Latest releases
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1,575 releases
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McMurray welcomes proposed actions by Minister Muir to address odour concerns in Warrenpoint
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray welcomes proposed actions by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to tackle odour concerns in Warrenpoint, including expanded water quality testing and a multi-agency response led by DAERA. He also asks residents to document issues and send them to a designated address.
Environment and climate Issue: Warrenpoint odour concerns meeting with DAERA Minister Andrew Muir Original release: McMurray welcomes proposed actions by Minister Muir to address odour concerns in Warrenpoint (opens in a new tab)
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McConville-Walker welcomes decision to overturn Maghery landfill extension plans
Sinn Féin councillor Clare McConville-Walker welcomes the reversal of a planning approval for a landfill extension at Maghery, saying key details were missing from the application. She says the community and Lough Neagh will continue to be defended.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Maghery landfill extension planning decision overturned Original release: McConville-Walker welcomes decision to overturn Maghery landfill extension plans (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Executive failure to agree Lough Neagh Action Plan not sustainable
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone warns the Executive that its continued failure to agree the Lough Neagh Action Plan is not sustainable, saying it will condemn the Lough to further decline. He calls for a united Executive approach covering wastewater investment, enforcement review…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh Action Plan Executive agreement delay Original release: McGlone: Executive failure to agree Lough Neagh Action Plan not sustainable (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan comments on audit office waste report
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan says accurate waste data is crucial to cutting waste and meeting climate targets, citing councils' results in the Audit Office report on waste management. She says NIEA is not required to track landfill capacity and urges the DAERA Minister to set a firm timeline for…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Audit Office report on waste management Original release: Brogan comments on audit office waste report (opens in a new tab)
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Robust police action needed to end racist and sectarian intimidation – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls for robust police operations and prosecutions to end racist and sectarian intimidation in Antrim Town, including targeting of ethnic minority families in Ballycraigy and flags placed across the town centre.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Racist and sectarian intimidation in Antrim Town Ballycraigy estate Original release: Robust police action needed to end racist and sectarian intimidation – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan welcomes Lough Neagh action plan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a report setting out plans to tackle blue-green algae in Lough Neagh, and the announced action plan and £1.5 million funding from the Finance Minister. She says she will keep engaging with other parties and local communities to protect the lough.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae action plan and £1.5 million funding Original release: Brogan welcomes Lough Neagh action plan (opens in a new tab)
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DAREA Minister worked at pace to deliver Lough Neagh actions despite obstacles, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Lough Neagh actions, including an enforcement taskforce of twenty officers, slurry measures and a sand dredging review. He criticises the Executive for not yet approving cross-departmental elements such as fines review and…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae action plan and £1.5 million funding Original release: DAREA Minister worked at pace to deliver Lough Neagh actions despite obstacles, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes publication of Sinn Féin Easy Read Manifesto
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin says the party has published an easy read version of its Westminster election manifesto, making it accessible to people with disabilities and learning difficulties. She says it was produced with disabled people.
Disability and equality Issue: Sinn Féin easy read Westminster election manifesto publication Original release: Sheerin welcomes publication of Sinn Féin Easy Read Manifesto (opens in a new tab)
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TUV challenges Tesco on exclusion of Northern Ireland from Armed Forces Day offer
TUV candidate for Lagan Valley Lorna Smyth, an RAF veteran, writes to Tesco's Chief Executive urging it to reverse its decision to exclude Northern Ireland from its free breakfast offer for armed forces members on Armed Forces Day. She questions the decision and asks Tesco to revisit it.
Disability and equality Issue: Tesco Armed Forces Day free breakfast excludes Northern Ireland Original release: TUV challenges Tesco on exclusion of Northern Ireland from Armed Forces Day offer (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh action plan should be published as a matter of urgency – Brogan
Sinn Féin environment spokesperson Nicola Brogan calls for DAERA's Lough Neagh action plan to be finalised and made public urgently, warning that renewed algae blooms show the lough's problems persist a year after last summer's outbreak.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh algae blooms return and DAERA action plan delay Original release: Lough Neagh action plan should be published as a matter of urgency – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs still lack suitable school places for September and urges the Education Minister to adopt a ‘SEN first’ strategy that embeds SEN pupils in schools’ planned enrolments, giving families assurance and schools clarity.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Shortfall of SEN school places for September 2024 Original release: SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray secures meeting with DAERA Minister over Warrenpoint stench.
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray says he has secured a meeting with the DAERA Minister over foul odours affecting residents in Warrenpoint, reported since 2023 and investigated by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. He calls the stenches shocking and pledges to keep working with…
Environment and climate Issue: Warrenpoint foul odours meeting with DAERA Minister Original release: McMurray secures meeting with DAERA Minister over Warrenpoint stench. (opens in a new tab)
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Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland welcomes Assembly approval of remote meetings regulations for councils, saying they give councillors with disabilities, caring duties or rural constituencies more flexible participation. She voices concern that each council will set its own hybrid working rules, which…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of local government remote meetings regulations 2024 Original release: Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will continue to champion case of WASPI women – Shannon
DUP Westminster candidate Jim Shannon says a DUP MPs team will keep campaigning for WASPI women seeking redress over state pension age changes, welcoming the Ombudsman's finding of maladministration by the DWP and urging the next government to deliver full compensation. He criticises Labour and…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI maladministration report Original release: DUP will continue to champion case of WASPI women – Shannon (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA says a DUP motion on on-farm investment does not address ammonia emissions, arguing that clearing the backlog of planning applications with insufficient mitigations will not reduce levels enough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP motion on on-farm investment and ammonia emissions Original release: Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Greens join calls for a Wealth Tax in the UK
Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara calls for a UK wealth tax, aligned with Scottish, English and Welsh Greens, targeting household wealth above £3.4 million and saying it would raise at least £75 billion a year alongside a windfall tax on energy companies.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Greens join calls for a Wealth Tax in the UK (opens in a new tab)
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Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica welcomes the Court of Appeal ruling that DAERA's decision to allow gas storage caverns under Larne Lough was irrational, crediting the No Gas Caverns campaign and Friends of the Earth.
Environment and climate Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on Larne Lough gas storage caverns Original release: Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray raises questions about weed killer usage on South Down verges
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray says he is questioning the Department for Infrastructure over widespread weedkiller spraying on South Down roadside verges, which constituents report has left them scorched and wildflower areas damaged. He wants to establish which chemicals were used and how…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: South Down roadside verge weedkiller spraying by Department for Infrastructure Original release: McMurray raises questions about weed killer usage on South Down verges (opens in a new tab)
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Executive Office must move much faster on race relations, says Bradshaw, marking Refugee Week.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, chair of the Stormont Executive Office Committee, calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to show greater urgency in developing and implementing a new Race Relations Strategy that includes refugee integration, marking Refugee Week.
Immigration International affairs Original release: Executive Office must move much faster on race relations, says Bradshaw, marking Refugee Week. (opens in a new tab)
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Court ruling testament to hard work of campaigners, says Donnelly
Alliance candidate Danny Donnelly welcomes a Court of Appeal ruling that a licence for gas caverns off East Antrim should have gone to the full Executive, crediting campaigners on Islandmagee. He calls for an end to this and other fossil fuel projects across Northern Ireland.
Environment and climate Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on East Antrim gas caverns licence Original release: Court ruling testament to hard work of campaigners, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)