Latest releases
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1,749 releases
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Honeyford welcomes major investment package for NI’s electricity network
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA welcomes a £2.23bn investment package for the electricity network, saying new infrastructure is needed now to connect renewable sources and cut reliance on fossil fuels. He links the Utility Regulator's final price control determination to the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: £2.23bn Northern Ireland electricity network investment package Original release: Honeyford welcomes major investment package for NI’s electricity network (opens in a new tab)
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Support For The March For Clean Water In Belfast 3 November
Derry and Strabane Councillor Shaun Harkin backs the March for Clean Water in Belfast on 3 November, organised by Save Lough Neagh, and calls for urgent investment in water and sewage infrastructure. He blames Stormont for failing to tackle pollution in Lough Neagh and the Mobuoy dump, and demands…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: March for Clean Water Belfast 3 November 2024 Original release: Support For The March For Clean Water In Belfast 3 November (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken comments on the Autumn Budget
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken welcomes the extra £1.5bn for Northern Ireland and the City and Growth Deals in the Autumn Budget, but calls the exclusion from green hydrogen projects disappointing. He urges the funding be prioritised for health, education and policing.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Budget October 2024 impact on Northern Ireland Original release: Aiken comments on the Autumn Budget (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hourly rail service will be a game changer for all-island travel’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes the start of an hourly Dublin to Belfast train service, calling it a game changer for all-island travel. He says it will support jobs, growth, regeneration and access to services, and pledges to work with the infrastructure minister on rail links under the…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Hourly Dublin to Belfast train service commencement Original release: ‘Hourly rail service will be a game changer for all-island travel’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from local MP, Jim Allister, on two more Ballymoney road deaths
TUV MP Jim Allister offers condolences to the families of two elderly brothers killed in a crash on the A26 near Ballymoney. He says there is a strong case to convert the T-junction on the Ballymena Road into a roundabout, which he argues would be safer than the other junctions with the A26 in…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A26 Ballymoney road deaths and Ballymena Road junction safety Original release: Statement from local MP, Jim Allister, on two more Ballymoney road deaths (opens in a new tab)
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“Serious questions” about Irish language signs not serious enough to warrant them being stopped?
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell backs DUP MLA Stephen Dunne's questioning of Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's spending on bilingual street signs in Belfast, and urges the DUP to sign an Assembly petition to refer the decision to the Executive.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Infrastructure Minister O'Dowd bilingual road signs decision in west Belfast Original release: “Serious questions” about Irish language signs not serious enough to warrant them being stopped? (opens in a new tab)
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Council planning delays adding to the housing crisis, says Armstrong, following councils audit report.
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA raises concern that councils keep missing planning targets, citing a Local Government Auditor report showing 63% of major applications and around 62% of local applications exceeded statutory timescales, and urges councils to act.
Housing Local government Issue: Local Government Auditor report on council planning application timescales Original release: Council planning delays adding to the housing crisis, says Armstrong, following councils audit report. (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong visits Simon Community facility.
Alliance's Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has toured a Simon Community facility on Saintfield Road and met staff and people with lived experience of homelessness. She says she will press for more resources for homelessness services.
Housing Original release: Armstrong visits Simon Community facility. (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray marks one year since devastating floods, stating there has been insufficient support provided to those affected.
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray marks one year since the Newry, Mourne and Down floods, saying aid for homes and businesses has been insufficient. He calls on the Department for the Economy to develop recovery plans and urges funding for a Flood Forecasting System and sewer improvements.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: One-year anniversary of Newry, Mourne and Down floods Original release: McMurray marks one year since devastating floods, stating there has been insufficient support provided to those affected. (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MP Secures Government Commitment to Tackle Car Insurance Hikes in…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the UK Government has committed to including Northern Ireland in its new taskforce on rising car insurance premiums, after talks with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. A November meeting with the Department for Infrastructure is planned.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Government taskforce on car insurance costs announcement Original release: DUP MP Secures Government Commitment to Tackle Car Insurance Hikes in… (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party NI Leader Senator Mal O’Hara furious over homelessness figures in Northern Ireland
Green Party NI leader Senator Mal O'Hara says the executive parties have overseen a rising homelessness figure, now 58,238 people with homeless status per recent Assembly figures, and criticises the executive for failing to address root causes such as social housing investment and private rented…
Housing Issue: Assembly figures on rising homelessness numbers in Northern Ireland Original release: Green Party NI Leader Senator Mal O’Hara furious over homelessness figures in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Neglect and underfunding of water infrastructure is impacting economic growth, house building and our environment, says McMurray
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew McMurray MLA says chronic underfunding of NI's water and wastewater infrastructure is harming health, growth, housing and the environment, and launches the In Deep Water policy paper with proposed alternative funding and governance for NI Water.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Alliance 'In Deep Water' water infrastructure policy paper launch Original release: Neglect and underfunding of water infrastructure is impacting economic growth, house building and our environment, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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There is a severe lack of investment in tackling homelessness, says McMurray
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray, speaking in an Assembly debate on homelessness in South Down, says funding for tackling homelessness across Northern Ireland is inadequate. He points to a 115% rise in homelessness in Newry, Mourne and Down since 2014 and calls for a plan to address it.
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‘British government must fund Executive to enable us to build more homes’ – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLAs Carál Ní Chuilín and Deirdre Hargey say they met Housing Executive chief Grainia Long and pressed for priority for areas of highest need, and call on the British government for more funding to address wastewater connection problems blocking new developments.
Housing Public finance and taxation Original release: ‘British government must fund Executive to enable us to build more homes’ – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Gerry Carroll MLA Launches Public Consultation On The ‘People’s Housing Bill’
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll launches a public consultation on his People's Housing Bill, a private members' bill proposing rent limits, an end to no-cause evictions, five-year minimum tenancies, a Rental Board and powers to reuse over 22,000 empty properties as social homes. The…
Housing Issue: Gerry Carroll People's Housing Bill public consultation launch Original release: Gerry Carroll MLA Launches Public Consultation On The ‘People’s Housing Bill’ (opens in a new tab)
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Road maintenance funding cliff-edge threat could put lives at risk – Stewart
UUP MLA John Stewart, Deputy Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, warns road maintenance funding could be exhausted by November, putting lives at risk through dangerous surfaces. He calls on the Executive to direct available money in the next monitoring round to essential road maintenance.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Road maintenance funding exhaustion warning from Northern Ireland Mineral Products Association briefing Original release: Road maintenance funding cliff-edge threat could put lives at risk – Stewart (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston highlights lack of Unionist support to put the brakes on Irish signage
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says only his own signature is on a petition, lodged days earlier, to refer Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's decision on bilingual road signs in west Belfast to the Executive. He criticises unionist MLAs for not backing it and calls for others to sign.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister O'Dowd bilingual road signs decision in west Belfast Original release: Gaston highlights lack of Unionist support to put the brakes on Irish signage (opens in a new tab)
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OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth says the new Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report condemns the Stormont Executive, warning that current agri‑industry practices are unsustainable, polluting land, rivers and air, and urging urgent nutrient cuts, habitat recovery
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report Original release: OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Collaborative approach to tackling housing emergency required – Allen
Andy Allen, MLA and UUP Chief Whip and Communities spokesperson, says a collaborative approach is needed to address Northern Ireland’s housing emergency, urging a target of 5,000 new social homes a year, greater use of public land, borrowing powers for the Housing Executive and planning reforms, and
Housing Issue: Northern Ireland housing emergency Original release: Collaborative approach to tackling housing emergency required – Allen (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Executive must secure funding to build 50,000 homes
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan says the Executive must secure Westminster funding to build 50,000 homes by 2032, ahead of an SDLP motion calling for Barnett Consequential funding to be ring-fenced and a housing emergency declared.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: SDLP motion on 50,000 homes and housing emergency declaration Original release: SDLP: Executive must secure funding to build 50,000 homes (opens in a new tab)