Latest releases
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5,301 releases
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First and deputy First Minister can no longer ignore Covid Inquiry’s demand for institutional reform – Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, Executive Office spokesperson, says the First and deputy First Minister can no longer sidestep the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's findings on Executive dysfunction. She argues only institutional overhaul will prevent political deadlock from hampering future emergency health…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: UK Covid-19 Inquiry recommendations on Executive dysfunction and institutional reform Original release: First and deputy First Minister can no longer ignore Covid Inquiry’s demand for institutional reform – Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Allister questions impact of ECJ ruling in support of trans ideology on Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister warns that a European Court of Justice ruling in the Shipovo case, recognising a trans woman's legal gender, could override the UK Supreme Court's finding that sex is biological under the Protocol. He has tabled an urgent Westminster question on its impact on gender…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: ECJ Shipovo ruling on gender recognition and Northern Ireland Original release: Allister questions impact of ECJ ruling in support of trans ideology on Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Observer status MEPs should be allocated to the north – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South Kathleen Funchion urges that Northern Ireland be given observer status MEPs, arguing its people face EU rules without a voice at the EU table, during a Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in Brussels.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Parliamentary Partnership Assembly Brussels Northern Ireland observer MEPs proposal Original release: Observer status MEPs should be allocated to the north – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard raises serious concerns over Downe Hospital service reductions
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has raised concerns with the South Eastern Health Trust over reduced services at Downe Hospital on St Patrick's Day, calling for adequate staffing and a holiday contingency strategy.
Health Issue: Downe Hospital service reductions on St Patrick's Day 2026 Original release: Hazzard raises serious concerns over Downe Hospital service reductions (opens in a new tab)
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Women deserve timely, high-quality care at every stage of their lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says women in the north are let down by a health system that dismisses their pain, citing long waits for breast and gynaecology services and endometriosis care. She welcomes an Assembly vote backing a Women's Health Strategy and says her party supports a fully resourced…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on a Women's Health Strategy passed Original release: Women deserve timely, high-quality care at every stage of their lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to move urgently to get the £17 million confirmed by the British government for households reliant on oil to those in need, and to bring forward his proposal without delay.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland welcomes purchase of NI buses by Greater Manchester Mayor
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland welcomes Greater Manchester's order of 55 more electric buses from Ballymena manufacturer Wrightbus, part of a £66 million investment, and calls it a vote of confidence in North Antrim's manufacturing workforce.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Greater Manchester order of 55 electric buses from Wrightbus Original release: Mulholland welcomes purchase of NI buses by Greater Manchester Mayor (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard makes case for Strangford Lough Bridge Study
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard calls on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to commission a feasibility study into a bridge linking Portaferry and Strangford across Strangford Lough, arguing it would boost economic and social development. He also cites possible tidal energy and cycling lanes.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Hazzard makes case for Strangford Lough Bridge Study (opens in a new tab)
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McIlveen: DUP Brings Common Sense to Debate on New Environment Quango
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA says the DUP alone applied common sense in an Assembly debate on a proposed independent Environmental Protection Agency, arguing it would add another unelected arm's length body and shift responsibility from DAERA's Minister. Alliance, Sinn Féin and the SDLP…
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly debate on proposed independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: McIlveen: DUP Brings Common Sense to Debate on New Environment Quango (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister to invest properly in Irish-medium education after Department of Education figures showed a near 400% rise in pupils. He says the growth brings accommodation and curriculum resource shortfalls, and he is bringing forward a law on staffing.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education Irish-medium pupil numbers rise figures Original release: Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan (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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Cost of living crisis tops agenda in meeting between Sinn Féin and British Prime Minister
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald says her delegation pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer on urgent British Government help with energy and fuel costs, the Gaza crisis and an immediate ceasefire. She also calls on him to establish an inquiry into the 1997 killing of Sean Brown and meet his widow.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin delegation meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Original release: Cost of living crisis tops agenda in meeting between Sinn Féin and British Prime Minister (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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SDLP tells PM that change needed to end Executive dysfunction
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the SDLP's reform proposals after raising energy costs and Executive dysfunction, and urges both governments to begin serious talks on change at Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: SDLP meeting with Prime Minister on Stormont Executive dysfunction Original release: SDLP tells PM that change needed to end Executive dysfunction (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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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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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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McIlveen warns Maritime Carbon Scheme could drive up costs for…
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen warns that extending the carbon market to shipping could raise freight costs by about £15 per trailer, pushing prices up for businesses and households. She criticises Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance for backing the measure and calls for the policy to be…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Assembly debate on extending UK carbon pricing to maritime transport Original release: McIlveen warns Maritime Carbon Scheme could drive up costs for… (opens in a new tab)
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The Historical Inevitability of the Union
UUP writes that Irish unity is not inevitable, arguing that polling and the 2024 Westminster vote show Northern Ireland's place in the UK is more likely to endure, and calls on unionists to promote the Union to non-unionist voters.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: The Historical Inevitability of the Union (opens in a new tab)
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Time for NI to move away from fossil fuel dependency, says Bamford
Alliance councillor Jessica Bamford urges the Economy Minister to draft a plan for moving Northern Ireland away from fossil fuel reliance, via a council motion, citing rising home heating oil costs linked to Middle East instability.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Lisburn and Castlereagh council motion on fossil fuel dependency energy plan Original release: Time for NI to move away from fossil fuel dependency, says Bamford (opens in a new tab)