Latest releases
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983 releases
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Ministers must start to take cost of living crisis seriously
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Stormont and Whitehall Ministers must take the cost of living crisis seriously after SDLP MLAs met organisations on energy, food and fuel costs. He calls for urgent direct support to reach people most in need and urges the DUP to get back to…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Stormont meetings on energy, food and fuel costs crisis Original release: Ministers must start to take cost of living crisis seriously (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell urges Iceland to extend £30 voucher scheme to NI
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell writes to Iceland urging the company to extend its Summer Cheer Scheme £30 shopping voucher for pensioners to Northern Ireland, saying the current exclusion overlooks areas of deep deprivation.
Social security and welfare Issue: Iceland Summer Cheer Scheme voucher extension request Original release: Campbell urges Iceland to extend £30 voucher scheme to NI (opens in a new tab)
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Macartney calls on council to act as Newtownards Foodbank Use Soars by 47%
Green Party councillor Maurice calls on Ards and North Down Borough Council to draw up an emergency action plan for vulnerable residents, citing a 47% rise in demand at a Newtownards foodbank and warning of rising living costs while Stormont is not sitting. He also urges the DUP to end its boycott…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Newtownards foodbank demand rise of 47% in first half of 2022 Original release: Macartney calls on council to act as Newtownards Foodbank Use Soars by 47% (opens in a new tab)
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Recall parliament to deal with cost of living crisis urges SDLP Leader
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP backs a recall of parliament over the cost of living crisis, calling for an emergency budget with new support schemes and higher taxes on multinationals, and for direct intervention from London for Northern Ireland.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: Recall parliament to deal with cost of living crisis urges SDLP Leader (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Targeted intervention needed to help families deal with back to school costs
SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty calls for a targeted intervention before September to help families with back to school costs, saying demand for uniforms at his Foodstock preloved uniform scheme has grown sharply. He urges Education Minister McIlveen to act on interim measures.
Education Social security and welfare Original release: Doherty: Targeted intervention needed to help families deal with back to school costs (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton encourages applications to Victims Pension Scheme
DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton urges eligible victims to apply to the Victims Pension Scheme, noting only 10% of eligible applicants have applied. He calls on the Department of Justice to analyse why take-up is low ahead of the scheme's first anniversary.
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Low uptake of Victims Pension Scheme applications, August 2022 Original release: Middleton encourages applications to Victims Pension Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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McKee calls for plan to finally end plastic pollution this Marine Week
Green Party councillor Barry McKee calls on DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to produce a plan to end plastic pollution during Marine Week, noting no plan has followed a 2021 call for evidence. He also points to Ards and North Down council's single-use plastic ban and refill scheme and urges a shift to…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: McKee calls for plan to finally end plastic pollution this Marine Week (opens in a new tab)
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Woodland restoration vital if Northern Ireland serious about a green recovery, says Burbank
Alliance Councillor Jay Burbank says investment in woodland restoration is essential for a credible green recovery. He welcomes Antrim & Newtownabbey council's talks with Forest Service NI on improving public access to three local forests, and calls for large-scale protection, restoration and…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Woodland restoration vital if Northern Ireland serious about a green recovery, says Burbank (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood urges clarity around £400 energy bills discount
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP urges the British government to clarify how the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount will reach households in the North while Stormont is not functioning. He says he has written to the Department for Energy seeking an immediate answer on payment method and timing.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 GB energy support scheme details and Northern Ireland uncertainty Original release: Eastwood urges clarity around £400 energy bills discount (opens in a new tab)
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DUP cannot take Summer off work as people struggle
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses the DUP of seeking a long summer break while households face a cost of living crisis, blaming it for blocking an Executive and Speaker needed to pass SDLP emergency cost of living legislation.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Assembly recall petition as Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passes Commons third reading Original release: DUP cannot take Summer off work as people struggle (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Statement on British Petroleum posting it’s biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years.
Green Party Deputy Leader Cllr Mal O'Hara calls for the DUP to end its boycott of the Executive and for emergency action on energy bills, after BP reported its biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years. He urges restoring the Universal Credit uplift and expanding renewable energy.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: BP biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years Original release: Green Party Statement on British Petroleum posting it’s biggest quarterly profits in fourteen years. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Struggling households asked to pay £6 million in ‘official error’ benefit overpayments
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan criticises Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey over £6.1 million requested from benefit claimants for 2021/22 overpayments caused by official error, figures he obtained show.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Department for Communities £6.1 million official error benefit overpayments 2021/22 Original release: Durkan: Struggling households asked to pay £6 million in ‘official error’ benefit overpayments (opens in a new tab)
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Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for clarity on whether energy support payments will reach Northern Ireland households, after details of a £400 GB scheme were revealed without equivalent detail for Northern Ireland. She blames the lack of an Executive and urges the DUP to end its…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 GB energy support scheme details and Northern Ireland uncertainty Original release: Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls on Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to tackle the rise in benefit fraud and error, which the Northern Ireland Audit Office found had reached £209m. He says processes must be put in place to stop such losses and address the auditor's concerns.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office benefit fraud and error review Original release: Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole calls on caretaker Executive Ministers to set out what they are doing on the cost of living crisis and to prepare plans ready for when the Executive is restored. He says he has written to all caretaker Ministers and permanent secretaries, and blames…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says Northern Ireland is lagging behind on electric vehicle charging after the Department for Infrastructure confirmed it is still only in discussions with other departments. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to set out how DFI will meet impending EU-derived minimum…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: DFI response on electric vehicle charging provision discussions Original release: Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD speech to the National Press Club of Australia
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers an address at the National Press Club of Australia, reflecting on Irish emigration to Australia, the historic bond between the two countries and Australia's role in welcoming Irish people.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD speech to the National Press Club of Australia (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is shocked after writing to the Minister for Communities and finding rents exceed housing benefit allowances by upwards of £100. She calls for urgent action on the gap, which she links to a shrinking private rental market.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Soaring temperatures show need to tackle climate crisis
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter warns that the current heatwave across Ireland and Britain shows the need to act on the climate crisis, and urges action after reports Conservative leadership contenders may weaken the UK's 2050 net zero goal.
Environment and climate Issue: Tory leadership candidates' reported stance on UK net zero 2050 target Original release: Hunter: Soaring temperatures show need to tackle climate crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Cost of living support not enough to help households
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says cost of living support offered to households so far is not enough, citing £83.9m resource and £35.9m capital underspends across Executive Departments in 2021-22 provisional outturn figures. He calls on Ministers to direct support to households and to expand free…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2021-22 provisional outturn figures showing Executive Departments underspends Original release: Eastwood: Cost of living support not enough to help households (opens in a new tab)