Latest releases
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2,489 releases
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McMurray secures meeting with DAERA Minister over Warrenpoint stench.
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray says he has secured a meeting with the DAERA Minister over foul odours affecting residents in Warrenpoint, reported since 2023 and investigated by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. He calls the stenches shocking and pledges to keep working with…
Environment and climate Issue: Warrenpoint foul odours meeting with DAERA Minister Original release: McMurray secures meeting with DAERA Minister over Warrenpoint stench. (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch
The DUP, launching its General Election manifesto in East Belfast, says it will press the next Government to ensure Northern Ireland funding cannot fall below assessed need, citing a £124 for every £100 spent in England benchmark. It also lists its record on energy support, sub-postmasters…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch (opens in a new tab)
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Greater clarity on abortion required
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Department of Health's abortion statistics published today understate figures he obtained through Assembly questions, citing 8,488 abortions since 2020 against 5,497 in the release. He also calls for Northern Ireland data on reasons for abortion and maternal…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion statistics publication June 2024 Original release: Greater clarity on abortion required (opens in a new tab)
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To actually tackle mental health crisis we must invest in services, says Honeyford
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA calls for increased investment in mental health services after the Public Accounts Committee report on mental health services, saying only £10m was allocated to the Department of Health's strategy in its first three years, £24m below the estimated…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland Original release: To actually tackle mental health crisis we must invest in services, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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TUV calls on RCN to speak out following Cullen’s shameful failure to condemn murders of nurses
TUV West Tyrone Westminster candidate Stevan Patterson criticises RCN chief Pat Cullen for not condemning the Enniskillen and Omagh murders of nurses and retired healthcare workers, and calls on the Royal College of Nursing to distance itself from her comments.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: TUV calls on RCN to speak out following Cullen’s shameful failure to condemn murders of nurses (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA says a DUP motion on on-farm investment does not address ammonia emissions, arguing that clearing the backlog of planning applications with insufficient mitigations will not reduce levels enough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP motion on on-farm investment and ammonia emissions Original release: Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Greens join calls for a Wealth Tax in the UK
Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara calls for a UK wealth tax, aligned with Scottish, English and Welsh Greens, targeting household wealth above £3.4 million and saying it would raise at least £75 billion a year alongside a windfall tax on energy companies.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Greens join calls for a Wealth Tax in the UK (opens in a new tab)
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Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica welcomes the Court of Appeal ruling that DAERA's decision to allow gas storage caverns under Larne Lough was irrational, crediting the No Gas Caverns campaign and Friends of the Earth.
Environment and climate Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on Larne Lough gas storage caverns Original release: Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray raises questions about weed killer usage on South Down verges
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray says he is questioning the Department for Infrastructure over widespread weedkiller spraying on South Down roadside verges, which constituents report has left them scorched and wildflower areas damaged. He wants to establish which chemicals were used and how…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: South Down roadside verge weedkiller spraying by Department for Infrastructure Original release: McMurray raises questions about weed killer usage on South Down verges (opens in a new tab)
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Court ruling testament to hard work of campaigners, says Donnelly
Alliance candidate Danny Donnelly welcomes a Court of Appeal ruling that a licence for gas caverns off East Antrim should have gone to the full Executive, crediting campaigners on Islandmagee. He calls for an end to this and other fossil fuel projects across Northern Ireland.
Environment and climate Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on East Antrim gas caverns licence Original release: Court ruling testament to hard work of campaigners, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition Day focuses on North-South progress and dual market access
SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole calls on the Economy Minister to produce a dual‑market access strategy and set up a joint Invest NI‑IDA working group, and urges motions for cross‑border healthcare cooperation, extension of all‑island tourism brands and opposition to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation
Economy and employment Health Issue: SDLP Opposition Day on dual market access and cross‑border tourism Original release: SDLP Opposition Day focuses on North-South progress and dual market access (opens in a new tab)
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Health minister must bring forward a plan to stabilise NHS dentistry – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the health minister to produce an immediate plan to shore up NHS dental care, warning that practices going private are leaving lower-income patients struggling to get treatment. She calls for a meeting with the British Dental Association.
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Too much at stake to not have green new deal, says Farry
Alliance candidate Stephen Farry, standing in North Down, says the UK Government cannot afford to lack a green new deal as climate impacts intensify. He points to Alliance's 2021 Green New Deal and accuses the Conservatives of U-turning on climate pledges and approving fossil fuel expansion.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Too much at stake to not have green new deal, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Failure to agree Lough Neagh report is another broken promise by Executive
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says the Executive’s failure to agree the AERA Minister’s Lough Neagh report and its 30‑plus recommendations is another broken promise, condemning the lake to further decline, and pledges the SDLP will work constructively but hold parties to account.
Environment and climate Issue: Executive fails to agree Lough Neagh report recommendations Original release: McGlone: Failure to agree Lough Neagh report is another broken promise by Executive (opens in a new tab)
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Greener energy and cheaper energy go hand in hand, says Eastwood
Alliance Economy spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood MLA says the shift to renewable energy is essential for tackling rising living costs and meeting net zero targets, ahead of Alliance's Assembly motion on energy costs. The motion calls on the Assembly to recognise how energy costs worsen the…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on energy costs and renewable transition Original release: Greener energy and cheaper energy go hand in hand, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Public must be protected from defective building materials
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA says the public must be shielded from defective building materials and tables an amendment to the Defective Premises Bill to boost compensation for victims of mica and pyrite scandals, urging all parties to support it.
Housing Issue: Defective Premises Bill amendment on defective building materials Original release: McCrossan: Public must be protected from defective building materials (opens in a new tab)
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Green pressure forces Muir to move on pollution fines
Green Party Cllr Brian Smyth welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's change of policy to restore heavier financial penalties for persistent agricultural pollution, calling it a first step. He says the Executive's Going for Growth Strategy and the Lough Neagh pollution reflect wider failings by the…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Minister Muir water quality enforcement measures at Agriculture Committee Original release: Green pressure forces Muir to move on pollution fines (opens in a new tab)
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Education and enforcement key to turning the tide on water quality, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes further actions announced by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to tackle poor water quality, including reversing a cap on cross-compliance penalties and a review of fines. He urges the Executive to agree the Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan quickly.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Minister Muir water quality enforcement measures at Agriculture Committee Original release: Education and enforcement key to turning the tide on water quality, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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‘Work to resettle patients from Muckamore must continue at pace’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the Health Minister to keep resettling patients from Muckamore Abbey Hospital at speed and to set a firm closure date, after he signalled a short delay to the original June deadline. She also asks him to keep the Assembly updated on progress.
Health Issue: Muckamore Abbey Hospital closure date extension Original release: ‘Work to resettle patients from Muckamore must continue at pace’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Minister to launch budget consultation
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches a consultation on his initial decisions for the Department for Communities 2024-25 budget, running from 11 June to 3 September 2024, citing a £115.8m resource and £167.3m capital shortfall. Decisions include a £1.45m increase for the voluntary and…
Public finance and taxation Housing Issue: Department for Communities 2024-25 budget consultation Original release: Minister to launch budget consultation (opens in a new tab)