Latest releases
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4,005 releases
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Chancellor’s Tax Hikes Must Deliver for Health and Policing
UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA warns that the Chancellor's Whitehall statement signalling significant tax rises and debt reduction will backfire if not followed through. He calls for any extra UK funding from the Barnett formula to go to health worker pay and to the PSNI.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Chancellor's Whitehall statement on tax rises and national debt Original release: Chancellor’s Tax Hikes Must Deliver for Health and Policing (opens in a new tab)
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We need more EV charging infrastructure in Belfast, says Long, welcoming progress
Alliance Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Michael Long welcomes council's agreement to begin tendering for the operating model of 42 EV charging stations on council land, after a Sinn Féin deferral. He calls for more charging infrastructure across Belfast to encourage electric vehicle…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Belfast City Council EV charging stations tender decision Original release: We need more EV charging infrastructure in Belfast, says Long, welcoming progress (opens in a new tab)
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Rising Insolvency Figures Show NI Businesses Pushed to the Brink
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says rising bankruptcies and compulsory winding-up orders show local firms being pushed to the brink, and calls for business rates reform and action on the VAT gap with the Republic of Ireland.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Rising NI insolvency figures for 2024/25 bankruptcies and winding-up orders Original release: Rising Insolvency Figures Show NI Businesses Pushed to the Brink (opens in a new tab)
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North Down Councillors blast DUP and UUP over climate hypocracy
Green Party councillors Barry McKee and Lauren Kendall accuse the DUP and UUP of contradiction after Ards and North Down Borough Council approved its Climate Action Plan while also seeking a rethink of statutory emissions goals, which they say risks delaying progress.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Council Climate Action Plan motion Original release: North Down Councillors blast DUP and UUP over climate hypocracy (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin condemns west Belfast racially motivated hate incident
Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin condemns a racially‑motivated hate attack in west Belfast’s Glen Road, offers sympathy to the affected family, says there is no place for racism, praises the community’s hospitality, pledges to support the family and urges anyone with details to contact the PSNI
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist hate incident in Glen Road, west Belfast Original release: McLaughlin condemns west Belfast racially motivated hate incident (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe: NI Health Funds Should Benefit NI Patients
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe questions the Department of Health's oversight of over £125 million in university fees for medical and health degrees over three years. She says that graduates face no obligation to work in Northern Ireland and calls on the Health Minister to require funded…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health spending on medical student university fees Original release: Forsythe: NI Health Funds Should Benefit NI Patients (opens in a new tab)
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Tánaiste U-turn on Chaotic Asylum Process Long Over Due – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, Meath West TD, says Tánaiste Simon Harris's asylum process statement is a U-turn that admits government error, and cites parliamentary question figures on accommodation, backlogs, appeal times, deportations and undocumented arrivals at Dublin Airport.
Immigration Housing Issue: Tánaiste Simon Harris asylum process statement U-turn Original release: Tánaiste U-turn on Chaotic Asylum Process Long Over Due – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Allister welcomes UFU rebuke of DAERA
TUV leader Jim Allister MP welcomes the Ulster Farmers' Union's no confidence motion against the agriculture department DAERA and its minister, saying it matches anger across the farming community. He accuses Minister Muir of failure over nutrient action, ammonia, TB and net zero policy and calls…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Ulster Farmers' Union no confidence vote in DAERA Original release: Allister welcomes UFU rebuke of DAERA (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong expresses concern over fare increases for Strangford Ferry
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong criticises the Infrastructure Minister's decision to raise Strangford Ferry fares for a second consecutive year, warning of harm to commuters, students and outpatients attending Downe Hospital, and asks for the calculation and internal efficiencies behind the rise.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Strangford Ferry fare increase consultation 2025 Original release: Armstrong expresses concern over fare increases for Strangford Ferry (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Millions spent defending ‘Soldier F’ an insult to victims
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood reveals the UK Government has spent £4.3m on legal defence of former soldier 'Soldier F' since 2019, excluding undisclosed pastoral, travel and accommodation costs, and calls it an insult to Bloody Sunday victims.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Soldier F legal defence costs since 2019 revealed Original release: Eastwood: Millions spent defending ‘Soldier F’ an insult to victims (opens in a new tab)
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Blair: Minister Muir has a duty to everyone in Northern Ireland
Alliance DAERA spokesperson John Blair MLA says Minister Andrew Muir must protect the environment for everyone in Northern Ireland, responding to the Ulster Farmers' Union's no confidence vote in the department. He calls the move counterproductive and urges the UFU to work with DAERA on solutions.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Ulster Farmers' Union no confidence vote in DAERA Original release: Blair: Minister Muir has a duty to everyone in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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DUP must act to prevent their Irish language commissioner interfering in Grand Central case
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Conradh na Gaeilge's statement on the newly appointed Irish Language Commissioner is a manifesto for cultural conquest and calls on the DUP to use its claimed Executive veto to block any Commissioner interference in the Grand Central controversy.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Pól Deeds appointed Irish Language Commissioner Original release: DUP must act to prevent their Irish language commissioner interfering in Grand Central case (opens in a new tab)
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‘Céim mhór chun cinn’ do Ghaeilgeoirí – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, National Chairperson, welcomes the appointment of Pól Deeds as Irish Language Commissioner, which the Executive Office has announced, saying it marks a major advance for Irish speakers in the north. He says the commissioner will lead efforts to strengthen the language…
Disability and equality Issue: Pól Deeds appointed Irish Language Commissioner Original release: ‘Céim mhór chun cinn’ do Ghaeilgeoirí – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Fresh concerns over future of PeacePlus funding – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says the EU budget fine print for PeacePlus after 2028 omits central Brussels funding, leaving the programme reliant on Irish and British governments and at risk of underfunding. She will raise the matter in Brussels and Dublin.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: PeacePlus post-2028 EU budget funding allocation omission Original release: Fresh concerns over future of PeacePlus funding – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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TUV blasts appointment of Irish Language Commissioner
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the appointment of Pol Deeds as Irish Language Commissioner is deeply troubling, citing his past declared Sinn Féin affiliation and advocacy for expanded Irish language legislation, and claims the DUP signed off on it.
Disability and equality Issue: Pól Deeds appointed Irish Language Commissioner Original release: TUV blasts appointment of Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter urges Department to deliver swift resolution to Kilrea bridge closure
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter welcomes the Department for Infrastructure taking steps on structural work for the River Bann bridge in Kilrea, closed since September, but calls for dates and deadlines and warns against further delays to reopening.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Kilrea River Bann bridge closure Original release: Hunter urges Department to deliver swift resolution to Kilrea bridge closure (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone welcomes appointment of language commissioners
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone welcomes the confirmation that Irish Language and Ulster Scots Commissioners will soon take up their posts, ending long uncertainty. He criticises the Executive for delays and asks the Executive Office to set out the experience of newly named appointees to the cultural body.
Disability and equality Issue: Pól Deeds appointed Irish Language Commissioner Original release: McGlone welcomes appointment of language commissioners (opens in a new tab)
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Language Commissioners must build trust not division - Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says the newly appointed Language Commissioners and the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression director must prove they serve the public and build trust. He criticises the Sinn Féin and DUP talks process as sidelining others, and urges value for money and…
Disability and equality Issue: Office of Identity and Cultural Expression appointments announced Original release: Language Commissioners must build trust not division - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes appointment of Language Commissioners
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the First and deputy First Minister's sending of letters of offer to Pól Deeds and Lee Reynolds, appointees as Irish Language and Ulster-Scots Commissioners. She says the process took too long and looks forward to them presenting their…
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language Act Commissioner appointments delay Original release: Bradshaw welcomes appointment of Language Commissioners (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard slams ‘unacceptable’ proposed investment in north’s fishing fleet
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard calls the proposed £10 million allocation to the north from the £360 million coastal fund inadequate, and says he has written to the British Secretaries of State demanding a reconsideration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: British government coastal fishing fund allocation for the north Original release: Hazzard slams ‘unacceptable’ proposed investment in north’s fishing fleet (opens in a new tab)