Latest releases
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11,733 releases
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No one should be above the planning process, says Nelson
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Sam Nelson says everyone must be subject to planning rules, following a council decision not to enforce against a Bobby Sands statue erected on public land in west Belfast without permission. He calls for equal enforcement across all cases and seeks clarity on how…
Local government Community relations and legacy Issue: Belfast City Council decision not to act on Bobby Sands statue Original release: No one should be above the planning process, says Nelson (opens in a new tab)
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Gary Middleton Steps Back from Public Life to Focus on Health
DUP MLA Gary Middleton announces he is resigning his Foyle seat at the Assembly tomorrow, citing mental health challenges and the need to focus on recovery. DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP thanks him and pays tribute to his service.
Health Issue: Gary Middleton resignation from Foyle Assembly seat Original release: Gary Middleton Steps Back from Public Life to Focus on Health (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer welcomes reconvening of Curraghinalt Goldmine Public Inquiry
West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer welcomes the resumption of the Curraghinalt goldmine inquiry in Omagh next Monday after a 15-month break, saying it offers local people a chance to be heard. He calls for the process to move forward without further delay toward a timely conclusion.
Environment and climate Issue: Curraghinalt goldmine public inquiry resumption in Omagh Original release: McAleer welcomes reconvening of Curraghinalt Goldmine Public Inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive absence during crisis “inexcusable”
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA condemns the Executive's silence during an international crisis that has driven up household energy and fuel costs, and says Ministers have not said how or when £17 million for heating oil support will be disbursed.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive response to international energy and fuel cost crisis Original release: O’Toole: Executive absence during crisis “inexcusable” (opens in a new tab)
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No Water Levy on Struggling Households – Make the Developers Pay
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll rejects an additional levy on households to fund water infrastructure, calling instead for the Executive to fund repairs and for housing developers to contribute, criticising Sinn Féin's voluntary developer contributions scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Proposed water infrastructure levy on households and developer contributions Original release: No Water Levy on Struggling Households – Make the Developers Pay (opens in a new tab)
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Facing Down the Far Right
People Before Profit says members attended a counter-demonstration in Coleraine against the anti-migration "Our Northern Ireland Voice" (ONIV) protest, organised by Causeway Trade Union Council. Councillor Shaun Harkin is quoted claiming elites and the far right seek to divide the working class.
Immigration Issue: Coleraine counter-demonstration against Our Northern Ireland Voice protest Original release: Facing Down the Far Right (opens in a new tab)
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Provocative behaviour in South Belfast requires managed response to prevent any repeat, says Bradshaw
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw calls for a comprehensive, managed plan from public authorities to prevent a repeat of provocative behaviour by football fans around Windsor Park, after nine police officers were injured on Friday night. She condemns assaults on public servants and says…
Justice and policing Issue: Windsor Park football fans provocative behaviour and police injuries Original release: Provocative behaviour in South Belfast requires managed response to prevent any repeat, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Why did Unionists permit the Northern Ireland Executive X account to be used to promote Republican terrorism?
TUV leader Jim Allister MP asks who approved an Executive Office X post highlighting Michelle O'Neill's attendance at a Dublin Easter Rising commemoration, and whether it will be removed. He says Unionists in government must explain their role in allowing the account to be used this way.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: Northern Ireland Executive X post on Michelle O'Neill's Easter Rising attendance Original release: Why did Unionists permit the Northern Ireland Executive X account to be used to promote Republican terrorism? (opens in a new tab)
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We have secured the peace, it’s time to write the next chapter: Irish reunification – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calls for the government to lead on Irish reunification, urging planning and preparation ahead of the Good Friday Agreement's thirtieth anniversary. She accuses Taoiseach Micheál Martin of a dereliction of duty and says the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government is the…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: We have secured the peace, it’s time to write the next chapter: Irish reunification – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Martin’s neutrality shift ‘A fundamental break with Irish policy’ – Mary Lou McDonald
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald accuses Taoiseach Micheál Martin of dismantling Irish neutrality, citing his February remark on standing militarily with a country in conflict, and calls for a referendum on the issue. She also opposes plans to scrap the UN mandate safeguard on overseas…
International affairs Constitutional affairs Original release: Martin’s neutrality shift ‘A fundamental break with Irish policy’ – Mary Lou McDonald (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston responds to BBC revelations about Stormont canteen
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says BBC-obtained documents show the Stormont canteen project overran its budget despite cheaper design options being identified. He calls on Commission members from the Executive parties and the SDLP to explain why those options were rejected.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont canteen refurbishment cost overrun revealed by BBC documents Original release: Gaston responds to BBC revelations about Stormont canteen (opens in a new tab)
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TUV raises alarm over Sinn Fein influence in Invest NI appointments
TUV Business spokesman Councillor Keith Ratcliffe says the Department must show how two Invest NI board appointees with links to Sinn Fein were assessed on merit, and what criteria and political activity were weighed. He also claims Sinn Fein control is aligning Stormont's economic levers with an…
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Invest NI board appointments with Sinn Fein links Original release: TUV raises alarm over Sinn Fein influence in Invest NI appointments (opens in a new tab)
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Honouring 1916, Building the Republic – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD announces a nationwide programme of over 200 Easter Rising commemorations and calls on people across Ireland to attend events marking 1916 and pursue a united, equal Republic. Her release names housing, cost of living and partition as unfinished issues.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Honouring 1916, Building the Republic – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Review clearly shows an urgent need to tackle underlying and unacceptable behaviours within the PSNI – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Justice Minister to urgently change regulations to speed up and improve PSNI disciplinary processes, following Rachel Langdale's review finding sexism, misogyny and a flawed misconduct process.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Rachel Langdale review of PSNI sexism and misogyny findings Original release: Review clearly shows an urgent need to tackle underlying and unacceptable behaviours within the PSNI – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: No justification for Lurgan PSNI station attack
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath MLA says there can be no justification for the hijacking of a delivery driver forced to carry an explosive device to Lurgan Police Station. He condemns the attack, which the New IRA has reportedly claimed, and urges the group to stop and let people live in…
Justice and policing Issue: Lurgan proxy bomb hijacking and security alert Original release: McGrath: No justification for Lurgan PSNI station attack (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú says the government should adopt an All‑Ireland inclusion strategy and a shared North‑South definition of disability, and work harder to boost employment for disabled people, following the ESRI report on island‑wide disability rates.
Disability and equality Issue: ESRI report on disability rates across the island Original release: All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (opens in a new tab)
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Frew tables amendment to Boost Support and Reduce Reoffending
North Antrim DUP MLA and Justice Committee Chair Paul Frew tables a Justice Bill amendment to prevent prisoners and young detainees being released on a Friday or before a public or bank holiday, saying the extra days are needed to secure accommodation, mental‑health, substance‑misuse and financial ‑
Justice and policing Issue: Justice Bill amendment to stop Friday releases Original release: Frew tables amendment to Boost Support and Reduce Reoffending (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Working Class Communities Paying Price for New Era of Austerity
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns what he calls calculated austerity, saying Westminster's 64% cut to community support funding will cost around 400 sector jobs and 11,000 people employment support. He calls on the Executive to find £15.8 million to keep services running.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: £15.8 million cut to Community and Voluntary Sector funding Original release: Carroll: Working Class Communities Paying Price for New Era of Austerity (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Patients still waiting far too long for cancer treatment
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says latest cancer waiting time statistics show only 29.5% starting treatment within the 62-day target, and criticises the Health Minister's claims of progress and the use of £73.5 million of cancer capacity funding to offset a department…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Latest cancer waiting time statistics for 62-day treatment target Original release: McGrath: Patients still waiting far too long for cancer treatment (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls for intervention following Langdale findings
The SDLP calls on The Executive Office to deliver a coordinated response to the Langdale report's findings on violence against women and girls, proposing an independently chaired taskforce of TEO, the PSNI and women's sector representatives. Claire Hanna urges the DoJ and PSNI to act on failings…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Langdale report findings on violence against women and girls Original release: SDLP calls for intervention following Langdale findings (opens in a new tab)