Latest releases
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3,926 releases
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Gannon questions Sinn Féin’s commitment to delivering Enniskillen Bypass
SDLP council group leader Councillor Adam Gannon questions Sinn Féin's commitment to the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass after a Sinn Féin amendment removed firm commitments to reinstate £6.6m funding, start work in 2026 and include the project in an Executive multi-year budget.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Sinn Féin amendment to SDLP motion on A4 Enniskillen bypass funding Original release: Gannon questions Sinn Féin’s commitment to delivering Enniskillen Bypass (opens in a new tab)
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McIlveen warns Maritime Carbon Scheme could drive up costs for…
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen warns that extending the carbon market to shipping could raise freight costs by about £15 per trailer, pushing prices up for businesses and households. She criticises Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance for backing the measure and calls for the policy to be…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Assembly debate on extending UK carbon pricing to maritime transport Original release: McIlveen warns Maritime Carbon Scheme could drive up costs for… (opens in a new tab)
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New residents’ parking scheme will benefit communities – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's announcement that applications for residents' parking schemes will open in April 2026, operated on the basis of demand, and urges residents who think it would help their area to apply.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister residents' parking scheme applications announcement Original release: New residents’ parking scheme will benefit communities – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Clarity needed from Infrastructure Minister on Residents' Parking Zones
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA calls on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to set out a timeline for Residents' Parking Zones after she announced a scheme letting residents apply for them. He welcomes the plan but says no specific timelines were given.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister residents' parking scheme applications announcement Original release: McNulty: Clarity needed from Infrastructure Minister on Residents' Parking Zones (opens in a new tab)
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Time for NI to move away from fossil fuel dependency, says Bamford
Alliance councillor Jessica Bamford urges the Economy Minister to draft a plan for moving Northern Ireland away from fossil fuel reliance, via a council motion, citing rising home heating oil costs linked to Middle East instability.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Lisburn and Castlereagh council motion on fossil fuel dependency energy plan Original release: Time for NI to move away from fossil fuel dependency, says Bamford (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says Education Minister Paul Givan should give classroom assistants proper respect, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Monday. He criticises proposed reforms, especially around special educational needs, and calls for scrutiny of the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Classroom assistant reforms proposed by Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants (opens in a new tab)
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SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on Secretary of State Hilary Benn to step in and help establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency, which he says all main parties committed to in New Decade, New Approach. He accuses the DUP of blocking it at the Executive ahead…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Environmental Protection Agency establishment blocked at Executive Original release: SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says funding for a violence against women scheme is allocated to groups using a third gender category, 'neither', and has submitted questions to all Executive Ministers on how departmental data is broken down by gender and defined.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women funding scheme gender category 'neither' questions to Executive Ministers Original release: Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services
TUV councillor Anna Henry, Mid and East Antrim, warns women face years of chronic pain awaiting first gynaecology specialist appointments, citing June 2025 figures showing over 14,000 waiting in the South Eastern Trust and wait times near two years, and calls for urgent investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health June 2025 gynaecology outpatient waiting list figures Original release: Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says a single Irish state offers the strongest chance to unlock a New Ireland’s economic potential, unveiling the ‘Success by Design’ paper with proposals for an all‑island infrastructure fund, stronger rail links, skills alignment and a Ministry for a New Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Launch of SDLP Success by Design policy paper Original release: SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes the latest waiting list figures, citing a fall of over 15,000 patients awaiting first outpatient appointments and 7,316 fewer waiting for inpatient or day case admission. He commends healthcare staff and expects further improvement from the Elective Care…
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the Environment Minister's Assembly update on stronger wastewater pollution rules, including tougher fines, ending NI Water's licence to pollute and stricter discharge consent standards. He urges Executive approval and urgent Infrastructure…
Environment and climate Issue: Environment Minister's Assembly update on wastewater pollution measures Original release: No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £9million pilot stage of the Grassroots Facilities Programme under the Northern Ireland Football Fund, with awards of £500,000 to £1.5million and applications now open. The DUP-linked release says six projects will be supported.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Grassroots Facilities Programme pilot £9million funding call Original release: Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the Department for the Economy must be candid about Northern Ireland's 2030 renewable electricity target of 80%, which she calls unachievable on current trajectory. She cites roughly 44% renewable generation today and calls for a credible, deliverable energy…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Economy Committee questioning of Energy Group officials on 2030 renewable electricity target Original release: Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go
TUV leader Jim Allister says Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds's claim that opposition to Irish is a blow for unification echoes a 1982 IRA-era remark and calls for his removal, urging Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to act.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds comments on opposition to Irish Original release: Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the latest hospital waiting list figures, showing over 542,000 people awaiting a first outpatient appointment and more than 174,000 waiting over two years, raise doubts about whether the Executive treats the backlog as a priority.
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to set a firm timetable for upgrading the regional eating disorder service, noting an outline business case awaits Finance review under Action 29d of the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Eating disorder service enhancement timetable ahead of Awareness Week debate Original release: Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, a Policing Board member, says the high number of officers abusing their position for sexual purposes shows a need for cultural change in the PSNI, following the Police Ombudsman's report on the issue. He calls for the Justice Minister to confirm when legislation for faster…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman report on sexual misconduct by PSNI officers Original release: McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan demands urgent action on dangerous A5 road conditions
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan calls on the Department for Infrastructure to act immediately on the deteriorating A5, citing large potholes, blocked gullies and standing water that he says have led to drivers losing control.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: McCrossan demands urgent action on dangerous A5 road conditions (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says he is disappointed the Infrastructure Minister gave no clear timeline for school bus safety legislation. He calls for a law banning overtaking stationary school buses while children board or leave, citing further accidents since…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister's lack of timeline for school bus safety legislation Original release: McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws (opens in a new tab)