Latest releases
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2,846 releases
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TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner
TUV leader Jim Allister warns that the Irish Language Commissioner, reportedly due to be confirmed within weeks, will have statutory powers to set standards for every public authority and that DUP ministers cannot block them. He contrasts these with the weaker Ulster Scots and Ulster British…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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We need to get real about the housing crisis, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for urgent action on the housing crisis after the Department for Communities' Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin, citing 90,477 people waiting for NIHE accommodation and 19,420 children among those classed as homeless. She urges removal of barriers…
Housing Issue: Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin publication August 2025 Original release: We need to get real about the housing crisis, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes homelessness prevention investment
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes a £2.5 million Communities Ministry funding package for homelessness prevention services. He says he is progressing a bill to extend Housing Executive support for at-risk households from 28 days to at least 60.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister £2.5m homelessness prevention funding announcement Original release: Gildernew welcomes homelessness prevention investment (opens in a new tab)
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TUV challenges continuing use of hotels to house migrants
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP has written to councils asking whether any hotel-zoned properties in their districts are housing migrants, following a High Court ruling on the Bell Hotel in Epping. He asks whether councils will act to end such uses.
Immigration Local government Issue: High Court ruling on Bell Hotel Epping asylum accommodation planning Original release: TUV challenges continuing use of hotels to house migrants (opens in a new tab)
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Enforcement investigation a symptom of wider immigration problem:…
DUP South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke welcomes confirmation that a planning enforcement investigation will be opened into the Chimney Corner Hotel, used to house asylum seekers, after a High Court ruling in a case brought by Epping Forest District Council. He says other Northern Ireland hotels used…
Immigration Local government Issue: Chimney Corner Hotel planning enforcement investigation into asylum accommodation Original release: Enforcement investigation a symptom of wider immigration problem:… (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Executive must play its part in assisting sick and injured children from Gaza – Kearney
Sinn Féin chairperson and South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Northern Executive to help evacuate sick and injured children from Gaza who need urgent medical treatment. He also calls for the blockade to end and for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Strip.
International affairs Health Issue: Executive assistance for sick and injured children from Gaza Original release: Northern Executive must play its part in assisting sick and injured children from Gaza – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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ONS analysis suggest that rents less affordable since 2020
UUP councillor Kate Evans, of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, says ONS analysis shows rents becoming less affordable in Northern Ireland since 2020. She calls for private rent increases to be capped and for the Department for Communities to create an online rent calculator.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: ONS analysis on rent affordability in Northern Ireland since 2020 Original release: ONS analysis suggest that rents less affordable since 2020 (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes movement on allowing Palestinian children medical treatment in NI
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes progress on plans to permit injured Palestinian children to travel to Northern Ireland for urgent medical treatment.
Health International affairs Issue: Allowing injured Palestinian children medical treatment in Northern Ireland Original release: Bradshaw welcomes movement on allowing Palestinian children medical treatment in NI (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says the Health Minister has not yet amended the 'Help with Health and Travel Costs' legislation so Universal Credit claimants receive automatic entitlement, as already applies elsewhere in the UK. She urges the Minister to make the change.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Help with Health and Travel Costs Universal Credit automatic entitlement legislation Original release: Health Minister failing people on Universal Credit, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister announces £3.3m for Housing Rights
The DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a three-year funding package worth £3.3 million for Housing Rights, which he says will support services helping people most in need, following a visit to the charity in East Belfast.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Housing Rights three-year funding package from Communities Department Original release: Communities Minister announces £3.3m for Housing Rights (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcome legal challenge to stop Civil Service Pride activism
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes a legal challenge by a Christian campaign group against Civil Service involvement in Pride events in Great Britain. She says civil servants should serve the public rather than political causes and hopes the case sets a precedent for Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Legal challenge to Civil Service participation in Great Britain Pride events Original release: TUV welcome legal challenge to stop Civil Service Pride activism (opens in a new tab)
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No place for racism or hate in society – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deidre Hargey condemns racism, racist violence and intimidation as unacceptable and calls for it to stop immediately, after police probed an alleged attack on a migrant tied to vigilante groups. She says she has written to the Justice Minister offering joint work with her and police…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI probe into alleged attack on migrant linked to vigilante groups Original release: No place for racism or hate in society – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Kelly writes to Chief Constable over arrest of woman at Palestinian solidarity vigilv
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly says he has written to the Chief Constable asking for an explanation of why a woman was arrested at a Palestinian solidarity vigil after giving her details in Irish, when others were reportedly just cautioned.
Justice and policing International affairs Issue: Arrest of woman at Palestinian solidarity vigil after giving details in Irish Original release: Kelly writes to Chief Constable over arrest of woman at Palestinian solidarity vigilv (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong astounded by wasted energy that could be used to address fuel poverty
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is astounded that £94 million of excess wind energy was wasted in the first two quarters of 2025, citing SONI figures. She calls on the Communities and Economy Ministers to work together to use surplus wind power to cut household energy bills and tackle fuel…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: SONI figures on wasted excess wind energy in 2025 Original release: Armstrong astounded by wasted energy that could be used to address fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite calls for response to racist intimidation
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite urges a joint response to racist intimidation across East Belfast, citing social media posts, and wants an urgent East Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership meeting. He also presses the PSNI and Justice Minister to act and to…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: East Belfast racist intimidation social media posts Original release: De Faoite calls for response to racist intimidation (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon calls on Health Minister to explore regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to explore regulating non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as botox and dermal fillers in the north, following the British government's crackdown plans. She says she has written to the minister asking whether regulations are planned.
Health Issue: British government plans to crack down on non-surgical cosmetic treatments Original release: Dillon calls on Health Minister to explore regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments (opens in a new tab)
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Children shouldn’t face chemotherapy delays due to poor staff…
DUP MLA and Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds questions how the Belfast Trust allowed chemotherapy delays for children with cancer, blaming poor staff management and rostering that left a majority of a specialist group off work at once. She says unplanned absence should be built into rotas and asks…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust paediatric chemotherapy delays due to staff absences Original release: Children shouldn’t face chemotherapy delays due to poor staff… (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the public to respond to a consultation on her Private Member's Bill that would create an offence for discouraging breastfeeding in public, require premises to be breastfeeding-friendly, and penalise discrimination. The consultation closes on 24 October 2025.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Linda Dillon Private Members Bill breastfeeding consultation launch Original release: Dillon encourages the public to have their say on breastfeeding bill (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Executive must tackle barriers to youth sport participation
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to act on inequality in young people's access to sport and physical activity, following a meeting with Ulster University about new research on cost and access barriers. He proposes community sports hub investment, a…
Disability and equality Issue: Ulster University research on youth sport participation barriers Original release: McNulty: Executive must tackle barriers to youth sport participation (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath urges Minister to address nurse staffing issues
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he has contacted Health Minister Mike Nesbitt seeking answers after children's chemotherapy was delayed at the Belfast Trust because specialist nurses were unavailable. He asks what steps will get treatment to them and what support is in…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust paediatric chemotherapy delays due to staff absences Original release: McGrath urges Minister to address nurse staffing issues (opens in a new tab)