Latest releases
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2,759 releases
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SDLP: Executive dysfunction means freshwater failure
SDLP Opposition calls for Executive Ministers to work together on the crisis at Northern Ireland Water after an investigation found raw sewage in Belfast Lough pushed bacteria beyond legal limits. Mark H Durkan says NI Water's funding model and the status quo need fundamental change, while Patsy…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Investigation finds high sewage levels in Belfast Lough Original release: SDLP: Executive dysfunction means freshwater failure (opens in a new tab)
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‘Step-change’ needed to tackle homelessness – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson, chair of the All-Party Group on Homelessness, has brought a cross-party Assembly motion to mark Homeless Awareness Week, calling for a major expansion of social and affordable housing via the Housing Executive and more British government funding for the Executive.
Housing Issue: Assembly motion marking Homeless Awareness Week 2024 Original release: ‘Step-change’ needed to tackle homelessness – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer…
North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett calls for an urgent review of Ulster Boxing Council policies and procedures after the body agreed a settlement with boxer Daryl Clarke, who was excluded from the 2022 Commonwealth Games team. He also says he has contacted funders and wants Commonwealth Games NI to…
Disability and equality Community relations and legacy Issue: Daryl Clarke settlement with Ulster Boxing Council over 2022 Commonwealth Games selection Original release: Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer… (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls for review of cross-border rail fares
SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty calls for a review of cross-border rail fares, citing higher fares from Newry than Dundalk to Belfast. The party says it will bring a motion asking the Infrastructure Minister to assess a unified fare structure.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: SDLP calls for review of cross-border rail fares (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance South Down representatives to present petition to Economy Minister opposing Gondola development.
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray says he and Mournes councillor Jill Truesdale will hand a petition to the Economy Minister opposing the Gondola and visitor centre at Thomas's Quarry, urging him to press Newry Mourne and Down Council to rethink.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Mourne Gateway Gondola petition presented to Economy Minister Original release: Alliance South Down representatives to present petition to Economy Minister opposing Gondola development. (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says over £437,000 has been spent on Irish language interpretation in the Assembly, calling it a waste, and criticises the simultaneous translation system made permanent after a six-month review. His release also cites Assembly Commission answers on the Interpretation and…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Commission review of Irish language interpretation service Original release: Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a £1.2million pilot Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund for young children with special educational needs. Settings with a child undergoing statutory assessment will receive £750 per month per class, with payments in tranches.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund pilot announcement Original release: Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with… (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes planning approval from Derry City and Strabane Council for 674 homes in the Waterside, a development she says is worth over £100 million. She also urges London to provide fairer funding to the Executive so more social and affordable housing can be built.
Housing Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane Council approval of 674 Waterside homes Original release: Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit.
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes plans to extend free sight tests, dental treatment and hospital travel help to Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland, saying realignment with the UK should happen within six months, followed by a six-week consultation.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit eyecare and health cost entitlement realignment with UK Original release: Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit. (opens in a new tab)
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Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote.
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair calls the AERA Committee's rejection of tougher penalties for repeat waterway polluters "shameful", blaming Sinn Féin, DUP, UUP and SDLP for blocking the restrictions and demanding they account for their reversal on environmental protection.
Environment and climate Issue: AERA Committee vote on tougher waterway pollution penalties Original release: Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote. (opens in a new tab)
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North Antrim MP joins All Party Parliamentary Group for British Buses
TUV MP Jim Allister says he has joined the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Buses to help shape government policy supporting the bus-building sector, which he says matters to North Antrim's economy. He calls for government investment in hydrogen infrastructure and says Wrightbus should…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Jim Allister joins All Party Parliamentary Group for British Buses Original release: North Antrim MP joins All Party Parliamentary Group for British Buses (opens in a new tab)
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Relevant decision makers must be held accountable for hospital fiasco…
Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds, the DUP's health spokesperson, welcomes the Belfast Trust and Department of Health being called to brief the Health Committee on the new Royal Victoria maternity hospital. She calls for accountability over delays, rising costs and bacteria in water pipework.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Trust and Department of Health appearance before Health Committee on maternity hospital Original release: Relevant decision makers must be held accountable for hospital fiasco… (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Executive must do more to support frontline services, after Women's Aid's annual report showed almost 11,000 referrals in 2023/24, up 600 on the previous year. She calls for greater investment across all departments.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Women's Aid annual report 2023/24 referrals increase Original release: McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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Eirgrid Project yet Another Example of Government Waste and a Litany of Broken Promises
Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín, a Meath East candidate, says EirGrid's refusal to meet residents over its 17-year North-South project is wasteful and calls for government accountability for over €30 million in taxpayer spending. She also criticises government TDs for not co-signing Peadar Tóibín's…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: EirGrid refusal to meet communities over North-South Interconnector pylons Original release: Eirgrid Project yet Another Example of Government Waste and a Litany of Broken Promises (opens in a new tab)
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‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart argues that the 'dignity' language used by assisted suicide campaigners, such as Dignity in Dying, is a misleading framing. She says legalising assisted suicide would lower the perceived worth of disabled, poor and homeless people, citing a Canadian poll on MAID eligibility.
Disability and equality Health Original release: ‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives
Education Disability and equality Original release: Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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‘Anyone contaminating waterways must face full extent of the law’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney says he is deeply concerned that no one will be prosecuted over the 2023 Crumlin River pollution that killed fish, and calls for anyone polluting waterways to face the law fully, plus legislative change and stronger enforcement, urging DAERA to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Crumlin River pollution incident 2023 no prosecutions Original release: ‘Anyone contaminating waterways must face full extent of the law’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister burying his head in the sand over NI Water funding, says McMurray.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andy McMurray says the Infrastructure Minister is ignoring the crisis in NI Water’s funding, dismisses the minister’s claim the model works and urges adoption of Alliance’s mutualised funding blueprint to sustain water and wastewater investment.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: John O'Dowd comments on NI Water funding model Original release: Infrastructure Minister burying his head in the sand over NI Water funding, says McMurray. (opens in a new tab)
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Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion.
Alliance Comber Councillor Rachel Ashe welcomes Ards and North Down Borough Council's agreement to install communication boards in Tier 1 play parks, after the feasibility report on her motion was approved. Ashe says the boards will help children with speech, language or autism-related…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Ards and North Down communication boards in Tier 1 play parks Original release: Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion. (opens in a new tab)
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Environmental governance review is encouraging news for Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the DAERA Minister's launch of an independent panel to review environmental governance, praising its Lough Neagh focus and backing a possible Independent Environmental Protection Agency. He expects the panel's report next summer.
Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir review of environmental governance announcement Original release: Environmental governance review is encouraging news for Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)