets - Forsythe
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe urges the Department for the Economy to take a bold, strategic approach to reviving town centres, citing rising costs, falling footfall and online competition. She calls for business rate reform and a levy on online retailers, and wants prompt action on findings…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: Decisive action needed to support high streets - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says export procedures on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain show the Irish Sea border is cementing division, and calls on the government to abandon the Parcels Border and pursue Mutual Enforcement instead.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: West – East Irish Sea Border enforcement commencement on Northern Ireland to GB goods Original release: 25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy
DUP peer Lord Browne says the draft gambling levy regulations are too low to meaningfully address gambling harm, citing 2.5% of adults affected and costs possibly near £5 billion, and urges the Minister to raise rates, including to at least 5% for the most harmful remote licences.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Draft gambling harm levy regulations for Great Britain Original release: DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy (opens in a new tab)
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New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara says Sinn Féin lacks ambition on public transport and criticises the Infrastructure Minister's reason for not extending the Glider to Glengormley, citing congestion. Cllr Aine Groogan calls the decision short-sighted and says there is no plan to extend the Glider to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister decision not to extend Glider service Original release: New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party (opens in a new tab)
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Blair calls out reckless attempt to undermine agri-food system by unionist parties and representatives
Alliance MLA John Blair condemns unionist parties' attempt to annul the Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations, calling the Prayer of Annulment reckless and ideologically driven and warning it risked farm-to-fork traceability and export potential.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Prayer of Annulment against livestock identification and traceability regulations Original release: Blair calls out reckless attempt to undermine agri-food system by unionist parties and representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood says UK Government should tell all paramilitary groups to disband immediately, not appoint a go between
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood urges London to tell paramilitary organisations to stand down now rather than appoint an intermediary to encourage disbandment, after the UK and Irish governments agreed to appoint an independent expert on engaging such groups. She argues that talks would lend them…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: UK-Irish government agreement on appointing an independent expert to engage paramilitaries Original release: Eastwood says UK Government should tell all paramilitary groups to disband immediately, not appoint a go between (opens in a new tab)
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Long overdue North/South Glider announcement disappointing, says McReynolds.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the Infrastructure Minister's confirmed extension of the Glider to North and South Belfast disappoints, as key northern and southern areas are left off the planned route. He raises concern over a funding shortfall of over £100m and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: Long overdue North/South Glider announcement disappointing, says McReynolds. (opens in a new tab)
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Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Secretary of State’s decision to start the fourth section of the Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022, which clarifies the repeal of the ban on non‑English languages in courts, and urges the First and deputy First Minister to promptly
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commencement of Section 4 of the Identity and Language Act Original release: Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses Executive Ministers of repeatedly avoiding Assembly scrutiny, citing the Finance Minister's draft Budget and monitoring rounds issued by written statement. He also cites the Health Minister's grant funding cuts and an AERA avian flu update…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Cynical DUP stunt exposes Ministerial failure
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, AERA Opposition Spokesperson, says a DUP Prayer of Annulment on livestock identification and movement was a distraction that exposes Ministers' failure to update food standards regulations, leaving DAERA without enforcement powers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP Prayer of Annulment against livestock identification and traceability regulations Original release: McGlone: Cynical DUP stunt exposes Ministerial failure (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must deliver support for private renters
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan welcomes Assembly support for a motion on protecting private renters, after his party's amendment calling for a standards and enforcement review, extended threatened-with-homelessness legislation and a bridging grant was passed. He calls on Executive parties to…
Housing Issue: Assembly motion on protecting private renters Original release: Durkan: Executive must deliver support for private renters (opens in a new tab)
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Palestinian rights must be recognized – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says she backed the Mothers Against Genocide pledge, which urges legislatures to recognise Palestinian entitlements, end Israel's occupation and safeguard aid workers and media staff. The pledge also seeks an end to arms sales and settlement trade, plus medical…
International affairs Original release: Palestinian rights must be recognized – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)