Latest releases
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4,936 releases
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Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes describes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at the Oireachtas committee on the Good Friday Agreement as constructive, welcoming his backing for all-island health collaboration and a forthcoming joint health strategy between north and south.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at GFA Committee on healthcare Original release: Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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Strength, not weakness remains TUV’s watchword
TUV leader Jim Allister tells the Central Council in Antrim that 2025 confirmed TUV as central to unionism, criticises the DUP's return to government with Sinn Fein over the Protocol, and says the party is starting preparations for the 2027 elections.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Strength, not weakness remains TUV’s watchword (opens in a new tab)
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TUV congratulates new Orange Grand Master
TUV Party Chairman Cllr Allister Kyle congratulates Harold Henning on becoming Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. He says the Institution has long supported unionism and that the Protocol remains a threat, and TUV says it will engage constructively with the new leader.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Harold Henning elected Grand Master of the Orange Order in Ireland Original release: TUV congratulates new Orange Grand Master (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin MPs meet British government minister on votes at 16
Sinn Féin MPs John Finucane, Paul Maskey and Cathal Mallaghan report a recent meeting with UK minister Samantha Dixon on lowering the voting age to 16, which they say will bring a positive step for democracy and a voice for young people in the north.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Votes at 16 extension confirmed for UK elections Original release: Sinn Féin MPs meet British government minister on votes at 16 (opens in a new tab)
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No way to start the winter period - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says a Written Question response shows 529 inpatients fit to leave were still in hospital on 1 October, and calls for a senior figure to be tasked with resolving delayed discharges before winter pressures worsen.
Health Issue: Written Question response on 529 delayed discharge inpatients in Northern Ireland hospitals Original release: No way to start the winter period - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls the Communities Minister's cut to social housing grant reckless and inhumane amid a supply crisis, citing Simon Community homelessness figures and an NI Audit Office finding, and urges him to reconsider priorities.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State must act following historic Assembly vote for reform, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long urges the Secretary of State to start an institutional reform process at Stormont after the Assembly backed Alliance's call following the Covid Inquiry's latest report. She says she will write to request talks with the co-guarantors and local parties.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly vote backing Stormont institutional reform after Covid Inquiry report Original release: Secretary of State must act following historic Assembly vote for reform, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches a public consultation on the draft ten-year Executive Disability Strategy for 2025 to 2035, with commitments including a Regional Disability Forum, a review of disability legislation and an annual Disability Data compendium. The consultation runs…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MPs fail to block pro-EU Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is dismayed that DUP MPs abstained in the Commons on a Bill to rejoin the EU Customs Union, letting it be introduced after a tied vote and a casting vote. He says the DUP could have blocked it and calls on every DUP MP to explain their decision.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Commons vote on private member's Bill to rejoin EU Customs Union Original release: DUP MPs fail to block pro-EU Bill (opens in a new tab)
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New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Department for Communities' draft Disability Strategy, published as it goes out for public consultation, calling it a step toward real equality for disabled people. He urges the Communities Minister to bring forward legislative change and encourages people…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to improve neurology services ahead of an Assembly motion, citing long waiting lists and delays in diagnosis and treatment. He calls for an implementation plan for the recommendations of a 2025 neurology services report.
Health Issue: 2025 neurology services report recommendations implementation plan Original release: Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA accuses the Executive of a chaotic budget monitoring round that leaves a £31m shortfall in the health budget, questioning earlier health pay commitments and the delay in reallocating A5 project funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall (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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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)