Latest releases
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4,837 releases
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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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McNulty: Clarity needed from Infrastructure Minister on Residents' Parking Zones
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA calls on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to set out a timeline for Residents' Parking Zones after she announced a scheme letting residents apply for them. He welcomes the plan but says no specific timelines were given.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister residents' parking scheme applications announcement Original release: McNulty: Clarity needed from Infrastructure Minister on Residents' Parking Zones (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)
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Gaston publishes his response to Stormont’s MLA only consultation on MLA pay
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston submits his response to the Independent Remuneration Board consultation, opposing the proposed rise in MLA basic salary from about £53,000 to £67,200. He argues the increase is out of step with public sector pay and that the benchmarking against other legislatures is…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Gaston publishes his response to Stormont’s MLA only consultation on MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance’s response to the Independent Remuneration Board’s consultation into MLA pay
Alliance says it would be inappropriate for MLAs to set their own pay and calls for any increase to reflect public finance pressures and uplifts for other public sector workers. It opposes the proposed hike and urges pay to be stopped entirely for MLAs from parties that block Assembly functioning…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Alliance’s response to the Independent Remuneration Board’s consultation into MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston exposes O’Neill hypocrisy on MLA pay
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says First Minister Michelle O'Neill cannot distance herself from a £14,000 MLA pay rise, arguing Sinn Féin helped establish the benchmarking scheme that steered the Remuneration Board towards large uplifts. He calls on her to admit the Stormont establishment created the…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Gaston exposes O’Neill hypocrisy on MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services
TUV councillor Anna Henry, Mid and East Antrim, warns women face years of chronic pain awaiting first gynaecology specialist appointments, citing June 2025 figures showing over 14,000 waiting in the South Eastern Trust and wait times near two years, and calls for urgent investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health June 2025 gynaecology outpatient waiting list figures Original release: Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says a single Irish state offers the strongest chance to unlock a New Ireland’s economic potential, unveiling the ‘Success by Design’ paper with proposals for an all‑island infrastructure fund, stronger rail links, skills alignment and a Ministry for a New Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Launch of SDLP Success by Design policy paper Original release: SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes the latest waiting list figures, citing a fall of over 15,000 patients awaiting first outpatient appointments and 7,316 fewer waiting for inpatient or day case admission. He commends healthcare staff and expects further improvement from the Elective Care…
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Government’s Local Growth Fund Decision Puts Community Services at Risk
UUP MLA John Stewart says the Government's decision to keep the current Local Growth Fund arrangements, including the 70/30 split, puts charities and voluntary groups at risk of a funding cliff edge on 31 March. He calls on the Executive to explore additional or bridging funding.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Local Growth Fund 70/30 split retained for charities and voluntary sector Original release: Government’s Local Growth Fund Decision Puts Community Services at Risk (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £9million pilot stage of the Grassroots Facilities Programme under the Northern Ireland Football Fund, with awards of £500,000 to £1.5million and applications now open. The DUP-linked release says six projects will be supported.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Grassroots Facilities Programme pilot £9million funding call Original release: Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go
TUV leader Jim Allister says Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds's claim that opposition to Irish is a blow for unification echoes a 1982 IRA-era remark and calls for his removal, urging Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to act.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds comments on opposition to Irish Original release: Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the latest hospital waiting list figures, showing over 542,000 people awaiting a first outpatient appointment and more than 174,000 waiting over two years, raise doubts about whether the Executive treats the backlog as a priority.
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Secretary of State must recognise link between need for reform and Executive’s fiscal doom loop
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says Secretary of State Hilary Benn needs to accept that reforming Stormont's institutions is central to tackling the Executive's financial dysfunction. Speaking after his appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, she argues the current system is broken…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State appearance before Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Original release: Hanna: Secretary of State must recognise link between need for reform and Executive’s fiscal doom loop (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to set a firm timetable for upgrading the regional eating disorder service, noting an outline business case awaits Finance review under Action 29d of the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Eating disorder service enhancement timetable ahead of Awareness Week debate Original release: Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, a Policing Board member, says the high number of officers abusing their position for sexual purposes shows a need for cultural change in the PSNI, following the Police Ombudsman's report on the issue. He calls for the Justice Minister to confirm when legislation for faster…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman report on sexual misconduct by PSNI officers Original release: McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan demands urgent action on dangerous A5 road conditions
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan calls on the Department for Infrastructure to act immediately on the deteriorating A5, citing large potholes, blocked gullies and standing water that he says have led to drivers losing control.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: McCrossan demands urgent action on dangerous A5 road conditions (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says he is disappointed the Infrastructure Minister gave no clear timeline for school bus safety legislation. He calls for a law banning overtaking stationary school buses while children board or leave, citing further accidents since…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister's lack of timeline for school bus safety legislation Original release: McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws (opens in a new tab)