Latest releases
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263 releases
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Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urging the UK Government to intervene over proposed BBC Northern Ireland cuts to Irish-language services, including a reported halving of its Irish-language unit staffing.
Disability and equality Issue: BBC NI Irish-language services proposed cuts announcement Original release: Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts (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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McGlone: BBC Cuts Demand Scrutiny
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone seeks an urgent meeting with BBC Northern Ireland leadership over reported job losses and restructuring, wanting clarity on effects for staff, local output and Irish language services. He also plans talks with Foras na Gaeilge.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: BBC Northern Ireland job losses and restructuring plans Original release: McGlone: BBC Cuts Demand Scrutiny (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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Armstrong: Biomethane consultation must deliver what the Assembly already voted for
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the Biomethane Strategy consultation, six months after an Assembly motion she says called for one, and sets out three tests the strategy must meet. These include a stable, inflation-proofed support mechanism, planning and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Biomethane Strategy consultation launch Original release: Armstrong: Biomethane consultation must deliver what the Assembly already voted for (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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Armstrong marks International Day of Rural Women with call for action on women in farming
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA asks DAERA what progress it has made since the Breaking the Grass Ceiling report on women in agriculture, four years on. She calls for recognition of women's farm work, support for women without legal stake in family farms, and rural service provision.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Armstrong marks International Day of Rural Women with call for action on women in farming (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation
SDLP Opposition challenges the Executive over delayed racial equality legislation after record race hate incidents and crimes in 2025/26, and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain the delay. Its Black History Month Opposition Day motion also recognised black communities.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Executive delay to racial equality legislation following record race hate figures Original release: SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation (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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Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7%
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA challenges the Agriculture Minister over Belfast Telegraph remarks that about 7% of farmers produce around 70% of phosphorus, and his warning about herd size. She calls for support for the 90% of farmers doing the right thing and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Agriculture Minister's phosphorus remarks and herd size warning in Belfast Telegraph interview Original release: Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7% (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 14 October 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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McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid says personal abuse aimed at female public representatives, both online and in person, has to end. She says challenging misogyny must apply even to politicians whose views one opposes, and that such abuse deters people from entering public life.
Disability and equality Original release: McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop (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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Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Herron, to refer two rape sentences to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, arguing a three-year custodial term is inadequate. He also asks whether deportation notices have been issued against both men.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Unduly lenient rape sentences referral request to Director of Public Prosecutions Original release: Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says farmers went a year without capital investment support after DAERA delays, and calls for clarity on when larger farm investment support will open. She says the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme opened only in…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA farm capital investment support letters of offer figures Original release: Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes the Education Minister’s move to permit girls to wear trousers in school uniform, calling the U‑turn overdue, demanding an explanation for the delay and urging consistent rollout across all schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows
UUP leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes new guidance giving girls the option to wear trousers as part of school uniform, calling it a common-sense outcome. He says the Education Minister should have acted earlier through uniform guidance rather than forcing the Education…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Minister's change of heart delivers common sense choice for girls, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence
UUP Agriculture and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA, during Rural Crime Week, highlights barriers facing rural domestic abuse victims, including distance from refuges and farm ownership issues, and asks the Justice Minister to check whether rural victims get equal refuge and…
Justice and policing Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA responds to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Croke Park climate speech, calling for Northern Ireland's climate targets to be reviewed and revised, citing Climate Change Committee advice on an 82% reduction and Scotland's move to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir Environment Ireland Conference climate action speech Original release: Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Diana Armstrong is new AERA committee chair
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, says she will chair the Assembly's agriculture and environment committee, replacing Robbie Butler, and pledges to hold the Department to account on farm affordability, bovine TB, mental health and the Dilapidation Bill.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Diana Armstrong appointed chair of AERA committee Original release: Diana Armstrong is new AERA committee chair (opens in a new tab)
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Butler urges new Secretary of State to champion Northern Ireland's role in UK food and energy security
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler urges the incoming Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant, to champion Northern Ireland's farming and agri-food sector, citing its economic weight, rural reliance and role in UK food exports. He also calls for faster investment in anaerobic digestion and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant's meeting with Northern Ireland delegation in Hillsborough Original release: Butler urges new Secretary of State to champion Northern Ireland's role in UK food and energy security (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows calls for Executive awareness campaign on Clare's Law
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister to launch a large‑scale public awareness campaign about Clare’s Law and to publicise support services for domestic‑abuse victims.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Clare’s Law public awareness campaign request Original release: Burrows calls for Executive awareness campaign on Clare's Law (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Reform's attack on Irish shows what a Farage future means for the North
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA condemns a Reform UK move to restrict election publications to English or Welsh, which he says would expose Irish-language campaigners to criminal sanctions. He calls the proposal absurd and offensive and says it shows Reform neither understands…
Disability and equality Issue: Reform UK Westminster amendment restricting election material to English or Welsh Original release: McGlone: Reform's attack on Irish shows what a Farage future means for the North (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: We must challenge misogyny and racism wherever we see it
SDLP Leader and MP for Belfast South and Mid Down Claire Hanna condemns misogynistic and racist graffiti in the Sandy Row area, including messages supporting Dominique Pelicot and abuse aimed at Gisèle Pelicot. She urges people not to dismiss it as harmless.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Sandy Row misogynistic and racist graffiti condemned Original release: Hanna: We must challenge misogyny and racism wherever we see it (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for focus on hate crime legislation
SDLP Opposition Justice Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA calls on the Executive and Justice Minister to focus on hate crime legislation after a racist display atop a Moygashel bonfire. He says he has pushed for social media to be an aggravating factor in the upcoming Sentencing Bill.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Racist images and signage on Moygashel bonfire Original release: McGlone calls for focus on hate crime legislation (opens in a new tab)