Latest releases
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5,659 releases
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All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says his Voting Rights in Presidential Elections Bill, which passed second stage, would let Irish citizens across the island vote in presidential elections, enfranchising around one million people, with the change taking effect at the next election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise
TUV's Lord Dodds and Jim Allister KC MP say the Independent Monitoring Panel failed to explain why it measured goods value rather than freight movements in assessing the Internal Market Guarantee. They demand revised figures on the UK Internal Market System share of GB-NI freight, saying the 96%…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Independent Monitoring Panel first Internal Market Guarantee report on freight Original release: Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise (opens in a new tab)
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Antrim flood protocol must be aligned with clear operational plan – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, welcomes Regional Community Resilience Group engagement with residents after flooding and calls for the refreshed flood protocol to be aligned with a clear operational plan and a named council oversight official.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Antrim flooding after Storm Chandra Regional Community Resilience Group meeting Original release: Antrim flood protocol must be aligned with clear operational plan – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he is dismayed by the low number of Protestant-background legal staff in the PPS, citing figures showing 46 Protestant and 105 Catholic legal staff, and criticises the Justice Minister for not pursuing the issue.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PPS legal staff community background figures Original release: TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt highlights critical role of primary care elective services
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt praises primary care elective services after a visit to Glengormley Practice, citing £2.9million funding, over 1,450 GP vasectomies and around 3,000 gynaecology procedures. He says the model is cutting hospital waiting lists and looks forward to more elective pathways…
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Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services
UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken condemns the lack of an agreed Executive budget, saying departments face real-terms cuts under interim spending limits and health services, including staff pay awards and waiting list progress, are suffering.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive failure to pass multi-year budget Original release: Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe backs extending the presidential vote to Irish citizens abroad and in the North, regardless of residence, and says a Peadar Tóibín bill debated in the Dáil is a narrower but important first step.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)
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Repair of thousands of road defects ‘positive news’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Department for Infrastructure crews having repaired over 10,000 road defects in eight weeks, commends workers after a difficult period of bad weather, and calls for the Executive to be properly funded.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure repair of over 10,000 road defects Original release: Repair of thousands of road defects ‘positive news’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan
SF MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes progress on a perinatal mental health unit for mothers and babies in Belfast following a Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announcement. He says interim support has not been agreed and urges the minister to avoid further delays, secure…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's announcement that he will introduce Jade's Law, which would automatically suspend parental responsibility for a parent convicted of killing the other parent. She also points to Sinn Féin TDs backing Valerie's Law in the south.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Finance Minister announces introduction of Jade's Law Original release: Sheerin welcomes Finance Minister’s commitment to Jade’s Law (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP says she has written to the UK Prime Minister and Taoiseach urging them to start formal cross-party talks on Stormont institutional reform, aiming to agree a focused package before the May 2027 Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Original release: SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte welcomes Department of Education money for a major expansion at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, saying the new facilities will transform the learning environment and urging the Minister to prevent further delays.
Education Local government Issue: Funding announced for Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School extension Original release: Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement (opens in a new tab)
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Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA hits back at Justice Minister Naomi Long after her Nolan Show appearance, saying the PSNI is underfunded and blaming the Justice Department and Alliance for failing to fight for policing funding.
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Justice Minister Naomi Long's Nolan Show comments on policing funding Original release: Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes confirmation that the new Regional Mother and Baby Unit will be located at Belfast City Hospital, but says it is disappointing that no interim provision will be in place before the facility opens.
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law
UUP MP Robin Swann and Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcome Royal Assent for the Tobacco and Vapes Act, calling it a landmark for public health in Northern Ireland. Chambers says smoking causes over 2,000 deaths a year locally and credits the Assembly's Legislative Consent Motion request.
Health Issue: Tobacco and Vapes Act receives Royal Assent Original release: Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the passage of Northern Ireland’s inaugural Sign Language Bill is a historic day for Deaf people, welcoming the new law that recognises British and Irish Sign Language and imposes duties on public bodies to improve accessibility.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Lyons heralds historic day for Deaf community (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly’s passage of the Sign Language Bill, saying it gives legal recognition to Irish and British Sign Language and places a duty on bodies to provide accessible services for deaf and deaf‑blind people.
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly passage of Sign Language Bill Original release: Assembly passes ‘transformative’ Sign Language Bill – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan call on the Irish government to use its EU Presidency to advance unity, peace and social justice, including starting EU-level discussions on Irish reunification and representation for the North. Boylan also urges calls for suspension of the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency Original release: Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns a Housing Executive eviction in west Belfast, where masked men carried out the removal of a family under PSNI presence. He says the Housing Executive's succession policy has left families homeless after bereavements and blames Stormont for not…
Housing Issue: West Belfast Housing Executive succession eviction of family Original release: Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction (opens in a new tab)
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DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation
DUP MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Forsythe welcome a motion passed by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council calling for a local planning policy on HMOs to tackle their concentration, particularly in Portadown.
Housing Local government Issue: Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council HMO proliferation motion Original release: DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation (opens in a new tab)