Latest releases
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11,729 releases
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Durkan calls on Communities Minister to step up amid cost of living emergency
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan calls on Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to use her department's spending powers to bring forward emergency cost of living support, citing projections that over 75% of households could be in fuel poverty by January 2023.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: Durkan calls on Communities Minister to step up amid cost of living emergency (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes compensation for victims of contaminated blood scandal
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes interim payments for contaminated blood scandal survivors and urges the Department of Health to progress them without further delay, saying families have waited too long for redress.
Health Issue: Interim compensation for contaminated blood scandal victims Original release: Gildernew welcomes compensation for victims of contaminated blood scandal (opens in a new tab)
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Informants are the unsung heroes of peace process - Clarke
South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke praises Security Services and paid informants for undermining terrorism, responding to a Belfast Telegraph report that the PSNI pays almost £1000 per informant. He argues the cost is worth paying to keep people safe.
Justice and policing Issue: Belfast Telegraph report on PSNI payments to informants Original release: Informants are the unsung heroes of peace process - Clarke (opens in a new tab)
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Tories have no regard for people of the north – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane calls the Tory leadership contest being held in the north 'totally insulting', claiming the Conservatives have no regard for the democratic wishes of people here. He accuses the Conservatives of backing the DUP's blocking of an Executive and of pursuing Brexit-related…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Tory leadership contest events in Northern Ireland Original release: Tories have no regard for people of the north – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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DUP’s cruel Executive boycott punishing workers and families – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says the DUP's Executive boycott is punishing workers and families struggling with bills, and calls on Jeffrey Donaldson to end it and return to government amid rising gas prices.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP boycott of Executive over cost of living support Original release: DUP’s cruel Executive boycott punishing workers and families – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Begley expresses sympathy following A5 death
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley expresses sympathy to the family of a young man killed in an accident on the A5 near Omagh, and pays tribute to the emergency services. She says it is the second fatal A5 crash within a month and calls for the long-overdue A5 upgrade to be delivered.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fatal A5 collision near Omagh Beltany Road August 2022 Original release: Begley expresses sympathy following A5 death (opens in a new tab)
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Conservative leadership candidates have opportunity to set out their stall on dealing with the Protocol – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA urges Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to set out how they will resolve the Protocol and cost of living crisis, ahead of a Northern Ireland hustings. He says the EU and UK Government must return to negotiations and that UUP proposals…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Tory leadership contest events in Northern Ireland Original release: Conservative leadership candidates have opportunity to set out their stall on dealing with the Protocol – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Allen calls on Sunak and Truss to commit to ensuring the energy bills support scheme will be delivered in Northern Ireland before December
UUP MLA Andy Allen urges Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to pledge that the £400 energy support payment reaches Northern Ireland households before December, after the Utility Regulator warned of possible delays.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Utility Regulator warning on delays to £400 energy bill support payments in Northern Ireland Original release: Allen calls on Sunak and Truss to commit to ensuring the energy bills support scheme will be delivered in Northern Ireland before December (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of an Executive exacerbating homelessness issue, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the lack of an Executive is worsening homelessness, citing a Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey response on a 45 per cent rise, linked to private landlords leaving the rental sector. She calls for the Executive and Assembly to be restored before winter.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister response on 45 per cent rise in homelessness Original release: Lack of an Executive exacerbating homelessness issue, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Time to ‘supercharge’ town centre regeneration, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for a Green New Deal and investment in town centre regeneration, including EV charging hubs, to boost footfall, decarbonise the economy and create green jobs. He also blames ongoing political deadlock for risking economic growth.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Time to ‘supercharge’ town centre regeneration, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Double digit inflation leaving families destitute
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP warns that inflation reaching 10.1% is leaving families destitute without an Executive or Westminster intervention. He calls for an emergency taskforce and at-risk allocations to get urgent funding to households on the brink.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: ONS inflation rise to 10.1% in August 2022 Original release: Eastwood: Double digit inflation leaving families destitute (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: More lives will be lost on A5 without action
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan warns of further deaths on the A5 road unless the upgrade scheme advances, and urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to use every available option to start work sooner after recent fatalities.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road upgrade delays following recent deaths Original release: McCrossan: More lives will be lost on A5 without action (opens in a new tab)
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British government must ‘get real’ on impact of soaring cost on businesses – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald calls on the British government to fund support for businesses and protect jobs, and to reinstate reduced VAT for bars and restaurants, as retailers face falling sales and closures. She also urges the DUP to end its boycott of the institutions.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: British government must ‘get real’ on impact of soaring cost on businesses – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to address the crisis in GP services across the north – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges immediate action on strained GP services after meeting GP representatives, citing Belfast practices closing their lists to new patients. He calls for an Executive to be restored to fund an extra £1 billion for health recruitment, and tells the DUP to end its…
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Statement by West Belfast Festival addresses none of the key issues
TUV North Belfast representative Ron McDowell says the West Belfast Festival's statement fails to apologise for pro-terrorist and racist chanting at its event and ignores a mural glorifying an attack on police. He calls for funders and public figures to withdraw, and says the festival's charity…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: Statement by West Belfast Festival addresses none of the key issues (opens in a new tab)
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“Surge in cross-border trade must be built upon” – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says All-Ireland trade growth must be built upon amid inflation, citing CSO figures showing north-south goods trade up €413 million and south-north trade up €663 million in the first half of 2022. She calls on the British government to engage in good faith with the…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: CSO figures on All-Ireland trade growth in first half of 2022 Original release: “Surge in cross-border trade must be built upon” – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Unfair child benefit tax trap must be removed – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the UK Government to review the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge, arguing that a household with one income above £50,000 is penalised while a couple with two lower incomes totalling close to £100,000 pays no tax on child benefit.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Original release: Unfair child benefit tax trap must be removed – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hate displays not representative of people of Derry’ – Mayor Duffy
Sinn Féin Mayor of Derry and Strabane Sandra Duffy condemns the burning of memorial wreaths and election posters on Derry bonfires, saying those responsible do not represent the city's people and that recent incidents set back a positive summer.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Meenan Square bonfire in Bogside displays of flags and poppy wreaths Original release: ‘Hate displays not representative of people of Derry’ – Mayor Duffy (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane welcomes investment and creation of 160 jobs in Newtownabbey
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes Ardagh Metal Packaging’s plan to build a 460,000‑sq‑ft plant in Newtownabbey, creating 160 permanent packaging jobs and supporting 270 construction roles, praising the boost to local skills and trade access.
Economy and employment Issue: Ardagh Metal Packaging Newtownabbey plant job creation Original release: Finucane welcomes investment and creation of 160 jobs in Newtownabbey (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Executive boycott during cost of living emergency a ‘dereliction of duty’ – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey accuses the DUP of acting irresponsibly by boycotting the Executive during the cost of living crisis, calling its conduct indefensible. She says Ministers met to find ways around the boycott and urges Jeffrey Donaldson to end it so the £400 energy payment can reach…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: DUP boycott of Executive over cost of living support Original release: DUP Executive boycott during cost of living emergency a ‘dereliction of duty’ – Hargey (opens in a new tab)