Latest releases
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83 releases
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Sodexo Workers Win In Full After 50 Days On Strike
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll congratulates Sodexo workers at Erskine House on winning all their demands, including restored hours, back pay for lost hours and no changes to job roles, after more than 50 days of strike action.
Economy and employment Issue: Sodexo strike at Erskine House ends with workers' demands met Original release: Sodexo Workers Win In Full After 50 Days On StrikeArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Unionist Leaders and Inter-Trade UK Business Association urge the Secretary of State to stop EU Regulation 2026/2108 deepening the Irish Sea customs border
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA, TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP and ITUKBA chair Peter Summerton call on the Secretary of State to apply the Stormont Brake and halt EU Regulation 2026/2108, saying it deepens the Irish Sea customs border, adds bureaucracy and harms GB‑NI trade.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: Unionist Leaders and Inter-Trade UK Business Association urge the Secretary of State to stop EU Regulation 2026/2108 deepening the Irish Sea customs borderArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its Job
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes any UK Budget support for Northern Ireland households facing rising energy and bill costs, but says the Executive must agree its own Budget and move away from short-term crisis management. She calls for recognition of home heating oil users and rural communities.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its JobArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O’Toole MLA calls for firm delivery commitments after the Belfast section of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 was published, saying the proposals are aspirational but lack budget and clear timelines, and urging the Minister to ensure pedestrianisation, safeguard the‑dis
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitmentsArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the Chancellor to use the 2026 Budget to fund extra Home Heating Oil Support, an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit and extend Rural Fuel Duty Relief, and to pledge a ten‑year partnership investing in infrastructure, housing and skills to build a stronger
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget request for household support and infrastructure investment Original release: Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's futureArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes UK-EU decisions confirmed ahead of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 10 November, under which 'not at risk' parcels moving to Northern Ireland consumers would avoid new EU handling fees. He says uncertainty remains over how the EU AI Act applies under the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
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Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but says it does not cover customs or tariffs. He criticises Whitehall's handling of the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and EU AI Act provisions in Northern Ireland, and calls for the Stormont Brake to be used.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
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Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong calls for investment in rural fire services after farm fire costs rose 73% in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025 statistics release Original release: Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UKArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken welcomes the draft UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on food checks, but warns that Northern Ireland will stay split from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade divergence.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
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Allen welcomes opening of new Harland & Wolff fabrication hall
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the opening of Harland & Wolff’s new Resurgent Hall, saying the £100 million investment creates over 900 skilled jobs and apprenticeships, supports Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and boosts Belfast’s shipbuilding future, and urges more work for local workers.
Economy and employment Issue: Harland & Wolff £100 million investment announcement Original release: Allen welcomes opening of new Harland & Wolff fabrication hall
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Carroll: DUP Will Pocket the Wage and Wreck the Work
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll responds to a DUP statement on its continued engagement in the Executive, saying the party will keep ministerial salaries while using the Petition of Concern to obstruct Assembly business. He cites the age of criminal responsibility, the Good Jobs Bill and…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Stormont brake request on MLA wages and ministerial cars Original release: Carroll: DUP Will Pocket the Wage and Wreck the Work
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You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty
Ul Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows says the DUP's choice to exclude Northern Ireland from tomorrow's Glasgow Economic Forum harms NI's economy and the Union, urging another executive minister— such as Health Minister Robbie Butler—to attend instead.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP's decision to exclude Northern Ireland from Economic Forum in Glasgow Original release: You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty
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Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong criticises Labour's Family Farm Tax and red diesel changes. She says these policies are causing stress and financial difficulties for farmers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Labour's Family Farm Tax implementation and red diesel duty changes Original release: Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
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Swann responds to Budget
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes £7.5 million for cyber and AI research in Belfast and £1 million for a Northern Ireland Investment Summit, but says the Budget's £270 million Barnett consequentials are spread over four years and fall short. He calls for clarity on allocation this financial year and…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Swann responds to Budget
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SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
The SDLP backs a bid for a third year of the Fleadh Cheoil in Belfast, saying the festival showcased the city’s culture, attracted 1.6 million visitors and delivered strong economic, social and civic benefits, and welcomes the council’s move to develop a strong bid.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
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O'Toole: DUP/SF mudslinging distracting from Christmas pay scandal
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says a bitter DUP and Sinn Féin exchange at the Executive Office Committee distracted from civil service pay, after the Department of Finance confirmed no pay deal can reach Christmas wages without an Executive Budget.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont brake request on Budget agreement Original release: O'Toole: DUP/SF mudslinging distracting from Christmas pay scandal
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McGrath Welcomes Significant Upgrades to Royal County Down
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath welcomes the planned upgrade of the Royal County Down championship course, saying it is a very positive step for Newcastle and could eventually help bring the Open Championship to the Mournes area.
Economy and employment Issue: Royal County Down golf course upgrade Original release: McGrath Welcomes Significant Upgrades to Royal County Down
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Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan urges the Taoiseach, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Infrastructure to consider Shared Island Funding to move forward the long‑delayed A2 Buncrana Road widening scheme, calling the cross‑border route vital for regional connectivity and safety.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A2 Buncrana Road Widening Scheme delay Original release: Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project
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Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood backs home carers ahead of a Unison-organised public meeting in Derry, and calls on Stormont to deliver the promised real living wage and help carers with rising fuel costs.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures
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Harkin: FinTrU Redundancy Process Must be Restarted
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls for the redundancy process at FinTrU in Derry to be restarted, backing the Financial Services Union's demand and requesting a meeting with management. He says Derry staff are treated differently from Belfast workers and claims public money is funding…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: FinTrU proposed redundancies at Derry site Original release: Harkin: FinTrU Redundancy Process Must be Restarted