Latest releases
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3,576 releases
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Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew McMurray welcome the designation of seven new bathing waters in Northern Ireland, including Brompton Bay, Donaghadee and Warrenpoint. Egan urges NI Water to progress wastewater treatment upgrades and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to act.
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new bathing waters designated in Northern Ireland Original release: Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Sea Border Spin Exposed: Deputy First Minister Admits “Hugely Politically Embarrassing” Truth
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, accuses the DUP of spin over the Irish Sea border after a Belfast Telegraph report on a Stormont 'divergence' role, and says the Deputy First Minister is more concerned with optics than the substance.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont divergence co-ordinator role advertisement and Belfast Telegraph report Original release: DUP Sea Border Spin Exposed: Deputy First Minister Admits “Hugely Politically Embarrassing” Truth (opens in a new tab)
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Pat Sheehan pays tribute to Bobby Sands as new statue unveiled in Twinbrook
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan, speaking at the unveiling of a Bobby Sands statue in Twinbrook on the 44th anniversary of his death, calls on republicans to redouble their efforts for Irish unity and says momentum for political change is irreversible.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Bobby Sands statue unveiling in Twinbrook Original release: Pat Sheehan pays tribute to Bobby Sands as new statue unveiled in Twinbrook (opens in a new tab)
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TUV expose Stormont’s extreme trans policy on female only spaces, names and pronouns
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Assembly's Transgender Policy lets biological males use female facilities and allows visitor records to reflect self-declared names and gender, and calls for answers on who approved it and for the guidance to be withdrawn.
Disability and equality Issue: Stormont Assembly Transgender Policy on facilities and visitor records Original release: TUV expose Stormont’s extreme trans policy on female only spaces, names and pronouns (opens in a new tab)
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Why the Irish language signage decision cannot stand
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says the Infrastructure Minister's decision to proceed with Irish language signage at Grand Central Station breaches the law and bypasses Executive decision-making. He defends the DUP's steps, including a Communities Minister's legal challenge, and argues a section 28B…
Constitutional affairs Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: Why the Irish language signage decision cannot stand (opens in a new tab)
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Time to extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in north – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says the Assembly will move a motion urging the Irish government to extend voting rights in presidential elections to every Irish citizen on the island of Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish presidential voting rights for Northern Ireland citizens Original release: Time to extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in north – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Serious questions arise from planned Stormont event
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Rainbow Project's planned 12 May event at Stormont, which imposes an Events Code of Conduct on pronouns and toilet access, raises serious issues and has tabled questions to the Assembly Commission.
Disability and equality Issue: Rainbow Project Stormont event code of conduct on 12 May Original release: Serious questions arise from planned Stormont event (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: British politics on a different trajectory
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says British politics is moving in a dark direction after Reform's election gains, arguing this structural shift makes Northern Ireland's future a serious concern and that Anglo-Irish relations cannot be relied upon. She also argues Labour has moved towards a more…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Hanna: British politics on a different trajectory (opens in a new tab)
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Time for British Secretary of State to set definitive criteria for unity referendum – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA calls on the British and Irish governments to open structured dialogue on planning for Irish reunification, responding to Hilary Benn's claim that border poll triggers remain unchanged. He urges Westminster to publish clear criteria for a unity…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Hilary Benn remarks on border poll criteria Original release: Time for British Secretary of State to set definitive criteria for unity referendum – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Football Association's new eligibility criteria for women's football in England and urges the same protection for women in Northern Ireland without delay. She says the Supreme Court ruling should guide other bodies across the UK, and that she and a fellow DUP MLA…
Disability and equality Issue: FA eligibility criteria for women's football in England Original release: Lockhart welcomes protection of women’s sport by FA rules (opens in a new tab)
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1 May – UKIMS Registration – The Answer to the Irish Sea Border?
TUV says the UKIMS registration scheme does not remove the Irish Sea border, arguing that the £2 million turnover limit, goods categories and ongoing checks leave businesses facing customs burdens.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UKIMS registration and the parcels border from 1 May 2025 Original release: 1 May – UKIMS Registration – The Answer to the Irish Sea Border? (opens in a new tab)
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Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme has been poorly publicised in Great Britain, citing 178 applications from England, Scotland and Wales against 3,934 from Northern Ireland. He calls on the Executive Office to step up outreach before…
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme applications low in Great Britain Original release: Troubles pension scheme must reach further afield - Beattie (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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New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs risk having no place in September and urges a different method for allocating school places that is suitable, reduces family stress and provides early support. He welcomes the Education Authority’s remarks to the Education C
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority remarks on SEN placement approach Original release: New approach to SEN school placements needed – Baker (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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A New Ireland, A Time of Opportunity – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy urges the Irish government to take a more proactive role in planning for constitutional change and to set up a Citizens' Assembly so people across the island can help shape the future, speaking at the Institute of International and European Affairs.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: A New Ireland, A Time of Opportunity – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP focused on constitutional politics rather than public services
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the SDLP's Assembly motion seeking further fiscal powers for the Executive is unrealistic and a distraction from practical funding reform. She argues a needs-based funding model would help public services sooner, and warns fiscal devolution would add…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP motion on NI Executive fiscal powers in the Assembly Original release: SDLP focused on constitutional politics rather than public services (opens in a new tab)