Latest releases
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1,301 releases
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Minister must fully implement recommendations of Fivemiletown cattle cull review – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer calls on DAERA to deliver the ten recommendations of the independent external review of the Fivemiletown cattle cull in full, with independent oversight, and to rebuild trust with local residents and farmers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Fivemiletown cattle cull independent review findings Original release: Minister must fully implement recommendations of Fivemiletown cattle cull review – McAleer (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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A shambles from start to finish and a damning indictment of DAERA
UUP Deputy Leader and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong says the Blake review of DAERA exposes contradictions and communication failures in the handling of the operation to cull cattle in the fields. She questions why animals were shot after a stop order, why Site 2 was not searched…
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Fivemiletown cattle cull independent review findings Original release: A shambles from start to finish and a damning indictment of DAERA (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Fivemiletown review exposes serious failings at the heart of DAERA -…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says the independent review of the Fivemiletown cattle cull confirms DAERA got it badly wrong, citing missing written policy, unrecorded ear tags and cattle loose on a road. She calls on Minister Andrew Muir to address the Assembly, accept all findings and set a timetable…
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Fivemiletown cattle cull independent review findings Original release: Fivemiletown review exposes serious failings at the heart of DAERA -… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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We will not let drugs take hold of our rural communities
UUP Deputy Leader and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong is leading an Assembly adjournment debate on drugs and drug-related intimidation in rural communities. She calls on the Justice Minister to say what replaces the Executive drugs programme ending in March 2027.
Justice and policing Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: We will not let drugs take hold of our rural communities (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson: Minister is out of touch with the realities facing family…
DUP Newry & Armagh MLA Gareth Wilson accuses Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir of being out of touch with farmers over mandatory carbon audits, which he says would cut farm payments by 10% from May 2029 and 15% the following year. He calls for the Minister to listen to farmers and says the DUP will…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Carbon Footprinting Project farm payment regulations before Agriculture Committee Original release: Wilson: Minister is out of touch with the realities facing family… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to…
DUP agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA warns that Sinn Féin's proposed ANC legislation would shift funding from lowland dairy, cereal and beef and sheep producers to large landowners in disadvantaged areas, and calls for Sinn Féin to identify extra money.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Fein ANC Bill proposal Original release: Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP writes to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, urging targeted help for households facing high energy and bills, including extra money for the home heating oil scheme and an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit. She also proposes a ten-year investment partnership on…
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 future (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveen
DUP agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA says her party will oppose Minister Andrew Muir's plan to tie the Farm Sustainability Payment to registering for the carbon audit project. She says cuts of 10% then 15% are a penalty, the project is underfunded, and calls on the Minister to think…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Carbon Footprinting Project farm payment regulations before Agriculture Committee Original release: DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveen (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 leaves customs and tariffs in Northern Ireland. He criticises Whitehall for ignoring the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and calls for the Stormont Brake to be applied, and says applying parts of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Proposed UK-EU SPS agreement and Union Customs Code parcel handling fee Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 UK (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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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Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA expresses concern at Trussell figures showing 21% of people in Northern Ireland reported their household ran out of food in the last year, and calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward an funded Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont poverty statistics release Original release: Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 separated from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade disruption.
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
Alliance MLAs Andrew Muir and Connie Egan say they have been re‑selected to contest North Down in the 6 May 2027 Assembly election, highlighting Muir’s record on water quality, climate action and farming, and Egan’s work on ending violence against women, integrated education and a reformed Stormont.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Alliance North Down Assembly candidates selected Original release: Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates (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: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Budget leaves the Family Farm Tax unchanged and sets a cliff edge on red diesel from July next year. She welcomes fertiliser and kerosene tariff suspensions but calls for index-linking of the agriculture budget.
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 (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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Alliance representatives express concern following devastating oil contamination incident
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland and Braid Councillor Chelsea Harwood express shock over an oil contamination incident at BEWWT in Broughshane, which killed several birds including two Trumpeter swans. They pay tribute to volunteers, and Harwood urges people with knowledge of the vandalism to contact…
Environment and climate Issue: Broughshane Environment Waterfowl and Wildlife Trust oil contamination Original release: Alliance representatives express concern following devastating oil contamination incident (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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Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
Aontú's Liam Reichenberg, representing Slieve Gullion, says residents of Radius sheltered accommodation in Crossmaglen and Keady have been excluded from the £100 heating oil voucher. He is calling on the minister and department to urgently review the eligibility criteria.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Home Heating Oil Support Scheme voucher eligibility criteria review Original release: Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination (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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New Strategy must mark a turning point for nature in Northern Ireland, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the launch of the Nature Recovery Strategy, calling it a chance to turn around decades of decline. He points to 12 per cent of species facing extinction and urges other parties to back the strategy without further delay.
Environment and climate Issue: Launch of Nature Recovery Strategy Original release: New Strategy must mark a turning point for nature in Northern Ireland, says Blair (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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Swann sets out key Budget priorities
UUP MP Robin Swann sets out Budget priorities ahead of Chancellor John Healey's first Budget, calling on the Treasury to reform hospitality VAT, scrap Air Passenger Duty for Northern Ireland and give assurances on farm inheritance tax.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Budget without NI Budget Original release: Swann sets out key Budget priorities (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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Cllr Conor Reddy Condemns Dubliner Ian Hutcheson’s Arrest and Detention by Israelis in the West Bank
People Before Profit's Cllr Conor Reddy condemns the arrest and detention of Dubliner Ian Hutcheson and ten other solidarity activists in the West Bank, saying they were visiting a family in Al Buweib, not harvesting, and that Hutcheson appears set to be deported.
International affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Arrest and detention of Ian Hutcheson in the West Bank Original release: Cllr Conor Reddy Condemns Dubliner Ian Hutcheson’s Arrest and Detention by Israelis in the West Bank (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)