Latest releases
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3,616 releases
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Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Herron, to refer two rape sentences to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, arguing a three-year custodial term is inadequate. He also asks whether deportation notices have been issued against both men.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Unduly lenient rape sentences referral request to Director of Public Prosecutions Original release: Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP selects Pete Byrne for Newry and Armagh
The SDLP announces that Councillor Pete Byrne has been selected by party members to contest Newry and Armagh at the 2027 Assembly election. Byrne pledges to champion fighting for Daisy Hill, local businesses and infrastructure, and Leader Claire Hanna praises his experience.
Other Local government Issue: SDLP selection of Pete Byrne for Newry and Armagh 2027 Assembly election Original release: SDLP selects Pete Byrne for Newry and Armagh (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Parades dispute can’t be excuse for abandoning governance
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the Drumcree dispute must not be used as a reason for Executive parties to abandon governance, as Northern Ireland passes the halfway point of the financial year without an agreed Budget and Stormont tensions grow.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Drumcree dispute and failure to agree Budget at Stormont Original release: O'Toole: Parades dispute can’t be excuse for abandoning governance (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows seeks full cost recovery for £3m Drumcree policing operation
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA writes to the Secretary of State urging the Government to reimburse all extra costs of the Drumcree policing operation, which has already reached about £3 million, so the PSNI budget and other investigations are not compromised.
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Drumcree policing operation cost Original release: Burrows seeks full cost recovery for £3m Drumcree policing operation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says farmers went a year without capital investment support after DAERA delays, and calls for clarity on when larger farm investment support will open. She says the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme opened only in…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA farm capital investment support letters of offer figures Original release: Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: A5 must be delivered as the cost of failure is too high
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says the A5 must be delivered ahead of a judgment due on 6 October, citing road safety deaths, economic harm and delays. He blames the Sinn Féin/DUP-led Executive for incompetence and dysfunction and calls for the Department to get the project right.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: A5 road judgment due 6 October 2026 Original release: McCrossan: A5 must be delivered as the cost of failure is too high (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Executive cannot allow political crisis to deepen Budget chaos
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the absence of an agreed Budget six months into the financial year shows the Executive's failure to govern. Ahead of the Finance Committee, he warns that Drumcree tensions must not push the Budget crisis aside and that Executive collapse would…
Public finance and taxation Original release: O'Toole: Executive cannot allow political crisis to deepen Budget chaos (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone presses Minister on policing costs of Drumcree parade
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA calls for the full policing costs of the Orange Order's planned Drumcree-related parade down Garvaghy Road to be published, including the cost of 200 officers brought in from Scotland. He also presses Justice Minister Naomi Long on alternative uses for…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Garvaghy Road parade policing costs and Scottish officers deployment Original release: McGlone presses Minister on policing costs of Drumcree parade (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson welcomes Conversion Practices Bill passing second stage
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA welcomes his Conversion Practices Bill clearing second stage in the Assembly, with the bill now moving to Committee Stage. He calls conversion practices cruel and archaic and says the bill protects LGBT+ people while preserving free speech and religious…
Disability and equality Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill Second Stage debate Original release: Tennyson welcomes Conversion Practices Bill passing second stage (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin opposed to conversion therapy – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says the party opposes conversion therapy during the Second Stage debate on the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill. She says Sinn Féin will keep engaging with the Bill sponsor to make the legislation fit for purpose.
Disability and equality Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill Second Stage debate Original release: Sinn Féin opposed to conversion therapy – Hargey (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Access to Public Transport Threatened if Attacks in Derry Don't Stop
People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin condemns a weekend attack on a Foyle Metro bus in Derry, which he says endangered children, passengers and the driver. He sends solidarity to those affected, says he has spoken to trade unions and backs the driver and workforce, and warns that attacks…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Foyle Metro bus attack in Derry Original release: Access to Public Transport Threatened if Attacks in Derry Don't Stop (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State must extend budget deadline
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says he has written to the Secretary of State asking him to defer Thursday's deadline for the Executive's three-year budget by a short, defined period. He argues leaders need time to address the current strain on political relationships and consult properly, while…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive three-year budget deadline extension request to Secretary of State Original release: Secretary of State must extend budget deadline (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces £2m investment in sports clubs
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £2m Olympic Legacy Fund package for sports clubs in 2026/27, saying £2.1m has already gone to 81 grassroots clubs and that applications are now open.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Olympic Legacy Fund £2m sports clubs funding package 2026/27 Original release: Lyons announces £2m investment in sports clubs (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Stormont Stalemate Robbing Thousands of a Second Chance at Education
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns the planned cut of almost 8,000 further‑education places, saying the Executive’s budget stalemate will hit working‑class, women returning to work and newcomers, and calls for emergency funding to restore the places.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Planned cuts of 8,000 further‑education places Original release: Carroll: Stormont Stalemate Robbing Thousands of a Second Chance at Education (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Calling it a final offer doesn't make it fair
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the UK Government's latest funding package is not fair or sufficient despite its movement, calls for an agreed multi-year Budget, and urges the Secretary of State to stay open to further targeted support rather than threatening to set spending…
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: UK Government final offer on Northern Ireland funding package Original release: Calling it a final offer doesn't make it fair (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA calls for clear answers from Education Minister Paul Givan on a proposed £30,000 allocation for a football pitch at Richhill AFC, questioning changed departmental advice after the minister's visit and asking the Education Committee to investigate.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £30,000 funding allocation for Richhill AFC football pitch Original release: Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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New Double Taxation Convention must ease cross border working – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy says a forthcoming Double Taxation Convention between Dublin and London must ease cross-border working, reducing the need for workers and employers to deal with two tax administrations, and notes ESRI figures showing up to 19,000 people cross the border for work.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish-British Double Taxation Convention negotiations on cross-border working Original release: New Double Taxation Convention must ease cross border working – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Belfast Met cuts expose cost of Executive Budget failure
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says cuts of over 2,500 places at Belfast Met reflect the impact of the Executive's failure to agree a Budget, noting the college is on a contingency allocation with a shortfall of about £6.8m. He calls on the four Executive parties to resolve the Budget impasse.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Met student places cuts linked to Executive Budget Original release: O'Toole: Belfast Met cuts expose cost of Executive Budget failure (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: Broadband investment welcome but delivery is what matters
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone Councillor Adam Gannon welcomes confirmation that 1,892 local premises are included in Project Gigabit, the highest of any constituency, and calls for prompt delivery. He urges the Economy Minister to begin planning now for what follows the project and identify…
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Project Gigabit premises figures for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Original release: Gannon: Broadband investment welcome but delivery is what matters (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Defend Public Transport - No Service Cuts, No Fare Hikes
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says public transport must be protected and expanded, not cut, ahead of a Derry and Strabane Council debate on his motion opposing Translink service cuts and fare rises. The motion would have the council write to Translink and the DfI Minister and invite…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Translink consultation on service cuts and discount fare removal Original release: Harkin: Defend Public Transport - No Service Cuts, No Fare Hikes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)