Latest releases
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3,060 releases
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O’Toole: Executive Glider decision an insult to people in Belfast
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says the Executive has failed Belfast after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins dropped plans to extend the Glider to Carryduff and Glengormley and now expects the main scheme not to finish until 2030 at the earliest. He calls the decision shameful and accuses Sinn Féin…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: O’Toole: Executive Glider decision an insult to people in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Programme for Government farce underlines Executive dysfunction
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the postponement of the Executive's Programme for Government reflects dysfunction, citing delays, a last-minute cancellation of a meeting and rising health waiting lists and poverty. He says Alliance must share responsibility.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive Programme for Government meeting postponement February 2025 Original release: O’Toole: Programme for Government farce underlines Executive dysfunction (opens in a new tab)
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Popular aspiration for Irish unity is growing – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney says a LucidTalk poll shows 53% of voters and 60% of under-35s aspire to Irish unity within 20 years. He calls on the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly, draft a green paper and appoint a Minister for Reunification.
Constitutional affairs Issue: LucidTalk poll on Irish unity aspirations Original release: Popular aspiration for Irish unity is growing – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister doesn’t know where new Glider route will…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett raises concern that the Infrastructure Minister's announcement excludes Glengormley from the Belfast Rapid Transport extension, and calls for urgent clarity on the new North Belfast Glider route's termination point, which the Minister could not specify in the Assembly…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: Infrastructure Minister doesn’t know where new Glider route will… (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive first step’ as Minister announces way forward on north-south Glider – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes £48 million to advance the north-south Belfast Glider, with bus lanes and a north Belfast park and ride, and says it is a positive first step toward full delivery.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast north-south Glider route £48m funding announcement Original release: ‘Positive first step’ as Minister announces way forward on north-south Glider – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says export procedures on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain show the Irish Sea border is cementing division, and calls on the government to abandon the Parcels Border and pursue Mutual Enforcement instead.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: West – East Irish Sea Border enforcement commencement on Northern Ireland to GB goods Original release: 25 February 2025: The Arrival of the ‘West – East’ Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara says Sinn Féin lacks ambition on public transport and criticises the Infrastructure Minister's reason for not extending the Glider to Glengormley, citing congestion. Cllr Aine Groogan calls the decision short-sighted and says there is no plan to extend the Glider to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister decision not to extend Glider service Original release: New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party (opens in a new tab)
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Long overdue North/South Glider announcement disappointing, says McReynolds.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the Infrastructure Minister's confirmed extension of the Glider to North and South Belfast disappoints, as key northern and southern areas are left off the planned route. He raises concern over a funding shortfall of over £100m and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport extension excludes Glengormley Original release: Long overdue North/South Glider announcement disappointing, says McReynolds. (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA accuses Executive Ministers of repeatedly avoiding Assembly scrutiny, citing the Finance Minister's draft Budget and monitoring rounds issued by written statement. He also cites the Health Minister's grant funding cuts and an AERA avian flu update…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Ministers repeatedly dodging Assembly accountability: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Don’t miss deadline for Fibrus compensation claims – Kearney
South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney urges Fibrus customers to submit compensation claims promptly after Storm Éowyn network disruption, noting claims must be made within a set window after service is restored.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fibrus compensation scheme after Storm Éowyn network disruption Original release: Don’t miss deadline for Fibrus compensation claims – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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“We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland”
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald sends condolences after the death of Bik McFarlane, describing him as a lifelong republican and a key figure in the H-Blocks and the peace process. She pays tribute to his music and extends sympathy to his family.
Other Constitutional affairs Original release: “We have lost a great patriot who lived his life for the freedom and unity of Ireland” (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes South Belfast Urban Villages investment
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes a £9 million extension to the Executive Office's Urban Villages initiative, with much of the funding going to Donegall Pass and Market areas in South Belfast. She says it will support regeneration, jobs and childcare and creative…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Office Urban Villages £9 million investment extension Original release: Bradshaw welcomes South Belfast Urban Villages investment (opens in a new tab)
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£10million in parking fines written off over 5 years
Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen says nearly £10million in parking fines written off over five financial years is evidence of public money being lost under financial pressure. She calls for all steps to be taken to recover debts, citing £1.31million written off in the last year.
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Parking fines written off over five financial years figures Original release: £10million in parking fines written off over 5 years (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hourly Belfast-Dublin train service has been a huge success’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan says the hourly Belfast-Dublin train service has been a huge success after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins reported passenger numbers rose nearly 50% to just under 400,000 between October 2024 and January 2025. He calls for building on the service and says plans for…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast-Dublin hourly train service passenger numbers rise Original release: ‘Hourly Belfast-Dublin train service has been a huge success’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston urges the public to respond to the Assembly committee's call for evidence on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill, which he says would give MLAs a massive pay rise, and shares the TUV's submission opposing the proposals.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill call for evidence Original release: TUV urge public to have their say on planned MLA pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Children’s Hospital project needs close monitoring as one of world’s most expensive – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for intensive monitoring of the Belfast Children's Hospital build to keep it on time and within budget, citing costs rising from an initial £250m to £671m and comparisons with the Dublin National Children's Hospital.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Children's Hospital cost increase and build delay Original release: Belfast Children’s Hospital project needs close monitoring as one of world’s most expensive – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive’s concern should be with delivering long-delayed Children’s Hospital
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive should focus on delivering the Belfast Children's Hospital, which he says was first proposed in 2013 and is now years behind schedule with costs more than doubled. He claims it will not open until 2030 at the earliest and…
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive approval of new children's hospital at Royal Victoria Hospital Original release: McGrath: Executive’s concern should be with delivering long-delayed Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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A day of hope, and for lessons to be learned – Dodds
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: A day of hope, and for lessons to be learned – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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‘New children’s hospital will be transformative for north’s healthcare’ – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes the Executive's approval of a new children's hospital at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, estimated at £671 million, with construction expected to begin within days. He says it will be a game-changer for families and transformative for healthcare in the north.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive approval of new children's hospital at Royal Victoria Hospital Original release: ‘New children’s hospital will be transformative for north’s healthcare’ – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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British-Irish parliamentary links post reunification mutually beneficial – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an Irish Times and ARINS Project survey finding most people North and South want the east-west link maintained after reunification. She calls for British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meetings to be regularised and prioritised.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Irish Times and ARINS Project east-west link survey Original release: British-Irish parliamentary links post reunification mutually beneficial – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)