Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland to stop citing "further judgments" and issue clear guidance after the Supreme Court's Dillon ruling, following the Great Britain commission's updated guidance and revised Code of Practice.
Disability and equality Issue: Equality and Human Rights Commission updated guidance and revised Code of Practice for services Original release: Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further… (opens in a new tab)
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Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says the cancellation of the Carlingford Ferry for 2026 is a huge setback for South Down tourism and local businesses, criticises the lack of support from tourism agencies and the Department for the Economy, and urges that the ferry and the Narrow Water Bridge can coexist.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Carlingford Ferry suspension for 2026 Original release: Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -… (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland tourism is flourishing – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the latest tourism figures showing growth in visitor numbers and spending across the north, including more visitors from the south. He says upcoming large events in Belfast and Derry will build on that momentum and calls for continued investment.
Economy and employment Issue: Tourism NI 2025 visitor expenditure figures and Economy Minister's all-island economy claim Original release: All-Ireland tourism is flourishing – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite: SDLP focused on family friendly Belfast Sundays
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite welcomes a compromise allowing longer Sunday trading over the summer Fleadh, and calls for a family-friendly city centre that protects workers and small traders rather than benefiting large multinational retailers. He also points to secured…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council backs Sunday trading hours pilot for Fleadh Original release: De Faoite: SDLP focused on family friendly Belfast Sundays (opens in a new tab)
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Rachel Reeves great summer giveaway needs careful study
UUP MLA Steve Aiken urges close scrutiny of the Chancellor's summer measures, including VAT cuts on children's activities and food and tariff changes on over 100 essential food items entering GB. He questions whether Windsor Framework rules would allow similar savings in Northern Ireland and wants…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's summer cost-of-living support measures announcement Original release: Rachel Reeves great summer giveaway needs careful study (opens in a new tab)
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Permanent extension to Sunday opening hours for Belfast in sight, says Nelson
Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson welcomes Belfast City Council's backing of a two-week pilot extending Sunday trading hours for larger stores during the August Fleadh, citing an 82 per cent public survey majority and saying a permanent change is near.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council backs Sunday trading hours pilot for Fleadh Original release: Permanent extension to Sunday opening hours for Belfast in sight, says Nelson (opens in a new tab)
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Protecting the environment should be a collective effort, says Blair, on Biodiversity Day
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for a collective political effort to protect the environment on Biodiversity Day, after visiting Divis and the Black Mountain with the National Trust. He backs DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's nature recovery work and urges support from other…
Environment and climate Original release: Protecting the environment should be a collective effort, says Blair, on Biodiversity Day (opens in a new tab)
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Murphy expresses concerns over scale of escort advertising in Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy expresses alarm at the volume of escort adverts in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, warning that many advertised people are vulnerable and some are trafficking victims. She says she will write to the Justice Minister asking what measures could be introduced.
Justice and policing Original release: Murphy expresses concerns over scale of escort advertising in Fermanagh and South Tyrone (opens in a new tab)
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Temporary help welcome, but bigger issues must be tackled: Bradley
DUP East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley welcomes Chancellor's temporary measures to ease summer costs for families and hospitality businesses, but says they do not address the wider need for a long-term plan that lowers the tax burden and rewards work.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Chancellor's summer cost-of-living support measures announcement Original release: Temporary help welcome, but bigger issues must be tackled: Bradley (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly calls on the PSNI and Policing Federation to listen to Catholic, Nationalist and Republican communities and other under-represented groups, responding to the Federation chairman's annual conference speech. He says 50-50 recruitment should be explored as part of an…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Federation chairman's annual conference speech on PSNI recruitment Original release: PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes a National Audit Office report on the Planning Appeals Commission, saying it confirms long-known delays and backlogs. He commends Planning Minister Kimmins's bid to the Transformation Board on 'Hear and Report' cases and urges the Justice Minister to speed up…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report (opens in a new tab)
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McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn condemns Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee's Dáil remarks comparing calls for a North and north west passport office with wasteful public spending, saying the comparison is disgraceful and insulting to citizens.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: McEntee Dáil remarks on passport office versus public spending waste Original release: McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister marks major milestone at Strule Shared Education…
Education Minister Paul Givan marks the completion of main structural works at the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh, which will bring six schools together and is on track to open in September 2028.
Education Issue: Strule Shared Education Campus main structural works completed Original release: Education Minister marks major milestone at Strule Shared Education… (opens in a new tab)
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Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who chairs the Assembly's Economy Committee, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report exposes failures in the planning system and calls for reform. He cites planning appeals averaging 73 weeks and a Planning Appeals Commission lacking statutory targets and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Frew hosts NIACRO Delegation to discuss 'Friday release' amendment
DUP MLA Paul Frew, Justice Committee Chairperson, says he hosted NIACRO and other stakeholders at Stormont to discuss his amendment to the Justice Bill, which would stop prisoner releases on Fridays or before public holidays so support can be arranged.
Justice and policing Issue: Paul Frew amendment to Justice Bill on Friday prisoner release Original release: Frew hosts NIACRO Delegation to discuss 'Friday release' amendment (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Millions wasted on deliberate fires while public services struggle
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the cost of responding to deliberate grass and gorse fires running into millions after Chief Fire Officer Aidan Jennings's Health Committee evidence should shock the public. He calls for the term 'wildfire' to be dropped, saying the…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Chief Fire Officer evidence on costs of deliberate fires to Health Committee Original release: McGrath: Millions wasted on deliberate fires while public services struggle (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome move, but where was it weeks ago? Armstrong responds to fuel duty announcement
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the UK Government's fuel duty package, including the temporary red diesel duty cut for farmers, but says it came too late. She calls the measures a modest, belated response and vows to press the Labour Government for a fair deal for farmers…
Economy and employment Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Government red diesel duty cut for farmers announcement Original release: Welcome move, but where was it weeks ago? Armstrong responds to fuel duty announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is not giving public transport enough priority, after Translink warned of possible bus and rail service cuts and reduced concessionary fares. He blames years of underfunding and calls on the Minister to work…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport (opens in a new tab)
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Government Fuel Package is Smoke and Mirrors for NI Farmers: Butler critiques latest Labour Government announcement
UUP agriculture spokesperson and AERA Committee Chair Robbie Butler MLA says the UK Government's red diesel duty cut is 'smoke and mirrors' for farmers, as many diversified and contracting activities no longer qualify. He calls for temporary wider red diesel use during the fuel crisis and urgent…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government red diesel duty cut for farmers announcement Original release: Government Fuel Package is Smoke and Mirrors for NI Farmers: Butler critiques latest Labour Government announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Tourism growth a credit to Northern Ireland's tourism & hospitality sector
UUP Economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes tourism figures showing £1.2 billion spent on NI tourism last year, up 9%, but disputes the Economy Minister's attribution of the rise to the all-island economy. She credits a weaker pound and Tourism NI's campaign in the Republic, which…
Economy and employment Issue: Tourism NI 2025 visitor expenditure figures and Economy Minister's all-island economy claim Original release: Tourism growth a credit to Northern Ireland's tourism & hospitality sector (opens in a new tab)