Latest releases
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3,364 releases
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Stop Belfast City Airport Expansion
Green Party Northern Ireland calls on Belfast City Airport and decision‑makers to reject the plan to raise the yearly flight limit from 48,000 to about 61,000 and to stop extending operating hours to 10.30 pm, urging protection of noise safeguards for local residents.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast City Airport proposed increase in flight movements Original release: Stop Belfast City Airport Expansion (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Nearly £1 million spent on mothballed Careers Portal
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA says the Department for the Economy has spent about £889,000 on the paused Careers Portal Project, with nothing delivered, and demands the Minister state whether it will continue or close and show what benefits the spending has produced.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Careers Portal Project spending revealed in Assembly question response Original release: Armstrong: Nearly £1 million spent on mothballed Careers Portal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s report highlights again the damaging impact of academic selection – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says a new Queen's University Belfast report shows academic selection harms children and the education system, and blames successive DUP Education Ministers for ignoring the evidence. He calls for a fairer post-primary transfer system.
Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast report on academic selection and post-primary transfer Original release: Queen’s report highlights again the damaging impact of academic selection – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford
UUP leader Jon Burrows says the party has chosen Councillor Richard Smart, a Newtownards councillor and former Ards and North Down mayor, to contest Strangford at next May's Assembly election. Mike Nesbitt, the outgoing Strangford MLA, offers his backing.
Other Local government Issue: Ulster Unionist selection of Richard Smart for Strangford Assembly candidacy Original release: Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again
UUP Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken MLA warns that repeated delays to EU-UK reset talks, with the timetable slipping from July to October and now late November, leave agribusiness and manufacturing firms without needed certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: EU-UK reset talks timetable delayed again to late November Original release: Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA calls for the education debate to shift from the transfer test to tackling brain drain and creating properly funded vocational pathways into apprenticeships, while defending parents' right to choose a child's school.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls for equitable access to Enhertu, a life-extending breast cancer drug now available on the NHS in England, for patients in Northern Ireland. She has written to Health Minister Robbie Butler seeking an urgent timetable for its availability locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Enhertu breast cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on the Infrastructure Minister to pause commercial sand dredging on Lough Neagh until a review of permissions and environmental assessments is completed, citing evidence that dredging releases nutrients linked to algal blooms. He also urges…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lough Neagh sand dredging nutrient release and NIEA licence review letter Original release: Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Late Night transport a huge success for Belfast – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Cáral Ní Chuilín praises the Late Night transport pilot in Belfast, citing over 43,000 journeys and more than 100 major events supported. She credits Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and calls for the scheme to become permanent with Executive colleagues and the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Late Night transport pilot project results Original release: Late Night transport a huge success for Belfast – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA calls on Assembly members from all parties to back the Conversion Practices Bill at Second Stage, describing it as a historic opportunity to ban conversion practices he calls cruel and archaic.
Disability and equality Issue: Conversion Practices Bill Second Stage debate Original release: Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Neill: Girls Themselves Won U-Turn on Right to Wear Trousers Through Relentless Efforts
People Before Profit's Maeve O'Neill welcomes the decision to let girls wear trousers in school, crediting girls who campaigned for years and criticising Education Minister Paul Givan's U-turn as embarrassing. She calls for the uniform legislation to be challenged and for RSE and menstrual health…
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: O'Neill: Girls Themselves Won U-Turn on Right to Wear Trousers Through Relentless Efforts (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister’s u-turn an important win for girls – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes DUP Education Minister Paul Givan's decision to make schools give girls the option of trousers, calling it an embarrassing U-turn that followed party and campaigner pressure. She says he should have guaranteed this in his school uniforms legislation.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Education Minister’s u-turn an important win for girls – Mason (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes the Education Minister’s move to permit girls to wear trousers in school uniform, calling the U‑turn overdue, demanding an explanation for the delay and urging consistent rollout across all schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party selects Cllr Pete Wray as North Down candidate
Ulster Unionist Party selects Councillor Pete Wray as its North Down candidate for the May 2026 Assembly election; leader Jon Burrows lauds his council record and Wray says he will push for better road funding, NI Water fixes, Bangor regeneration, education and community safety.
Other Infrastructure and transport Issue: UUP selects North Down Assembly candidate Original release: Ulster Unionist Party selects Cllr Pete Wray as North Down candidate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows
UUP leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes new guidance giving girls the option to wear trousers as part of school uniform, calling it a common-sense outcome. He says the Education Minister should have acted earlier through uniform guidance rather than forcing the Education…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes Education Minister's U-Turn on girls wearing trousers to school
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the Education Minister's updated legal guidelines on girls' right to wear trousers as school uniform, describing it as a U-turn on an earlier decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Mathison welcomes Education Minister's U-Turn on girls wearing trousers to school (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has raised with the Health Minister new figures showing Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate, asking what action is being taken and how inequalities between deprived and affluent areas will be tackled.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New infant mortality figures showing Northern Ireland highest rate Original release: Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Better planning and flexibility needed in pre-school admission – Mason
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Childcare Cathy Mason criticises Education Minister Paul Givan's decision to remove priority nursery admission for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. She calls instead for greater planning, funding and places in areas with shortages.
Education Issue: Education Minister immediate changes to pre-school Socially Disadvantaged Circumstances criterion Original release: Better planning and flexibility needed in pre-school admission – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Falling reading standards demand more books and fewer screens says Burrows
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says reversing falling reading standards, after PISA results showed Northern Ireland's average reading score dropping over the past decade, needs more reading, less screen time, early-years support and less bureaucracy for teachers.
Education Issue: PISA results showing decline in Northern Ireland reading scores Original release: Falling reading standards demand more books and fewer screens says Burrows (opens in a new tab)
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Yet another Creswell victim let down by incompetence in investigation, says McAllister
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes a Police Ombudsman report finding the PSNI failed a 2016 complainant over an indecent exposure allegation against Jonathan Creswell. She calls for full transparency, an explanation of why misconduct recommendations are not being followed, and a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman findings on PSNI handling of 2016 Creswell complaint Original release: Yet another Creswell victim let down by incompetence in investigation, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)