Latest releases
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4,782 releases
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Teachers’ pay must not be used as a political bargaining chip
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes Executive approval of the Education Minister's Ministerial Direction on the 2025/26 teachers' pay offer, and accuses Sinn Féin of using pay as leverage in budget talks. He calls for a fair pay outcome and says he looks forward to pay negotiators reconvening in…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of Ministerial Direction on 2025/26 teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ pay must not be used as a political bargaining chip (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes approval of Ministerial Direction on Teachers’ Pay
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes First Minister and deputy First Minister approval of his Ministerial Direction for the 2025–26 teachers' pay award, reached through the Urgent Decision procedure. He says the wider Education Department financial pressure, including a projected deficit of…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of Ministerial Direction on 2025/26 teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes approval of Ministerial Direction on Teachers’ Pay (opens in a new tab)
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Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency to ensure breastfeeding mothers get support, citing reports of a mother who had to pay for help and PHA research showing many mothers stop early due to lack of support.
Health Issue: Reports of mother paying for breastfeeding support in Northern Ireland Original release: Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50%
Education Minister Paul Givan launches a draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, with a public consultation, saying it could subsidise working families' childcare costs by more than 50%. It proposes universal full-time pre-school education and an Early Years Curriculum Framework.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50% (opens in a new tab)
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Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes DAERA's announcement of a support payment for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, but urges the department to work closely with fishing families on a lasting plan to rebuild the lough's commercial fishing sector.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA financial support for Lough Neagh eel fishermen Original release: Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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DUP delivering for working families - Middleton
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes the launch of a new consultation on the draft early years and childcare strategy, saying it offers parents and providers a real chance to shape reforms that are affordable, high‑quality and supportive of working families. He praises Education Minister Paul Givan for
Education Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: DUP delivering for working families - Middleton (opens in a new tab)
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The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey warns that eight prisoners in Britain on collective hunger strike face grave risk, and urges Justice Secretary David Lammy to engage with their lawyers. He says Qesser Zuhrah's condition has rapidly worsened and calls for immediate clarity on her health.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin questions how the Education Minister's draft childcare strategy will be financed, noting no agreed multi-year budget exists for the roughly £500 million needed over four years. She also criticises its release so close to Christmas after a promised autumn timetable.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded (opens in a new tab)
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Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must tangibly deliver for families, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA welcomes the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy but says it lacks clear targets. She raises concern over the absence of a mechanism to stop public subsidies being absorbed into fees and over plans to consult on removing admissions priority…
Education Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must tangibly deliver for families, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Project Gigabit will improve access to broadband to rural premises across the north – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Economy Minister's announcement that Fibrus Networks will deliver Project Gigabit, saying it will bring high-quality broadband to thousands of rural homes and businesses and support regional balance.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Project Gigabit broadband delivery contract awarded to Fibrus Networks Original release: Project Gigabit will improve access to broadband to rural premises across the north – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh calls for a single all-island health data system to enable comparable healthcare planning, and says the Good Friday Agreement Committee will ask the Health Minister to examine adopting Encompass in the south as an interim measure.
Health Issue: ESRI briefing to Good Friday Agreement Committee on all-island health data Original release: Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Delivery of rail review could transform island
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA welcomes the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy as an important step, but says delivery must follow. He criticises Fermanagh's exclusion from the plans and urges ministers to work with the Irish Government on proposed rail reopenings…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy publication Original release: McNulty: Delivery of rail review could transform island (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (opens in a new tab)
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Prioritisation strategy outlines how best to deliver recommendations in All-Island rail review – Boylan
Sinn Féin transport spokesperson Cathal Boylan MLA welcomes the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy as progress on delivering the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, highlighting the Armagh-Portadown, Derry-Portadown and Lisburn-Antrim lines and commending Minister Kimmins.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy publication Original release: Prioritisation strategy outlines how best to deliver recommendations in All-Island rail review – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Meeting with Translink was ‘positive engagement’ on school transport issues – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says a meeting with Translink officials was a positive engagement on school transport, after students from Coláiste Feirste were refused a bus in Crumlin. She says Translink apologised and committed to better communication with drivers, pupils, the school and parents…
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Coláiste Feirste students refused bus in Crumlin Original release: Meeting with Translink was ‘positive engagement’ on school transport issues – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says delayed patient discharges have passed 600, citing trust-level figures and a rise of 77 in six weeks. She calls for a senior figure to be given responsibility for the issue and says the Department's current approach has not worked.
Health Issue: Delayed hospital discharges exceed 600 across Northern Ireland trusts Original release: Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals… (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £3.7million investment in RAISE Locality Led Projects…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces over £3.7million for 61 Locality Led Projects under the RAISE Programme, which aims to raise educational achievement and reduce disadvantage through place-based community work. Funding will support projects on attendance, standards and pathways for learners…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: RAISE Programme £3.7million Locality Led Projects funding announcement Original release: Givan announces £3.7million investment in RAISE Locality Led Projects… (opens in a new tab)
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26,000 vehicles still outstanding from Sellantis recall: Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says the Department for Transport has confirmed around 122,000 of an estimated 148,000 Stellantis vehicles have been rectified after an airbag safety recall. He calls for every owner of the roughly 26,000 outstanding vehicles to respond to recall notices and for their…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Stellantis vehicle recall progress confirmed by Department for Transport Original release: 26,000 vehicles still outstanding from Sellantis recall: Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont’s £5 million spin bill
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Executive departments have spent about £5 million on press officers since devolution returned, criticising delayed Assembly answers from the Health Department and calling the spending a diversion from frontline services.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Stormont Executive departments' press officer spending figures since devolution Original release: Stormont’s £5 million spin bill (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong says she is shocked by the first confirmed case of invasive Quagga Mussel in Lower Lough Erne and criticises DAERA for failing to implement robust biosecurity measures. She calls for urgent action to protect waterways, citing gaps in guidance on power-washing and regulation…
Environment and climate Issue: First confirmed Quagga Mussel case in Lower Lough Erne Original release: Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne (opens in a new tab)