Latest releases
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3,067 releases
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O’Toole: Stormont Brake distraction from real issues
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says ongoing debate over the Stormont Brake distracts from real issues, and calls on the Secretary of State and UK Government to pursue a permanent EU solution recognising Northern Ireland's dual market access.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont brake debate and dual market access Original release: O’Toole: Stormont Brake distraction from real issues (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister will be judged on delivery of SEN provision, says Alliance representatives, calling for urgent action.
Alliance Education MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy urge the Education Minister to publish a detailed delivery plan for special educational needs, saying his recent statements lack concrete actions, timescales and funding and that his performance will be judged on SEN provision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Education Minister will be judged on delivery of SEN provision, says Alliance representatives, calling for urgent action. (opens in a new tab)
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Foot and Mouth restrictions should be based on protecting farmers -…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart questions why Northern Ireland farms face higher Foot and Mouth Disease risk than Great Britain, noting Germany's restrictions on cattle, sheep, pig and dairy imports are stricter locally due to the Windsor Framework. She calls for full protection for NI agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: UK ban on animal imports from Germany over foot and mouth disease Original release: Foot and Mouth restrictions should be based on protecting farmers -… (opens in a new tab)
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Conor Murphy demands action on Presidential voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and the diaspora
Sinn Féin Seanad candidate Conor Murphy urges the incoming government to extend presidential voting rights to citizens living in Northern Ireland and abroad, noting the draft Programme for Government omits the issue and a 2017 referendum commitment has stalled.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Draft Programme for Government omits presidential voting rights for citizens abroad Original release: Conor Murphy demands action on Presidential voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and the diaspora (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister marks Holocaust Memorial Day at PRONI
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons spoke at a PRONI event marking Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, which examined the story of Holocaust survivor Walter Sekules and his family's move to Kilkeel. Lyons calls for lessons from the past to be applied so that genocide and persecution are never repeated.
Disability and equality Original release: Communities Minister marks Holocaust Memorial Day at PRONI (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Irish Government commitment to Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the draft Irish Government Programme for Government, citing its reflection of SDLP proposals on a skills task force, cross-border environment and waterways, and Erasmus access, plus a €1bn-plus Shared Island Unit commitment and a John Hume Fund.
Constitutional affairs Infrastructure and transport Issue: Draft Programme for Government omits presidential voting rights for citizens abroad Original release: Hanna welcomes Irish Government commitment to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Allister comments on Secretary of State’s upcoming decision on the Stormont Brake
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP sets out limits of the Stormont Brake and Applicability Motion ahead of the Secretary of State's decision, arguing they offer only restricted rights against EU law and urging unionists to oppose the arrangement while backing his Mutual Enforcement Bill.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's Stormont Brake decision on EU Regulation 2024/2865 Original release: Allister comments on Secretary of State’s upcoming decision on the Stormont Brake (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Hails Significant Moment in Fight against the Sea Border
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes a Commons division forced on the Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2024, saying it broke a 'glass ceiling' with 77 MPs backing Northern Ireland against the Irish Sea Border. He also points to his Mutual Enforcement Bill as an alternative avoiding a hard…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Draft Official Control Amendment Regulations Irish Sea border vote Original release: Allister Hails Significant Moment in Fight against the Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Detail and reform needed to provide reassurance about future public emergencies, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Executive Office's acceptance, at least in part, of the ten UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 recommendations. She calls for clarity on rejected recommendations, implementation timescales and reform of Northern Ireland's government…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive Office response to UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 recommendations Original release: Detail and reform needed to provide reassurance about future public emergencies, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister raises the Protocol threat to a UK-US trade deal with the Prime Minister
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Prime Minister failed to answer his PMQs question on a UK-US trade deal given Northern Ireland's continued subjection to EU trade law. He argues his Mutual Enforcement Bill would avoid a hard border and calls on the PM to restore full UK sovereignty before…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Allister's PMQs question on US trade deal and Northern Ireland EU law Original release: Jim Allister raises the Protocol threat to a UK-US trade deal with the Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes vital and gamechanging tool for the development of economic policy across the island
Sinn Féin public expenditure and reform spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes the new macro‑economic modelling tool created by ESRI and NIESR for the north of Ireland, saying it will enable island‑wide policy forecasting and urges the incoming government to use it for positive economic outcomes
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI report on a new economic model for the North Original release: Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes vital and gamechanging tool for the development of economic policy across the island (opens in a new tab)
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This week the Government Has Blown Its Irish Sea Border Cover
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, argues in a News Letter opinion piece that Government regulations on goods movement effectively treat Northern Ireland as a third country, and says the Irish Sea border is unworkable. He says he will press for a Commons vote opposing the draft Official…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Draft Official Control Amendment Regulations Irish Sea border vote Original release: This week the Government Has Blown Its Irish Sea Border Cover (opens in a new tab)
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Well done Protocol Implementers!
TUV leader Jim Allister says Northern Ireland is excluded from the UK-wide ban on animal imports from Germany after foot and mouth disease was confirmthere, because NI remains subject to EU rules that still permit imports. He links this to MLAs' recent vote on the Windsor Framework.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK ban on animal imports from Germany over foot and mouth disease Original release: Well done Protocol Implementers! (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed
DUP East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes Communities Minister Gordon Lyons's commitment to reform the Housing Executive points system for intimidated applicants. She urges swift reforms so housing is allocated on genuine need rather than intimidation points, which she says criminals can abuse.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Minister's special educational needs transformation plan must be fully funded, noting the Executive has earmarked no money for it in its latest budget. She welcomes proposals including a child development passport.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded (opens in a new tab)
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Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting
DUP Justice Spokesperson Joanne Bunting MLA asks Justice Minister Naomi Long how she will keep Hydebank Wood women's prison exclusively for biologically female prisoners after a High Court ruling allowed a transfer from Maghaberry. She says the Minister must set out a plan and warns that admitting…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: High Court ruling on transfer of prisoner to Hydebank Wood Original release: Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting (opens in a new tab)
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Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the education minister’s announcement on overhauling provision for children with special educational needs, urging the minister to promptly release a SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan and to adopt a ‘SEN first’ placement policy.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a reform agenda and five-year delivery plan for special educational needs support, moving away from one-to-one adult support toward more flexible school-led models. He also plans a bespoke early-years programme for toddlers aged two and three, including…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs (opens in a new tab)
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Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the Education Minister's statement on SEN transformation offered only empty words, with no finalised action plan, costings or success measures. They call for a clear plan and outcome framework.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin and SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter call for urgent action on violence against women and girls, citing 25 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. Their Opposition Day motions cover new victim-protection laws, online abuse, RSE and gender-based budgeting.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motions on violence against women and girls Original release: SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)