Latest releases
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5,209 releases
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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)
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Childcare Strategy Welcome But Parents Must See Real Value
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the draft childcare strategy as a step forward but says it fails to address fee rises matching increased support, and asks what safeguards will stop disproportionate provider fee hikes under the childcare subsidy scheme.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Childcare Strategy Welcome But Parents Must See Real Value (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin writes to David Lammy MP concerning hunger strikers’ health and wellbeing
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says all Sinn Féin parliamentarians have signed a letter to Justice Secretary David Lammy urging him to resolve the hunger strike by eight prisoners in Britain, now at 47 days, and to engage directly with them and their legal representatives.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: Sinn Féin writes to David Lammy MP concerning hunger strikers’ health and wellbeing (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes approval of Ministerial Direction on Teachers’ Pay
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes First Minister and deputy First Minister approval of his Ministerial Direction for the 2025–26 teachers' pay award, reached through the Urgent Decision procedure. He says the wider Education Department financial pressure, including a projected deficit of…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of Ministerial Direction on 2025/26 teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes approval of Ministerial Direction on Teachers’ Pay (opens in a new tab)
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Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency to ensure breastfeeding mothers get support, citing reports of a mother who had to pay for help and PHA research showing many mothers stop early due to lack of support.
Health Issue: Reports of mother paying for breastfeeding support in Northern Ireland Original release: Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50%
Education Minister Paul Givan launches a draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, with a public consultation, saying it could subsidise working families' childcare costs by more than 50%. It proposes universal full-time pre-school education and an Early Years Curriculum Framework.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50% (opens in a new tab)
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Irish neutrality incompatible with EU militarisation – Mairéad Farrell TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Mairéad Farrell TD welcomes an Oireachtas Committee report on EU defence funding under ReArm Europe and the SAFE Regulation, saying it raises concerns over Irish neutrality and taxpayer-backed loans for weapons. She argues EU budget guarantees could conflict with EU law and…
International affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Oireachtas Finance Committee report on SAFE defence loan programme Original release: Irish neutrality incompatible with EU militarisation – Mairéad Farrell TD (opens in a new tab)
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Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes DAERA's announcement of a support payment for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, but urges the department to work closely with fishing families on a lasting plan to rebuild the lough's commercial fishing sector.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA financial support for Lough Neagh eel fishermen Original release: Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey warns that eight prisoners in Britain on collective hunger strike face grave risk, and urges Justice Secretary David Lammy to engage with their lawyers. He says Qesser Zuhrah's condition has rapidly worsened and calls for immediate clarity on her health.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls the Labour Government's proposals to offer free TV licences to benefit claimants a slap in the face for working people. He says the plans would shift the burden onto working households, questions how they would be funded, and urges Labour to focus on easing pressures…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Labour proposals for free TV licences for benefit claimants Original release: Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty criticises Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for confirming no Department for Communities funding for Belfast City Council's Hardship Fund in 2025/26. He says the decision will hit projects such as school breakfast clubs and calls on the Executive to take…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Hardship Fund no Department for Communities funding 2025/26 Original release: Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin questions how the Education Minister's draft childcare strategy will be financed, noting no agreed multi-year budget exists for the roughly £500 million needed over four years. She also criticises its release so close to Christmas after a promised autumn timetable.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive must outline how they will find data breach compensation
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, a Policing Board member, says significant questions remain over how the Executive will fund compensation for PSNI officers and staff affected by the data breach. He asks the Justice and Finance Ministers to set out how the money will be found.
Public finance and taxation Justice and policing Issue: PSNI data breach compensation funding from Executive budget Original release: McGrath: Executive must outline how they will find data breach compensation (opens in a new tab)
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Project Gigabit will improve access to broadband to rural premises across the north – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Economy Minister's announcement that Fibrus Networks will deliver Project Gigabit, saying it will bring high-quality broadband to thousands of rural homes and businesses and support regional balance.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Project Gigabit broadband delivery contract awarded to Fibrus Networks Original release: Project Gigabit will improve access to broadband to rural premises across the north – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh calls for a single all-island health data system to enable comparable healthcare planning, and says the Good Friday Agreement Committee will ask the Health Minister to examine adopting Encompass in the south as an interim measure.
Health Issue: ESRI briefing to Good Friday Agreement Committee on all-island health data Original release: Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Mears’ Profiteering Exposes Asylum System Farce
TUV chairman Allister Kyle, a Causeway councillor, says asylum accommodation provider Mears being forced to return almost £14 million in Northern Ireland profits exposes a scandal of taxpayer-funded hotel use. He calls for the government to end hotel use, accelerate deportations and stop illegal…
Immigration Public finance and taxation Issue: Mears returns almost £14 million in Northern Ireland asylum profits Original release: Mears’ Profiteering Exposes Asylum System Farce (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Delivery of rail review could transform island
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA welcomes the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy as an important step, but says delivery must follow. He criticises Fermanagh's exclusion from the plans and urges ministers to work with the Irish Government on proposed rail reopenings…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy publication Original release: McNulty: Delivery of rail review could transform island (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (opens in a new tab)
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Prioritisation strategy outlines how best to deliver recommendations in All-Island rail review – Boylan
Sinn Féin transport spokesperson Cathal Boylan MLA welcomes the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy as progress on delivering the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, highlighting the Armagh-Portadown, Derry-Portadown and Lisburn-Antrim lines and commending Minister Kimmins.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy publication Original release: Prioritisation strategy outlines how best to deliver recommendations in All-Island rail review – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Meeting with Translink was ‘positive engagement’ on school transport issues – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says a meeting with Translink officials was a positive engagement on school transport, after students from Coláiste Feirste were refused a bus in Crumlin. She says Translink apologised and committed to better communication with drivers, pupils, the school and parents…
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Coláiste Feirste students refused bus in Crumlin Original release: Meeting with Translink was ‘positive engagement’ on school transport issues – Reilly (opens in a new tab)