Latest releases
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5,208 releases
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SDLP proposes new law to combat Executive inaction as public loses confidence
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the party has tabled an amendment to the forthcoming fiscal watchdog legislation so that Stormont's fiscal council must assess whether Executive budgets deliver on the Programme for Government. The move follows criticism of the draft multi-year…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: SDLP amendment on fiscal council powers over Programme for Government delivery Original release: SDLP proposes new law to combat Executive inaction as public loses confidence (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Rejects Status Quo Budget from Sinn Féin
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll rejects the Executive's draft budget, saying Finance Minister blames Westminster while Executive parties choose cuts and a 5% rates rise each year. He calls for abolishing industrial derating, completing income tax devolution and a fairer rates system.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 Executive disagreement Original release: People Before Profit Rejects Status Quo Budget from Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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North Down TUV demands accountability from local council
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson accuses Ards and North Down Council of poor governance after it funded a first-time Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor alongside the Ulster Pipe Band Championships. He says a formal complaint has been lodged, demands an Equality Impact Assessment, and questions why…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor clashing with Ulster Pipe Band Championships Original release: North Down TUV demands accountability from local council (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs a campaign by Foras na Gaeilge for TG4 to gain formal status as a public broadcaster in the North and move to Freeview Channel 8. She welcomes Minister Ian Murray's pledge to examine the issue but says progress must come soon.
Disability and equality Issue: Foras na Gaeilge campaign for TG4 recognition and Freeview Channel 8 placement Original release: Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address offered warm words but not the action needed to restore farmers' confidence. He calls for concrete progress on bovine TB, ammonia regulation and farm transfer, rather than pilots and timelines.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address Original release: Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to urgently set out a dedicated women's health plan, citing rising gynaecology waiting lists and long delays for women and girls with endometriosis. She urges specialist services with clear diagnosis and treatment targets.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to urgently explain how gynaecology waiting lists will be cleared, citing around 60,000 women reported by the RCOG and no timetable for a Women's Health Action Plan.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes over £1m in active travel funding from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for greenway projects in Belfast, Derry and Strabane, and Newry, Mourne and Down councils. He says the projects will provide cleaner connections and support health and the economy.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Active travel greenway funding for three councils from Infrastructure Minister Original release: Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Infrastructure Minister must build on success of late night services
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite says the Infrastructure Minister must build on Translink's late-night festive services, which saw around 30,000 journeys, up over 70%. He calls for enhanced timetables, more routes and considering lower fares.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Translink late-night festive services journey figures Original release: de Faoite: Infrastructure Minister must build on success of late night services (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont Budget Descends into Chaos
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Executive is in open disarray over the draft 2026–2029/30 budget, pointing to the Education Minister's public criticism shortly after the Finance Minister's briefing and the deputy First Minister's call to oppose it. He says Stormont is broken and failing the public.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 Executive disagreement Original release: Stormont Budget Descends into Chaos (opens in a new tab)
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As Stonewall nears financial ruin why is Stormont still sending it out money?
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls on the Finance Minister, First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain why departmental ties with Stonewall continue and whether they will end them, citing its reported £906,000 deficit and written answers on civil service membership and training payments.
Public finance and taxation Disability and equality Issue: Stonewall reported £906,000 deficit and Stormont funding ties Original release: As Stonewall nears financial ruin why is Stormont still sending it out money? (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Unambitious ghost Budget shows extent of Executive failure
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls the draft multi-year Budget published by Finance Minister John O'Dowd for consultation an unambitious ghost Budget lacking vision, saying it was released without Executive sign-off and omits funding for health, wastewater and housing.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 Executive disagreement Original release: O’Toole: Unambitious ghost Budget shows extent of Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Warns Draft Budget Ignores Public Service Reform and Fiscal Advice
UUP finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA criticises Finance Minister John O'Dowd's draft budget for 2029/30, saying its £63 billion allocations fail to deliver transformation in Health, Education and Policing. He calls for efficiency reform and says Sinn Féin ignores existing fiscal advice…
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 Executive disagreement Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Warns Draft Budget Ignores Public Service Reform and Fiscal Advice (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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Welcome for uturn on Farming Inheritance Tax
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes the Government's U-turn on inheritance tax for farm holdings but says the £2.5m threshold should have been set higher. He says sustained pressure from farmers and MPs forced the change and warns the campaign against the tax will continue.
Public finance and taxation Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Westminster inheritance tax threshold increase for family farms Original release: Welcome for uturn on Farming Inheritance Tax (opens in a new tab)
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Mallaghan welcomes u-turn on farming inheritance tax
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan welcomes the British government's decision to raise the proposed inheritance tax threshold for family farms from £1 million to £2.5 million, crediting sustained campaigning by the farming community.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Westminster inheritance tax threshold increase for family farms Original release: Mallaghan welcomes u-turn on farming inheritance tax (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes changes on farm inheritance tax
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA welcomes the UK Government's revised plans to raise the proposed farmland inheritance tax threshold to £2.5 million for individuals and £5 million for married couples. He says the change will protect most local family farms and offers his…
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Westminster inheritance tax threshold increase for family farms Original release: McCrossan welcomes changes on farm inheritance tax (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive ends dismal year on Budget confusion
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, Leader of the Opposition, says the Executive ends a year of little delivery amid Budget confusion over a projected £440m overspend next year. He urges the Finance Minister to get to grips with the situation and seek additional fiscal powers.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive projected overspend of around £440m next year Original release: O’Toole: Executive ends dismal year on Budget confusion (opens in a new tab)
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British Government must reverse ‘shameful’ cuts to Community and Voluntary sector – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on the British Government to reverse planned cuts of 64% to the Community and Voluntary sector under the Local Growth Fund, warning that jobs and vulnerable-user schemes are at risk.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Local Growth Fund 64% cut to Community and Voluntary sector Original release: British Government must reverse ‘shameful’ cuts to Community and Voluntary sector – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Community sector funding cuts will cause huge damage
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the UK Government's 64% cut to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will devastate the community sector, putting jobs and services for marginalised people at risk. She suggests the timing, days before Christmas, was designed to bury opposition, and urges the Executive to…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Shared Prosperity Fund 64% cut to community sector Original release: Hanna: Community sector funding cuts will cause huge damage (opens in a new tab)