Latest releases
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3,995 releases
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Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford
UUP leader Jon Burrows says the party has chosen Councillor Richard Smart, a Newtownards councillor and former Ards and North Down mayor, to contest Strangford at next May's Assembly election. Mike Nesbitt, the outgoing Strangford MLA, offers his backing.
Other Local government Issue: Ulster Unionist selection of Richard Smart for Strangford Assembly candidacy Original release: Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls for equitable access to Enhertu, a life-extending breast cancer drug now available on the NHS in England, for patients in Northern Ireland. She has written to Health Minister Robbie Butler seeking an urgent timetable for its availability locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Enhertu breast cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on the Infrastructure Minister to pause commercial sand dredging on Lough Neagh until a review of permissions and environmental assessments is completed, citing evidence that dredging releases nutrients linked to algal blooms. He also urges…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lough Neagh sand dredging nutrient release and NIEA licence review letter Original release: Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Late Night transport a huge success for Belfast – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Cáral Ní Chuilín praises the Late Night transport pilot in Belfast, citing over 43,000 journeys and more than 100 major events supported. She credits Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and calls for the scheme to become permanent with Executive colleagues and the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Late Night transport pilot project results Original release: Late Night transport a huge success for Belfast – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong backs UFU call for a Budget to Back Farming
UUP Agriculture Spokesperson and AERA Committee Chair Diana Armstrong MLA backs the UFU’s call for a “Budget to Back Farming”, urging the Chancellor to undo recent changes to agricultural and business property relief and to provide certainty for farm investment.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: 2026 Autumn Budget farming support call Original release: Armstrong backs UFU call for a Budget to Back Farming (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Government must act on pressures facing farmers and rural families – Mary McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD calls on the Government to act on fodder shortages, fuel tax increases, and generational renewal in farming, including a €10 million contingency fund and implementation of 31 recommendations, speaking at the National Ploughing Championships.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Government must act on pressures facing farmers and rural families – Mary McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA calls on Assembly members from all parties to back the Conversion Practices Bill at Second Stage, describing it as a historic opportunity to ban conversion practices he calls cruel and archaic.
Disability and equality Issue: Conversion Practices Bill Second Stage debate Original release: Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needs fair and sustainable funding settlement – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says Executive budget pressures stem from the British Government's failure to provide a fair, sustainable funding settlement for the North, citing Independent Fiscal Council evidence that it would receive £1-3 billion more a year if funded above need.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Independent Fiscal Council report on Northern Ireland funding need Original release: Executive needs fair and sustainable funding settlement – Hargey (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Neill: Girls Themselves Won U-Turn on Right to Wear Trousers Through Relentless Efforts
People Before Profit's Maeve O'Neill welcomes the decision to let girls wear trousers in school, crediting girls who campaigned for years and criticising Education Minister Paul Givan's U-turn as embarrassing. She calls for the uniform legislation to be challenged and for RSE and menstrual health…
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: O'Neill: Girls Themselves Won U-Turn on Right to Wear Trousers Through Relentless Efforts (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Executive parties cannot outsource responsibility for governing to Westminster
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the four Executive parties cannot pass responsibility for governing to Westminster while the Assembly debates the failure to agree a Budget. He calls on the Finance Minister to set out how a Budget will be agreed, and says the UK Government…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Opposition Day debate on failure to agree Budget Original release: O'Toole: Executive parties cannot outsource responsibility for governing to Westminster (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister’s u-turn an important win for girls – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes DUP Education Minister Paul Givan's decision to make schools give girls the option of trousers, calling it an embarrassing U-turn that followed party and campaigner pressure. She says he should have guaranteed this in his school uniforms legislation.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Education Minister’s u-turn an important win for girls – Mason (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes the Education Minister’s move to permit girls to wear trousers in school uniform, calling the U‑turn overdue, demanding an explanation for the delay and urging consistent rollout across all schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party selects Cllr Pete Wray as North Down candidate
Ulster Unionist Party selects Councillor Pete Wray as its North Down candidate for the May 2026 Assembly election; leader Jon Burrows lauds his council record and Wray says he will push for better road funding, NI Water fixes, Bangor regeneration, education and community safety.
Other Infrastructure and transport Issue: UUP selects North Down Assembly candidate Original release: Ulster Unionist Party selects Cllr Pete Wray as North Down candidate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows
UUP leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes new guidance giving girls the option to wear trousers as part of school uniform, calling it a common-sense outcome. He says the Education Minister should have acted earlier through uniform guidance rather than forcing the Education…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes Education Minister's U-Turn on girls wearing trousers to school
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the Education Minister's updated legal guidelines on girls' right to wear trousers as school uniform, describing it as a U-turn on an earlier decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Mathison welcomes Education Minister's U-Turn on girls wearing trousers to school (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has raised with the Health Minister new figures showing Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate, asking what action is being taken and how inequalities between deprived and affluent areas will be tackled.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New infant mortality figures showing Northern Ireland highest rate Original release: Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein attack on Lyons exposed as unfounded
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron says departmental correspondence shows Communities Minister Gordon Lyons made no decision to cut Place-Name Project funding, and calls on Sinn Fein's Committee Chair Colm Gildernew to withdraw his criticism of the Minister.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Committee Place-Name Project funding dispute with Gordon Lyons Original release: Sinn Fein attack on Lyons exposed as unfounded (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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£90m rates write offs demand answers
DUP Finance spokesperson Diane Forsythe MLA calls for greater scrutiny of the rates system after Department of Finance figures showed roughly £90m written off over five years. She says headline rate bills rising does not mean extra revenue, and will press the Finance Minister on the write-offs and…
Public finance and taxation Local government Issue: Department of Finance rates write-offs figures released via Assembly Question Original release: £90m rates write offs demand answers (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a £1.25million second-year Cancer Charities Grant Scheme with Macmillan Cancer Support, funding community wellbeing, rehabilitation, transport and practical support for people affected by cancer.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says Budget 2027 must put workers and families first, setting out proposals to abolish USC on the first €40,000 and provide a €400 energy credit. She also calls on the Irish government to prepare for Irish unity and to put the Triple Lock dismantling plan to a…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Original release: Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)