Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
4,434 releases
-
Petition of Concern on Observer Status in the European Parliament
UUP MLAs have signed a Petition of Concern against Sinn Féin's motion on European Parliament observer status, which the party says is a political stunt aimed at undermining the Good Friday Agreement. It argues observer status is limited to accession states and calls for focus on the Irish Sea…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin motion on EU observer status Original release: Petition of Concern on Observer Status in the European Parliament (opens in a new tab)
-
Reform of Petition of Concern essential after latest abuse, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson calls the DUP, UUP and TUV petition of concern against an Assembly motion on European Parliament observer status a democratic abuse needing urgent reform. He says the mechanism serves party interests and should be restored to its original purpose.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin motion on EU observer status Original release: Reform of Petition of Concern essential after latest abuse, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
-
Time to end dysfunctional politics and reform Stormont to deliver for the people of NI, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says Covid Inquiry findings show instability is built into Stormont's structures and calls for reform ahead of an Alliance motion in the Assembly urging the Secretary of State to convene an institutional reform process.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Covid Inquiry second report findings Original release: Time to end dysfunctional politics and reform Stormont to deliver for the people of NI, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Kearney addresses ‘International Peace and Democratic Society Conference’ in Istanbul
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA reports speaking at an Istanbul conference on peace between Türkiye's government and Kurdish political representatives, citing the Good Friday Agreement. He urges both sides to begin inclusive negotiations and calls for Abdullah Öcalan's immediate…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Kearney addresses ‘International Peace and Democratic Society Conference’ in Istanbul (opens in a new tab)
-
Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says delays by the Environment Agency in responding to planning consultations are holding back economic development in mid Ulster. He says the Agriculture and Environment Minister declined his request for an urgent meeting, and calls for updates and transparency for…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Environment Agency planning consultation backlog in mid Ulster Original release: Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP seeks cross-community vote on EU observer status debate
DUP Leader Rt Hon Gavin Robinson MP says DUP MLAs will invoke a Petition of Concern to require cross‑community support for a Sinn Féin motion that would grant Northern Ireland representatives observer status in the European Parliament, and urges unionist members to reject it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin motion on EU observer status Original release: DUP seeks cross-community vote on EU observer status debate (opens in a new tab)
-
Kearney commends community campaign to restore street lighting on Staffordstown Road
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Department for Infrastructure's decision to replace two removed street lights with four new ones on the Staffordstown Road in Creggan, after a petition and his representations. He credits the local school, GAA club and residents for the change.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Staffordstown Road street lighting replacement decision by Department for Infrastructure Original release: Kearney commends community campaign to restore street lighting on Staffordstown Road (opens in a new tab)
-
British Secretary of State ignoring ‘exciting and energetic’ debate underway on Irish unity – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes accuses Secretary of State Hilary Benn of ignoring the active public debate on a united Ireland after Benn said a border poll remains distant. Hughes calls on the British government to work with the Irish government to prepare for future constitutional change.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Hilary Benn comments on border poll on Stormont Sources podcast Original release: British Secretary of State ignoring ‘exciting and energetic’ debate underway on Irish unity – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA calls on the DAERA Minister to break a planning deadlock stalling farm improvements, urging adoption of a mitigation-and-betterment model like Natural England's. He also criticises the Department's reliance on the Office for Environmental Protection and a…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector (opens in a new tab)
-
Time for government action as Houses of Oireachtas support Irish unity motion – Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Senator Conor Murphy says the Irish government must now lead preparations for Irish unity after both Houses of the Oireachtas backed a party motion calling for an all-island citizens' assembly and a parliamentary committee on reunification.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Oireachtas motion on Irish unity preparations passed by both Houses Original release: Time for government action as Houses of Oireachtas support Irish unity motion – Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the response to her consultation on a Bill that would give legal protection to breastfeeding in public and require businesses and service providers to make premises breastfeeding-friendly. She urges councils, businesses and public facilities to display…
Disability and equality Issue: Linda Dillon breastfeeding in public Bill consultation closure Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)
-
Robinson “London must defend our single market”
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP says the UK Government is failing to defend Northern Ireland's place in the internal market, during a Westminster Hall debate on veterinary medicines. He calls for certainty on supplies for wholesalers, manufacturers and farmers, and for EU law to end in Northern…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Westminster Hall debate on veterinary medicines supply to Northern Ireland Original release: Robinson “London must defend our single market” (opens in a new tab)
-
Zero FDI Investment in Northern Ireland as a result of Dual Market…
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett, who chairs the Economy Committee, says Invest NI could give no example of foreign direct investment resulting from the Windsor Framework and calls the claimed benefits a myth. He urges the UK Government and Assembly supporters of the Framework to act on its…
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Invest NI evidence to Economy Committee on Windsor Framework FDI Original release: Zero FDI Investment in Northern Ireland as a result of Dual Market… (opens in a new tab)
-
Martin – “finding potholes isn’t the problem”
North Down DUP MLA Peter Martin, who chairs the Infrastructure Committee, says the Department for Infrastructure's new digital approach to mapping potholes misses the point. He argues the real problem is repairing defects, not locating them, and calls for faster delivery on the ground.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure digital pothole mapping approach Original release: Martin – “finding potholes isn’t the problem” (opens in a new tab)
-
Progress on Layd Cliff Path improvement – McMullan
Sinn Féin Councillor and Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council Oliver McMullan says he pressed council officers and the PEACEPLUS Partnership to start Layd Cliff Path improvements soon, with completion targeted for 2026. He welcomes the appointment of a design team in November and says a way…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Layd Cliff Path improvement works PEACEPLUS funding progress Original release: Progress on Layd Cliff Path improvement – McMullan (opens in a new tab)
-
Public health and care at heart of new Ireland – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen thanks attendees of a Westville Hotel event on rural health and care, where Mary Lou McDonald calls for a Citizens' Assembly on Ireland's future with health as a key theme and for an all-island public health framework.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Delivering Rural Health and Care in a New Ireland event, Westville Hotel Original release: Public health and care at heart of new Ireland – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna: UK and Irish Governments must prepare for New Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the UK and Irish Governments to work together now to plan for constitutional change and a New Ireland, citing lessons from Brexit about preparing before any referendum.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Hanna: UK and Irish Governments must prepare for New Ireland (opens in a new tab)
-
McNulty: Potholes must be fixed, not just mapped
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says the draft Road Maintenance Strategy's digital road surveys do not go far enough, calling for potholes to be fixed rather than just mapped. He says he will question the Infrastructure Minister on how success will be measured and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure digital pothole mapping approach Original release: McNulty: Potholes must be fixed, not just mapped (opens in a new tab)
-
McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, calling for better public services, expanded supports, a narrower employment gap and accessible transport and public spaces.
Disability and equality Original release: McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council
Alliance says a motion it brought forward, proposing that Belfast City Council explore nature-friendly burials, has passed the People and Communities committee. Cllr Hedley Abernethy says the motion would consider the feasibility of natural burials as an alternative to traditional burial and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council People and Communities committee passes nature-friendly burials motion Original release: Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)