Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Public finance and taxation: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
3,322 releases
-
Brooks expresses concern at lack of transparency and consideration around plans for Botanic Gardens
Alliance councillor Tara Brooks voices concern that Belfast City Council's plan to move a community garden and an EU-funded UPSURGE environmental project from Botanic Gardens for a sports pitch lacks transparency. She says her proposal to pause the decision for more information was ignored and…
Local government Environment and climate Issue: Botanic Gardens community garden relocation for new sports pitch Original release: Brooks expresses concern at lack of transparency and consideration around plans for Botanic Gardens (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan: Minister must address soaring temporary accommodation spend
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urgently address spending on temporary accommodation after a PAC report found £40m was spent in 2024/25.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on homelessness Original release: McCrossan: Minister must address soaring temporary accommodation spend (opens in a new tab)
-
Horrifying reports of AI-generated abuse of disabled people highlights need for regulation, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl calls for AI regulation after reports that Meta is investigating accounts sharing AI-generated sexualised content degrading disabled people. She says she will bring an amendment to the Justice Bill banning tools built to create non-consensual sexually explicit images.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Meta investigation into AI-generated sexualised content of disabled people Original release: Horrifying reports of AI-generated abuse of disabled people highlights need for regulation, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
-
Murphy welcomes Executive approval to permanently end Petroleum Exploration and Licensing
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomes the Executive's sign-off on repeal legislation that would permanently halt oil and gas exploration and licensing in the north, including fracking. She says it aligns the region with the rest of the island and will protect Fermanagh communities.
Environment and climate Issue: Executive approval of Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (Repeal) Bill Original release: Murphy welcomes Executive approval to permanently end Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (opens in a new tab)
-
Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes the strongly positive response to a survey by the Education Committee on a plan guaranteeing all pupils the right to wear trousers, with about 98% in favour. She says the School Uniform Bill was a missed opportunity and calls for it to pass before next year's…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee survey on pupils' right to wear trousers Original release: Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason (opens in a new tab)
-
PEACEPLUS funding must be maintained – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald welcomes support for additional PEACEPLUS funding in the next EU budget, following a proposal by Kathleen Funchion MEP that still needs agreement from a European committee. She calls for funding to be guaranteed beyond 2027.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Regional Development Committee adoption of PeacePlus funding amendment Original release: PEACEPLUS funding must be maintained – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
-
Bilingual signage at Ulster University students’ union ‘another positive step for equality’ – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Ulster University's decision to install bilingual Irish and English signage across its students' union, citing a 2018 student vote, and commends Irish language campaigners for their work.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Ulster University students' union bilingual signage installation Original release: Bilingual signage at Ulster University students’ union ‘another positive step for equality’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
-
Amendment to secure additional PeacePlus funding backed in Brussels – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion welcomes the adoption of her amendment by the European Parliament's Regional Development Committee to restore the central Brussels-funded PeacePlus allocation omitted from the Commission's 2028-2034 budget proposal. She says further pressure is needed to secure it…
Public finance and taxation International affairs Issue: Regional Development Committee adoption of PeacePlus funding amendment Original release: Amendment to secure additional PeacePlus funding backed in Brussels – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
-
Ulster Unionist Party leadership meet with Secretary of State
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says he, Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA and Deputy Chief Whip John Stewart MLA met Secretary of State Hilary Benn and pressed him on the Local Growth Fund funding cliff edge, legacy, and governance reform. He says the party will keep raising Local Growth Fund concerns…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Ulster Unionist leadership meeting with Secretary of State Hilary Benn Original release: Ulster Unionist Party leadership meet with Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
-
McAllister expresses horror at those behind swastika in West Belfast
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister says she is horrified by a swastika and anti-immigration message daubed on a gate on the Ballygomartin Road in West Belfast. She condemns those responsible, says Alliance contacted Belfast City Council for its removal, and urges anyone with information to contact the…
Disability and equality Issue: Swastika and anti-immigration graffiti on Ballygomartin Road gate Original release: McAllister expresses horror at those behind swastika in West Belfast (opens in a new tab)
-
Marine Protected Areas Strategy crucial for healthier habitats, says Blair, following publication
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair welcomes the launch of Northern Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas Strategy by Minister Andrew Muir, calling it a vital step to restore marine and freshwater habitats, boost biodiversity and use carbon‑absorbing seagrass and kelp to aid climate action.
Environment and climate Issue: Launch of Northern Ireland Marine Protected Areas Strategy Original release: Marine Protected Areas Strategy crucial for healthier habitats, says Blair, following publication (opens in a new tab)
-
Halt For-Profit Gouging of Health Service
People Before Profit's Cllr Shaun Harkin brings a motion to Derry City and Strabane District Council's February meeting urging a halt to profiteering in the health service, citing more than £302 million paid to private providers by Health and Social Care Trusts from 2020 to 2025.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Halt For-Profit Gouging of Health Service (opens in a new tab)
-
Additional money for roads ‘a positive announcement’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's announcement of a further £2.5 million to repair roads damaged by winter weather, saying total investment since December 2025 now exceeds £40 million.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Infrastructure Minister announces further £2.5 million for road repairs Original release: Additional money for roads ‘a positive announcement’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
-
’50:50 recruitment should be reinstated’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls for the reinstatement of 50:50 recruitment to the PSNI, saying the withdrawal of the policy has badly affected the recruitment of Catholic and nationalist officers. She urges the police to consult underrepresented groups on barriers to joining.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI 50:50 recruitment policy withdrawal Original release: ’50:50 recruitment should be reinstated’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
-
O'Toole: Watchdog report shows two years with zero progress on Budget
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole says a NI Fiscal Council report on the draft multi-year Budget shows little or no progress in two years on the Executive's budget problems. He criticises the £400 million reserve claim as a repeat balance transfer and calls out the lack of a multi-year Budget.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: NI Fiscal Council report on draft multi-year Budget Original release: O'Toole: Watchdog report shows two years with zero progress on Budget (opens in a new tab)
-
Ulster Unionist Leader Jon Burrows to visit US for St Patrick’s Day and meet Secretary of State
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says he will travel to the US for St Patrick's Day with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA, then meet Secretary of State Hilary Benn to press on the Windsor Framework, the Legacy Bill and the Shared Prosperity Fund funding cliff edge.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Ulster Unionist Leader Jon Burrows to visit US for St Patrick’s Day and meet Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
-
Protecting our Hospitality Industry
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong, Economy spokesperson, says the Finance Minister's reply to her Assembly question shows departmental modelling of the hospitality VAT gap with the Republic, estimating savings of about £71,000 for a small guesthouse and £545,000 for a large hotel. She calls for action to…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Finance Minister's reply on hospitality VAT differential modelling Original release: Protecting our Hospitality Industry (opens in a new tab)
-
MLAs Pay Rise: Immoral, Unjustified, and an Insult to Every Worker and Vulnerable Child
Aontú calls the proposed 27% MLA pay rise immoral and unjustifiable, contrasting it with 3–5% increases for teachers, nurses and other public sector workers. It also demands the rise be stopped immediately, citing SEND and EA transport cuts.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: MLAs Pay Rise: Immoral, Unjustified, and an Insult to Every Worker and Vulnerable Child (opens in a new tab)
-
No MLA Pay Rise: Don’t Reward Failure!
Aontú, through Gemma Brolly, backs a petition to stop a proposed 27% MLA pay rise, calling for an immediate halt, a full review of MLA expenses and allowances, and a cap tied to the highest public sector pay award. It also calls for investment in SEND services and a fair deal for public sector…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: No MLA Pay Rise: Don’t Reward Failure! (opens in a new tab)
-
Maghie welcomes council approval of draft byelaws to address noise and graphic imagery
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Jenna Maghie welcomes council approval of draft byelaws restricting graphic imagery and noise in Belfast City Centre, including a 70-decibel noise limit, and urges the Communities Minister to enact them quickly.
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Belfast City Centre draft byelaws on graphic imagery and noise Original release: Maghie welcomes council approval of draft byelaws to address noise and graphic imagery (opens in a new tab)