Latest releases
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3,374 releases
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Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the launch of a Sentencing Review by Justice Minister Naomi Long, which will examine animal welfare offences and environmental crime. He says stronger penalties are needed for those who harm animals or damage the environment, and cites pollution incidents in South…
Justice and policing Environment and climate Issue: Justice Minister's Sentencing Review on animal welfare and environmental crime Original release: Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Environment Agency delays hindering south Down’s economic potential – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard warns that slow Environment Agency responses to statutory planning consultations are stalling housing, business and community projects in South Down. He has asked Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir to review the agency's performance and set out an urgent…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Environment Agency delays hindering south Down’s economic potential – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister launches new digital course to help pupils stay…
Education Minister Paul Givan launches a free online Digital Proficiency Course on the Safer Schools NI platform to help pupils, parents and schools keep children safe online, with the course going live on Safer Internet Day, 10 February 2026.
Education Issue: Safer Schools NI Digital Proficiency Course launch Original release: Education Minister launches new digital course to help pupils stay… (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA questions the Department of Education's failure to record data on children with special educational needs placed on reduced school timetables. She says she will raise it with the Education Minister and press for clear data collection processes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education no data on SEN reduced timetables Original release: Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN (opens in a new tab)
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Dedicated Controlled Schools’ Unit launched
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Education Authority’s new Controlled Schools’ Unit, the first phase of a task‑force‑recommended two‑stage plan to give dedicated support and management to Northern Ireland’s controlled school sector.
Education Issue: Launch of Education Authority Controlled Schools’ Unit Original release: Dedicated Controlled Schools’ Unit launched (opens in a new tab)
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Buckley slams Minister over “Pothole Pandemic”
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins gave no clear answers when summoned to the Assembly over poor road conditions, and calls for £85 million set aside for cycle paths to be redirected to road maintenance.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly questions to Infrastructure Minister on road condition and potholes Original release: Buckley slams Minister over “Pothole Pandemic” (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Reforms must have buy-in from education sector
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says planned education reforms need the confidence of schools and buy-in from the sector, and that the Education Minister must show how changes to SEN provision will improve outcomes. She warns against using reforms as leverage in a dispute…
Education Issue: Education Minister's consultation on five-year budget strategy Original release: Hunter: Reforms must have buy-in from education sector (opens in a new tab)
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Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty
UUP Communities Spokesperson and East Belfast MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes recent additional investment in NISEP and calls on the Economy Minister to sustain it and align it with the wider fuel poverty strategy, including renewable biofuel options for rural areas.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Additional investment in Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) Original release: Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: End to academic selection decades overdue
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter says ending academic selection is decades overdue and calls on the Executive and Education Minister to act, not just debate. She says today's non-binding Assembly motion, brought by Sinn Féin, will not deliver change and points to progress in the South.
Education Issue: Assembly motion on academic selection, February 2026 Original release: Hunter: End to academic selection decades overdue (opens in a new tab)
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More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a more coordinated storm response on the Portaferry Road and A20 ahead of her Stormont adjournment debate. She asks the Department for Infrastructure to set out closure procedures, inter-agency communication and signposting of an alternative…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Storm Bram impact on A20 Portaferry Road and Ards Peninsula Original release: More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid: Executive must prioritise free school meals
SDLP Councillor Catherine McDaid says the Executive must prioritise universal free school meals across the North, after a Derry City and Strabane council motion she brought forward will see the council write to the Education Minister seeking a funded plan by 2030.
Education Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council motion on universal free school meals Original release: McDaid: Executive must prioritise free school meals (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard welcomes progress on low-carbon heating support as ‘a vital step for affordability and climate action’
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's decision to proceed with designing a new low-carbon home heating support scheme. He says it offers clarity for families reliant on oil heating and calls for affordability, rural needs and fuel-poor households to stay central…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy low-carbon heating support scheme design next steps Original release: Hazzard welcomes progress on low-carbon heating support as ‘a vital step for affordability and climate action’ (opens in a new tab)
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Gynaecological and menopause waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for action on gynaecology and menopause waiting times, citing a BBC report that almost 60,000 women are on gynaecology waiting lists in the north. She urges the Health Minister to work with his southern counterpart and says the forthcoming women's health action…
Health Disability and equality Issue: BBC report on almost 60,000 women on gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Gynaecological and menopause waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey expresses support for WASPI campaign
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey expresses support for the WASPI campaign after the British government rejected compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age. He says the decision denies women born in the 1950s what they are owed.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: British government rejects WASPI state pension compensation Original release: Maskey expresses support for WASPI campaign (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister meets Riverside residents following latest flooding incident – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, says he joined Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins in visiting Riverside in Antrim after Storm Chandra flooding, and seeks assurances on urgent action and a systematic review of the agencies' response.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Riverside Antrim flooding following Storm Chandra Original release: Infrastructure Minister meets Riverside residents following latest flooding incident – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston challenges deputy First Minister on Irish Language Commissioner
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says the commencement order bringing the Irish Language Commissioner's powers into force is the DUP's surrender on Irish language demands, and calls on the deputy First Minister to ensure Pol Deeds stays within his legal powers, including over the Grand Central…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Commencement order bringing Irish Language Commissioner powers into force Original release: Gaston challenges deputy First Minister on Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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Families continue to be failed by lack of respite provision, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says families are being failed by a lack of respite care after the Department of Health confirmed Lindsay House in the South Eastern Trust cannot reopen with no timeframe. She has tabled an urgent oral question for the Health Minister.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Lindsay House respite facility reopening delay confirmed Original release: Families continue to be failed by lack of respite provision, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes European Commission investigation into X
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes the European Commission's decision to investigate X over its Grok AI tool, which was misused to generate sexualised deepfake imagery. She calls on social media firms to stop enabling the digital undressing of women and children and says parties at Stormont have…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: European Commission investigation into X over Grok AI images Original release: Sheerin welcomes European Commission investigation into X (opens in a new tab)
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Presentations from Foras na Gaeilge and Turas show huge interest in Irish language across Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin's Senator Conor Murphy says Oireachtas committee presentations by Foras na Gaeilge and Turas show growing interest in Irish, but claims statutory funding is failing the sector and Good Friday Agreement commitments on language have not been honoured. He also calls on the Irish Government…
Disability and equality Education Issue: Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee Irish language presentations from Foras na Gaeilge and Turas Original release: Presentations from Foras na Gaeilge and Turas show huge interest in Irish language across Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Storm Chandra Exposes Once Again Flaws in NI School Closure System
UUP Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA calls for urgent reform of school closure decisions after more than 346 schools closed during Storm Chandra. He says the Department of Education's fragmented approach left principals to coordinate informally and urges it to take central responsibility for…
Education Issue: Storm Chandra school closures and Department of Education response Original release: Storm Chandra Exposes Once Again Flaws in NI School Closure System (opens in a new tab)