Latest releases
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2,482 releases
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Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter criticises the Education Authority over its handling of repairs at Sandelford School in Coleraine, where deteriorating classrooms and unsuitable mobile units have disrupted pupils with complex needs. She calls for faster repairs, clearer communication and a commitment that…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Sandelford School Coleraine classroom repairs and mobile unit closures Original release: Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Sinn Féin evasion on interconnector failing all-island economy
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA challenges the First Minister's lukewarm support in the Assembly for the North-South Interconnector, accusing Sinn Féin of inconsistent positions on both sides of the border. He says the project is critical for reducing bills, decarbonisation and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: North-South Interconnector First Minister support Assembly question Original release: O'Toole: Sinn Féin evasion on interconnector failing all-island economy (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark Durkan MLA urges the Health, Communities and Finance Ministers to cooperate so health staff on Universal Credit can receive the backdated 2025/26 NHS pay award without losing benefit payments. He calls for a phased payment approach, warning single parents, mainly…
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA expresses concern that 353 special needs school support staff posts were filled without Access NI checks, according to an FOI response from Unite. She calls on the Education Minister to urgently set out plans to end temporary engagement forms…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Access NI checks for special needs school support staff Original release: Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Sinn Féin gaslighting people on cost of living
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA accuses Sinn Féin of gaslighting the public with its Assembly cost of living motion. He says the party, as the biggest in the Executive, should take responsibility for failing to address rising living costs, citing the two-child welfare…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly cost of living motion on poverty and Communities Minister's proposals Original release: Durkan: Sinn Féin gaslighting people on cost of living (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew to meet groups working to tackle poverty as Sinn Féin brings cost of living motion to the Assembly
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he will meet community groups and charities supporting families before his party's Assembly cost of living motion on Monday. The motion asks the Communities Minister for concrete plans to help hard-pressed households, and the party calls his draft poverty plan weak.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Assembly cost of living motion on poverty and Communities Minister's proposals Original release: Gildernew to meet groups working to tackle poverty as Sinn Féin brings cost of living motion to the Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Sinn Féin joined the DUP to defeat his trans rights solidarity motion at Derry City and Strabane District Council, after Sinn Féin called the motion divisive. The motion opposed Stormont transgender policies including the puberty blocker ban and school…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council vote on trans rights solidarity motion Original release: Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council (opens in a new tab)
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Residents’ Parking: Time for the Minister to Stop Delaying and Get On With Delivery
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on the Infrastructure Minister to speed up delivery of residents' parking schemes across Northern Ireland after a Department reply offered only further process. He says the Department's own review found the schemes work and that the Minister is still only considering next…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department reply on residents' parking bays rollout Original release: Residents’ Parking: Time for the Minister to Stop Delaying and Get On With Delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Cannot Hide Behind “Resource Limitations” to Avoid Acting on Sinn Fein Billboard
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is deeply dissatisfied with Infrastructure Minister's written answer on an unauthorised billboard outside Newry bearing Sinn Fein branding, which cited resource limitations and a focus on road safety risks. He calls the response unacceptable and says the Minister…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Newry unauthorised Sinn Fein billboard enforcement written answer Original release: Minister Cannot Hide Behind “Resource Limitations” to Avoid Acting on Sinn Fein Billboard (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan praises Hope Magherafelt for vital community support and calls for immediate end to two-child limit
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan praises Hope Magherafelt's community work during a visit, including its café, food support and signposting, and calls for the UK government to scrap the two-child limit immediately.
Social security and welfare Original release: Mallaghan praises Hope Magherafelt for vital community support and calls for immediate end to two-child limit (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP, including the First Minister, of hypocrisy for welcoming the Londonderry to Dublin air route while backing the 2050 net-zero target. She cites environment minister Andrew Muir's confirmation that international aviation…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Londonderry to Dublin air route resumption Original release: Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan welcomes confirmation that minister can intervene in A5 appeal
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a court decision allowing the Agriculture and Environment Minister to join an appeal against a ruling that blocked the A5 road. She says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who lodged the appeal in August, is determined to find a way forward.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road appeal court permission for Agriculture and Environment Minister to join Original release: Brogan welcomes confirmation that minister can intervene in A5 appeal (opens in a new tab)
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Child Benefit u-turn welcome, but more needed – Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes welcomes HMRC's U-turn on letters suspending Child Benefit payments, but calls for all payments to be reinstated immediately, back payments guaranteed and the errors never repeated.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: HMRC Child Benefit suspension letters U-turn Original release: Child Benefit u-turn welcome, but more needed – Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: 3,000 drop in free school meal approvals deepens pressure on families
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says a drop of over 3,000 free school meal and uniform grant approvals in two years, linked to Universal Credit eligibility thresholds, deepens hardship for families. He calls on Ministers to communicate clearly so parents can reapply.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Free school meal and uniform grant approvals fall by 3,000 Original release: Durkan: 3,000 drop in free school meal approvals deepens pressure on families (opens in a new tab)
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We must continue working together to build the A5 – Boggs
Sinn Féin councillor Paul Boggs says his party remains determined to see the A5 road built, pledging to work with the A5 Enough is Enough campaign, other parties and the Infrastructure Minister after the A5/N2 Cross‑Border Working Group meeting.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: A5 road delivery pledge Original release: We must continue working together to build the A5 – Boggs (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes ‘fantastic’ initiative to attract new planners
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes a new recruitment campaign for planners, a joint scheme by the infrastructure department, Belfast Metropolitan College and four councils offering a higher apprenticeship while in paid full-time work. He commends Minister Liz Kimmins and says cutting planning…
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Planner recruitment and Higher Level Apprenticeship campaign launch Original release: Boylan welcomes ‘fantastic’ initiative to attract new planners (opens in a new tab)
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Allister calls for urgent investigation into Chinese-made buses on UK roads
TUV's Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, co-signs a letter with Falkirk MP Euan Stainbank urging the Government to investigate Chinese-made electric buses already running on UK roads over possible remote-control security risks. The pair also call for backing for British bus manufacturers.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Chinese-made electric buses remote control security concerns Original release: Allister calls for urgent investigation into Chinese-made buses on UK roads (opens in a new tab)
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Baker slams decision to cut education support for vulnerable children
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker criticises the Education Authority's cuts to Education Otherwise Than at School support for vulnerable children, and says he will raise it in the Assembly next week. He blames DUP Education Ministers for financial mismanagement, and says the Lagan Valley Education Project…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority cuts to Education Otherwise Than at School support Original release: Baker slams decision to cut education support for vulnerable children (opens in a new tab)