Latest releases
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1,493 releases
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SDLP: Executive must provide clarity on Casement Park status
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole calls on Executive ministers to urgently set out where the Casement Park stadium project stands after reports of further scaling back. He says the First Minister's earlier pledge now rings hollow, and SDLP MLA Justin McNulty accuses the Executive of failures…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Casement Park stadium scaled-back plans reports Original release: SDLP: Executive must provide clarity on Casement Park status (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Clarity on City Deal project - Forsythe
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says £30 million agreed for a Mournes tourism project under the Belfast Region City Deal has disappeared from Department of Finance City Deal plans and progress reports. She calls for urgent clarity, blaming Newry, Mourne and Down Council for the collapse of the…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Mournes gondola project removal from City Deal plans Original release: Time for Clarity on City Deal project - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Blair honoured to receive Lord Houghton Award for services to animal welfare
Alliance MLA John Blair says he is honoured to receive the League Against Cruel Sports' Lord Houghton Award for Services to Animal Welfare and calls for Northern Ireland to ban hunting wild mammals with dogs, which he says it is the only part of the UK without.
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Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA cautiously welcomes the revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation, but says delivery now rests with Minister Muir. He calls for the economic impact assessment to be published in full and says Northern Ireland Water, wastewater and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation Original release: Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath saddened by fire at former Downpatrick convent
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath expresses sadness at a large blaze at the derelict former convent in Downpatrick, which he says many locals remember well. He pays tribute to firefighters and emergency services for their rapid response.
Other Issue: Downpatrick former convent fire Original release: McGrath saddened by fire at former Downpatrick convent (opens in a new tab)
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Building the A5 ‘an absolute priority’ for Sinn Féin – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley, speaking from the Court of Appeal, says building the A5 remains a key priority and that delay is costing lives. She points to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins pursuing an appeal against the most recent High Court ruling, supported by Tyrone GAA's campaign.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road appeal against the latest High Court ruling Original release: Building the A5 ‘an absolute priority’ for Sinn Féin – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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A moment of truth for DUP
TUV leader Jim Allister says a BBC Spotlight programme will test the DUP's claim it never received complaints about Jeffrey Donaldson's behaviour, and calls for full transparency over when senior DUP figures knew of alleged misconduct.
Other Justice and policing Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: A moment of truth for DUP (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte: Irish Government funding for Sailortown Bridge project must be matched by DFI.
SDLP North Belfast councillor Carl Whyte welcomes €800,000 from the Shared Island Fund for the next design phase of the Sailortown–Odyssey pedestrian and cycle bridge in Belfast. He calls on the Department for Infrastructure to guarantee funding to completion, warning against repeating the…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund €800,000 for Cork–Belfast Docklands Bridges project Original release: Whyte: Irish Government funding for Sailortown Bridge project must be matched by DFI. (opens in a new tab)
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Murphy welcomes funding for Ulster Canal
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomes a £26m Shared Island Fund allocation for restoring the Ulster Canal between Clones and Upper Lough Erne. She credits the Infrastructure Minister and her Southern counterpart and says she will keep pressing for timely delivery of the cross-border scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund £26m allocation for Ulster Canal restoration Original release: Murphy welcomes funding for Ulster Canal (opens in a new tab)
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£200m funding will improve rail network and support better services for passengers – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes almost £200 million from the Shared Island Fund for rail, including £100 million for track renewal and continuing the hourly Enterprise service to 2030. She links it to the approved Enterprise replacement fleet programme.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund rail investment announcement £200 million Original release: £200m funding will improve rail network and support better services for passengers – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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Community and voluntary sectors play vital role in our communities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew pays tribute to community and voluntary groups and welcomes modernisation measures in the Charities (Amendment) Bill after its second stage, while pledging scrutiny to stop larger out-of-region charities gaining an edge.
Other Issue: Charities (Amendment) Bill second stage passage Original release: Community and voluntary sectors play vital role in our communities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition sets out impact of Executive Budget chaos
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive’s inability to agree a Budget could slash almost £1bn from spending, risking thousands of nurse, teacher and police posts, delaying housing, school and university projects and threatening welfare payments, and urges action before 1
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Executive failure to agree Budget Original release: SDLP Opposition sets out impact of Executive Budget chaos (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin has selected three candidates to stand in Newry and Armagh in the next Assembly election in May 2027
Sinn Féin says it has chosen MLAs Liz Kimmins, Aoife Finnegan and Cathal Boylan to stand for Newry and Armagh at the May 2027 Assembly election, with President Mary Lou McDonald TD setting a goal of electing three MLAs there and the largest-ever Sinn Féin Assembly team.
Other Issue: Sinn Féin selects Newry and Armagh candidates for 2027 Assembly election Original release: Sinn Féin has selected three candidates to stand in Newry and Armagh in the next Assembly election in May 2027 (opens in a new tab)
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Ennis welcomes announcement of funding for four greenway projects
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes funding for four border-region greenway projects under the Shared Island Greenways Development Fund, including €25,000 for the Warrenpoint to Newcastle project. She commends Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for work with the Irish government to secure it.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Shared Island Greenways Development Fund announcement for four border greenway projects Original release: Ennis welcomes announcement of funding for four greenway projects (opens in a new tab)
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Guy reiterates need for action on social media but ban has too many unanswered questions
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy, chair of the Assembly's online safety group, backs action on the harmful, addictive design of social media but says the UK Government's planned under-16 ban raises unanswered questions. She asks what steps will offset unintended harms and whether tiered restrictions were…
Other Issue: UK Government plan to ban social media for under-16s Original release: Guy reiterates need for action on social media but ban has too many unanswered questions (opens in a new tab)
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The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD says the DUP’s proposed hard border between the north and south is impossible to police, would damage the all‑Ireland economy and risk a return to Troubles‑era controls, and calls on the Irish government to open talks with the UK, pledging to raise the issue at the BI‑
Constitutional affairs Immigration Issue: DUP proposed hard border between North and South Original release: The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Ballymena Showgrounds 3G Pitch Receives Green Light
TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald, on Mid and East Antrim's planning committee, says he welcomed approval of an application to replace the natural grass at Ballymena Showgrounds with a 3G hybrid pitch, crediting Councillor Matthew Armstrong.
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ballymena Showgrounds 3G pitch planning approval Original release: Ballymena Showgrounds 3G Pitch Receives Green Light (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin reiterates firm commitment to protecting workers and families from domestic water charges
Sinn Féin says it will keep workers and families safe from domestic water charges, welcoming the Infrastructure Committee’s move to push forward a bill that prolongs the NI Water subsidy for another five years, shielding households until 2032.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Infrastructure Committee extends NI Water subsidy Original release: Sinn Féin reiterates firm commitment to protecting workers and families from domestic water charges (opens in a new tab)
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Brolly on Official Opening of Aontú’s First Office in the North
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says the new constituency office in Dungiven, East Derry, is a milestone for the party in the North and pledges to serve local schools, hospitals and families, while leader Peadar Tóibín calls the launch a clear declaration of intent.
Other Issue: Aontú first office opening in Dungiven, East Derry Original release: Brolly on Official Opening of Aontú’s First Office in the North (opens in a new tab)
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BBC Must Learn Lessons from Comber Reporting Failure – McIlveen
Strangford DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen says the BBC must reflect on and learn from its reporting on the cancelled children’s GAA event in Comber, which the Executive Complaints Unit judged fell short of required accuracy, and urges prompt corrective action to restore public confidence.
Other Issue: BBC reporting on cancelled Comber children’s GAA event Original release: BBC Must Learn Lessons from Comber Reporting Failure – McIlveen (opens in a new tab)