Latest releases
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4,076 releases
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Racist graffiti in Bass Buildings reinforces cost of inaction on tackling racism, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA says racist graffiti found in a Belfast city centre residential building shows the cost of inaction on racism, blaming the First and deputy First Minister for failing to act. She calls for an update to the Race Relations Order and a Racial Equality Strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti found at Belfast city centre residential building Original release: Racist graffiti in Bass Buildings reinforces cost of inaction on tackling racism, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne challenges Kimmins on pothole pandemic
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne says a Assembly motion he proposed, which passed, calls on the Infrastructure Minister to tackle a worsening road network crisis, citing over 127,000 surface defects logged in 2025 and a £3 billion maintenance backlog, and urges permanent repairs and tighter…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly motion on Northern Ireland road maintenance and potholes Original release: Dunne challenges Kimmins on pothole pandemic (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers
TUV equality spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's reversal on Northern Ireland's role in the puberty blocker trial but says he must explain how the decision was made and reversed. Party colleague Timothy Gaston is seeking an urgent Assembly answer from the Minister, and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland withdrawal from puberty blocker trial Original release: Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister Calls the SDLP and Alliance to Account for Voting to Increase the Cost of Living
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, criticises the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026, saying its carbon charges on Great Britain–Northern Ireland ferries will raise travel and goods costs. He accuses the SDLP and Alliance of…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme maritime extension order 2026 Original release: Jim Allister Calls the SDLP and Alliance to Account for Voting to Increase the Cost of Living (opens in a new tab)
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PEACEPLUS funding from Brussels must be safeguarded – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes urges the EU to keep PEACEPLUS funding in place beyond 2027, after a Joint Committee briefing revealed no guaranteed Brussels allocation despite the programme continuing.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Peace Plus funding beyond current programme period after EU extension proposal Original release: PEACEPLUS funding from Brussels must be safeguarded – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: Unacceptable to face up to 90 minute journeys in health emergency
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh councillor Adam Gannon says it is unacceptable that Fermanagh patients face up to 90-minute emergency journeys to Altnagelvin, citing an Assembly answer from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt showing a 2025 average of 1 hour 26 minutes. He calls for immediate local provision…
Health Issue: South West Acute Hospital emergency general surgery removal patient journey times Original release: Gannon: Unacceptable to face up to 90 minute journeys in health emergency (opens in a new tab)
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Commissioning of ADHD services vital, says McReynolds, following publication of ADHD Needs Assessment Report
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds welcomes the ADHD Needs Assessment Report and its proposals for a commissioned ADHD service across Northern Ireland. He calls on the Minister to act on the recommendations and deliver the support people with the condition need.
Health Disability and equality Issue: ADHD Needs Assessment Report publication and commissioned service proposals Original release: Commissioning of ADHD services vital, says McReynolds, following publication of ADHD Needs Assessment Report (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart: Cancer Delays Demand Action, Not Assurances
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart calls for urgent delivery on cancer services after the Secretary of State's response in the Commons, citing about 30 per cent of patients treated within expected timeframes. She demands ring-fenced Barnett consequentials for cancer diagnostics, radiotherapy and…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times and outcomes in the Commons Original release: Lockhart: Cancer Delays Demand Action, Not Assurances (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes agreement ‘to protect public services’
SF MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes a deal reached by Finance Minister John O'Dowd with the UK Treasury to spread departmental overspends across several years, avoiding immediate repayment by Health and Education. She calls on the British government to fund the Executive properly.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Treasury agreement spreading Health and Education departmental overspends over several years Original release: Dolan welcomes agreement ‘to protect public services’ (opens in a new tab)
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Controlled schools need fairly funded from NIO – Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls for a review of Northern Ireland Office education funding, arguing that controlled schools that are already naturally integrated in pupil intake are being overlooked in favour of integrated schools. He says funding should be fair and evidence-based across all sectors.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: Controlled schools need fairly funded from NIO – Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson - Reserve Funding Welcome but Reform is Essential
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP welcomes confirmation that the Executive will access £400 million from the Reserve for public services, while saying the funding is exceptional and backing line-by-line scrutiny of Executive budgets. He calls for root and branch reform of the Northern Ireland Civil…
Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 million Reserve funding for Northern Ireland Executive Original release: Robinson - Reserve Funding Welcome but Reform is Essential (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes latest example of Northern Ireland health service innovation
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes confirmation that the Royal Victoria Hospital is the first in the UK to trial the Volt Pulsed Field Ablation system for atrial fibrillation. He credits Belfast clinical teams and says the approach allows up to three patients per day and frees…
Health Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital Volt Pulsed Field Ablation UK-first trial Original release: Chambers welcomes latest example of Northern Ireland health service innovation (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin oversells £400 million reprofiling as HM Treasury imposes greater oversight
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the agreed reprofiling of Northern Ireland's £400 million overspend is a smaller gain than Sinn Féin and the Finance Minister suggest, and warns that HM Treasury oversight may reduce pressure for departmental reform.
Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 million Reserve funding for Northern Ireland Executive Original release: Sinn Féin oversells £400 million reprofiling as HM Treasury imposes greater oversight (opens in a new tab)
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£400m reserve claim welcome but fundamental reform required, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson welcomes Treasury approval of a £400m reserve claim for the Executive, but says it is only temporary relief without public service reform and action on the cost of division. He backs the planned Treasury open-book exercise.
Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 million Reserve funding for Northern Ireland Executive Original release: £400m reserve claim welcome but fundamental reform required, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Raises Serious Concerns Over Puberty Blocker Trials
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, who sits on the Assembly Health Committee, warns children should not be used as test subjects after it was announced Northern Ireland children will join a clinical trial of puberty-blocking drugs. She says children cannot give informed consent and raises concerns about the…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland participation in puberty blocker clinical trial Original release: Dodds Raises Serious Concerns Over Puberty Blocker Trials (opens in a new tab)
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EU must continue direct funding of Peace Projects in Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy presses the SEUPB on post-2027 funding for Peace Plus, warning no future money has been ringfenced from Brussels and urging the EU to keep the three-pillar model. He also calls for smaller grassroots groups to receive support.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Peace Plus funding beyond current programme period after EU extension proposal Original release: EU must continue direct funding of Peace Projects in Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney calls for improved GP services in South Antrim
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says GP services across South Antrim are inconsistent and access is near impossible in some urban areas, calling on the Health Minister for considerable investment and targeted support. He links poor access to pressure on Antrim Area Hospital's emergency department.
Health Original release: Kearney calls for improved GP services in South Antrim (opens in a new tab)
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A full-time thrombectomy service will help stroke patients in North – McGuigan
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson and North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to introduce a 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service, noting it is still only available 8am to 5pm despite a 2022 Stroke Action Plan target of end-2024.
Health Issue: Assembly debate on 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service in the North Original release: A full-time thrombectomy service will help stroke patients in North – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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‘Delivery is challenging but progress being made’
Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill says delivery in the Executive is challenging due to British government underfunding, and points to a multi-year budget and progress on public services, Lough Neagh and the Irish language while calling for Irish and British governments to plan a unity…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: ‘Delivery is challenging but progress being made’ (opens in a new tab)
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TUV back ratepayers amid council rates hike
TUV's Mid and East Antrim group says it opposed the council's rates increase, calling for any projected under spend to be used to offset the rate struck. It also warns that City Deal financial contributions risk a long-term burden on ratepayers.
Public finance and taxation Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim council district rate increase vote Original release: TUV back ratepayers amid council rates hike (opens in a new tab)