Latest releases
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2,505 releases
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Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says he will vote against the Education Minister's amendments to the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at Further Consideration Stage and back the Education Committee's amendments, so payments are never below a school dinner's cost.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill Further Consideration Stage amendments Original release: Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for EU ETS agreement with British government to prioritise clarity for the north of Ireland
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan welcomes a preliminary EU-UK deal linking their two Emissions Trading Systems and calls for the final text to prioritise clarity for the north, address overlap and provide guidance for Irish business.
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: EU-UK preliminary deal linking Emissions Trading Systems Original release: Boylan calls for EU ETS agreement with British government to prioritise clarity for the north of Ireland (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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Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7%
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA challenges the Agriculture Minister over Belfast Telegraph remarks that about 7% of farmers produce around 70% of phosphorus, and his warning about herd size. She calls for support for the 90% of farmers doing the right thing and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Agriculture Minister's phosphorus remarks and herd size warning in Belfast Telegraph interview Original release: Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7% (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 14 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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Hunter Condemns Minister's Cynical Attempt to Evade Departmental Scrutiny
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA accuses the Education Minister of avoiding accountability by pulling Department officials from Education Committee scrutiny. She calls on the Committee to hear from academics, experts and civil society instead.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Hunter Condemns Minister's Cynical Attempt to Evade Departmental Scrutiny (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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Middleton marks October 7 anniversary
DUP MLA Julie Middleton marks the third anniversary of October 7, remembering victims and hostages and condemning antisemitism in Northern Ireland. She cites the exclusion of Israeli athletes from a Londonderry triathlon as a shameful moment and says antisemitism must be named and confronted every…
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: Middleton marks October 7 anniversary (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Opening of AMIC a key driver for investment and advanced technology – Kearney
Economy and employment Education Original release: Opening of AMIC a key driver for investment and advanced technology – Kearney (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Bower welcomes passing of motion to make public spaces safer for those with severe allergies
Alliance Belfast Councillor Christine Bower welcomes the committee passage of her motion to make public spaces safer for people with severe allergies, ahead of full council ratification next month. She proposes child-friendly hand-washing signage at play parks, better-placed waste bins, staff…
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on safer public spaces for severe allergies Original release: Bower welcomes passing of motion to make public spaces safer for those with severe allergies (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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If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine challenges First Minister Michelle O'Neill to condemn abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA, contrasting her refusal with John O'Dowd's condemnation and urging her to tell those responsible to stop.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA Original release: If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid says personal abuse aimed at female public representatives, both online and in person, has to end. She says challenging misogyny must apply even to politicians whose views one opposes, and that such abuse deters people from entering public life.
Disability and equality Original release: McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop (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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Burrows: Permanent Secretary's no-show undermines accountability at the Assembly
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA criticises the Permanent Secretary's decision not to attend the Education Committee's meeting, calling it unacceptable and an erosion of Assembly accountability. He calls for a swift end to the dispute and urges the Minister to drop the boycott.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Burrows: Permanent Secretary's no-show undermines accountability at the Assembly (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Public entitled to answers from the Education Minister and Department, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA calls for the Education Minister and his department to give answers after Education Committee members were told the Permanent Secretary will miss tomorrow's meeting.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Public entitled to answers from the Education Minister and Department, says Guy (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Neill's silence on abuse of DUP women is breathtaking - McIlveen
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA accuses First Minister Michelle O'Neill of double standards for refusing to condemn intimidation and misogynistic abuse aimed at party colleagues Lockhart and Dodds during an Assembly sitting on the Garvaghy Road.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: First Minister's Assembly appearance over Garvaghy Road events Original release: O'Neill's silence on abuse of DUP women is breathtaking - McIlveen (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 5 October 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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Free School Meals Is Common-Sense That Stormont Refuses to Implement Cllr Shaun Harkin
PBP Cllr Shaun Harkin pledges support for UNISON's campaign for universal free school meals, urging Stormont to implement the policy and arguing that child poverty in Derry shows the need for it.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: Free School Meals Is Common-Sense That Stormont Refuses to Implement Cllr Shaun Harkin (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Herron, to refer two rape sentences to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, arguing a three-year custodial term is inadequate. He also asks whether deportation notices have been issued against both men.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Unduly lenient rape sentences referral request to Director of Public Prosecutions Original release: Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 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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Sheehan hits out at Education Minister for hiding from scrutiny
Sinn Féin's Pat Sheehan MLA accuses Education Minister Paul Givan of avoiding scrutiny after he told departmental staff to stop attending the Education Committee unless questioning is restricted. Sheehan links this to the committee's probes into cronyism, bullying and governance failures.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Sheehan hits out at Education Minister for hiding from scrutiny (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan must reverse decision to restrict Education Committee scrutiny
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls on Education Minister Paul Givan to reverse his decision withdrawing departmental officials from the Education Committee, arguing it is a disproportionate overreach that hampers scrutiny of curriculum and education reform.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Hunter: Givan must reverse decision to restrict Education Committee scrutiny (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)