Latest releases
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5,408 releases
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Whyte urges bold investment to increase public transport use
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte says new Department for Infrastructure figures show public transport use remains below pre-pandemic levels, and calls for bold investment, safer cycle lanes and a year-round night bus network in Belfast.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland 2024-25 report Original release: Whyte urges bold investment to increase public transport use (opens in a new tab)
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O'Hanlon demands urgent clarity on future of Middletown Centre for Autism
SDLP Councillor Thomas O'Hanlon has written to Education Ministers Paul Givan and Helen McEntee seeking urgent answers after staff at the Middletown Centre for Autism were told to work from home indefinitely. He asks whether the Ministers knew in advance and demands assurances that the centre will…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Middletown Centre for Autism staff instructed to work from home Original release: O'Hanlon demands urgent clarity on future of Middletown Centre for Autism (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan slams exclusion of Derry from NI Football Fund
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA slams the exclusion of Brandywell Stadium and Derry City from the first stage of Northern Ireland Football Fund awards. He says he will challenge Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to explain the outcome, and claims clubs raised concerns…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Football Fund performance programme first cohort of 20 club projects Original release: Durkan slams exclusion of Derry from NI Football Fund (opens in a new tab)
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World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the public to respond to the consultation on her proposed Suicide Prevention Training Bill, which would require public bodies to train frontline staff in suicide prevention. The consultation closes on 17 September 2025.
Health Issue: Suicide Prevention Training Bill public consultation Original release: World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Cliff Path is a vital local amenity which must be restored – McMullan
Sinn Féin Councillor for the Glens DEA and Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council Oliver McMullan calls for urgent restoration of the Cliff Path in Cushendall, welcoming PEACE PLUS funding and urging the council to get the work out to tender and start it as soon as possible.
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Cushendall Cliff Path restoration PEACE PLUS funding Original release: Cliff Path is a vital local amenity which must be restored – McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston granted oral hearing in Grand Central Station Irish signage case
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he has been granted an oral hearing after lodging a High Court application to intervene in Jamie Bryson's challenge to Sinn Féin Minister Liz Kimmons' order requiring Irish-language signs at Belfast's Grand Central Station. He argues the Minister's reliance on a section…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Grand Central Station Irish signage High Court challenge oral hearing Original release: Gaston granted oral hearing in Grand Central Station Irish signage case (opens in a new tab)
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Time for DUP to accept Brexit reality and work together to maximise economic opportunities – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the DUP to accept the Windsor Framework and work with other Assembly parties to maximise economic opportunities, after a DUP motion calling for its dismantling. He claims the motion reflects DUP electoral pressure from the TUV.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Assembly motion calling for dismantling of Windsor Framework Original release: Time for DUP to accept Brexit reality and work together to maximise economic opportunities – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must Guarantee One-to-One Support for SEN Pupils
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the Executive keeps failing SEN pupils and their families, accusing Education Minister Paul Givan of warm words without action on school places, transport and classroom assistant support. He calls for guaranteed support for every pupil.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Debate on the crisis in special educational needs provision Original release: Education Minister must Guarantee One-to-One Support for SEN Pupils (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Education Minister to prioritise children with special educational needs – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to make children with special educational needs a priority for his department, following a cross-party Assembly motion on the SEN system crisis. He says the minister and Education Authority are failing these children and urges action…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on special educational needs system crisis Original release: Time for Education Minister to prioritise children with special educational needs – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should have awaited guidance from Equality Commission – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the Education Minister should have waited for Equality Commission guidance on the UK Supreme Court ruling rather than acting unilaterally, and calls for decisions affecting vulnerable children to await the Commission's advice.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister decision following UK Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces Original release: Education Minister should have awaited guidance from Equality Commission – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD addresses Sinn Féin Dáil think-in
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald calls for three €450 energy credits to be included in the upcoming 2025 Budget, condemns the government’s cost‑of‑living policies and urges action on rising prices, housing and childcare to protect ordinary households.
Economy and employment Health Issue: 2025 Irish Budget Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD addresses Sinn Féin Dáil think-in (opens in a new tab)
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Burning of 5G masts harming our community – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey condemns an arson attack on a 5G mast on Whiterock Road and calls for those responsible to be brought to justice, after confirmation that the cost of replacing masts damaged since 2023 has reached several million pounds.
Infrastructure and transport Justice and policing Issue: Whiterock Road 5G mast arson attack and replacement costs Original release: Burning of 5G masts harming our community – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Divisive border poll talk reflective of SFs misguided priorities –…
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen says First Minister Michelle O'Neill's call for a border poll to coincide with the Belfast Agreement's 30th anniversary reflects misguided priorities. She claims it lays groundwork for using the 2027 election cycle as a mandate and urges Sinn Fein to focus on…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Michelle O'Neill call for border poll around Belfast Agreement anniversary Original release: Divisive border poll talk reflective of SFs misguided priorities –… (opens in a new tab)
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We must get real on standards reform - Beattie
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says the Standards Commissioner's oversight is dominated by major parties and calls for lay members with voting rights on the Committee on Standards, citing the 2020 New Decade New Approach commitment. He also argues MLAs' conduct should be investigated when it brings the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly vote on new Northern Ireland Commissioner for Standards Original release: We must get real on standards reform - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister's culture war distraction disgraceful, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA calls the Education Minister's withdrawal of guidance for teachers on transgender pupils a disgraceful distraction from failures on SEN provision. She says the timing diverts attention from SEN issues and criticises the tone of the accompanying…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister decision following UK Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces Original release: Education Minister's culture war distraction disgraceful, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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‘We must do all that we can to end the scourge of violence against women, girls and children – Murphy
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: ‘We must do all that we can to end the scourge of violence against women, girls and children – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to raise sectarian and racist incidents in North Belfast in Assembly
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says she will raise sectarian and racist incidents in North Belfast in the Assembly when it returns, after families in Lower Oldpark were attacked in their homes. She calls on all parties to jointly condemn the attacks and support the victims.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UDA intimidation of Catholic families in Oldpark, North Belfast Original release: Sinn Féin to raise sectarian and racist incidents in North Belfast in Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Shameful that SEN children remain without appropriate school placement, says Guy, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says it is shameful that children with special educational needs still lack an appropriate school placement, ahead of an Assembly motion calling on the Education Minister to clarify how many children are affected and set timescales for the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Shameful that SEN children remain without appropriate school placement, says Guy, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Efforts to divide communities will fail, we all must stand against racism – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says equality and solidarity will defeat current efforts to stoke division, responding to fresh attempts by small groups to turn people against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. He cites migrant workers' role in stabilising services at Daisy Hill Hospital and blames…
Immigration Health Original release: Efforts to divide communities will fail, we all must stand against racism – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney calls on Irish trade union movement to become an active player in unity debate
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney urges Irish trade unions to play a decisive role in the Irish unity debate, citing the benefits of higher union density and the Assembly's Good Jobs Bill as a step toward stronger collective bargaining and worker protections.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Good Jobs Bill advancing in the Assembly Original release: Kearney calls on Irish trade union movement to become an active player in unity debate (opens in a new tab)