Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
11,735 releases
-
Minister Lyons confirms his commitment to supporting voluntary and…
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, speaking to the All-Party Group on the Sector at NICVA in Belfast, pledges to strengthen government partnership with community groups and says his department raised its funding to the sector by 5% in 2024/25.
Public finance and taxation Original release: Minister Lyons confirms his commitment to supporting voluntary and… (opens in a new tab)
-
Labour taxing public services to death – Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe warns of a £97 million overcommitment in the 2024/25 Executive budget and a roughly £200 million annual cost rise from Labour's employer National Insurance increase, calling for clarity from the Finance Minister and Treasury action.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive overcommitment and employer National Insurance cost increase impact on public finances Original release: Labour taxing public services to death – Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
-
Detail and reform needed to provide reassurance about future public emergencies, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Executive Office's acceptance, at least in part, of the ten UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 recommendations. She calls for clarity on rejected recommendations, implementation timescales and reform of Northern Ireland's government…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive Office response to UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 recommendations Original release: Detail and reform needed to provide reassurance about future public emergencies, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Middle East deal a welcome relief but must be accompanied by urgent humanitarian aid effort, says Nicholl.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw... no, the release names Ms Nicholl, South Belfast MLA and Chair of the Assembly All Party Group on International Development, who welcomes the Gaza ceasefire deal and calls for a rapid increase in humanitarian aid, a Gaza Family Visa Scheme and accountability for war…
International affairs Issue: Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement reported January 2025 Original release: Middle East deal a welcome relief but must be accompanied by urgent humanitarian aid effort, says Nicholl. (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Executive squabbling won’t solve health crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls for an end to Executive infighting over the health service crisis, criticising Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's statement on the draft budget's equality impact assessment as a list of grievances. He urges parties to work together on solutions.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health Equality Impact Assessment of 2025‑26 budget Original release: McGrath: Executive squabbling won’t solve health crisis (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan urges Infrastructure Minister to review winter services plan
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA calls on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to review the department's winter services programme, saying road gritting criteria and grit box provision are not serving all areas well. He says reviews should involve other agencies to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Winter weather road gritting and grit box provision by DfI Original release: Durkan urges Infrastructure Minister to review winter services plan (opens in a new tab)
-
McAleer encourages community participation in Dalradian inquiry
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer urges residents across the north west to take part in the additional consultation on Dalradian's proposed Sperrins goldmine and processing plant, after its planning inquiry was suspended. He calls the delay regrettable and stresses the project's possible environmental…
Environment and climate Issue: Dalradian Sperrins goldmine planning inquiry suspension Original release: McAleer encourages community participation in Dalradian inquiry (opens in a new tab)
-
US decision on Cuba should pave the way for normalisation of US-Cuba relations – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA welcomes the US decision to remove Cuba from its state sponsor of terrorism list, urging it to open the way to normal diplomatic and economic ties. He calls on the incoming Irish government to press for an end to the US embargo on Cuba.
International affairs Issue: US removal of Cuba from terrorism sponsor list Original release: US decision on Cuba should pave the way for normalisation of US-Cuba relations – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
Jim Allister raises the Protocol threat to a UK-US trade deal with the Prime Minister
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Prime Minister failed to answer his PMQs question on a UK-US trade deal given Northern Ireland's continued subjection to EU trade law. He argues his Mutual Enforcement Bill would avoid a hard border and calls on the PM to restore full UK sovereignty before…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Allister's PMQs question on US trade deal and Northern Ireland EU law Original release: Jim Allister raises the Protocol threat to a UK-US trade deal with the Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
-
Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes vital and gamechanging tool for the development of economic policy across the island
Sinn Féin public expenditure and reform spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes the new macro‑economic modelling tool created by ESRI and NIESR for the north of Ireland, saying it will enable island‑wide policy forecasting and urges the incoming government to use it for positive economic outcomes
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI report on a new economic model for the North Original release: Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes vital and gamechanging tool for the development of economic policy across the island (opens in a new tab)
-
No place for the glorification of terrorism - Campbell
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell says Sinn Féin’s ongoing glorification of PIRA terrorists damages reconciliation, deepens division and disrespects victims, and argues there is no place for terrorism glorification in a peaceful society.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: First Minister's attendance at IRA commemoration Original release: No place for the glorification of terrorism - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
-
Adams comment on internment case
Former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams urges caution over reports the British government will remove Legacy Act elements that discriminate against some former internees, saying the detail must be seen first. He says the 2020 Supreme Court ruling on Interim Custody Orders is clear and that further…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government reported move to amend Legacy Act on former internees Original release: Adams comment on internment case (opens in a new tab)
-
Robinson – “Government should legislate on legacy compensation”
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP calls on the Government to stop relying on court judgements and instead legislate to block legacy compensation for Gerry Adams and others, saying public money should not go to them while hospitals, schools and police face financial pressures.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Gerry Adams legacy compensation court judgement and government response Original release: Robinson – “Government should legislate on legacy compensation” (opens in a new tab)
-
‘New economic model will help to ensure continued growth of thriving all-island economy’ – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes an ESRI report on a new economic model for the North, saying it will improve understanding of the economy. He says north-south trade is at a record high and that dual market access should be used to attract investment and create jobs.
Economy and employment Issue: ESRI report on a new economic model for the North Original release: ‘New economic model will help to ensure continued growth of thriving all-island economy’ – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
-
‘People’s Kitchen must have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out vital homelessness work’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he and MLA Carál Ní Chuilín met Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with the People's Kitchen team, and calls on the minister to examine funding streams for the Belfast homelessness charity, which receives no public funding.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: ‘People’s Kitchen must have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out vital homelessness work’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister commends organisations working to tackle homelessness
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons praised frontline homelessness charities during a visit to a north Belfast support centre, highlighted the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy, announced an extra £6.7 m for the Housing Executive and a new 2025‑26 allocation for homelessness prevention, and thanked
Housing Issue: Housing Supply Strategy and homelessness funding boost Original release: Minister commends organisations working to tackle homelessness (opens in a new tab)
-
Results show businesses are being taxed to death
DUP Economy Committee chair Phillip Brett MLA says the Northern Ireland Chamber's quarterly business survey shows firms are being overtaxed after the UK Budget, with 81% of respondents expecting a negative economic impact. He calls on the Finance Minister to act on National Insurance changes and…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Chamber quarterly economic survey results on the UK Budget Original release: Results show businesses are being taxed to death (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister commits to opposing move which could see Gerry Adams claim compensation
TUV MP Jim Allister KC welcomes a Policy Exchange paper opposing the government's proposal to repeal sections 46 and 47 of the Legacy Act, and says he will vigorously oppose the measure when it reaches the Commons. He claims it would open the door to compensating Gerry Adams for his detention…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government reported move to amend Legacy Act on former internees Original release: Allister commits to opposing move which could see Gerry Adams claim compensation (opens in a new tab)
-
Givan establishes International Ministerial Advisory Panel on…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces an International Ministerial Advisory Panel of six overseas education experts, including figures from Cambridge Assessment and the Republic of Ireland's inspectorate, to guide Northern Ireland's curriculum and assessment changes. Members will serve an…
Education Issue: International Ministerial Advisory Panel on Curriculum and Assessment established Original release: Givan establishes International Ministerial Advisory Panel on… (opens in a new tab)
-
Stormont spends £1.4 million on wining and dining in 10 months
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Stormont departments spent over £1.4 million on hospitality in ten months, using Assembly question answers, and questions NI Water's £58,200 spend and the Executive Office's non-response. He calls for a cultural change and moderation in public sector hospitality spending.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont departments hospitality spending figures from Assembly questions Original release: Stormont spends £1.4 million on wining and dining in 10 months (opens in a new tab)