Latest releases
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4,005 releases
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Chancellor must prioritise lessening strain on working families, says Eastwood, ahead of Autumn Budget
Alliance Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood calls on the Chancellor to prioritise easing pressure on working families ahead of the Autumn Budget on 26 November. She urges scrapping the two-child limit, cutting VAT for pubs, cafés and restaurants, and reforming inheritance tax to protect family farms.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Government Budget announcement on taxation and public spending Original release: Chancellor must prioritise lessening strain on working families, says Eastwood, ahead of Autumn Budget (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP challenges both London and Stormont ahead of Budget
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the UK government to reform the tax system – taxing unearned wealth, raising the tax‑free childcare allowance and scrapping the two‑child limit – and urges the Northern Ireland Executive to secure greater fiscal powers and a multi‑year budget ahead of the UK 2025
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Government Budget announcement on taxation and public spending Original release: SDLP challenges both London and Stormont ahead of Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister committed to tackling road deaths – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan praises Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for launching a new anti-drug-driving campaign during Road Safety Week, saying dangerous driving devastates families and that more must be done to save lives.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Anti-drug-driving campaign launch during Road Safety Week Original release: Infrastructure Minister committed to tackling road deaths – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Kathleen Funchion MEP to host major conference on gender-based violence
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says she will host a conference in Limerick tomorrow on gender-based violence, bringing together frontline practitioners, policymakers and survivors to share best practice and strengthen cross-sector cooperation on ending violence against women and girls.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Kathleen Funchion MEP to host major conference on gender-based violence (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools
Green Party councillor Flynn welcomes the Supreme Court judgment on compulsory religious worship in Northern Ireland schools, urging the Executive to act quickly to overhaul the education framework so pupils from all backgrounds, including non-religious families, feel respected.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 20 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Cancer delays are costing lives - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA urges immediate action from the Health Minister on cancer treatment delays, citing a 41-year-old woman's 112-day referral-to-treatment wait and questioning the diversion of around £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Minister's confirmation that £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding was redirected Original release: Cancer delays are costing lives - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Family farm tax must be scrapped – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard calls on the British government to drop its farm inheritance tax proposals, which he describes as unacceptable and a financial burden on farming families, after attending an Ulster Farmers' Union event at Westminster.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: British government farm inheritance tax proposals Original release: Family farm tax must be scrapped – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Rates Review Update Too Little Too Late for Hospitality Sector
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Finance Minister's latest business rates review update offers too little immediate relief for hospitality, calling for quick action on a turnover-based rating model like Scotland's and urging measures to protect jobs.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Finance Minister's small business rate relief proposals and rates review Original release: Rates Review Update Too Little Too Late for Hospitality Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl calls for tighter regulation in process of declaring as medically unfit to drive
Alliance South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl calls for tighter regulation of how drivers deemed medically unfit must report their condition to DVANI, citing a fatal cycling collision and a gap that lets drivers decide whether to report. She says the issue needs cross-departmental work.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Nicholl calls for tighter regulation in process of declaring as medically unfit to drive (opens in a new tab)
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Health funding redirection only further demonstrates minister's financial mismanagement, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the diversion of over £70m of £215m ring-fenced for waiting lists to cut the Department of Health's budget deficit shows the Health Minister cannot manage his budget. She calls on him to clarify other ring-fenced funds redirected and urges…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Minister's confirmation that £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding was redirected Original release: Health funding redirection only further demonstrates minister's financial mismanagement, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Allister meets RNIB in Westminster
TUV MP Jim Allister thanks the RNIB after a Westminster meeting, praising its vision rehabilitation teams and guide dog work, and cites local figures of about 3,470 people in North Antrim with sight loss and roughly 130 new cases each year.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Allister meets RNIB in Westminster (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes Finance Minister’s proposals to support small businesses
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's plan to bring forward enhanced rate relief for small businesses, announced in the Assembly alongside a wider rates review. She urges all Executive ministers to back the proposals.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Finance Minister's small business rate relief proposals and rates review Original release: Dolan welcomes Finance Minister’s proposals to support small businesses (opens in a new tab)
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Legacy Bill delivers progress but cannot be done on the cheap, says Bradshaw
Alliance spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the UK Government's new legacy legislation makes progress, welcoming the removal of the Troubles amnesty and resumed inquests, but warns it will be undermined without adequate funding for the Department of Justice. She also criticises the national…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UK Government Legacy Bill debate at Westminster Original release: Legacy Bill delivers progress but cannot be done on the cheap, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly writes to Translink after Coláiste Feirste pupils refused entry to bus
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly asks Translink to investigate after three Coláiste Feirste pupils were reportedly turned away from the 106 Ulsterbus service from Crumlin to Belfast. She says the reason given was false and warns the incident could endanger pupils.
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Coláiste Feirste pupils refused entry to 106 Ulsterbus from Crumlin Original release: Reilly writes to Translink after Coláiste Feirste pupils refused entry to bus (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter criticises the Education Authority over its handling of repairs at Sandelford School in Coleraine, where deteriorating classrooms and unsuitable mobile units have disrupted pupils with complex needs. She calls for faster repairs, clearer communication and a commitment that…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Sandelford School Coleraine classroom repairs and mobile unit closures Original release: Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Sinn Féin evasion on interconnector failing all-island economy
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA challenges the First Minister's lukewarm support in the Assembly for the North-South Interconnector, accusing Sinn Féin of inconsistent positions on both sides of the border. He says the project is critical for reducing bills, decarbonisation and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: North-South Interconnector First Minister support Assembly question Original release: O'Toole: Sinn Féin evasion on interconnector failing all-island economy (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark Durkan MLA urges the Health, Communities and Finance Ministers to cooperate so health staff on Universal Credit can receive the backdated 2025/26 NHS pay award without losing benefit payments. He calls for a phased payment approach, warning single parents, mainly…
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA expresses concern that 353 special needs school support staff posts were filled without Access NI checks, according to an FOI response from Unite. She calls on the Education Minister to urgently set out plans to end temporary engagement forms…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Access NI checks for special needs school support staff Original release: Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Sinn Féin joined the DUP to defeat his trans rights solidarity motion at Derry City and Strabane District Council, after Sinn Féin called the motion divisive. The motion opposed Stormont transgender policies including the puberty blocker ban and school…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council vote on trans rights solidarity motion Original release: Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council (opens in a new tab)
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Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirms he remains committed to funding the Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers, saying it will be a priority in 2026/27 planning despite a recent £209million pay direction not covering it.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Real Living Wage funding for independent sector homecare workers Original release: Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers (opens in a new tab)