Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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Dunne welcomes North West ‘green light’
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne welcomes the green light for the 2023 North West 200, saying it benefits the economy, showcases Northern Ireland’s motorcycling heritage and commends Mervyn Whyte for securing the event.
Economy and employment Issue: North West 200 receives green light for 2023 Original release: Dunne welcomes North West ‘green light’ (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Leader addresses National Press Club
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP, speaking at the National Press Club in Washington DC, says the Windsor Framework does not resolve core problems with the NI Protocol and calls for further clarification and legal text. He also criticises a Sinn Féin newspaper advert in US papers calling for a…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin US newspaper advert calling for a border poll Original release: DUP Leader addresses National Press Club (opens in a new tab)
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Givan comments following Dept of Health budget briefing
DUP Health Spokesperson Paul Givan, Lagan Valley MLA, says the funding gap between Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland and England is widening after a Department of Health 23/24 budget briefing, and calls on HM Treasury to fund population needs. He also welcomes Budget pension rule changes…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health financial briefing on health service funding shortfall Original release: Givan comments following Dept of Health budget briefing (opens in a new tab)
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Scrutiny needed to see if Budget rhetoric matches reality: Wilson
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says the Budget's detail must be scrutinised, arguing personal income tax receipts will rise 12% as allowances stay frozen, and calls for a larger childcare Tax-Free Allowance instead of the proposed childcare measures, while welcoming the fuel duty freeze.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: March 2023 UK Budget statement Original release: Scrutiny needed to see if Budget rhetoric matches reality: Wilson (opens in a new tab)
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Energy companies must improve communication with the public – McHugh
Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh urges local energy suppliers to communicate better with customers and elected representatives, citing reports that households have not received the £600 energy payment and struggled to reach their suppliers. He also calls for an Executive and a minister to be restored.
Economy and employment Issue: Utility Regulator criticism of local energy companies' customer service levels Original release: Energy companies must improve communication with the public – McHugh (opens in a new tab)
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Executive should be restored to support families with childcare – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy calls for a restored Executive to develop a childcare strategy and fund measures to cut costs for families, saying parents and providers cannot wait while extra money for childcare cannot be allocated without ministers.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: Executive should be restored to support families with childcare – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Independent Review of Education panel was told Education budgets are underfunded, citing real-terms cuts of around £150 million and calling for Education to be treated as 'mission critical'. She also highlights rising Special Educational Needs…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Review of Education panel meeting on school funding Original release: Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding (opens in a new tab)
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Tories should negotiate a fair pay settlement with public service workers now – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney urges the British Government to negotiate a fair pay settlement with public and civil service unions, as PCS workers picket NIO offices at Erskine House. He says the Chancellor should use the budget to fund public services and rejects the pay freeze.
Economy and employment Issue: PCS picket at Erskine House over public sector pay freeze Original release: Tories should negotiate a fair pay settlement with public service workers now – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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School Holiday Food Grant Must Be Extended - Cllr Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle calls on the Department of Education to confirm funding beyond March for the school holiday food grant, which pays £27 a fortnight to families of children receiving free school meals. He says a Council motion will seek that assurance.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: School Holiday Food Grant Must Be Extended - Cllr Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Good Friday Agreement Anniversary Without Democratic Institutions Will Be A Hallow Affair- Tóibín
Constitutional affairs Health Original release: Good Friday Agreement Anniversary Without Democratic Institutions Will Be A Hallow Affair- Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Budget Day With Workers And Communities On Streets
People Before Profit says workers and community rallies on Budget Day 2023 show that one-day strikes are not enough, calling for sustained, longer strikes to pressure government and employers, citing NIPSA's 85% strike mandate and Unite's NIHE strike.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Budget Day 2023 strikes and union rallies across Northern Ireland Original release: Budget Day With Workers And Communities On Streets (opens in a new tab)
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Spring Budget means that Northern Ireland families will fall further behind on access to quality and affordable childcare - Deputy Leader, Lesley Veronica
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica says the Spring Budget will leave Northern Ireland families further behind on affordable childcare. She questions where the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy is and calls on the DUP and Executive parties to restore devolved government.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Spring Budget 2023 childcare measures and Northern Ireland exclusion Original release: Spring Budget means that Northern Ireland families will fall further behind on access to quality and affordable childcare - Deputy Leader, Lesley Veronica (opens in a new tab)
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Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities
UUP MLA Robbie Butler warns that budget uncertainty at Stormont risks ending the Department for Infrastructure's Disability Action Transport Scheme and Shopmobility, which have no funding guarantee beyond next month. He blames the lack of an Executive and multi-year budgets.
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Department for Infrastructure disability transport schemes funding at risk Original release: Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Budget sends signals of economic optimism but Northern Ireland still suffering from political stalemate - Aiken
UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken MLA says the Chancellor's Budget gives some economic optimism, but Stormont's political stalemate will keep Northern Ireland's public finances in flux. He calls on the Secretary of State to intervene on childcare if the gap with England persists.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Spring Budget 2023 childcare measures and Northern Ireland exclusion Original release: Budget sends signals of economic optimism but Northern Ireland still suffering from political stalemate - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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Extension of Veterans Mobility Fund welcome - Allen
East Belfast UUP MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes the Government's decision to extend the Veterans Mobility Fund, crediting Veterans Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer MP after repeated representations. He also welcomes a £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund and says he has sought a meeting on support…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Veterans Mobility Fund extension announcement Original release: Extension of Veterans Mobility Fund welcome - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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We must invest in housing strategy to build enough social housing, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for investment in the housing strategy to deliver enough social homes, and for a strategy to maintain existing stock and meet climate targets. She also warns that rent rises of up to 50 per cent in Belfast push renters out and urges a new Communities Minister…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Private Tenancies Act rent cap omission and Belfast rent rises Original release: We must invest in housing strategy to build enough social housing, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government needs to work with local parties on revised financial package for restored Executive, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the UK Government must work with Northern Ireland parties to craft a new funding deal after the Spring Statement, enabling a restored Executive to invest in health, education and skills.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement 2023 Original release: UK Government needs to work with local parties on revised financial package for restored Executive, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson cautiously welcomes additional Higher and Further Education funding in Spring Budget
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA cautiously welcomes an extra £40m for Higher and Further Education in the Spring Budget but says it is hard to see how it can be spent without a functioning Executive. He also calls for restoring Stormont to access £80m Levelling Up funding.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Spring Budget additional Higher and Further Education funding Original release: Dickson cautiously welcomes additional Higher and Further Education funding in Spring Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left even further behind on childcare, says Egan, after announcement of Spring Budget
Alliance MLA Connie Egan says Northern Ireland families are left further behind after the Spring Budget childcare measures, which do not extend to NI parents. She calls for a restored Executive and a Childcare Strategy, citing 44% of parents facing childcare difficulties.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Spring Budget 2023 childcare measures and Northern Ireland exclusion Original release: Northern Ireland left even further behind on childcare, says Egan, after announcement of Spring Budget (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes date for A5 public inquiry
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes the scheduling of the next phase of the A5 Western Transport Corridor public hearings, due to resume on 15 May, and urges those opposing the road to weigh its safety and economic impact. He cites 48 deaths on the A5 since 2008.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 Western Transport Corridor public inquiry resumption date set Original release: McCrossan welcomes date for A5 public inquiry (opens in a new tab)