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5,198 releases
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O'Dowd's Reval Climbdown Exposes Sinn Féin's Tone-Deaf Approach to the Economy
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says Finance Minister John O'Dowd's climbdown on the Rates Reval 2026 exposes Sinn Féin's approach to the economy, and demands he explain why he did not intervene earlier over rate rises hitting hospitality firms.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Draft Reval 2026 valuations published for hospitality sector Original release: O'Dowd's Reval Climbdown Exposes Sinn Féin's Tone-Deaf Approach to the Economy (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson welcomes Sinn Féin U-turn on hospitality rates hike but says it highlights party's cack-handed approach to economy
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA welcomes the Minister's decision to halt the Reval 2026 rates process after a public outcry over potential hospitality rates rises, but says it exposes a muddled approach. He calls for a full independent review of business rates and proper sectoral relief.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland domestic rates revaluation Original release: Tennyson welcomes Sinn Féin U-turn on hospitality rates hike but says it highlights party's cack-handed approach to economy (opens in a new tab)
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Families continue to be failed by lack of respite provision, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says families are being failed by a lack of respite care after the Department of Health confirmed Lindsay House in the South Eastern Trust cannot reopen with no timeframe. She has tabled an urgent oral question for the Health Minister.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Lindsay House respite facility reopening delay confirmed Original release: Families continue to be failed by lack of respite provision, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes European Commission investigation into X
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes the European Commission's decision to investigate X over its Grok AI tool, which was misused to generate sexualised deepfake imagery. She calls on social media firms to stop enabling the digital undressing of women and children and says parties at Stormont have…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: European Commission investigation into X over Grok AI images Original release: Sheerin welcomes European Commission investigation into X (opens in a new tab)
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Presentations from Foras na Gaeilge and Turas show huge interest in Irish language across Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin's Senator Conor Murphy says Oireachtas committee presentations by Foras na Gaeilge and Turas show growing interest in Irish, but claims statutory funding is failing the sector and Good Friday Agreement commitments on language have not been honoured. He also calls on the Irish Government…
Disability and equality Education Issue: Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee Irish language presentations from Foras na Gaeilge and Turas Original release: Presentations from Foras na Gaeilge and Turas show huge interest in Irish language across Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Warns NI Businesses Being Squeezed from Every Angle as Business Confidence Falls
UUP MLA Robbie Butler warns that Northern Ireland businesses face pressure from weak growth, rising costs, planning delays and political instability. He cites the NI Chamber and QUB Quarterly Economic Survey, calls for a credible multi-year budget, and urges an end to adversarial politics.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Chamber and QUB Quarterly Economic Survey showing falling business confidence Original release: Butler Warns NI Businesses Being Squeezed from Every Angle as Business Confidence Falls (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin in denial over impact of revaluation on hospitality, says Tennyson
Alliance Finance Spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA says Finance Minister John O'Dowd is 'in denial' about the impact of Reval2026 rates revaluation on pubs and hotels, citing proposed rateable value rises of 70% and 80%. He calls for an independent review of the business rates system and transitional…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland domestic rates revaluation Original release: Sinn Féin in denial over impact of revaluation on hospitality, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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First Environmental Improvement Plan report shows progress, but political will is vital to save our environment, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA says political will is vital to protect the environment after Andrew Muir released the first yearly update on the Environmental Improvement Plan, which Blair says shows progress.
Environment and climate Issue: Environmental Improvement Plan first annual progress report Original release: First Environmental Improvement Plan report shows progress, but political will is vital to save our environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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More work remains to tackle ‘unacceptably long’ health waiting lists – McGuigan
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA welcomes the Department of Health exceeding the Executive's 70,000 elective care waiting list target, while saying waiting lists remain far too long. He calls for sustainable solutions, including workforce planning and expanding public sector…
Health Issue: Health Minister update on elective care waiting lists and capacity Original release: More work remains to tackle ‘unacceptably long’ health waiting lists – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Government must stop undermining NI bus manufacturing - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says Windsor Framework and EU state aid rules leave Northern Ireland bus manufacturers, including Wrightbus, at a disadvantage, blocking access to UK Government incentives available elsewhere, and calls for equal support.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Westminster debate on bus manufacturing and Windsor Framework Original release: Government must stop undermining NI bus manufacturing - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Holocaust Memorial Day
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he signed a Holocaust commemoration pledge book on Holocaust Memorial Day and calls for antisemitism to be confronted wherever it appears, with action matching remembrance.
Disability and equality Original release: Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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New driver licensing changes will improve road safety – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' driver licensing reforms, including Graduated Driver Licensing due by October and new tests from April 2027, saying they target collisions involving new and young drivers.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Graduated Driver Licensing reforms for new drivers announced by Infrastructure Minister Original release: New driver licensing changes will improve road safety – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Good healthcare provision key to economic prosperity - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA, speaking for Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine, says Fermanagh businesses are concerned about uncertainty over the South West Acute Hospital's future and access to community healthcare. She calls for the Trust's vision for the hospital to focus…
Health Economy and employment Original release: Good healthcare provision key to economic prosperity - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Sinn Féin must reverse damaging rates revaluation or risk large scale business closures
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin accuses Sinn Féin of blaming Westminster for rising business rates while the Executive pushes ahead with a rates revaluation she says will raise costs for hospitality and retail. She urges Finance Minister John O'Dowd to halt or reverse the revaluation.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland domestic rates revaluation Original release: McLaughlin: Sinn Féin must reverse damaging rates revaluation or risk large scale business closures (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter highlights ongoing traffic problems in East Derry
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter highlights ongoing traffic delays in Ballykelly, Greysteel and Kilrea, including roadworks at Kilrea Bridge, and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to review project management and working hours. She also asks for clear timelines and a visit to the areas at peak…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Hunter highlights ongoing traffic problems in East Derry (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Graduated Driver Licensing an important step forward
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA welcomes the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing as an important road safety step, saying it was long overdue and noting Mark H Durkan's 2016 legislation. He calls for effective enforcement, awareness campaigns and continued…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Graduated Driver Licensing reforms for new drivers announced by Infrastructure Minister Original release: McNulty: Graduated Driver Licensing an important step forward (opens in a new tab)
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Elective Care Framework Delivering Improvement and Exceeding Targets
UUP Health Minister Mike Nesbitt says the Elective Care Framework is delivering improvement, with waiting lists falling, capacity and productivity rising, and 70,000 additional elective activities target nearly tripled. He credits Trusts, clinicians and data use at a Stormont Clinical Leaders…
Health Issue: Health Minister update on elective care waiting lists and capacity Original release: Elective Care Framework Delivering Improvement and Exceeding Targets (opens in a new tab)
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Hospitality needs help and NI mustn’t be left behind, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls on the UK Government to ensure Northern Ireland receives its fair share of hospitality support, after England's pub business rates discount. She calls for wider action, including a VAT cut, and says she will press for Barnett consequentials.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Government England pub business rates discount announcement Original release: Hospitality needs help and NI mustn’t be left behind, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Brett challenges 'ignorance' of Finance Minister to Hospitality…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett says Finance Minister John O'Dowd showed ignorance of concerns from the hospitality sector over large rates increases linked to REVAL 26, and calls for him to pause and engage with the sector immediately.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Draft Reval 2026 valuations published for hospitality sector Original release: Brett challenges 'ignorance' of Finance Minister to Hospitality… (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes Assembly endorsement of all-island economic trends report
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Assembly's endorsement of a recent ESRI report on all-island economic trends. He says the motion urges Executive ministers to use the report in policy and calls on the British government to devolve greater revenue-raising powers.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly endorsement of ESRI all-island economic trends report Original release: Delargy welcomes Assembly endorsement of all-island economic trends report (opens in a new tab)