Latest releases
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2,024 releases
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Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew
Colm Gildernew MLA, Sinn Féin’s communities spokesperson, says DUP ministers must be subject to intense, ongoing scrutiny and urged to prioritise equality, inclusion and respect over personal projects. Sinn Féin will examine public‑fund allocations and robustly challenge any breaches.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Original release: Need for intense and ongoing scrutiny of DUP ministers – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Platform: We don’t need another quango - Emma Little-Pengelly MLA
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Assembly to remove the legal requirement for a climate change commissioner, arguing the £1million-a-year post duplicates the UK-wide Climate Change Committee and that the money should fund public services instead.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Platform: We don’t need another quango - Emma Little-Pengelly MLA (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Irish Government’s €630,000 allocation to Foras na Gaeilge, saying it eases pressure and will boost language promotion, and urges a fair, sustainable funding model while condemning the DUP’s blockage of further Irish‑government support.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: €630,000 funding for Foras na Gaeilge Original release: Kearney welcomes additional funding for Foras na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Council far behind goal of planting one million trees by 2035, says Maghie
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Jenna Maghie says Belfast City Council is around 220,000 trees behind schedule on its One Million Trees initiative, which aims to plant one million native trees by 2035. She calls for the project to be reinvigorated and back on track, pointing to the Belfast Tree…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council One Million Trees initiative progress concerns Original release: Council far behind goal of planting one million trees by 2035, says Maghie (opens in a new tab)
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Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin's Gaeilge, Gaeltachta and Ealaíon spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD welcomes the Dublin government's decision to cover Bord na Gaeilge's historic pension costs, which lets Foras na Gaeilge avoid threatened cuts, but calls for a new funding approach.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Foras na Gaeilge pension costs funding decision and threatened cuts Original release: Fáilte roimh an maoiniú do pinsin, ach cur chuige nua ag teastáil don Fhoras – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Environment Minister Andrew Muir's written answer on the Mobuoy Road waste site, including monitoring, a criminal case against former operators and remediation planning, and urges public participation in the spring consultation on next steps.
Environment and climate Issue: Mobuoy Road illegal waste site remediation update Original release: Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler
Ulster Unionist spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says farmers must not bear the cost of climate action, calling for codesigned measures after recent changes to create a Climate Commissioner office raised concerns. He says the changes should not pit environmental goals against agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe
Alliance's Cllr Eddie Roofe expresses dismay at blue-green algae found at Martray Lough near Ballygawley. He urges other parties to back DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's water quality measures, including action on NI Water and farm nutrient runoff, and accuses some councillors and MLAs of opposing them.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Blue-green algae appearance at Martray Lough near Ballygawley Original release: Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe (opens in a new tab)
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Defence Committee Armed Forces Covenant report affirms what we already know – Beattie
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says the Commons Defence Committee's report on the Armed Forces Covenant confirms delivery is inconsistent across regions. He blames the lack of a Northern Ireland strategy, citing the Veterans Support Office not being retained, and calls on the UK Government to intervene.
Other Issue: Defence Committee fourth report on the Armed Forces Covenant Original release: Defence Committee Armed Forces Covenant report affirms what we already know – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes approval of Climate Commissioner for Northern Ireland
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA welcomes the Assembly's approval of draft regulations establishing a Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner. She says the independent office is long overdue and calls for faster, joined-up action on climate change and net zero.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: McLaughlin welcomes approval of Climate Commissioner for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Black Mountain fire threatens wildlife and natural habitat – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly expresses shock at a fire burning on Black Mountain in west Belfast, warning it threatens wildlife and natural habitat. She urges the public to give fire crews room and calls for anyone with information on a deliberate start to come forward.
Environment and climate Issue: Black Mountain fire in west Belfast Original release: Black Mountain fire threatens wildlife and natural habitat – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Greens welcome vote to create Climate Commissioner role
Green Party NI Leader Mal O'Hara welcomes the Assembly's vote to establish a Climate Commissioner, which he says would scrutinise the Executive's environmental record, and criticises the five Executive parties' approach to Lough Neagh and environmental protection.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Greens welcome vote to create Climate Commissioner role (opens in a new tab)
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Mourne Fire Prevention Plan must be priority for DAERA – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard calls on DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to urgently deliver a long-delayed Mourne Fire Prevention Plan after recent fires, and asks for an immediate review of the legal controlled-burning period.
Environment and climate Issue: Mourne fires and delayed Mourne Fire Prevention Plan Original release: Mourne Fire Prevention Plan must be priority for DAERA – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Greater care needed to end Mournes fires
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath urges people to take more care around the Mournes to stop repeated fires, warning that blazes of this scale threaten homes, health and the environment. He calls for severe punishments for those responsible and for anyone with information to contact police.
Environment and climate Issue: Mourne Mountains wildfires started deliberately Original release: McGrath: Greater care needed to end Mournes fires (opens in a new tab)
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Those behind Mournes fires must be held to account – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard condemns those responsible for deliberately starting wildfires in the Mournes, thanks firefighters, and calls for a thorough probe into causes and impacts plus accountability for those responsible.
Environment and climate Justice and policing Issue: Mourne Mountains wildfires started deliberately Original release: Those behind Mournes fires must be held to account – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Representatives express concerns following Mourne Mountains Fires
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Councillor Jill Truesdale express concern over gorse fires spreading across the Mourne Mountains, blaming deliberate fire lighting. They urge people to follow NIFRS evacuation advice, be vigilant with fires and report displaced ponies.
Environment and climate Issue: Mourne Mountains wildfires started deliberately Original release: Alliance Representatives express concerns following Mourne Mountains Fires (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Unity is best defence to climate challenge – Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan says a conference in Dublin on climate change and an all-island strategy found broad agreement that Irish unity would best equip the island to meet the climate challenge. Boylan points to Storm Éowyn's cross-border impact as evidence for a joint approach.
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin all-island climate change conference in Dublin Original release: Irish Unity is best defence to climate challenge – Lynn Boylan MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Irish unity is best defence to climate challenge – Boylan
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan says a conference in Dublin on climate change across the island found broad agreement that Irish unity offers the best route to meeting the challenge, citing Storm Éowyn's cross-border impact as evidence for an all-island environmental strategy.
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Original release: Irish unity is best defence to climate challenge – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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TUV hits out on Central Station controversy
TUV leader Jim Allister attacks Infrastructure Minister Kimmins over Irish signage at Grand Central Station, arguing she lacks authority over operational Translink decisions. He backs a legal challenge led by Mr Bryson and says the DUP has weakened its position by seeking an Irish Language…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: TUV hits out on Central Station controversy (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison expresses concern at staffing levels in EA SEN Transitions Service
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA expresses concern that the EA Transitions Service, which supports around 9,000 students with special educational needs across Northern Ireland, has only 10 staff.
Education Disability and equality Issue: EA SEN Transitions Service staffing levels revealed Original release: Mathison expresses concern at staffing levels in EA SEN Transitions Service (opens in a new tab)