Latest releases
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3,441 releases
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Maghie welcomes further expansion of kerb side glass recycling services.
Alliance Ormiston Councillor Jenna Maghie welcomes Belfast City Council's decision to extend kerbside glass recycling to over 6,000 more homes in Greater Belfast, with collections due to begin by March 2025. She says Alliance proposed the extra funding and pledges to push for citywide expansion.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council kerbside glass recycling expansion decision Original release: Maghie welcomes further expansion of kerb side glass recycling services. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan criticises Executive attempt to dodge responsibility on winter fuel payments
SDLP Opposition MLA Mark H Durkan condemns the Executive's decision to limit winter fuel support for pensioner households, accusing Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of failing to offer an alternative and of avoiding responsibility by blaming Westminster.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Executive winter fuel payment limitation for pensioners Original release: Durkan criticises Executive attempt to dodge responsibility on winter fuel payments (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP MPs oppose cuts to Winter Fuel Payments
SDLP MPs have opposed the planned cut to Winter Fuel Payments at Westminster, warning it risks pushing pensioners into fuel poverty. Claire Hanna MP calls on the Communities Minister to reconsider and urges other Executive parties to state their position.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Winter Fuel Allowance cut Commons vote Original release: SDLP MPs oppose cuts to Winter Fuel Payments (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will keep pressure on Labour over Winter Fuel cut
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says his party will keep pressing the UK Government to reverse the Winter Fuel Allowance cut ahead of a Commons vote on Tuesday. He accuses Labour of imposing the cut on pensioners without consulting the devolved regions, and says DUP peers will seek to block it in the Lords.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Winter Fuel Allowance cut Commons vote Original release: DUP will keep pressure on Labour over Winter Fuel cut (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time to end austerity and invest in public services, says Tennyson
Alliance Finance spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA urges the UK Government to abandon austerity and reprioritise investment, ahead of an Alliance Assembly motion on the issue. He also calls on the Finance Minister to produce an overdue Sustainability Plan with a new funding formula.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on austerity and public service funding Original release: It’s time to end austerity and invest in public services, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Long outlines proposed hate crime legislative provisions
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long sets out hate crime measures she plans to introduce before the mandate ends, including a statutory aggravation model in a Sentencing Bill and enhanced victim protections in a Victims Bill. She says a standalone Hate Crime Bill is not feasible given the reduced…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Justice Minister's written statement on hate crime legislation Original release: Long outlines proposed hate crime legislative provisions (opens in a new tab)
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PfG short on clear commitments: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the draft Programme for Government contains few specific targets, citing no clear waiting list reduction target and no measures on Lough Neagh or Special Educational Needs backlogs. He calls for binding targets.
Health Issue: Draft Programme for Government launch Original release: PfG short on clear commitments: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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United Against Racism Holds Successful Public Forum
People Before Profit says a Dublin forum of United Against Racism, attended by around 150 people, heard speakers on far-right attacks on people of colour, deprivation on Dublin's Northside, and anti-Islamophobia campaigning. Workshops covered unions, countering the far right and social media.
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: United Against Racism Holds Successful Public Forum (opens in a new tab)
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Renewed call for Baby Loss Certificates to be introduced in Northern…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart renews her call for baby loss certificates to be introduced in Northern Ireland, following a Westminster Hall debate and an online petition. She urges the Health Minister to prioritise an optional scheme, which she says would align with England's rollout.
Health Issue: Westminster Hall debate on baby loss certificates Original release: Renewed call for Baby Loss Certificates to be introduced in Northern… (opens in a new tab)
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TB and critical industry issues on agenda for DUP and UFU
DUP MP Carla Lockhart and MLA Michelle McIlveen, after meeting the Ulster Farmers' Union, call for Stormont and DAERA to implement the bTB eradication strategy outlined by former minister Edwin Poots, and for urgent action on the freeze on farm building planning applications.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: TB and critical industry issues on agenda for DUP and UFU (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds welcomes opening of Belfast Grand Central Station
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA welcomes the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station, saying it will boost the regional economy and help tackle climate change. He calls for sustained investment in public transport.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast Grand Central Station opening Original release: McReynolds welcomes opening of Belfast Grand Central Station (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges Executive to prioritise poverty
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan calls on the Executive to prioritise support for people in poverty after a Trussell Trust survey found almost four in ten Universal Credit recipients in the North ran out of food. He criticises the absence of poverty from the Programme for…
Social security and welfare Original release: McCrossan urges Executive to prioritise poverty (opens in a new tab)
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TUV calls for public inquiry into cervical cancer in the Southern Trust
TUV chairman and Cusher Councillor Keith Ratcliffe calls for a statutory public inquiry into cervical cancer screening in the Southern Trust, after meeting the Health Minister with the Ladies with Letters group. He says questions put to the trust about the RC Path report went unanswered.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical cancer screening RC Path consulting report Original release: TUV calls for public inquiry into cervical cancer in the Southern Trust (opens in a new tab)
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Services will suffer until Mental Health Strategy taken seriously
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan for 2024-25 lacks ambition, with few concrete actions set out, and says services such as ADHD and autism assessment are under strain. She will urge the Health Minister and Department to prioritise the strategy at…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan 2024-25 publication Original release: Services will suffer until Mental Health Strategy taken seriously (opens in a new tab)
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Allister welcomes PSNI climb down on LGBT training
TUV MP Jim Allister welcomes the PSNI's reversal of planned LGBT-only training for promotion examinations, and asks why the plan was permitted and whether the Equality Commission or the PSNI first raised the issue. He says the episode should end special treatment for the LGBT Network.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI LGBT Network promotion exam revision support email Original release: Allister welcomes PSNI climb down on LGBT training (opens in a new tab)
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Progress welcome but still long way to go in embracing renewable energy, says Honeyford.
Alliance energy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA welcomes 46% renewable electricity in the Department for the Economy's consumption and generation report but says progress has practically stopped. He calls for urgent planning reform to stop investment being lost to delays.
Environment and climate Issue: Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation of Northern Ireland report 2024 Original release: Progress welcome but still long way to go in embracing renewable energy, says Honeyford. (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood calls for further investment in blood cancer treatment, following Blood Cancer UK’s report
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls for further investment in blood cancer treatment after Blood Cancer UK's Action Plan report, urging better facilities, workforce and patient support across the UK. She also says she has asked the current and former Health Ministers for a regional blood cancer and…
Health Issue: Blood Cancer UK Action Plan report on blood cancer survival Original release: Eastwood calls for further investment in blood cancer treatment, following Blood Cancer UK’s report (opens in a new tab)
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Public still none the wiser on Executive plans after staged press conference: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the Executive has still not published clear Programme for Government plans or targets after a staged press conference on outline aspirations. He calls for specific targets, actions and timescales, including on reducing waiting lists.
Health Issue: Executive Programme for Government outline aspirations press conference Original release: Public still none the wiser on Executive plans after staged press conference: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Answers needed on firefighter pension delays: Brownlee
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee says questions need answering about delays to NI Fire & Rescue Service pension increases for former firefighters. She has tabled questions to the Health Minister asking what the "technical issues" are, where they lie, and for a clear timeframe for resolution.
Social security and welfare Issue: NIFRS firefighter pension increase payment delays Original release: Answers needed on firefighter pension delays: Brownlee (opens in a new tab)
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Protection of Triple-lock key to pension uplift – Wilson
DUP MP Sammy Wilson welcomes Treasury projections of a state pension rise of over £400 next year, credited to the triple-lock, which the DUP says it secured through its Confidence and Supply deal. He also urges the Government to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments for all pensioners.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Treasury projection of state pension rise under triple-lock Original release: Protection of Triple-lock key to pension uplift – Wilson (opens in a new tab)