Latest releases
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4,546 releases
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Government fails to answer Attorney General legacy question: Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson asks the UK Government to clarify whether Attorney General Richard Hermer has stepped back from the legacy framework or been excluded by the Secretary of State, after Parliament's statement failed to answer this. He says the Secretary of State declined the question.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Attorney General role in legacy framework statement to Parliament Original release: Government fails to answer Attorney General legacy question: Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to visit Woodlawn House in Dungannon after an Assembly debate he tabled on respite care. He says families have reported planned respite cancelled at short notice and calls for timely, well-planned services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Assembly debate Original release: Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
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Finnegan raises concern over discovery of Asian hornet nest
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan expresses concern after an Asian hornet nest was found, the first confirmed sighting of the species in the north. She welcomes the Environment Agency's response and urges the public to report suspected sightings or nests.
Environment and climate Issue: Asian hornet nest discovery in Northern Ireland Original release: Finnegan raises concern over discovery of Asian hornet nest (opens in a new tab)
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Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Executive 2025–26 Legislation Programme and 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Legacy legislation must serve victims and the future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes progress in today's legacy legislation, citing safeguards on "sensitive" labelling, a statutory conflict of interest policy and a starting framework for the Legacy Commission. She says significant challenges remain, notably the Secretary of State's National…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy legislation progress and remaining concerns over National Security veto Original release: Hanna: Legacy legislation must serve victims and the future (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan demands action from Executive to protect mental health services
SDLP MLA and Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says the closure of the Extern crisis service in Foyle, which supported people in mental health distress out of hours, reflects Executive failings. He calls for cross-departmental legislation and a new budgeting approach ahead of the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Closure of Extern crisis intervention service in Foyle Original release: Durkan demands action from Executive to protect mental health services (opens in a new tab)
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UK Gov must take ownership over delivering legacy bill based on truth & justice, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood urges the UK Government to engage fully with the Executive on the legacy bill's effect on devolved areas and to fund the future legacy system properly, rather than relying on the Block Grant.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UK Government latest plans for Troubles legacy bill Original release: UK Gov must take ownership over delivering legacy bill based on truth & justice, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Belfast City Council's dual-language street sign policy protects minority languages and follows international best practice, after a DUP Assembly motion seeking its replacement was defeated. He cites new Conradh na Gaeilge figures showing broad public support.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: ‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Conradh na Gaeilge survey data finding that only 2.9% of residents on 536 approved streets opposed bilingual signage in Belfast. He points to the DUP's Assembly motion seeking to condemn the policy.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister questions why the DUP brought a Belfast City Council Irish language signage motion to the Assembly, which Alliance opposed. She says Stormont should focus on health and education, and calls on the DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approaches.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the party is launching a new phase to recruit members and candidates, pledges to champion fairness, anti‑sectarianism and a New Ireland, and criticises the Executive for failing on housing, services and environmental issues.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Original release: SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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World Mental Health Day brings to light the dire need for better mental health services across the North – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls on the Health Minister to clarify plans for tackling the mental health crisis, saying progress on the 2021 Mental Health Strategy is falling far short. She urges a regional mental health crisis centre and cites her Suicide Prevention Bill requiring training for…
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McGrath: Executive must get serious about mental health
SDLP's McGrath says the Executive needs to take mental health far more seriously, though the release gives no specific policy, figure or decision behind the call.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Executive must get serious about mental health (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Health Minister has left parents and special school staff in limbo after a review into nursing provision in special schools gave no clarity. He urges urgent answers and calls for full nursing provision to be reinstated.
Health Education Issue: Health Minister's review on nursing provision in special schools Original release: Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Wildfires framework a milestone for the Mournes, says McMurray
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's newly launched framework on wildfires, which follows this year's fires in the Mournes and Sperrins. He backs its focus on prevention, enforcement and peatland restoration, while saying more work remains.
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA wildfire strategic framework launch Original release: Wildfires framework a milestone for the Mournes, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificate will provide compassion and recognition for families – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says she will host a ribbon display at Stormont on 9 October to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, and calls for the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme legislation, brought forward by Finance Minister John O'Dowd, to be progressed with other parties.
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McGrath: £20 million spent on restricted health procedures with no checks shows lack of oversight
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says an Audit Office report shows almost £22 million was spent on procedures that should have been restricted, with no monitoring by the Department or Health Trusts, and calls on the Minister for Health to explain the failure and ensure tighter s
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: McGrath: £20 million spent on restricted health procedures with no checks shows lack of oversight (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister has failed to prioritise value for money after an Audit Office report found no proof that Department of Health effective use of resources rules are being followed for 29 restricted procedures. She calls for urgent action…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson criticises Gildernew comments on Troubles murders
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson criticises former Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew's remarks on the BBC podcast 'Borderland', in which she said there was justification for Troubles-era murders. He says the comments deny victims' experiences and links them to Jamie Bryson's comments on the same…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Gildernew comments on Troubles murders on BBC Borderland podcast Original release: Tennyson criticises Gildernew comments on Troubles murders (opens in a new tab)