Latest releases
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5,211 releases
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Durkan: Rising rent arrears underline strain on social housing system
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says new Department for Communities figures showing 26,844 Housing Executive tenancies in rent arrears by end September 2025 underline strain on social housing. He calls for providers to be properly supported and social housing adequately…
Housing Issue: Department for Communities rent arrears figures September 2025 Original release: Durkan: Rising rent arrears underline strain on social housing system (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken Slams Windsor Framework Over Toy Safety Accountability
UUP's Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says a Democratic Scrutiny Committee session found no body willing to take responsibility for policing the new EU toy safety rules under the Windsor Framework. He says OPSS declined to attend and the Department for the Economy said it lacked resources and passed the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Democratic Scrutiny Committee session on EU toy safety responsibility Original release: Aiken Slams Windsor Framework Over Toy Safety Accountability (opens in a new tab)
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Staff and patients paying price for another year of late and ineffectual winter planning, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson and registered nurse Danny Donnelly MLA says the Winter Preparedness Plan should have prioritised patient flow, citing RCN testimony on corridor care. He calls the plan late and rushed and urges investment in social care to free hospital beds, ahead of an Assembly…
Health Issue: RCN testimony on corridor care and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: Staff and patients paying price for another year of late and ineffectual winter planning, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Breast cancer screening referral wait times unacceptable, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says waits for urgent breast cancer screening referrals are too long after new Department of Health figures showed only 3.5% of 6,194 urgent referrals were seen within 14 days. She calls on the Health Minister and Trusts to ensure the move to a…
Health Issue: Department of Health breast cancer urgent referral waiting time figures Original release: Breast cancer screening referral wait times unacceptable, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Launch of ‘Public Media Ireland’ report demonstrates unique opportunity to deliver all island public service broadcasting – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Conor Murphy welcomes the 'Public Media Ireland' report from Ulster University and Dublin City University, saying it points to a new all-island public broadcaster in a united Ireland rather than retaining the BBC or extending RTÉ north.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Public Media Ireland report on all-island public service broadcasting Original release: Launch of ‘Public Media Ireland’ report demonstrates unique opportunity to deliver all island public service broadcasting – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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British and Irish Governments’ joint legacy framework must command the confidence of victims of conflict – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Conor Murphy says a joint British-Irish legacy framework must win victims' confidence, after WAVE Trauma Centre and Raymond McCord addressed the Good Friday Agreement Committee. He says the Stormont House provisions remain the best route to truth and urges the Irish…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Good Friday Agreement Committee session with WAVE Trauma Centre and Raymond McCord Original release: British and Irish Governments’ joint legacy framework must command the confidence of victims of conflict – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after tabling a Commons motion, says public appointments must be fair to every community, citing Protestant under-representation in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and alleged intimidation deterring Catholic recruits to the PSNI, and urges nationalist parties to…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commons motion on public appointments and community representation in public bodies Original release: Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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SF, Alliance and SDLP side with higher consumer costs
DUP East Belfast MLA David Brooks challenges Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance MLAs for not backing a DUP motion on new EU fees on small parcels, warning Northern Ireland households could pay more for everyday goods.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: DUP motion on EU fees for small parcels Original release: SF, Alliance and SDLP side with higher consumer costs (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls for a cross‑party delegation meeting with homeless‑support providers, including the People’s Kitchen, the Welcome Centre and the Housing Executive, to devise short‑, medium‑ and long‑term plans so no one feels the street is their only option.
Housing Original release: Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the Health Minister to keep prioritising a Mother and Baby Unit in the North, welcoming a £4 million cut in its estimated cost and calling for it to be set up without delay.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit £4 million cost reduction Original release: New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP invites Executive parties to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she has contacted all Executive party leaders urging them to accept the Prime Minister's offer and attend a meeting with Keir Starmer on Stormont reform proposals. She argues the Executive has done little to advance reform and calls on parties to engage seriously.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive parties invited to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform Original release: SDLP invites Executive parties to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says people cannot accept a five-year timeline for fixing the health service, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt suggested recovery could take that long. He presses the Minister and Executive on ambulance response delays, citing a 75-year-old…
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt says health recovery could take five years Original release: McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service (opens in a new tab)
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EU Customs Shake-Up to Hit Northern Ireland Consumers with New Parcel Charges
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken warns that the EU's accelerated customs reforms, bringing a €3 levy and €2 handling fee on small non-EU parcels forward to July 2026, will add costs for Northern Ireland consumers and retailers. He calls for clarity from HM Government and HMRC on how the rules apply under…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: EU accelerated customs reform and small parcel charges for Northern Ireland Original release: EU Customs Shake-Up to Hit Northern Ireland Consumers with New Parcel Charges (opens in a new tab)
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Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an EU office in Belfast to act as a resource for businesses, citing Brexit-related trading difficulties and a recent Murphy review recommendation for a single administrative access point.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Leader's Weekly email - 10th January
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP says the Prime Minister must protect veterans in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and reject any Irish Republic veto over amendments, and criticises the Sinn Fein Finance Minister's draft Budget as lacking Executive agreement.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Leader's Weekly email - 10th January (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist co-operation stops SF’s observer status proposal – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says a Petition of Concern defeating Sinn Féin's motion for EU observer status shows unionists can work together to resist SF's pro-EU agenda. He claims the move would deepen EU links and damage Northern Ireland's economy.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly Petition of Concern defeats Sinn Féin EU observer status motion Original release: Unionist co-operation stops SF’s observer status proposal – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -…
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says Health Minister figures show over 72,000 recorded incidents of abuse against health and social care staff over five years, and says the true number is higher. She calls for further information on alcohol, substances, mental illness, time off work and…
Health Issue: Health Minister figures on abuse against health and social care staff Original release: Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -… (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Petition of concern confusion exposes Stormont farce
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says confusion over petitions of concern exposes Stormont dysfunction, as standing orders to implement 2022 reforms remain unintroduced. He calls a petition of concern against the non-binding EU Observer Status motion an abuse of power and urges the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Petition of Concern defeats Sinn Féin EU observer status motion Original release: O’Toole: Petition of concern confusion exposes Stormont farce (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Rejects Sinn Féin Proposal for EU Office in Belfast
The Ulster Unionist Party opposes Sinn Féin's proposal for an EU office in Belfast, calling it a political stunt. Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA and Windsor Framework Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA say Northern Ireland already has EU representation, the office raises sovereignty…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Rejects Sinn Féin Proposal for EU Office in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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People of NI are demanding reform, says Eastwood, ahead of Westminster Hall debate
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says public demand for reform of Stormont's institutions is growing and calls on the UK and Irish Governments, as Good Friday Agreement co-guarantors, to act ahead of her Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday 13 January.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Westminster Hall debate on Stormont institutional reform Original release: People of NI are demanding reform, says Eastwood, ahead of Westminster Hall debate (opens in a new tab)