Latest releases
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48 releases
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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 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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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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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
SF MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to make Relationships and Sex Education suitable for each developmental stage, grounded in research and responsive to young people's needs, following a recent Assembly debate. She argues it helps pupils spot abuse, understand consent and challenge…
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of the Assembly debate on the Education Committee's report into RSE, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected. She asks the Education Minister to clarify withdrawal rights…
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents” (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Education Minister Paul Givan's TransformED reform plans would add exam pressure, cut coursework and narrow the curriculum, and calls on him to rethink them and stop avoiding academic selection.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the Education Minister's TransformED reforms are placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers, and is bringing a motion to the Assembly on 2 November raising concerns from teachers, principals and parents.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion (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 Original release: Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives express concern following devastating oil contamination incident
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland and Councillor Chelsea Harwood express shock and sadness after an oil spill at the Broughshane wildlife trust killed several birds, including two Trumpeter swans.
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)
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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal allowing Orange collarettes at its 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected groups before future changes.
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban (opens in a new tab)
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Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its decision to ban Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, crediting his direct intervention with senior management and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra urges Queen's University Belfast to explain why its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service bars Orange collarettes, noting they were worn at earlier services without problems. He asks the university to reconsider the restriction.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban (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)
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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)
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Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping
Alliance housing spokesperson and All‑Party Group on Homelessness Chair Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Minister for Communities to fund measures that will save homeless lives, urging coordinated, long‑term solutions after the Prime Minister’s rough‑sleeping summit.
Housing Issue: Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping Original release: Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid criticises Education Authority guidance telling pupils to dress warmer in schools amid high energy costs, linking it to cuts and crumbling school buildings. She raised the issue at a Derry City and Strabane council committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn criticises Northern Ireland being left behind as plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, saying NIE Networks' G98/NI changes were promised to run in parallel. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to explain the delay and say when households here…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: plug-in solar launch in Great Britain Original release: Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain (opens in a new tab)
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for the car dumped in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, such as a battery leaching heavy metals. They also demand written confirmation that the river will be clear next summer, and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On (opens in a new tab)
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Green councillor Anthony Flynn pledges clean water and better transport in North Down Assembly bid
Green Party NI announces Councillor Anthony Flynn as its North Down candidate for the 2027 Assembly election, pledging action on water quality, public transport, town centres, health waiting lists, animal welfare and Stormont reform.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Original release: Green councillor Anthony Flynn pledges clean water and better transport in North Down Assembly bid (opens in a new tab)
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Council must stop passing the buck on dumped car in River Lagan
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn says the response so far to a car dumped in the River Lagan in Lisburn has been unacceptable, and calls for its removal, agreed responsibility and a clean-up plan. The Greens, with Lagan Valley Greens, are running a petition.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Council must stop passing the buck on dumped car in River Lagan (opens in a new tab)
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The Department for the Economy has failed Ulster University’s staff
Green Party NI Leader Mal O’Hara says the Department for the Economy has let down Ulster University staff as up to 450 jobs are at risk, and calls for an urgent higher‑education funding settlement, a clear plan from Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and a transparent consultation with unions to避免 (
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: The Department for the Economy has failed Ulster University’s staff (opens in a new tab)