Latest releases
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4,985 releases
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Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan
UUP MLA Robbie Butler calls for a co-designed approach to wildfire risk on upland and designated land, arguing that unmanaged gorse rather than sheep grazing is the main danger to the environment and rural safety. He cites talks with the National Sheep Association and repeated fires, and urges…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan (opens in a new tab)
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McKeown welcomes major step forward on Lagan Bridge
SDLP councillor Gary McKeown welcomes the Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge moving to the next stage of procurement, saying it will ease cross-river travel for cyclists and pedestrians. He notes the Belfast Region City Deal is substantially funding it and calls for no further delays, as a…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge moves to next procurement stage Original release: McKeown welcomes major step forward on Lagan Bridge (opens in a new tab)
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When ducks take to the potholes it’s long past time for action
TUV chairman Keith Ratcliffe, a Cusher councillor, says the Department of Infrastructure has taken no action on potholes on Marlacoo Road despite several reminders, with craters now flooding into ponds after heavy rain.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Marlacoo Road potholes and Department of Infrastructure inaction Original release: When ducks take to the potholes it’s long past time for action (opens in a new tab)
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Over £6 million spent on Executive Brussels office since Brexit vote
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says over £6.7 million has been spent on the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels since the Brexit referendum, questioning its purpose and calling for more openness. He contrasts this with InterTrade UK, which he says has no offices, budget or staff…
Public finance and taxation International affairs Issue: Executive Office Brussels office spending figures from Assembly question Original release: Over £6 million spent on Executive Brussels office since Brexit vote (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for urgency in addressing crisis at Lough Neagh
SDLP AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says the AERA Minister is delaying key water quality plans, including the River Basin Management Plan and Nutrient Action Plan, as blue-green algae appears in Lough Neagh for 2025. He calls for urgent action rather than what he describes as PR-driven responses.
Environment and climate Issue: Blue-green algae confirmed in Lough Neagh for 2025 Original release: McGlone calls for urgency in addressing crisis at Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin's Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an ESRI economic overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it shows an all-island approach to public health would improve care, and calls on the Irish government to resource Irish unity planning and establish a citizens' assembly.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: ESRI 'Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland' report launch Original release: ESRI research highlights importance of all-island public health system – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Worsening outcomes for people in the north highlights the need for Irish unity – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says an ESRI report commissioned by the Shared Island Unit, showing higher southern wages, growth and living standards, illustrates the need for Irish unity. He calls for a unity referendum, a Citizens' Assembly on Irish unity and a Minister for Reunification.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: ESRI Shared Island report on north-south economic and living standards comparison Original release: Worsening outcomes for people in the north highlights the need for Irish unity – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey calls for more support for jurors after trials, following a BBC interview in which a former juror described developing PTSD after a traumatic case. She urges the Justice and Health Ministers to work together on continuous support and asks the Justice Minister to review…
Justice and policing Health Issue: Juror PTSD claims after traumatic court case BBC interview Original release: More support needed for jurors after trials – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Starmer needs to drop self-defeating red lines when it comes to European relationship, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon red lines on Single Market and Customs Union ties, calling them counterproductive, and to secure a food and agricultural deal with the EU quickly before the summit.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit food and agricultural regulatory alignment speculation Original release: Starmer needs to drop self-defeating red lines when it comes to European relationship, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Time for full reconsideration of Gondola project viability, says Alliance representatives
Alliance's South Down representatives, MLA Andrew McMurray and Councillor Jill Truesdale, say the National Trust's halting of talks with Newry, Mourne and Down Council over Thomas's Quarry land means the Gondola project's viability should be fully reconsidered.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Time for full reconsideration of Gondola project viability, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin delegation meets British Secretary of State and urges political action
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald says her delegation urged British Secretary of State Hilary Benn to order a full public inquiry into the 1997 murder of Seán Brown, citing a Court of Appeal ruling, and to clarify British funding for Casement Park.
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Court of Appeal ruling on public inquiry into Seán Brown murder Original release: Sinn Féin delegation meets British Secretary of State and urges political action (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time to build Casement Park – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey urges the British government to spell out how much money it will commit to rebuilding Casement Park in West Belfast, following a rally of supporters calling for progress at the stadium. He also asks the Communities Minister to work with Executive ministers to back the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Casement Park reconstruction rally in West Belfast Original release: It’s time to build Casement Park – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Platform: We don’t need another quango - Emma Little-Pengelly MLA
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Assembly to remove the legal requirement for a climate change commissioner, arguing the £1million-a-year post duplicates the UK-wide Climate Change Committee and that the money should fund public services instead.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Platform: We don’t need another quango - Emma Little-Pengelly MLA (opens in a new tab)
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Council far behind goal of planting one million trees by 2035, says Maghie
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Jenna Maghie says Belfast City Council is around 220,000 trees behind schedule on its One Million Trees initiative, which aims to plant one million native trees by 2035. She calls for the project to be reinvigorated and back on track, pointing to the Belfast Tree…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council One Million Trees initiative progress concerns Original release: Council far behind goal of planting one million trees by 2035, says Maghie (opens in a new tab)
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EU needs to prepare for a referendum on Irish Unity – Lynn Boylan MEP and Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion call on the EU to start preparatory work now for a possible Irish Unity referendum and urge the Irish government to engage, proposing a citizens' assembly and asking EU institutions to spell out financial and political support.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: European Parliament Irish Unity conference Original release: EU needs to prepare for a referendum on Irish Unity – Lynn Boylan MEP and Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Environment Minister Andrew Muir's written answer on the Mobuoy Road waste site, including monitoring, a criminal case against former operators and remediation planning, and urges public participation in the spring consultation on next steps.
Environment and climate Issue: Mobuoy Road illegal waste site remediation update Original release: Delargy welcomes update on Mobuoy waste site (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler
Ulster Unionist spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says farmers must not bear the cost of climate action, calling for codesigned measures after recent changes to create a Climate Commissioner office raised concerns. He says the changes should not pit environmental goals against agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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First and deputy First Minister must speed up work on legislative backlog, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw urges the First and deputy First Minister to speed up clearing the legislative backlog after the Executive Office confirmed fewer than half of the 2024 Legislative Programme Bills have been introduced. She says the Department of Health has produced little…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Executive Office confirmation on 2024 Legislative Programme Bills introduced Original release: First and deputy First Minister must speed up work on legislative backlog, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe
Alliance's Cllr Eddie Roofe expresses dismay at blue-green algae found at Martray Lough near Ballygawley. He urges other parties to back DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's water quality measures, including action on NI Water and farm nutrient runoff, and accuses some councillors and MLAs of opposing them.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Blue-green algae appearance at Martray Lough near Ballygawley Original release: Blue-green algae at Martray Lough dismaying, says Roofe (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive sham fights can’t mask shambolic legislative record
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive's update on its legislative programme admits little over half the legislation has been introduced, and accuses it of using sham fights and culture wars to distract from delivery failures.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive Office confirmation on 2024 Legislative Programme Bills introduced Original release: O’Toole: Executive sham fights can’t mask shambolic legislative record (opens in a new tab)