Latest releases
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3,094 releases
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Major impact on mournes gondola project: Forsythe
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says a National Trust refusal of lease arrangements for a Mournes gondola project could put £30m of City Deal funding at risk. She urges stakeholders to engage constructively to balance environmental protection with community benefit.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Major impact on mournes gondola project: Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome the National Trust's decision not to consider a bid for land at Thomas's Quarry for the Mournes Gondola project, citing environmental damage from recent fires and economic viability concerns.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA says the absence of nurses in some special schools is unacceptable, and calls for nursing to be reinstated in every special school that needs it, as soon as possible.
Education Health Issue: Nursing provision removal from special schools review Original release: Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair
Alliance's agriculture and environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA's launch of a consultation on reviewing the 2019 Nutrients Action Programme and the proposed programme covering 2026 to 2029.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education and Health departments to coordinate more closely on support for children with special educational needs, citing rising identification and a shortage of allied health professionals. He says neither the Education Department nor the Education Authority…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department for Infrastructure cited the lack of signatures on his petition against dual-language signage at Grand Central as justification for claiming the decision was not controversial. He calls on every Unionist MLA to explain why they did not support the…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Grand Central Irish signage court hearing and petition signatures Original release: Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central (opens in a new tab)
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EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban
DUP Peer Lord Dodds warns that the proposed generational smoking ban cannot apply in Northern Ireland because the EU Tobacco Products Directive still governs it under the Windsor Framework. He calls on the Government to clarify whether it will override the Directive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Generational smoking ban and EU Tobacco Products Directive in Northern Ireland Original release: EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must recognise opportunities of investment in public transport
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes Translink's reported rise of three million passenger journeys to about 81.2 million in 2024/25 and urges the Executive to invest in public transport. He claims per-head spending in the North is the lowest in the UK.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink passenger journeys increase for 2024/25 Original release: Durkan: Executive must recognise opportunities of investment in public transport (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome National Trust report on Donard recovery
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray and Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome a National Trust report on the condition and recovery of upland habitats around Slieve Donard, citing pressures from recreation, overgrazing and wildfires. McMurray commends the Trust's post-2021 fire recovery work.
Environment and climate Issue: National Trust report on Slieve Donard habitat recovery Original release: Alliance representatives welcome National Trust report on Donard recovery (opens in a new tab)
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Young condemns racist attack in Newry
Alliance Councillor Helena Young condemns a racist attack in Newry on international doctors and their families at a park on 12 April, saying those responsible should be ashamed and the abuse must stop immediately.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attack on international doctors in Newry park Original release: Young condemns racist attack in Newry (opens in a new tab)
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If Secretary of State doesn’t understand the “fuss” about Irish signs he should speak to the people of Sandy Row
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Secretary of State Hilary Benn is wrong to dismiss the row over Irish signage at Grand Central and should visit Sandy Row to hear residents. He urges unionist MLAs to back TUV's Timothy Gaston's petition to halt the signage.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: If Secretary of State doesn’t understand the “fuss” about Irish signs he should speak to the people of Sandy Row (opens in a new tab)
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Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan
UUP MLA Robbie Butler calls for a co-designed approach to wildfire risk on upland and designated land, arguing that unmanaged gorse rather than sheep grazing is the main danger to the environment and rural safety. He cites talks with the National Sheep Association and repeated fires, and urges…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan (opens in a new tab)
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McKeown welcomes major step forward on Lagan Bridge
SDLP councillor Gary McKeown welcomes the Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge moving to the next stage of procurement, saying it will ease cross-river travel for cyclists and pedestrians. He notes the Belfast Region City Deal is substantially funding it and calls for no further delays, as a…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge moves to next procurement stage Original release: McKeown welcomes major step forward on Lagan Bridge (opens in a new tab)
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When ducks take to the potholes it’s long past time for action
TUV chairman Keith Ratcliffe, a Cusher councillor, says the Department of Infrastructure has taken no action on potholes on Marlacoo Road despite several reminders, with craters now flooding into ponds after heavy rain.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Marlacoo Road potholes and Department of Infrastructure inaction Original release: When ducks take to the potholes it’s long past time for action (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for urgency in addressing crisis at Lough Neagh
SDLP AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says the AERA Minister is delaying key water quality plans, including the River Basin Management Plan and Nutrient Action Plan, as blue-green algae appears in Lough Neagh for 2025. He calls for urgent action rather than what he describes as PR-driven responses.
Environment and climate Issue: Blue-green algae confirmed in Lough Neagh for 2025 Original release: McGlone calls for urgency in addressing crisis at Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin's Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an ESRI economic overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it shows an all-island approach to public health would improve care, and calls on the Irish government to resource Irish unity planning and establish a citizens' assembly.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI 'Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland' report launch Original release: ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls for more support for jurors after trials, following a BBC interview in which a former juror described developing PTSD after a traumatic case. She urges the Justice and Health Ministers to work together on continuous support and asks the Justice Minister to review…
Justice and policing Health Issue: Juror PTSD claims after traumatic court case BBC interview Original release: More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Time for full reconsideration of Gondola project viability, says Alliance representatives
Alliance's South Down representatives, MLA Andrew McMurray and Councillor Jill Truesdale, say the National Trust's halting of talks with Newry, Mourne and Down Council over Thomas's Quarry land means the Gondola project's viability should be fully reconsidered.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Time for full reconsideration of Gondola project viability, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin delegation meets British Secretary of State and urges political action
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald says her delegation urged British Secretary of State Hilary Benn to order a full public inquiry into the 1997 murder of Seán Brown, citing a Court of Appeal ruling, and to clarify British funding for Casement Park.
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on public inquiry into Seán Brown murder Original release: Sinn Féin delegation meets British Secretary of State and urges political action (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time to build Casement Park – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey urges the British government to spell out how much money it will commit to rebuilding Casement Park in West Belfast, following a rally of supporters calling for progress at the stadium. He also asks the Communities Minister to work with Executive ministers to back the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Casement Park reconstruction rally in West Belfast Original release: It’s time to build Casement Park – Maskey (opens in a new tab)