Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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Closer alignment needed between UK Government and European Commission, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says issues arising from EU regulations should be resolved early through UK Government and European Commission engagement, after the Secretary of State declined to trigger the Stormont Brake on chemical packaging and labelling rules. He urges the UK…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's Stormont Brake decision on EU Regulation 2024/2865 Original release: Closer alignment needed between UK Government and European Commission, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Stormont Brake distraction from real issues
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says ongoing debate over the Stormont Brake distracts from real issues, and calls on the Secretary of State and UK Government to pursue a permanent EU solution recognising Northern Ireland's dual market access.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont brake debate and dual market access Original release: O’Toole: Stormont Brake distraction from real issues (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive inaction on empty homes is a missed opportunity after Department of Finance figures showed 21,081 vacant properties across the North. He calls for immediate action, including a review of the Empty Homes Strategy and a scheme similar to Scotland's Empty Home…
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000 (opens in a new tab)
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Ceasefire must lead to a permanent peace settlement, and realisation of a sovereign Palestinian state – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, National Chairperson and South Antrim MLA, welcomes the Gaza ceasefire but says it must lead to a permanent peace settlement and a sovereign Palestinian state. He warns that Israel's past bad faith is a concern for implementation and calls for aid flows and prisoner…
International affairs Issue: Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement reported January 2025 Original release: Ceasefire must lead to a permanent peace settlement, and realisation of a sovereign Palestinian state – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister will be judged on delivery of SEN provision, says Alliance representatives, calling for urgent action.
Alliance Education MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy urge the Education Minister to publish a detailed delivery plan for special educational needs, saying his recent statements lack concrete actions, timescales and funding and that his performance will be judged on SEN provision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Education Minister will be judged on delivery of SEN provision, says Alliance representatives, calling for urgent action. (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart highlights the importance of poultry industry mid Avian…
DUP Agriculture spokeswoman Carla Lockhart MP backs poultry farmers affected by the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone introduced after avian flu was found in wild birds in Northern Ireland. She calls for practical assistance, clear communication and strict biosecurity from all bird keepers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Avian Influenza Prevention Zone introduced in Northern Ireland after wild bird detection Original release: Lockhart highlights the importance of poultry industry mid Avian… (opens in a new tab)
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Foot and Mouth restrictions should be based on protecting farmers -…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart questions why Northern Ireland farms face higher Foot and Mouth Disease risk than Great Britain, noting Germany's restrictions on cattle, sheep, pig and dairy imports are stricter locally due to the Windsor Framework. She calls for full protection for NI agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: UK ban on animal imports from Germany over foot and mouth disease Original release: Foot and Mouth restrictions should be based on protecting farmers -… (opens in a new tab)
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Conor Murphy demands action on Presidential voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and the diaspora
Sinn Féin Seanad candidate Conor Murphy urges the incoming government to extend presidential voting rights to citizens living in Northern Ireland and abroad, noting the draft Programme for Government omits the issue and a 2017 referendum commitment has stalled.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Draft Programme for Government omits presidential voting rights for citizens abroad Original release: Conor Murphy demands action on Presidential voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and the diaspora (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell Welcomes US Consul to Ballykelly
DUP MP Gregory Campbell welcomes the US Consulate General to East Londonderry, highlighting a visit to Seating Matters, a clinical seating manufacturer near Ballykelly, and stressing ties for trade with America.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: US Consulate General visit to East Londonderry Original release: Campbell Welcomes US Consul to Ballykelly (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson – H&W supply chain dealt a hammer-blow
DUP Leader and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson warns that the administration of Harland and Wolff's four yards leaves local supply chain firms financially exposed, some owed large sums. He urges the new owners and authorities to engage urgently to limit the impact.
Economy and employment Issue: Harland and Wolff four yards administration Original release: Robinson – H&W supply chain dealt a hammer-blow (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister marks Holocaust Memorial Day at PRONI
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons spoke at a PRONI event marking Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, which examined the story of Holocaust survivor Walter Sekules and his family's move to Kilkeel. Lyons calls for lessons from the past to be applied so that genocide and persecution are never repeated.
Disability and equality Original release: Communities Minister marks Holocaust Memorial Day at PRONI (opens in a new tab)
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Teebane anniversary – 33 years on
TUV representative Glenn Moore marks 33 years since the IRA Teebane bombing, which killed eight Protestant workers, saying no one has been charged and calling for action to hold those responsible to account. He also condemns repeated attacks on the Teebane memorial in Mid Ulster.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Teebane anniversary – 33 years on (opens in a new tab)
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Egan welcomes figures showing drop in paramilitary-style shootings.
Alliance Justice spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes newly published figures showing paramilitary-style shooting injuries fell from 19 in 2023 to five in 2024. She calls for evidence on what worked to be examined and used to combat organised crime.
Justice and policing Issue: PSNI paramilitary-style shootings figures for 2024 Original release: Egan welcomes figures showing drop in paramilitary-style shootings. (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Irish Government commitment to Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the draft Irish Government Programme for Government, citing its reflection of SDLP proposals on a skills task force, cross-border environment and waterways, and Erasmus access, plus a €1bn-plus Shared Island Unit commitment and a John Hume Fund.
Constitutional affairs Infrastructure and transport Issue: Draft Programme for Government omits presidential voting rights for citizens abroad Original release: Hanna welcomes Irish Government commitment to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Corridor care can’t become the norm
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says corridor care cannot become the norm in hospitals, after an RCN report found some patients dying in corridors. He calls for proper workforce planning and health service transformation, and warns the situation in the North may be worse than…
Health Issue: Royal College of Nursing report on corridor care across Britain and Northern Ireland Original release: McGrath: Corridor care can’t become the norm (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan questions failure to tackle technical issues around civil service interviews
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan questions the Department of Finance's failure to fix technical problems with online civil service interviews, after an Assembly answer showed 446 candidates were rejected over audio and video faults in 2024/25, up from 427. He calls on the Finance Minister to…
Economy and employment Issue: Assembly question on candidates rejected over civil service online interview technical faults Original release: McCrossan questions failure to tackle technical issues around civil service interviews (opens in a new tab)
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Allister comments on Secretary of State’s upcoming decision on the Stormont Brake
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP sets out limits of the Stormont Brake and Applicability Motion ahead of the Secretary of State's decision, arguing they offer only restricted rights against EU law and urging unionists to oppose the arrangement while backing his Mutual Enforcement Bill.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's Stormont Brake decision on EU Regulation 2024/2865 Original release: Allister comments on Secretary of State’s upcoming decision on the Stormont Brake (opens in a new tab)
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DUP representatives meet Veterans Commissioner
The DUP says its representatives met the newly appointed Veterans Commissioner, David Johnstone, at Westminster, and Leader Gavin Robinson calls for the Armed Forces Covenant duty to be extended to employment, pensions, social care and criminal justice.
Other Issue: DUP meeting with Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner at Westminster Original release: DUP representatives meet Veterans Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Hails Significant Moment in Fight against the Sea Border
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes a Commons division forced on the Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2024, saying it broke a 'glass ceiling' with 77 MPs backing Northern Ireland against the Irish Sea Border. He also points to his Mutual Enforcement Bill as an alternative avoiding a hard…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Draft Official Control Amendment Regulations Irish Sea border vote Original release: Allister Hails Significant Moment in Fight against the Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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British government should come clean on collusion over Sean Brown's death
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the British government's appeal against a second High Court ruling for a public inquiry into Sean Brown's 1997 murder is a breach of human rights. He calls on it to establish the inquiry and disclose the extent of alleged collusion with loyalist…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Sean Brown murder inquiry appeal by British government Original release: British government should come clean on collusion over Sean Brown's death (opens in a new tab)