Latest releases
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5,195 releases
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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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New residents’ parking scheme will benefit communities – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's announcement that applications for residents' parking schemes will open in April 2026, operated on the basis of demand, and urges residents who think it would help their area to apply.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister residents' parking scheme applications announcement Original release: New residents’ parking scheme will benefit communities – Maskey (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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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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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)
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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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SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on Secretary of State Hilary Benn to step in and help establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency, which he says all main parties committed to in New Decade, New Approach. He accuses the DUP of blocking it at the Executive ahead…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Environmental Protection Agency establishment blocked at Executive Original release: SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair (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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No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the Environment Minister's Assembly update on stronger wastewater pollution rules, including tougher fines, ending NI Water's licence to pollute and stricter discharge consent standards. He urges Executive approval and urgent Infrastructure…
Environment and climate Issue: Environment Minister's Assembly update on wastewater pollution measures Original release: No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations (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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Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the Department for the Economy must be candid about Northern Ireland's 2030 renewable electricity target of 80%, which she calls unachievable on current trajectory. She cites roughly 44% renewable generation today and calls for a credible, deliverable energy…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Economy Committee questioning of Energy Group officials on 2030 renewable electricity target Original release: Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets (opens in a new tab)