Latest releases
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4,972 releases
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McGrath: Waiting lists plan must show results
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to publish monthly reports on his £50m plan to tackle waiting lists, but says results must be shown. He raises concerns about reliance on outside providers, repurposing staff, upfront payment for…
Health Issue: Health Minister's investment plan to cut waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Waiting lists plan must show results (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Sea Border Spin Exposed: Deputy First Minister Admits “Hugely Politically Embarrassing” Truth
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, accuses the DUP of spin over the Irish Sea border after a Belfast Telegraph report on a Stormont 'divergence' role, and says the Deputy First Minister is more concerned with optics than the substance.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont divergence co-ordinator role advertisement and Belfast Telegraph report Original release: DUP Sea Border Spin Exposed: Deputy First Minister Admits “Hugely Politically Embarrassing” Truth (opens in a new tab)
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Pat Sheehan pays tribute to Bobby Sands as new statue unveiled in Twinbrook
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan, speaking at the unveiling of a Bobby Sands statue in Twinbrook on the 44th anniversary of his death, calls on republicans to redouble their efforts for Irish unity and says momentum for political change is irreversible.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Bobby Sands statue unveiling in Twinbrook Original release: Pat Sheehan pays tribute to Bobby Sands as new statue unveiled in Twinbrook (opens in a new tab)
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Why the Irish language signage decision cannot stand
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says the Infrastructure Minister's decision to proceed with Irish language signage at Grand Central Station breaches the law and bypasses Executive decision-making. He defends the DUP's steps, including a Communities Minister's legal challenge, and argues a section 28B…
Constitutional affairs Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish language signage at Grand Central Station announcement Original release: Why the Irish language signage decision cannot stand (opens in a new tab)
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Time to extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in north – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says the Assembly will move a motion urging the Irish government to extend voting rights in presidential elections to every Irish citizen on the island of Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish presidential voting rights for Northern Ireland citizens Original release: Time to extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in north – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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A comprehensive review of Northern Ireland’s energy infrastructure is needed – Armstrong
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA calls for a full review of Northern Ireland’s energy infrastructure, saying the recent Heathrow Airport power outage and the exclusion of NI from the GB‑led resilience review expose security risks and could leave the region vulnerable.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Heathrow Airport power outage Original release: A comprehensive review of Northern Ireland’s energy infrastructure is needed – Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Adam Gannon challenges Executive parties to press for restoring emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital, saying none has yet acted on it. He says the SDLP will keep raising the unfairness of long emergency journeys for rural…
Health Issue: Removal of emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital Original release: Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: British politics on a different trajectory
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says British politics is moving in a dark direction after Reform's election gains, arguing this structural shift makes Northern Ireland's future a serious concern and that Anglo-Irish relations cannot be relied upon. She also argues Labour has moved towards a more…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Hanna: British politics on a different trajectory (opens in a new tab)
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Time for British Secretary of State to set definitive criteria for unity referendum – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA calls on the British and Irish governments to open structured dialogue on planning for Irish reunification, responding to Hilary Benn's claim that border poll triggers remain unchanged. He urges Westminster to publish clear criteria for a unity…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Hilary Benn remarks on border poll criteria Original release: Time for British Secretary of State to set definitive criteria for unity referendum – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Major impact on mournes gondola project: Forsythe
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says a National Trust refusal of lease arrangements for a Mournes gondola project could put £30m of City Deal funding at risk. She urges stakeholders to engage constructively to balance environmental protection with community benefit.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Major impact on mournes gondola project: Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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1 May – UKIMS Registration – The Answer to the Irish Sea Border?
TUV says the UKIMS registration scheme does not remove the Irish Sea border, arguing that the £2 million turnover limit, goods categories and ongoing checks leave businesses facing customs burdens.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UKIMS registration and the parcels border from 1 May 2025 Original release: 1 May – UKIMS Registration – The Answer to the Irish Sea Border? (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome the National Trust's decision not to consider a bid for land at Thomas's Quarry for the Mournes Gondola project, citing environmental damage from recent fires and economic viability concerns.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA says the absence of nurses in some special schools is unacceptable, and calls for nursing to be reinstated in every special school that needs it, as soon as possible.
Education Health Issue: Nursing provision removal from special schools review Original release: Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair
Alliance's agriculture and environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA's launch of a consultation on reviewing the 2019 Nutrients Action Programme and the proposed programme covering 2026 to 2029.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education and Health departments to coordinate more closely on support for children with special educational needs, citing rising identification and a shortage of allied health professionals. He says neither the Education Department nor the Education Authority…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department for Infrastructure cited the lack of signatures on his petition against dual-language signage at Grand Central as justification for claiming the decision was not controversial. He calls on every Unionist MLA to explain why they did not support the…
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Grand Central Irish signage court hearing and petition signatures Original release: Sinn Fein department cites lack of support for petition in aid of their case to impose Irish signage on Grand Central (opens in a new tab)
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A New Ireland, A Time of Opportunity – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy urges the Irish government to take a more proactive role in planning for constitutional change and to set up a Citizens' Assembly so people across the island can help shape the future, speaking at the Institute of International and European Affairs.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: A New Ireland, A Time of Opportunity – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP focused on constitutional politics rather than public services
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the SDLP's Assembly motion seeking further fiscal powers for the Executive is unrealistic and a distraction from practical funding reform. She argues a needs-based funding model would help public services sooner, and warns fiscal devolution would add…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP motion on NI Executive fiscal powers in the Assembly Original release: SDLP focused on constitutional politics rather than public services (opens in a new tab)
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Farce of Surrendering the Union deal exposed
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says the Government's decision to press ahead with a new EU rule under the Windsor Framework, despite opposition from unionists, shows the Safeguarding the Union deal was a farce that surrendered the Union.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government decision to adopt new EU rule under Windsor Framework Original release: Farce of Surrendering the Union deal exposed (opens in a new tab)
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EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban
DUP Peer Lord Dodds warns that the proposed generational smoking ban cannot apply in Northern Ireland because the EU Tobacco Products Directive still governs it under the Windsor Framework. He calls on the Government to clarify whether it will override the Directive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Generational smoking ban and EU Tobacco Products Directive in Northern Ireland Original release: EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban (opens in a new tab)