Latest releases
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68 releases
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Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to…
The DUP says Sinn Féin's Agricultural Natural Constraints (ANC) Bill would take money from lowland farmers to boost payments to hill farmers, though the release text provided is only a truncated headline.
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…Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Reilly Secures Council Backing for Action on Economic Abuse
SDLP Waterside Councillor Martin Reilly says Derry and Strabane District Council has backed his motion for stronger action on economic abuse, urging emergency financial assistance, specialist debt advice and a coordinated Executive response to remove barriers for victim‑survivors.
Justice and policing Local government Issue: Derry and Strabane District Council economic abuse motion Original release: Reilly Secures Council Backing for Action on Economic AbuseArchived 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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DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveen
The party opposes carbon audit penalties on farmers. Minister McIlveen is involved.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveenArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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 IrelandArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland calls for council officers to meet the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee to address disability groups' concerns about the 2026 Fleadh, urging more inclusive pedestrianisation and accessibility ahead of Fleadh 2027.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fleadh 2026 accessibility concerns and proposals Original release: Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
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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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CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!
Aontú calls for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to reject the sale of publicly owned land for a data centre expansion in Coleraine.
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Coleraine data centre expansion proposal Original release: CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to ensure Relationships and Sex Education is age‑appropriate, evidence‑based and tailored to young people’s development, after yesterday’s Assembly debate.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of an Assembly debate on the Education Committee's RSE report, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental withdrawal rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected in future reforms.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
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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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Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
Alliance councillor Murray says a call-in found serious concerns over transparency and fairness in Belfast City Council's £339,242 discretionary funding redirection, which DUP and Sinn Féin backed with UUP and SDLP support. He claims legal opinion validated Alliance's concerns about procedures and…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast City Council discretionary funding allocation call-in Original release: Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Paul Givan’s TransformED is steering education the wrong way, warning it would increase high‑stakes exams, cut coursework, narrow the curriculum and add pressure on teachers while ignoring academic selection, and urges the Minister to listen to ‑
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
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Belfast to bid for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Belfast City Council’s decision to launch a bid to bring the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to Belfast in 2028, praising the 2023 event’s impact and urging everyone to support the bid for another historic year.
Local government Issue: Belfast City Council bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 Original release: Belfast to bid for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 – Maskey
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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 is placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers through the TransformED reforms, ahead of an Assembly motion on the day 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
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Council’s Armed Forces jobs fair ban is insulting and ridiculous
TUV West Tyrone Assembly candidate Stevan Patterson says Derry City and Strabane District Council’s decision to withdraw from any future jobs fairs involving the UK Armed Forces is ridiculous and insulting, calling the ban regressive and urging the council to allow the fair, citing recent bomb‑dis‑p
Local government Economy and employment Issue: Derry City and Strabane District Council Armed Forces jobs fair ban Original release: Council’s Armed Forces jobs fair ban is insulting and ridiculous
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Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
Alliance Party announces that Andrew Muir and Connie Egan have been selected as its candidates for the North Down Assembly constituency, with both citing their records and calling for a reformed Stormont ahead of next May's election.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
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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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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's decision to lift the ban on Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service on 8 November, saying it respects participants' identity and urging the university to consult students before future changes.
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban