Latest releases
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4,686 releases
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O'Toole: Quarter of a billion unspent capital underlines staggering Executive mismanagement
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the £250 million underspend revealed in the December monitoring round shows Executive financial mismanagement, criticises delays on the A5, Casement Park and Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital, welcomes PSNI and public‑sector pay allocations and
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: O'Toole: Quarter of a billion unspent capital underlines staggering Executive mismanagement (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Empey shocked by huge cost of Trader Support Service
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey says Treasury Parliamentary Answers show £385.01m spent over four years on the Trader Support Service, calling the cost colossal and warning that businesses and consumers will bear the costs of the Windsor Framework.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Trader Support Service cost revealed in Treasury Parliamentary Answers Original release: Lord Empey shocked by huge cost of Trader Support Service (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists Unite to Secure Petition of Concern on EU Observer Status…
The DUP says it welcomes 30 unionist MLAs signing a Petition of Concern to block a Sinn Féin motion proposing EU observer status for Northern Ireland, arguing the move would weaken the region’s place in the United Kingdom.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin motion on EU observer status Original release: Unionists Unite to Secure Petition of Concern on EU Observer Status… (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín expresses alarm at projected reduction in social homes
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says an independent review of changes to social housing grant levels projects Belfast social home completions falling from 1,026 to 337. She calls on the Communities Minister to urgently re-engage with housing associations and protect building in areas of greatest…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Ní Chuilín expresses alarm at projected reduction in social homes (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to social housing funding must not impact building of homes – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew warns that changes to social housing funding could cut the number of social homes built, citing an independent review commissioned by the Federation of Housing Associations. He calls on the Communities Minister to urgently re-engage with housing associations and…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Changes to social housing funding must not impact building of homes – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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European observer status would strengthen relations, but DUP Petition of Concern ‘makes no sense’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says granting European Parliament observer status to northern representatives would strengthen relations with the European Commission, and calls the DUP's Petition of Concern against the motion an inappropriate use of a minority-rights mechanism.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin motion on EU observer status Original release: European observer status would strengthen relations, but DUP Petition of Concern ‘makes no sense’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Wilson welcomes news that Marine Court Hotel will no longer accommodate asylum seekers
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson welcomes confirmation that asylum seekers will stop being accommodated at the Marine Court Hotel in Bangor in February 2026, arguing no formal change of use was approved. He calls for a firmer immigration system returning arrivals to the first safe country, and…
Immigration Housing Issue: Marine Court Hotel asylum accommodation closure in February 2026 Original release: Wilson welcomes news that Marine Court Hotel will no longer accommodate asylum seekers (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)