Latest releases
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5,315 releases
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TUV Leader’s New Year Message
TUV leader says the 1 January ICS2 customs controls and ban on GB veterinary and pet medicines will add paperwork and costs at the Irish Sea border, and attacks Stormont's record and Sinn Fein's role. He calls on unionists, including DUP and UUP activists, to join TUV before the 2027 elections.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: TUV Leader’s New Year Message (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong urges benefit claimants to seek advice as almost 13,000 at financial risk
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges people who received a Department for Communities letter about moving to Universal Credit to get advice, citing figures she obtained showing almost 13,000 have not yet claimed after a mandatory migration notice.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Universal Credit mandatory migration notices with almost 13,000 yet to claim Original release: Armstrong urges benefit claimants to seek advice as almost 13,000 at financial risk (opens in a new tab)
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2026 New Year Message
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA says 2025 must be the last year of dysfunctional government and calls for the institutions to be reformed. She says Alliance's call for reform, backed by an Assembly majority, is now being pressed on the UK and Irish governments to launch a process in the new year.
Constitutional affairs Original release: 2026 New Year Message (opens in a new tab)
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New Year Message from DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP calls for less rhetoric and more delivery in 2026, prioritising working families, the economy and public services over a border poll and what he describes as ideology on climate policy.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: New Year Message from DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader’s New Year Message
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says attention must return to Northern Ireland's challenges in 2026, criticising Executive infighting and unmet promises in 2025 and calling on the Executive to deliver for people. The release also urges the UK and Irish Governments to begin preparation ahead of any…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: SDLP Leader’s New Year Message (opens in a new tab)
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Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell criticises the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for advocating gender self-identification after the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex. He calls for the Executive Office to hold the Commission to account and says the Health Minister will be held…
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission gender self-identification advocacy Original release: Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin writes to David Lammy MP concerning hunger strikers’ health and wellbeing
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says all Sinn Féin parliamentarians have signed a letter to Justice Secretary David Lammy urging him to resolve the hunger strike by eight prisoners in Britain, now at 47 days, and to engage directly with them and their legal representatives.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: Sinn Féin writes to David Lammy MP concerning hunger strikers’ health and wellbeing (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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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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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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Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls the Labour Government's proposals to offer free TV licences to benefit claimants a slap in the face for working people. He says the plans would shift the burden onto working households, questions how they would be funded, and urges Labour to focus on easing pressures…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Labour proposals for free TV licences for benefit claimants Original release: Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty criticises Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for confirming no Department for Communities funding for Belfast City Council's Hardship Fund in 2025/26. He says the decision will hit projects such as school breakfast clubs and calls on the Executive to take…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Hardship Fund no Department for Communities funding 2025/26 Original release: Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding (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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Lyons: Make the Call Wraparound Service generates over £63million in…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons hails the Make the Call Wraparound Service for delivering over £63million in unclaimed benefits last year, including £7.9million in Pension Credit and £16million in Attendance Allowance, and urges people who may be entitled to use the free service.
Social security and welfare Original release: Lyons: Make the Call Wraparound Service generates over £63million in… (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework Still Failing to Deliver for Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the government's response to Lord Murphy's recommendations and House of Lords findings on the Windsor Framework is cautiously welcome but falls well short of fixing Irish Sea Border problems. He points to retailer refusals, veterinary medicines…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government response to Lord Murphy's Windsor Framework recommendations Original release: Windsor Framework Still Failing to Deliver for Northern Ireland (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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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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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)
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Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s recent tour of Daisy Hill Hospital, praises staff and reduced waiting lists, and calls for additional long‑term funding, expanded resources and stronger North‑South health cooperation to sustain progress.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visit to Daisy Hill Hospital Original release: Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes (opens in a new tab)