Latest releases
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4,532 releases
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Nationalist and Republican Alliance Must Be Confronted at Every Turn After City Hall Vote
TUV leader Jim Allister condemns Belfast City Council's vote to impose Irish citywide, accusing Alliance of siding with Sinn Féin and of backing Gerry Kelly's amendment removing 'innocent' from a victims motion. He calls for unionists to unite against the Irish Language Commissioner appointment.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Nationalist and Republican Alliance Must Be Confronted at Every Turn After City Hall Vote (opens in a new tab)
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Catney condemns racist graffiti in Lisburn
SDLP Lisburn North Councillor Pat Catney condemns racist graffiti targeting Muslim residents in the Chapel Hill area of Lisburn. He says he has contacted the PSNI and is working with council officials to have it removed.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Racist graffiti in Lisburn North and arrest Original release: Catney condemns racist graffiti in Lisburn (opens in a new tab)
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Legal Aid out of control after 46% increase in 5 years - Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says Northern Ireland's legal aid bill has grown unmanageably, rising 46% in five years to £120 million in 2024/25. He calls for scrutiny of court delays, legacy case spending, law firm payments and gender gaps in recipients, and urges the Justice Minister…
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland legal aid bill 2024/25 figures Original release: Legal Aid out of control after 46% increase in 5 years - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLA must apologise for using homophobic slur on national TV, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA urges Jonathan Buckley of the DUP to apologise after he allegedly used a homophobic slur during a BBC Question Time appearance. Tennyson also accuses DUP politicians of divisive rhetoric.
Disability and equality Issue: Jonathan Buckley homophobic slur on BBC Question Time Original release: DUP MLA must apologise for using homophobic slur on national TV, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Ending the rip-off and supporting workers and families must be top priority in this budget – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Ending the rip-off and supporting workers and families must be top priority in this budget – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Better animal welfare has a positive impact on environment, climate change and productivity – Finnegan
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan welcomes the Agriculture Minister's acknowledgement of links between animal welfare, environmental impact and farm productivity, and asks whether he considered a study on methane from cattle and sheep. She calls for firm timelines and delivery on the Blueprint for…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Ruminant Health and Welfare study on methane from cattle and sheep Original release: Better animal welfare has a positive impact on environment, climate change and productivity – Finnegan (opens in a new tab)
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Catney: Residents concerned at proposed poultry farm
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney says residents are concerned about a proposed poultry farm for up to 32,000 hens in the Tullynacross Road area, citing traffic, smell and manure transport to Sligo. He asks who will monitor the manure transfers.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Tullynacross Road poultry farm planning application Original release: Catney: Residents concerned at proposed poultry farm (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke
UUP MLA Jon Burrows says prison officers in Northern Ireland should not have to endure second-hand smoke at work and calls on the Department of Justice and Prison Service to act now. He notes Northern Ireland lacks a prison smoking ban that applies elsewhere in the UK and says urgent questions…
Justice and policing Health Original release: Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke (opens in a new tab)
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Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says he is deeply dismayed that the planned new children's unit at Altnagelvin has been paused pending a Department of Health review of capital spending. He calls for the Health Minister to explain his priorities and says his party will write to the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Altnagelvin Hospital children's unit plans paused pending capital spending review Original release: Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA condemns continuing failures to meet cancer waiting time targets, citing quarterly figures for April to June 2025 showing fewer urgent GP-referred patients starting treatment within 62 days. She calls on the Health Minister to act.
Health Issue: Quarterly cancer waiting times statistics for April to June 2025 Original release: McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets (opens in a new tab)
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Polasaí stairiúil Gaeilge aontaithe ag comhairleoirí Bhéal Feirste – Ó Néill
Sinn Féin councillor Tomás Ó Néill welcomes Belfast City Council's approval of a unified Irish language policy, including bilingual corporate branding and signage in council buildings, which he calls historic and aimed at strengthening Irish speakers' rights.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Polasaí stairiúil Gaeilge aontaithe ag comhairleoirí Bhéal Feirste – Ó Néill (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes new electric vehicle charging pilot scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's announcement of a six-month pilot testing electric vehicle charging across footways for households without driveway access. He says it will encourage more switching to electric vehicles as part of efforts to cut emissions.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Six-month pilot scheme for electric vehicle charging across footways Original release: Boylan welcomes new electric vehicle charging pilot scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes assessment appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Belfast Trust appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to be assessed for Givinostat via an early access programme, and calls for families to be told urgently whether their child is eligible.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Belfast Trust Givinostat early access assessment appointments for DMD boys Original release: Dillon welcomes assessment appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey praises emergency services following Holylands incident
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey praises emergency services for making safe an incident in the Damascus Street area of south Belfast, after four people and several police officers were taken to hospital following possible contact with a suspected noxious substance.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Damascus Street south Belfast suspected noxious substance incident Original release: Hargey praises emergency services following Holylands incident (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language policy must be fair and reasonable, says McDonough-Brown
Alliance Botanic Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown says Belfast City Council's new Irish Language policy should be fair, reasonable and balanced ahead of the council vote, calling for a regularly reviewed language framework. He opposes enforcing dual-language signage where there is significant…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Irish Language policy must be fair and reasonable, says McDonough-Brown (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must get serious about improving public access to GP services, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to work with GPs on solutions to patient access problems, after the UK Government required GPs in England to offer online bookings throughout the day, which does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Health Issue: UK Government mandate for GP online booking in England Original release: Health Minister must get serious about improving public access to GP services, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly backs Sinn Féin motion for onsite drug testing at festivals – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes Assembly backing for a party motion urging the Health Minister to bring in drug testing at festivals and concerts across the north, noting it is the only region without such a scheme.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion on onsite drug testing at festivals Original release: Assembly backs Sinn Féin motion for onsite drug testing at festivals – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: O'Dowd must be transparent on A5 funding future
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls on Finance Minister John O'Dowd to disclose how much of the £180 million A5 allocation for 2025-26 may be lost through reduced requirements after delays, saying the minister could not answer during Assembly questions.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: A5 dual carriageway funding at risk during Assembly questions Original release: O'Toole: O'Dowd must be transparent on A5 funding future (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Nurses deserve pay rise - excuses won’t pay the bills
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA criticises the Finance Minister for not clarifying when nurses will receive a cost of living pay rise. He says the Health and Finance Ministers are passing responsibility between them and calls on the Executive to make a decision now.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses cost of living pay rise timing at Stormont Original release: McGrath: Nurses deserve pay rise - excuses won’t pay the bills (opens in a new tab)
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DFI must start taking active travel seriously, says McReynolds
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the Department for Infrastructure must take active travel seriously after an Audit Office report found underspend and missed targets. He calls for a detailed timetable of aims and stakeholder involvement.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office active travel report Original release: DFI must start taking active travel seriously, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)