Latest releases
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1,749 releases
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Brown highlights urgent need for investment in water infrastructure following NIAO report
Alliance infrastructure spokesperson Patrick Brown MLA calls for urgent investment in water infrastructure after an NI Audit Office report on a projected £1bn shortfall, ahead of the Executive's budget and an Assembly debate on NI Water on 9 April.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on water infrastructure funding shortfall Original release: Brown highlights urgent need for investment in water infrastructure following NIAO report (opens in a new tab)
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Rates refund for Victoria Square apartments welcomed
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the decision that owners of Victoria Square apartments will no longer be liable for rates, with refunds for rates paid since 2019. She calls for refunds to be processed quickly and for the wider problems facing owners to be resolved.
Public finance and taxation Local government Issue: Victoria Square apartments rates liability decision and refunds Original release: Rates refund for Victoria Square apartments welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of ambition in DFI summed up by debacle surrounding…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett says he is disappointed the Department for Infrastructure has refused to consider full pedestrianisation of Hill Street, Belfast, and calls it a shocking state of affairs that no timescale has been given for partial pedestrianisation after four years of discussion.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Department for Infrastructure decision on Hill Street pedestrianisation Original release: Lack of ambition in DFI summed up by debacle surrounding… (opens in a new tab)
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Over £7 million spent on asylum seekers and immigrant support in Northern Ireland in 2022/2023 and 2023/24
TUV leader Jim Allister says Northern Ireland departments received over £7 million for asylum seekers, £4,324,250 in 2022/2023 and £2,863,750 in 2023/24, citing a Stormont answer. He links the figure to Reform UK's policy on stopping small boat crossings.
Immigration Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont departments' asylum seeker funding figures for 2022/23 and 2023/24 Original release: Over £7 million spent on asylum seekers and immigrant support in Northern Ireland in 2022/2023 and 2023/24 (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to improve water quality – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan calls for an urgent review of how water quality is addressed across the north, following an Audit Office report finding no improvement in water quality over almost a decade. She urges full implementation of the report's recommendations by the Department of Agriculture…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes Original release: Urgent action needed to improve water quality – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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Mal O’Hara is likely to be successfully elected to the Seanad
The Green Party welcomes news that party leader Mal O'Hara is likely to be elected unopposed to the Seanad, making him its fifth sitting Senator. O'Hara says a Northern Ireland voice must remain in the Seanad and pledges to amplify voices from across the north.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Mal O'Hara likely unopposed Seanad by-election win Original release: Mal O’Hara is likely to be successfully elected to the Seanad (opens in a new tab)
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Consequences of failing to act to protect our environment are evident, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA responds to the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes, saying Northern Ireland trails the Republic on ecological status. He calls for cross-departmental action and welcomes the DAERA minister's planned…
Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes Original release: Consequences of failing to act to protect our environment are evident, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Casement Park must be delivered
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says Casement Park's redevelopment must be delivered after meeting Ulster GAA at Stormont, urging funding commitments from the British and Communities Ministers, especially if the stadium is to host Euro 2028.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Ulster GAA meeting at Stormont on Casement Park redevelopment Original release: Eastwood: Casement Park must be delivered (opens in a new tab)
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Armagh and Newry deaths
TUV chairman and Cusher councillor Keith Ratcliffe offers sympathy to the families of five people killed in two crashes in Newry and Armagh within a few hours. He says he trusts the police investigation will establish what happened and urges greater care on the roads.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Newry and Armagh fatal crashes killing five people Original release: Armagh and Newry deaths (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins expresses condolences following road death
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins extends condolences to the family of a man killed in a collision on Forkhill Road, Newry, and urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fatal road collision on Forkhill Road, Newry Original release: Kimmins expresses condolences following road death (opens in a new tab)
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Delivering more social homes must be a priority – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson urges the Communities Minister to urgently produce a housing supply strategy with a delivery timeline, after briefings showed the social housing stock is shrinking at an unsustainable rate.
Housing Issue: Social housing stock decline briefing to Stormont committee Original release: Delivering more social homes must be a priority – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production
Green Party councillors in Ards and North Down say the council backed Cllr Kendall's proposal that its response to a Department consultation on onshore petroleum should back a moratorium and legislative ban. Cllr Kendall says the Executive has not acted on the ban despite the previous mandate's…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Council backs onshore petroleum moratorium and ban Original release: Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production (opens in a new tab)
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Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery
Alliance South Down MLA Patrick Brown raises alarm over a reported cut of more than 60% to flood management funding in 2023/24 and questions why it was cut so deeply. He also queries how a £100k flood recovery grant scheme for businesses will be rolled out.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI flood management funding cut figures for 2023/24 Original release: Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council
Alliance Newry Mourne and Down councillors welcome the council's plans for photovoltaic solar farms on two redundant landfill sites at Aughnagun and Drumnakelly, which they say could bring in about £250,000 a year net. They also claim further Alliance-identified sites could help ease rates pressure.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Newry Mourne and Down council PV farms on Aughnagun and Drumnakelly landfill sites Original release: Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition welcomes funding for Strule Campus, raises questions about integrated capital builds
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter welcomes Executive funding of £150m over three years for the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh, which will serve six schools. She calls on Ministers to restore capital money for ten shared and integrated school builds hit by the Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive £150 million funding for Strule shared education campus Original release: SDLP Opposition welcomes funding for Strule Campus, raises questions about integrated capital builds (opens in a new tab)
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Minister outlines vision for housing ahead of opening new £100m…
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons sets out housing priorities at the Northern Ireland Housing Conference, including more social and affordable homes, and opens the 653-home Black Ridge development in west Belfast.
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McCrossan urges Minister to give A5 update
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to give the Assembly an update on next steps for the A5 upgrade. He says the public inquiry findings are still awaited and that work must begin before year end, after meeting the Enough is Enough campaign at Stormont.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 upgrade Enough is Enough campaign meeting at Stormont Original release: McCrossan urges Minister to give A5 update (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly must work together to support Victoria Square homeowners – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges Assembly parties to cooperate on legislation closing a legal gap that stops Victoria Square apartment owners claiming compensation for defects found after the six-year limit. He says owners remain saddled with mortgages and maintenance costs five years after…
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: Assembly must work together to support Victoria Square homeowners – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken calls for Northern Ireland legislation change to help protect homeowners from defective buildings
UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA calls for Northern Ireland legislation to be amended to give homeowners the same protections against defective buildings as the rest of the UK, after a High Court ruling left Victoria Square apartment residents unable to claim.
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: Aiken calls for Northern Ireland legislation change to help protect homeowners from defective buildings (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson calls for NI to replicate Building Safety Act
DUP MP Gavin Robinson calls for Northern Ireland to pass legislation matching England and Wales' Building Safety Act, extending the limitation period to 30 years, to help Victoria Square apartment residents in Belfast who are barred from seeking redress over structural defects.
Housing Original release: Robinson calls for NI to replicate Building Safety Act (opens in a new tab)