Latest releases
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4,066 releases
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£81m energy bill funding exposes Economy Minister’s priorities
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett says Economy Committee evidence shows the Permanent Secretary was unaware of details of £81million in energy bill support, and calls on the Economy Minister to deliver the funding.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: £81m energy bill funding exposes Economy Minister’s priorities (opens in a new tab)
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DUP secure emergency meeting to question Minister on £81million…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett welcomes the Economy Committee's agreement to hold an emergency meeting on 16 March to question the Economy Minister and Permanent Secretary on £81million for household energy bills. He says confusion from Department of Finance and Department for Economy statements requires…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: DUP secure emergency meeting to question Minister on £81million… (opens in a new tab)
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Treasury Meeting Points to DfE “Asleep at the Wheel”
DUP Treasury spokesperson Sammy Wilson MP and Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart criticise the Department for Economy for not acting on £81m energy bill support, saying the Economy Minister must bring forward a scheme and engage with the Treasury before incoming Crisis and Resilience Fund consequentials…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: Treasury Meeting Points to DfE “Asleep at the Wheel” (opens in a new tab)
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British government’s approach to the Local Growth Fund is unacceptable and should be reversed – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls on the British Prime Minister to reverse the British government's Local Growth Fund decisions, which she says threaten community and voluntary sector services and jobs, following a meeting with Keir Starmer in Belfast.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British government Local Growth Fund cuts to community and voluntary services Original release: British government’s approach to the Local Growth Fund is unacceptable and should be reversed – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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1st April MLA pay hike takes the public for fools
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the MLA pay rise taking effect on 1 April was designed by MLAs to exclude public input, and says his amendments to the remuneration board's remit were dismissed. He accuses the parties involved of taking the public for fools.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: 1st April MLA pay hike takes the public for fools (opens in a new tab)
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International School Meals Day
People Before Profit joins a Derry Trades Union Council rally at the Guildhall calling for free school meals for all children. It cites 41% of children in poverty lacking access and a 20% school meals price rise, and calls for universal free school meals now.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: International School Meals Day (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to make abiraterone available to Northern Ireland men with prostate cancer that has not spread, as it is already offered in England, Scotland and Wales. The Minister says NI lacks a NICE equivalent and cites budget pressures.
Health Issue: Abiraterone prostate cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK (opens in a new tab)
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DUP are deliberately misleading workers and families with false claims – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard accuses the DUP of deliberately misleading workers and families, calling its claim that £81m is available now for allocation untrue. He says the funding announced in the 2025 autumn budget still needs enabling legislation.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: DUP are deliberately misleading workers and families with false claims – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Allister comments after meeting on oil prices
TUV MP Jim Allister says a meeting with Government ministers on fuel prices was largely disappointing, with no commitment to remove 5% VAT on home heating oil or keep the 5p fuel duty rebate. He also says ministers could not clarify any Barnett consequential for a Crisis and Resilience Fund-style…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Government ministers meeting on fuel prices, March 2026 Original release: Allister comments after meeting on oil prices (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says the DUP is detached from reality for calling for higher military spending while cuts to welfare support are considered, as fuel prices rise. He accuses DUP leader Gavin Robinson of backing cuts to welfare to fund military spending abroad, and urges the deputy…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: ‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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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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McLaughlin: Executive must act now to secure future of Childcare Subsidy Scheme
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the Executive to urgently allocate funding so the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme continues beyond March 2026. She says parents face uncertainty and that the scheme should not lapse without confirmed funding.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme funding beyond March 2026 Original release: McLaughlin: Executive must act now to secure future of Childcare Subsidy Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive in shambles as families struggle with heating costs
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive's energy cost response is shambolic after £81m allocated by the Chancellor for the Economy Department went unrecognised by officials. He calls for clarity on who knew and says the funding should be targeted at those most in need.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: O’Toole: Executive in shambles as families struggle with heating costs (opens in a new tab)
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Swann tells HM Treasury urgent action is needed now on oil prices
Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann says Northern Ireland households lack direct support as home heating oil prices rise following the escalation of conflict in Iran. He says 'crisis resilience funds' do not apply in Northern Ireland and calls on the Treasury to set out equivalent support and act on…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Home heating oil price rises after Iran conflict escalation Original release: Swann tells HM Treasury urgent action is needed now on oil prices (opens in a new tab)
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DUP calls to gut welfare spending during energy crisis ‘catastrophically out of touch’, says Mulholland
Alliance Poverty Spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA says calls from senior DUP figures, including Arlene Foster and Gavin Robinson, to move money from welfare budgets to defence are catastrophically out of touch during an energy crisis. She argues it would hit low-income households already…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP calls to move welfare spending to defence during energy crisis Original release: DUP calls to gut welfare spending during energy crisis ‘catastrophically out of touch’, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Magee expansion at critical stage due to funding gap
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Magee campus expansion has reached a critical stage after a Permanent Secretary briefing on funding risks. She opposes raising student fees and calls on the Executive to secure the funding needed for expansion to 10,000 students.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Magee expansion funding gap raised at Economy Committee briefing Original release: McLaughlin: Magee expansion at critical stage due to funding gap (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive parties hoodwinking public with inflation busting rates rise
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses the Executive of hoodwinking the public with an inflation-busting rates rise of 5.0% for domestic and 3.0% for non-domestic properties, without a public services plan or multi-year budget.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive rates increase for domestic and non-domestic properties 2026 Original release: O’Toole: Executive parties hoodwinking public with inflation busting rates rise (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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SDLP calls for Executive support package after energy costs spike
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA calls on the Executive to create a support package for families hit by the sharp rise in energy costs after the Middle East conflict, urging use of UK Spring Statement funding, regulation of heating oil and a green transition.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Energy cost surge following Middle East conflict Original release: SDLP calls for Executive support package after energy costs spike (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)