Latest releases
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3,450 releases
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Stormont Report Reveals What We Already Knew: the Executive isn’t Delivering
TUV South Antrim representative Mel Lucas says a Pivotal Tracker report shows the Executive is not delivering, citing failing essential services, health waiting lists, GP access, housing costs and unresolved wastewater and productivity plans.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Pivotal Tracker report on Northern Ireland Executive performance Original release: Stormont Report Reveals What We Already Knew: the Executive isn’t Delivering (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches new induction programme to support newly qualified…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces an expanded early career teacher induction programme for 2025/26, co-ordinated by the Education Authority, with online and face-to-face training on SEN, literacy, numeracy and behaviour management.
Education Issue: Expanded early career teacher induction programme 2025/26 announcement Original release: Givan launches new induction programme to support newly qualified… (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan slams those responsible for racists attacks in Ballymena
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan condemns racist attacks in Ballymena after six vehicles were burned outside a property on Lisnevenagh Road. He calls for unity and strong leadership and urges anyone with information to contact the police.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena Lisnevenagh Road racist attack vehicles burned Original release: McGuigan slams those responsible for racists attacks in Ballymena (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong relieved Education Minister not permitted to run roughshod over legal requirements for integrated education
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is relieved the Education Minister cannot ignore the Integrated Education Act, after a High Court ruling that the Department's integrated education strategy was unlawful for lacking benchmarks and targets. She urges the revised strategy be implemented in full…
Education Issue: High Court ruling on Department of Education integrated education strategy Original release: Armstrong relieved Education Minister not permitted to run roughshod over legal requirements for integrated education (opens in a new tab)
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Questions around DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride raised by Freedom of Information disclosures
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure says FOI responses show a contradictory picture on DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride, noting the Executive Office holds a record of a deputy First Minister comment that the Department of Finance does not. She questions whether the…
Disability and equality Issue: FOI disclosures on DUP opposition to Civil Service Belfast Pride participation Original release: Questions around DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride raised by Freedom of Information disclosures (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns an attack on a home in Donegall Avenue, south Belfast, in which residents were injured, calling it unacceptable and urging anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Donegall Avenue home attack in south Belfast Original release: Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’ (opens in a new tab)
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Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure accuses Translink of overcharging bands and Loyal Orders for Twelfth buses while providing a dedicated Pride bus for Belfast Pride, and says its £20,000 Pride-linked spending should go to services instead.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth (opens in a new tab)
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"Drug testing at festivals and large scale events is a no brainer" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth criticises the Public Health Agency for poor communication after a Republic of Ireland health warning about high-dose MDMA ahead of the Electric Picnic festival. He calls for drug testing facilities at large events, an overdose prevention centre in Belfast and…
Health Issue: Republic of Ireland high-dose MDMA warning ahead of Electric Picnic Original release: "Drug testing at festivals and large scale events is a no brainer" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says many SEN children with school placements cannot start full-time education in September, citing an FOI response showing 48 children across 14 schools unable to start and around 100 more across 23 schools possibly not attending full-time.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Executive Office must take urgent action to address rising hate crimes in NI, says Dickson
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA calls on the First and deputy First Ministers to take urgent action on race hate crime after PSNI figures showed 1,329 race-motivated crimes in the year to June, the highest since 2004. He also calls for an update to the Race Relations…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI race hate crime figures for year to June 2025 Original release: Executive Office must take urgent action to address rising hate crimes in NI, says Dickson (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter condemns Minister's "reckless solo run"
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA criticises Education Minister Paul Givan for moving to restrict lawful union activity without consultation, and urges Executive colleagues to halt what she calls reckless solo decisions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister's proposals restricting teacher union activity Original release: Hunter condemns Minister's "reckless solo run" (opens in a new tab)
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Givan establishes Curriculum Taskforce Advisory Committee
Education Minister Paul Givan announces the names of the Curriculum Taskforce Advisory Committee, which will oversee and lead reform of the Northern Ireland Curriculum, with a new statutory framework planned by September 2026 and implementation from September 2027.
Education Issue: Curriculum Taskforce Advisory Committee appointments announced by Education Minister Original release: Givan establishes Curriculum Taskforce Advisory Committee (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister asleep at the wheel during latest SEN placement crisis, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Education Minister is asleep at the wheel after an FOI response from the Education Authority showed the Minister was told in March about the emerging crisis in special educational needs (SEN) places for September 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: Education Minister asleep at the wheel during latest SEN placement crisis, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Police must robustly investigate criminal damage to dual language signs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on police to robustly investigate recent damage to bilingual road signs in Dungannon and Cookstown, which officers are treating as sectarian hate crimes.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Dungannon and Cookstown bilingual sign damage investigation Original release: Police must robustly investigate criminal damage to dual language signs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Why are NIHE staff being paid to attend Londonderry Pride?
TUV leader Jim Allister MP writes to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive questioning why staff can claim flexi credit or TOIL for attending the Londonderry Pride parade. He calls it a misuse of public money and asks at what level the policy was approved.
Public finance and taxation Disability and equality Issue: NIHE staff flexi credit for Londonderry Pride attendance Original release: Why are NIHE staff being paid to attend Londonderry Pride? (opens in a new tab)
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Beidh ceapachán Choimisinéara Teanga ina chloch mhíle stairiúil eile – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes reports that Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner is about to be appointed, saying the post will be another historic step in building a rights-based society.
Disability and equality Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: Beidh ceapachán Choimisinéara Teanga ina chloch mhíle stairiúil eile – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner
TUV leader Jim Allister warns that the Irish Language Commissioner, reportedly due to be confirmed within weeks, will have statutory powers to set standards for every public authority and that DUP ministers cannot block them. He contrasts these with the weaker Ulster Scots and Ulster British…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Appointment of Northern Ireland's first Irish Language Commissioner Original release: TUV warns again of the powers of Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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Congratulations to GCSE students – time the powers that be delivered for them on apprenticeships
TUV chairman Councillor Allister Kyle congratulates GCSE students on results day and calls for a complete overhaul of the apprenticeship system, arguing the current college-then-employer route is flawed and that training centres should return.
Economy and employment Education Issue: GCSE results day 2025 apprenticeship system overhaul Original release: Congratulations to GCSE students – time the powers that be delivered for them on apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Congratulates Students on GCSE Results Day
Robbie Butler MLA, the UUP’s deputy leader and children‑and‑young‑people spokesperson, congratulates pupils on their GCSE results, urges them to consider A‑levels, apprenticeships or further study, and calls on the Education Minister to urgently tackle outcome gaps for disadvantaged children and the
Education Issue: GCSE results for Class of 2025 Original release: Butler Congratulates Students on GCSE Results Day (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Executive must play its part in assisting sick and injured children from Gaza – Kearney
Sinn Féin chairperson and South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Northern Executive to help evacuate sick and injured children from Gaza who need urgent medical treatment. He also calls for the blockade to end and for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Strip.
International affairs Health Issue: Executive assistance for sick and injured children from Gaza Original release: Northern Executive must play its part in assisting sick and injured children from Gaza – Kearney (opens in a new tab)