Latest releases
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1,879 releases
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Assembly must work together to support Victoria Square homeowners – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges Assembly parties to cooperate on legislation closing a legal gap that stops Victoria Square apartment owners claiming compensation for defects found after the six-year limit. He says owners remain saddled with mortgages and maintenance costs five years after…
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: Assembly must work together to support Victoria Square homeowners – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken calls for Northern Ireland legislation change to help protect homeowners from defective buildings
UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA calls for Northern Ireland legislation to be amended to give homeowners the same protections against defective buildings as the rest of the UK, after a High Court ruling left Victoria Square apartment residents unable to claim.
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: Aiken calls for Northern Ireland legislation change to help protect homeowners from defective buildings (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister and Department to invest properly in accommodation, specialist teacher training and resources for Irish-Medium schools, some of which have been in temporary accommodation for over twenty-five years.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson calls for NI to replicate Building Safety Act
DUP MP Gavin Robinson calls for Northern Ireland to pass legislation matching England and Wales' Building Safety Act, extending the limitation period to 30 years, to help Victoria Square apartment residents in Belfast who are barred from seeking redress over structural defects.
Housing Original release: Robinson calls for NI to replicate Building Safety Act (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing
UUP agriculture spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says farming's role in climate change needs addressing, arguing farmers are partners rather than scapegoats. He points to carbon sequestration, renewable energy on farms and the sector's economic importance, and calls for incentives and collaboration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole presses Executive to help Victoria Square apartment owners
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says he raised Victoria Square apartment owners' plight with Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald after a court ruled them ineligible for compensation. He urges the Executive to introduce legislation extending the time limit for claims.
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: O’Toole presses Executive to help Victoria Square apartment owners (opens in a new tab)
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School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston says the Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme excludes Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, which bans trees from Great Britain entering the region. He argues this shows the Windsor Framework has not removed such bans and accuses the DUP…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Woodland Trust Free Trees scheme unavailable in Northern Ireland Original release: School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett says his amendment to a Sinn Fein motion, agreed by the Assembly, should extend statutory leave and pay to workers who suffer a miscarriage up to 23 weeks, matching existing stillbirth provision.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Assembly vote on Sinn Fein workers' rights motion with DUP miscarriage leave amendment Original release: Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Executive to work with employers and trade unions, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to negotiate a new deal for workers and families. He says young people, women and disabled people face wage inequality and poor conditions, and his Assembly…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: ‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes a 12-week DAERA consultation on recycling and waste, saying its 26 proposals could raise household recycling from 51 to 74 per cent. He urges the public to respond.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Opposition welcomes Speaker’s ruling on accountability
SDLP MLAs Mark H Durkan and Cara Hunter welcome Speaker Edwin Poots’ ruling that Ministers must answer Assembly questions, and call on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to stop referring queries to generic email addresses and answer the 78 housing‑related questions he has avoided.
Housing Issue: Speaker’s ruling that Ministers must answer Assembly questions Original release: Opposition welcomes Speaker’s ruling on accountability (opens in a new tab)
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Recycling should be an integral part of our everyday lives, says Muir
Alliance Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA calls for recycling to become an everyday activity in homes, workplaces and public settings, as he launches a 12-week consultation on 26 proposals to improve recycling and waste management.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: Recycling should be an integral part of our everyday lives, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Allister to Host European Victims Day Event
TUV leader Jim Allister announces a European Victims Day event in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings on 11 March, with a minute's silence and five victims of republican, loyalist and European terrorism sharing their stories.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Allister to Host European Victims Day Event (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces raise in value limit for Co-Ownership
The DUP highlights Communities Minister Gordon Lyons raising Co-Ownership's upper property value limit from £190,000 to £195,000, which it says will help more people into home ownership and support construction.
Housing Issue: Co-Ownership upper property value limit increase to £195,000 Original release: Minister announces raise in value limit for Co-Ownership (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces a further £3million for Supporting People programme
The DUP announces that Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has secured an additional £3million for the Supporting People programme, distributed by the Housing Executive to accredited providers for supported accommodation for vulnerable people, including young people and older adults.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Additional £3million funding for Supporting People programme Original release: Minister announces a further £3million for Supporting People programme (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to overhaul special educational needs provision, saying young people and families are being failed by the current system and urging the minister to act on his commitment following a Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Irish remains preserve of one community
TUV leader Jim Allister challenges DUP MLA Paul Givan's claim that Irish belongs to everyone, arguing the Irish language is not supported by facts such as its absence from controlled school curricula. He says Irish language legislation aims to promote Gaelicisation as part of a nationalist…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Paul Givan's comments that Irish belongs to all of us Original release: Irish remains preserve of one community (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)