Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
4,033 releases
-
Durkan urges Infrastructure Minister to review winter services plan
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA calls on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to review the department's winter services programme, saying road gritting criteria and grit box provision are not serving all areas well. He says reviews should involve other agencies to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Winter weather road gritting and grit box provision by DfI Original release: Durkan urges Infrastructure Minister to review winter services plan (opens in a new tab)
-
Jim Allister raises the Protocol threat to a UK-US trade deal with the Prime Minister
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Prime Minister failed to answer his PMQs question on a UK-US trade deal given Northern Ireland's continued subjection to EU trade law. He argues his Mutual Enforcement Bill would avoid a hard border and calls on the PM to restore full UK sovereignty before…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Allister's PMQs question on US trade deal and Northern Ireland EU law Original release: Jim Allister raises the Protocol threat to a UK-US trade deal with the Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
-
Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes vital and gamechanging tool for the development of economic policy across the island
Sinn Féin public expenditure and reform spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes the new macro‑economic modelling tool created by ESRI and NIESR for the north of Ireland, saying it will enable island‑wide policy forecasting and urges the incoming government to use it for positive economic outcomes
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI report on a new economic model for the North Original release: Rose Conway-Walsh welcomes vital and gamechanging tool for the development of economic policy across the island (opens in a new tab)
-
Action required on dual market access and skills to maximise economic potential over rest of decade, says Honeyford.
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford calls on the Economy Minister to prioritise promoting dual market access in Invest NI's marketing and to improve alignment between education and business skills needs. He also urges the Infrastructure Department to speed up planning, including on…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: ESRI report on a new economic model for the North Original release: Action required on dual market access and skills to maximise economic potential over rest of decade, says Honeyford. (opens in a new tab)
-
McReynolds questions lack of promotion around DfI consultation on taxis in bus lanes.
Alliance spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA criticises the Department for Infrastructure for insufficient promotion of its consultation on extending taxi use of bus lanes in Belfast city centre. He says the February 5 closing date is too short and urges the Minister to reverse the scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: DfI consultation on taxi use of bus lanes Original release: McReynolds questions lack of promotion around DfI consultation on taxis in bus lanes. (opens in a new tab)
-
This week the Government Has Blown Its Irish Sea Border Cover
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, argues in a News Letter opinion piece that Government regulations on goods movement effectively treat Northern Ireland as a third country, and says the Irish Sea border is unworkable. He says he will press for a Commons vote opposing the draft Official…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Draft Official Control Amendment Regulations Irish Sea border vote Original release: This week the Government Has Blown Its Irish Sea Border Cover (opens in a new tab)
-
Well done Protocol Implementers!
TUV leader Jim Allister says Northern Ireland is excluded from the UK-wide ban on animal imports from Germany after foot and mouth disease was confirmthere, because NI remains subject to EU rules that still permit imports. He links this to MLAs' recent vote on the Windsor Framework.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK ban on animal imports from Germany over foot and mouth disease Original release: Well done Protocol Implementers! (opens in a new tab)
-
Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed
DUP East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes Communities Minister Gordon Lyons's commitment to reform the Housing Executive points system for intimidated applicants. She urges swift reforms so housing is allocated on genuine need rather than intimidation points, which she says criminals can abuse.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Minister's special educational needs transformation plan must be fully funded, noting the Executive has earmarked no money for it in its latest budget. She welcomes proposals including a child development passport.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded (opens in a new tab)
-
Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting
DUP Justice Spokesperson Joanne Bunting MLA asks Justice Minister Naomi Long how she will keep Hydebank Wood women's prison exclusively for biologically female prisoners after a High Court ruling allowed a transfer from Maghaberry. She says the Minister must set out a plan and warns that admitting…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: High Court ruling on transfer of prisoner to Hydebank Wood Original release: Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting (opens in a new tab)
-
Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the education minister’s announcement on overhauling provision for children with special educational needs, urging the minister to promptly release a SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan and to adopt a ‘SEN first’ placement policy.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker (opens in a new tab)
-
Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a reform agenda and five-year delivery plan for special educational needs support, moving away from one-to-one adult support toward more flexible school-led models. He also plans a bespoke early-years programme for toddlers aged two and three, including…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs (opens in a new tab)
-
Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the Education Minister's statement on SEN transformation offered only empty words, with no finalised action plan, costings or success measures. They call for a clear plan and outcome framework.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin and SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter call for urgent action on violence against women and girls, citing 25 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. Their Opposition Day motions cover new victim-protection laws, online abuse, RSE and gender-based budgeting.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motions on violence against women and girls Original release: SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
-
British government cannot hide behind veil of secrecy; the truth behind murder of John Francis Green must be told – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy calls for the full truth behind the 1975 killing of IRA Volunteer John Francis Green near Castleblayney to be told, and accuses the British government of hiding behind secrecy. Speaking at the 50th anniversary commemoration, he pledges party support for the Green family's…
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: 50th anniversary commemoration of John Francis Green's killing Original release: British government cannot hide behind veil of secrecy; the truth behind murder of John Francis Green must be told – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Gregory Campbell MP Welcomes Ulster University’s Decision to Revise…
DUP MP Gregory Campbell welcomes Ulster University's decision to revise promotional imagery for its new sports science degree in Derry, after he raised concerns that the original images were exclusive. He urges the university to consider diverse backgrounds in future marketing.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Ulster University revising sports science course promotional imagery Original release: Gregory Campbell MP Welcomes Ulster University’s Decision to Revise… (opens in a new tab)
-
Robinson – “the Government must demonstrate greater urgency”
The DUP's Gavin Robinson MP says the Windsor Framework review must be an honest assessment, not an exercise in papering over problems, and calls for more urgency from the Government in appointing the Independent Monitoring Panel and enabling Intertrade UK to start work.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Windsor Framework review appointment and Independent Monitoring Panel delays Original release: Robinson – “the Government must demonstrate greater urgency” (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna welcomes review commitment to examine north-south and EU relationships
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the publication of terms of reference for the independent Windsor Framework review, saying it will cover the North's future EU ties and protect all-island cooperation. Party leader Matthew O'Toole calls for a European Commission office in Belfast and freedom of…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework review appointment and Independent Monitoring Panel delays Original release: Hanna welcomes review commitment to examine north-south and EU relationships (opens in a new tab)
-
Murphy review a calculated two fingers to unionism
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Murphy Review's terms of reference make any recommendations subject to cross-community support, which he argues gives nationalists a veto over changes to the Protocol. He calls the arrangement an unmitigated failure from the Donaldson/DUP deal and says unionists…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Murphy Review terms of reference on cross-community support for Protocol changes Original release: Murphy review a calculated two fingers to unionism (opens in a new tab)
-
UK Government review of Windsor Framework must meet international obligations, says Eastwood.
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood welcomes Lord Murphy's appointment to review the Windsor Framework and calls for the UK Government review to be impartial, factual and to meet international obligations while highlighting dual market access.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Murphy Review terms of reference on cross-community support for Protocol changes Original release: UK Government review of Windsor Framework must meet international obligations, says Eastwood. (opens in a new tab)