Latest releases
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983 releases
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Armstrong seeks clarification on benefits rise
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong writes to Work and Pensions Minister Chloe Smith seeking clarity on whether benefits will rise with inflation, after Prime Minister Liz Truss declined to rule out real-terms cuts. She warns against cuts that would hit the lowest incomes.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Government refusal to rule out real-terms benefit cuts Original release: Armstrong seeks clarification on benefits rise (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood urges British government to protect vulnerable families
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP warns that the UK government must not let welfare payments fall in real terms during the cost of living crisis, after PM Liz Truss declined to commit to rises in line with inflation. He has written to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng proposing inflation-linked benefit…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Government refusal to rule out real-terms benefit cuts Original release: Eastwood urges British government to protect vulnerable families (opens in a new tab)
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Allen thanks the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator for his work in securing delivery of £400 energy bills support for Northern Ireland households
East Belfast UUP MLA and Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE thanks Utility Regulator John French for securing delivery of the £400 energy bills support to households. He calls for urgent further Westminster intervention, saying the scheme dates from May and that the £100 for oil-heated homes…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 energy bills support scheme delivery in Northern Ireland Original release: Allen thanks the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator for his work in securing delivery of £400 energy bills support for Northern Ireland households (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Barry McKee reacts to the removal of 141 trees in Carnalea
Green Party Councillor Barry McKee expresses dismay at plans by Translink contractors to fell up to 141 trees near Carnalea station, warning of biodiversity loss and overnight disturbance. He calls on the council to require replanting in Carnalea.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Translink tree felling at Carnalea train station Original release: Cllr Barry McKee reacts to the removal of 141 trees in Carnalea (opens in a new tab)
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Restored Assembly must introduce fracking ban, says Tennyson
Alliance Climate and Energy Spokesperson and Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson says a restored Assembly must ban fracking and all current and future fossil fuel exploration in Northern Ireland, responding to the UK Government's move to end the England fracking pause. He says he may bring a Private…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: UK Government lifts fracking moratorium in England Original release: Restored Assembly must introduce fracking ban, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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'Morally reprehensible' - Green Party Councillor reacts to UK Government Mini Budget
Green Party Councillor Rachel Woods calls the UK Government's mini budget morally reprehensible, saying it offers little help to families facing the cost of living crisis and the coming winter, and benefits the richest most.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Liz Truss 2022 budget announcement Original release: 'Morally reprehensible' - Green Party Councillor reacts to UK Government Mini Budget (opens in a new tab)
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A Billionaire’s Budget
People Before Profit criticises the new Tory budget under Liz Truss as favouring the rich through tax cuts while cutting benefits, and urges workers to organise against it. It promotes upcoming cost-of-living protests in Belfast and Derry.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Liz Truss 2022 budget announcement Original release: A Billionaire’s Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald condemns Tory decision to lift fracking ban
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald condemns the British government's decision to lift its fracking ban, calling for a legislative prohibition of fracking and petroleum licensing in Northern Ireland. She blames the economy minister's inaction and the DUP's Executive boycott for blocking such a measure.
Environment and climate Issue: UK Government lifts fracking moratorium in England Original release: Archibald condemns Tory decision to lift fracking ban (opens in a new tab)
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Louise O’Reilly TD visits Belfast Harbour to discuss offshore wind energy
Sinn Féin spokesperson Louise O'Reilly TD says she is visiting Belfast Harbour with an Oireachtas delegation to examine skills, labour, infrastructure and investment needed for a wind energy base. She cites the National Port Study finding that Belfast Harbour alone is ready for offshore wind…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Wind Energy Ireland report on Irish ports' offshore wind readiness Original release: Louise O’Reilly TD visits Belfast Harbour to discuss offshore wind energy (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party NI announces co-option of Rachel Woods to Ards and North Down Borough Council
Green Party NI in Ards and North Down announces that Rachel Woods has been co-opted to fill the Holywood and Clandeboye seat on Ards and North Down Borough Council, succeeding Lauren Kendall. Woods says she will push for community energy projects, warmer homes and youth representation.
Local government Environment and climate Issue: Rachel Woods co-option to Ards and North Down Borough Council Original release: Green Party NI announces co-option of Rachel Woods to Ards and North Down Borough Council (opens in a new tab)
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£100 oil payment ‘woefully inadequate’ – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the £100 payment to households reliant on home heating oil is woefully inadequate, as it does not cover even 100 litres at current prices. She calls for the support to be reviewed and urges an Executive to be formed quickly so ministers can deliver it.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £100 home heating oil payment announcement by British Government Original release: £100 oil payment ‘woefully inadequate’ – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Government must deliver on wind energy potential to reduce bills and meet climate targets – Maurice Quinlivan TD
Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan, who chairs the Oireachtas enterprise committee, urges the government to boost investment and planning reform for offshore wind, ahead of a committee visit to Belfast Harbour, the only one of 13 major Irish ports ready for offshore wind construction.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Wind Energy Ireland report on Irish ports' offshore wind readiness Original release: Government must deliver on wind energy potential to reduce bills and meet climate targets – Maurice Quinlivan TD (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Winter Fuel Payment review key to protect elderly from fuel poverty
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan criticises Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey for not reviewing the Winter Fuel Payment rate, unchanged since 2010/11, and calls for an emergency pensioner support package ahead of winter.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: DfC response on Winter Fuel Payment rate review Original release: Durkan: Winter Fuel Payment review key to protect elderly from fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader reacts to new Conservative Prime Minister’s proposals.
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara criticises the new Conservative Prime Minister's proposals as light on detail, calling the return of fracking a dereliction of duty and saying little detail covers Northern Ireland's separate energy market. He calls for an immediate returned Executive and says the DUP…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: New Conservative Prime Minister's energy and cost-of-living proposals Original release: Green Party Leader reacts to new Conservative Prime Minister’s proposals. (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Barry McKee urges careful disposal of fishing equipment
Green Party Councillor Barry McKee urges anglers and the public to dispose of fishing lines and equipment properly, after helping free a young herring gull tangled in line at Millisle. He commends a council Parks worker for his efforts.
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Cllr Barry McKee urges careful disposal of fishing equipment (opens in a new tab)
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Households require urgent action in response to the energy crisis – Allen
UUP Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA says he convened a Round Table with NEANI on the energy crisis, and calls on the Communities Minister to establish a departmental fuel poverty task force, noting no Department for Communities representative attended.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: UUP fuel poverty task force call and energy crisis round table Original release: Households require urgent action in response to the energy crisis – Allen (opens in a new tab)
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New Fuel poverty group is essential as we face cost of living crisis, says Mathison
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison welcomes the new Fuel Poverty Emergency Response Group after attending its first meeting with energy suppliers, regulators and advice bodies. He says government intervention is key, questions how UK-wide winter measures announced by Liz Truss would work in Northern…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Fuel Poverty Emergency Response Group first meeting Original release: New Fuel poverty group is essential as we face cost of living crisis, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Latest energy hike shows urgent need for further intervention, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says a further 56.3 per cent Firmus Energy tariff rise from October, lifting average bills to £3,150, shows the need for more cost of living support. He urges Westminster to fund a large emergency budget, restore the Executive, raise the energy support scheme and restore…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Firmus Energy 56.3 per cent regulated tariff increase from October Original release: Latest energy hike shows urgent need for further intervention, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Clarification needed on energy support for those paying electric to a landlord, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong raises concern that households paying electricity costs through a landlord could miss out on the proposed £400 energy support payment, and calls for urgent clarification from the Economy Minister on how they will be covered.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Proposed £400 energy support payment eligibility for landlord-paid electricity Original release: Clarification needed on energy support for those paying electric to a landlord, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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The Lords, if it chose, could accelerate the Protocol Bill
DUP MP Ian Paisley says the Lords could accelerate the NI Protocol Bill, returning it to the Commons for Royal Assent within a week, and calls on the new Prime Minister to act quickly on the Protocol and on winter cost-of-living support from Westminster.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Conservative leadership election and Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passage through the Lords Original release: The Lords, if it chose, could accelerate the Protocol Bill (opens in a new tab)