Latest releases
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60 releases
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CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!
Aontú calls on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's sub-committee to halt and reject the proposed sale of public land for a data centre expansion at the Coleraine campus. It argues the project lacks an updated Local Development Plan and demands transparency, public consultation and full…
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Coleraine data centre expansion proposal Original release: CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath welcomes Newcastle's Bendy Tree being named UK Tree of the Year 2026 by the Woodland Trust, the first Northern Ireland tree to take the award. He has written to Newry, Mourne and Down Council asking for a permanent commemorative plaque beside it.
Environment and climate Issue: Newcastle Bendy Tree named UK Tree of the Year 2026 Original release: McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite: Belfast can do better on street waste
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite calls for the council to set a date for phasing out refuse bags left on city centre, university area and arterial street routes. He will ask the People and Communities Committee to agree a timeline, working with residents, businesses and…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: De Faoite: Belfast can do better on street waste (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP press DAERA Minister on Mobuoy Dump funding
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says the party pressed DAERA Minister Andrew Muir for a clear remediation timeline and funding for the Mobuoy Dump clean-up, after meeting him with Sinéad McLaughlin. Durkan says there is currently no funding in place and calls on the Executive to engage the UK…
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: Mobuoy Dump remediation funding meeting with DAERA Minister Original release: SDLP press DAERA Minister on Mobuoy Dump funding (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive must deal with wildfire causes
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath urges the Executive to address the root causes of wildfires after recent fires in the Mournes and elsewhere, saying previous plans lacked funding or were never implemented and calling an end to the repeated cycle.
Environment and climate Issue: Recent wildfires in the Mourne Mountains and other parts of the North Original release: McGrath: Executive must deal with wildfire causes (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Minister’s tinkering won’t solve wastewater crisis
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says Infrastructure Minister Kimmins's decision to make developer contributions to wastewater infrastructure voluntary is a piecemeal step that will not solve the wastewater crisis. He calls for mandatory contributions, which he says would help…
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Infrastructure Minister announcement on developer contributions for wastewater upgrades Original release: McNulty: Minister’s tinkering won’t solve wastewater crisis (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP proposes amendment to establish independent EPA
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says the party has tabled an amendment to an omnibus bill to create an independent environmental protection agency, citing Lough Neagh pollution and DUP blocking at Executive level. The amendment seeks an Assembly debate and vote, with the Speaker deciding whether it…
Environment and climate Issue: SDLP amendment seeking independent environmental protection agency Original release: SDLP proposes amendment to establish independent EPA (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Do nothing Executive letting Belfast Lough go same way as Lough Neagh
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive lacks any plan to tackle sewage pollution in Belfast Lough, after the Office for Environmental Protection reported spills there are damaging the environment. He calls for the Infrastructure Minister and Executive to bring forward…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough Original release: O'Toole: Do nothing Executive letting Belfast Lough go same way as Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: AERA Minister must outline plans for independent EPA
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA says the Minister must set out how he will advance an independent Environmental Protection Agency, after the DUP rejected the SDLP’s Opposition Day motion supporting the proposal.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly motion on Independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: McCrossan: AERA Minister must outline plans for independent EPA (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Report exposes shocking lack of delivery on energy and climate commitments
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA says a Audit Office report finds the Department for the Economy is lagging on its Path to Net Zero Energy strategy despite £107 million spent since 2020, citing flaws in governance, milestones and monitoring.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Audit Office report on Department for the Economy green energy strategy Original release: McLaughlin: Report exposes shocking lack of delivery on energy and climate commitments (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Minister faces uphill battle to establish independent EPA
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan says the Environment Minister faces an uphill battle to set up an independent Environmental Protection Agency, and his party will table an Opposition Day motion next week urging parties to back it. He says delays have cut the time left before the mandate ends.
Environment and climate Issue: Minister's Executive push for independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: McCrossan: Minister faces uphill battle to establish independent EPA (opens in a new tab)
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Catney: Residents concerned at proposed poultry farm
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney says residents are concerned about a proposed poultry farm for up to 32,000 hens in the Tullynacross Road area, citing traffic, smell and manure transport to Sligo. He asks who will monitor the manure transfers.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Tullynacross Road poultry farm planning application Original release: Catney: Residents concerned at proposed poultry farm (opens in a new tab)
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SF dramatic U-turn on Lough Neagh welcome: SDLP
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes Sinn Féin's reversal on the Lough Neagh Action Plan, after its MLAs joined a successful Assembly motion removing a planned Nutrients Action Programme consultation. He calls on the Executive to take meaningful action to restore the lough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Assembly motion on Lough Neagh Nutrients Action Programme consultation Original release: SF dramatic U-turn on Lough Neagh welcome: SDLP (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Toxins in Lough Neagh fish underlines need to act
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone says toxins found in some fish in Lough Neagh show action is urgently needed, warning the Food Standards Agency's safe-to-eat advice must not change. He calls for all Stormont parties to back plans to save the lough and welcomes Sinn Féin's shift after an SDLP…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Toxins found in Lough Neagh fish Original release: McGlone: Toxins in Lough Neagh fish underlines need to act (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP motion a chance for SF and DUP to rethink Lough Neagh approach
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA urges Sinn Féin, the DUP and the UUP to reverse their opposition to the Nutrients Action Programme consultation ahead of an SDLP motion on Lough Neagh pollution. He says the Executive is failing the lake and calls for a levy on large agri-food…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Assembly debate on Lough Neagh blue-green algae Original release: SDLP motion a chance for SF and DUP to rethink Lough Neagh approach (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Minister has to get A5 appeal right
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, must ensure an appeal against the court ruling that delayed the A5 project does not repeat past failures on climate targets. He criticises the timing of the appeal decision and calls for it to be the final delay.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: DfI Minister's appeal against the A5 court ruling Original release: McCrossan: Minister has to get A5 appeal right (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone urges support after eel fishing suspended
SDLP AERA spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA asks Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir for an immediate support package for businesses and seasonal workers hit by the suspension of eel fishing on Lough Neagh, which he blames on years of pollution and political inaction.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh commercial eel fishing suspended for remainder of 2025 season Original release: McGlone urges support after eel fishing suspended (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: We need to get serious about environmental crime
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says environmental crime is not being taken seriously enough after the PPS decided not to appeal sentences for two men convicted over illegal dumping at Mobuoy near Derry. He calls on the Environment Minister and Justice Minister to urgently review sentencing…
Environment and climate Justice and policing Issue: PPS decision not to appeal Mobuoy illegal dumping sentences Original release: Durkan: We need to get serious about environmental crime (opens in a new tab)
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Environment and Nature Restoration Bill Consultation Responses
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says his Private Member's Bill would set binding environmental targets for air, water, soil and biodiversity, and calls for DAERA to set long-term and interim targets that public authorities must meet. He cites high air pollution levels.
Environment and climate Issue: Environment and Nature Restoration Bill public consultation responses Original release: Environment and Nature Restoration Bill Consultation Responses (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole urges Minister Muir to step up on asbestos bonfire
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole questions why Environment Minister Andrew Muir has not intervened at a bonfire site near Meridi Street in south Belfast containing asbestos. He calls on Muir to direct the NIEA to remove the risk before the bonfire is lit this week.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Asbestos at bonfire site near Meridi Street, south Belfast Original release: O’Toole urges Minister Muir to step up on asbestos bonfire (opens in a new tab)