Latest releases
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2,362 releases
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Budget does little for a justice system in crisis – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, says Budget 2027 will do little to address crises across the justice system, criticising the Minister over the criminal legal aid dispute and the planned withdrawal of Gardaí from Dublin overtime.
Justice and policing Immigration Issue: Budget response on justice system and criminal legal aid dispute Original release: Budget does little for a justice system in crisis – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Budget 2027 fails to address cost pressures facing SMEs and workers – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD says Budget 2027 does not adequately address cost pressures on SMEs or the imbalance between indigenous and multinational enterprise, and that low earners will see little benefit. She calls for more support for all-island trade and energy efficiency…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Budget 2027 announcements on SME supports and workers Original release: Budget 2027 fails to address cost pressures facing SMEs and workers – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath welcomes Newcastle's Bendy Tree being named UK Tree of the Year 2026 by the Woodland Trust, the first Northern Ireland tree to take the award. He has written to Newry, Mourne and Down Council asking for a permanent commemorative plaque beside it.
Environment and climate Issue: Newcastle Bendy Tree named UK Tree of the Year 2026 Original release: McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Wear more clothes advice shows how out of touch the Education Authority has become
UUP Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA criticises Education Authority advice telling pupils and staff to "wear more clothes" over rising energy costs, calling for the guidance to be revised for pupils with sensory needs and for the Department to engage with the Education Committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority "wear more clothes" energy cost advice to schools Original release: Wear more clothes advice shows how out of touch the Education Authority has become (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds says £2.3 million in new neurology funding, announced alongside a Neurology Delivery Team, falls far short of the over £65m the Department's Regional Review said is needed. He calls on the Health Minister to act urgently to fully fund neurology services.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's Neurology Delivery Team and £2.3m funding announcement Original release: Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Shared Island Initiative cannot be the only show in town – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Senator Conor Murphy says the Budget does not fund preparation for Irish unity, urging a Department for Reunification, Citizens' Assemblies, a Green Paper and financial aid for southern students studying in the north.
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish Government budget and Irish unity planning Original release: Shared Island Initiative cannot be the only show in town – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party responds to A5 judgment
UUP Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA responds to the Court of Appeal judgment clearing the A5 Western Transport Corridor, blaming departmental failures for years of delay. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to publish a realistic timetable, an updated cost figure, funding plans…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Court of Appeal ruling overturning A5 road judgment Original release: Ulster Unionist Party responds to A5 judgment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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We were elected to deliver - Robinson
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says the party will not walk away from Stormont despite a week of unlawful actions, backing the PSNI criminal investigation. He also calls for the Chancellor to cancel the planned fuel duty rise at the October budget, citing diesel costs for Northern Ireland firms.
Justice and policing Economy and employment Original release: We were elected to deliver - Robinson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 5 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP proposes “no regrets” actions to enhance all-island cooperation
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the Irish Government to fast-track all-island economic integration in its upcoming 2027 spending plans, seeking more Shared Island Fund investment and an All-Island Economic Task Force. She warns that Stormont's lack of budgets is creating uncertainty for public…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: SDLP proposes “no regrets” actions to enhance all-island cooperation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Four in every five pounds of Careers Portal spend went on staff
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA says a breakdown of Careers Portal spending shows £700,000 of £889,000 went on staff while development spending fell to £6,000 in the final year. She calls for the Economy Minister to put a figure on the cost of keeping the mothballed project in operational…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Careers Portal Project spending revealed in Assembly question response Original release: Armstrong: Four in every five pounds of Careers Portal spend went on staff (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin demands €78m extra for arts and culture in Budget 2027 – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD calls for an additional €78 million for arts and culture in Budget 2027, outlining proposals including an Activity Card for children, new space for culture, expanded basic income for artists and a regional film tax relief uplift.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Féin alternative budget 2027 arts and culture funding Original release: Sinn Féin demands €78m extra for arts and culture in Budget 2027 – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Executive must plan for impact of soaring fuel prices
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive must set out its response to soaring fuel prices affecting households and businesses, citing Consumer Council figures showing diesel at 193.3p per litre. He calls on Ministers to press the Treasury on fuel duty and assess who is…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Consumer Council fuel price figures showing record diesel and petrol costs Original release: O'Toole: Executive must plan for impact of soaring fuel prices (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Parades dispute can’t be excuse for abandoning governance
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the Drumcree dispute must not be used as a reason for Executive parties to abandon governance, as Northern Ireland passes the halfway point of the financial year without an agreed Budget and Stormont tensions grow.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Drumcree dispute and failure to agree Budget at Stormont Original release: O'Toole: Parades dispute can’t be excuse for abandoning governance (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows seeks full cost recovery for £3m Drumcree policing operation
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA writes to the Secretary of State urging the Government to reimburse all extra costs of the Drumcree policing operation, which has already reached about £3 million, so the PSNI budget and other investigations are not compromised.
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Drumcree policing operation cost Original release: Burrows seeks full cost recovery for £3m Drumcree policing operation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says farmers went a year without capital investment support after DAERA delays, and calls for clarity on when larger farm investment support will open. She says the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme opened only in…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA farm capital investment support letters of offer figures Original release: Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Executive cannot allow political crisis to deepen Budget chaos
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the absence of an agreed Budget six months into the financial year shows the Executive's failure to govern. Ahead of the Finance Committee, he warns that Drumcree tensions must not push the Budget crisis aside and that Executive collapse would…
Public finance and taxation Original release: O'Toole: Executive cannot allow political crisis to deepen Budget chaos (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone presses Minister on policing costs of Drumcree parade
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA calls for the full policing costs of the Orange Order's planned Drumcree-related parade down Garvaghy Road to be published, including the cost of 200 officers brought in from Scotland. He also presses Justice Minister Naomi Long on alternative uses for…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Garvaghy Road parade policing costs and Scottish officers deployment Original release: McGlone presses Minister on policing costs of Drumcree parade (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State must extend budget deadline
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says he has written to the Secretary of State asking him to defer Thursday's deadline for the Executive's three-year budget by a short, defined period. He argues leaders need time to address the current strain on political relationships and consult properly, while…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive three-year budget deadline extension request to Secretary of State Original release: Secretary of State must extend budget deadline (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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March for Clean Water: Stormont
People Before Profit calls on people from across the North to join a march at Stormont on 26 September demanding urgent action on toxic algae in Lough Neagh and drinking water quality. It blames intensive agriculture, data centres and underfunding of NI Water for the pollution.
Environment and climate Original release: March for Clean Water: Stormont (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces £2m investment in sports clubs
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £2m Olympic Legacy Fund package for sports clubs in 2026/27, saying £2.1m has already gone to 81 grassroots clubs and that applications are now open.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Olympic Legacy Fund £2m sports clubs funding package 2026/27 Original release: Lyons announces £2m investment in sports clubs (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)