Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
2,487 releases
-
TUV Slams Court Ruling on Bell Hotel: “Deport Illegal Migrants, Don’t House Them”
TUV immigration spokesman Councillor Ron McDowell says he is appalled by a Court of Appeal ruling that lets an Epping hotel keep housing asylum seekers, arguing the court gave too little weight to local residents and planning rules. He calls for illegal migrants to be deported rather than housed…
Immigration Housing Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on Epping asylum hotel accommodation Original release: TUV Slams Court Ruling on Bell Hotel: “Deport Illegal Migrants, Don’t House Them” (opens in a new tab)
-
"Drug testing at festivals and large scale events is a no brainer" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth criticises the Public Health Agency for poor communication after a Republic of Ireland health warning about high-dose MDMA ahead of the Electric Picnic festival. He calls for drug testing facilities at large events, an overdose prevention centre in Belfast and…
Health Issue: Republic of Ireland high-dose MDMA warning ahead of Electric Picnic Original release: "Drug testing at festivals and large scale events is a no brainer" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons: Register of Parks, Gardens and Demesnes of Special Historic…
Environment and climate Original release: Lyons: Register of Parks, Gardens and Demesnes of Special Historic… (opens in a new tab)
-
We need to get real about the housing crisis, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for urgent action on the housing crisis after the Department for Communities' Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin, citing 90,477 people waiting for NIHE accommodation and 19,420 children among those classed as homeless. She urges removal of barriers…
Housing Issue: Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin publication August 2025 Original release: We need to get real about the housing crisis, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
Gildernew welcomes homelessness prevention investment
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes a £2.5 million Communities Ministry funding package for homelessness prevention services. He says he is progressing a bill to extend Housing Executive support for at-risk households from 28 days to at least 60.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister £2.5m homelessness prevention funding announcement Original release: Gildernew welcomes homelessness prevention investment (opens in a new tab)
-
Mallaghan welcomes Mid Ulster wastewater investment
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan welcomes a £3.6 million upgrade to Bellaghy's wastewater system, announced alongside Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, and says it will open up new connections. He blames years of underinvestment on British government cuts and says he will keep working with the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Bellaghy wastewater system £3.6 million investment announcement Original release: Mallaghan welcomes Mid Ulster wastewater investment (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV challenges continuing use of hotels to house migrants
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP has written to councils asking whether any hotel-zoned properties in their districts are housing migrants, following a High Court ruling on the Bell Hotel in Epping. He asks whether councils will act to end such uses.
Immigration Local government Issue: High Court ruling on Bell Hotel Epping asylum accommodation planning Original release: TUV challenges continuing use of hotels to house migrants (opens in a new tab)
-
Enforcement investigation a symptom of wider immigration problem:…
DUP South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke welcomes confirmation that a planning enforcement investigation will be opened into the Chimney Corner Hotel, used to house asylum seekers, after a High Court ruling in a case brought by Epping Forest District Council. He says other Northern Ireland hotels used…
Immigration Local government Issue: Chimney Corner Hotel planning enforcement investigation into asylum accommodation Original release: Enforcement investigation a symptom of wider immigration problem:… (opens in a new tab)
-
Muir’s Anti-Farming Tantrum Won’t Save Lough Neagh – TUV
TUV chairman and agriculture spokesman Councillor Allister Kyle accuses Agriculture Minister Muir of resisting criticism over his Nutrients Action Programme and blaming others for Lough Neagh's pollution. He says farmers have already made changes and calls for them to be treated as partners…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Nutrients Action Programme response and Lough Neagh pollution blame Original release: Muir’s Anti-Farming Tantrum Won’t Save Lough Neagh – TUV (opens in a new tab)
-
Protecting our environment must continue to be a priority for Executive – Finnegan
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan says protecting the environment and tackling challenges at Lough Neagh must remain a priority for the Executive, after the return of blue-green algae. She calls for continued work on the Lough Neagh Action Plan and a workable Nutrients Action Programme engaging farmers.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae bloom Original release: Protecting our environment must continue to be a priority for Executive – Finnegan (opens in a new tab)
-
Northern Executive must play its part in assisting sick and injured children from Gaza – Kearney
Sinn Féin chairperson and South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Northern Executive to help evacuate sick and injured children from Gaza who need urgent medical treatment. He also calls for the blockade to end and for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Strip.
International affairs Health Issue: Executive assistance for sick and injured children from Gaza Original release: Northern Executive must play its part in assisting sick and injured children from Gaza – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
ONS analysis suggest that rents less affordable since 2020
UUP councillor Kate Evans, of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, says ONS analysis shows rents becoming less affordable in Northern Ireland since 2020. She calls for private rent increases to be capped and for the Department for Communities to create an online rent calculator.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: ONS analysis on rent affordability in Northern Ireland since 2020 Original release: ONS analysis suggest that rents less affordable since 2020 (opens in a new tab)
-
Bradshaw welcomes movement on allowing Palestinian children medical treatment in NI
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes progress on plans to permit injured Palestinian children to travel to Northern Ireland for urgent medical treatment.
Health International affairs Issue: Allowing injured Palestinian children medical treatment in Northern Ireland Original release: Bradshaw welcomes movement on allowing Palestinian children medical treatment in NI (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says the Health Minister has not yet amended the 'Help with Health and Travel Costs' legislation so Universal Credit claimants receive automatic entitlement, as already applies elsewhere in the UK. She urges the Minister to make the change.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Help with Health and Travel Costs Universal Credit automatic entitlement legislation Original release: Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin committed to protecting Lough Neagh – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says immediate steps are needed to tackle blue-green algae in Lough Neagh after visiting the lough with fisherman Gary McErlain. He calls for agencies to set out short-term actions alongside longer-term water quality measures.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae bloom Original release: Sinn Féin committed to protecting Lough Neagh – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
-
Communities Minister announces £3.3m for Housing Rights
The DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a three-year funding package worth £3.3 million for Housing Rights, which he says will support services helping people most in need, following a visit to the charity in East Belfast.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Housing Rights three-year funding package from Communities Department Original release: Communities Minister announces £3.3m for Housing Rights (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong astounded by wasted energy that could be used to address fuel poverty
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is astounded that £94 million of excess wind energy was wasted in the first two quarters of 2025, citing SONI figures. She calls on the Communities and Economy Ministers to work together to use surplus wind power to cut household energy bills and tackle fuel…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: SONI figures on wasted excess wind energy in 2025 Original release: Armstrong astounded by wasted energy that could be used to address fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon calls on Health Minister to explore regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to explore regulating non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as botox and dermal fillers in the north, following the British government's crackdown plans. She says she has written to the minister asking whether regulations are planned.
Health Issue: British government plans to crack down on non-surgical cosmetic treatments Original release: Dillon calls on Health Minister to explore regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments (opens in a new tab)
-
Children shouldn’t face chemotherapy delays due to poor staff…
DUP MLA and Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds questions how the Belfast Trust allowed chemotherapy delays for children with cancer, blaming poor staff management and rostering that left a majority of a specialist group off work at once. She says unplanned absence should be built into rotas and asks…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust paediatric chemotherapy delays due to staff absences Original release: Children shouldn’t face chemotherapy delays due to poor staff… (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the public to respond to a consultation on her Private Member's Bill that would create an offence for discouraging breastfeeding in public, require premises to be breastfeeding-friendly, and penalise discrimination. The consultation closes on 24 October 2025.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Linda Dillon Private Members Bill breastfeeding consultation launch Original release: Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill (opens in a new tab)