Latest releases
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924 releases
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O'Toole: First Minister's party cannot shirk blame for failing workers over pay
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole says Executive parties cannot keep avoiding responsibility for failing to agree a Budget with the British Government, which he claims is blocking pay rises for nurses, teachers and other public sector workers before Christmas.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive failure to agree Budget with British Government delaying public sector pay Original release: O'Toole: First Minister's party cannot shirk blame for failing workers over pay (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: DUP Veto on Irish-Medium Bill is Sectarian Attack on Children and Workers
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns the DUP’s use of a Petition of Concern to stop the Irish‑medium Education Workforce Plan Bill, calling the veto a sectarian attack on children and workers and urging the petition be abolished.
Education Community relations and legacy Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: Carroll: DUP Veto on Irish-Medium Bill is Sectarian Attack on Children and Workers (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the DUP's Petition of Concern against an Assembly bill on Irish-medium education punishes children and schools. He calls for reform of Stormont so no single party can block progress.
Education Disability and equality Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan slams the DUP's plan to veto his Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill via a petition of concern, saying it would harm children learning through Irish. He calls on the DUP to abandon the move and let the Assembly vote, describing the opposition as anti-Irish bigotry.
Education Disability and equality Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill (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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Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -…
DUP MLA Pam Cameron says a Committee for Communities survey shows 93.55% of 1,379 respondents opposed the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill, and calls on the Alliance Party to heed the public and halt the Bill. She argues prosecutors flagged vague harm thresholds and reach into family…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Alliance Conversion Practices Bill Original release: Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 stop relying on short-term crisis fixes. She calls for a clear long-term plan for families and businesses.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British government budget and Executive funding for Northern Ireland Original release: Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its Job (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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Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Micky Murray says legal opinion backed his party's call-in over a £339,242 discretionary funding redirection by the DUP and Sinn Féin. He claims procedures were not properly followed, including a proposal to ring-fence funds for bilingual street signs before other…
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 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)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (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, Strangford MLA, says the Education Minister's TransformED reforms are adding unsustainable workload for teachers during an industrial dispute, and calls for them not to be rushed ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue.
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)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA criticises the DUP's decision to withdraw from joint engagements with the First Minister, including a UK-wide Economic Forum chaired by the Prime Minister, arguing it harms people amid no agreed budget and public sector pay disputes.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP's decision to exclude Northern Ireland from Economic Forum in Glasgow Original release: DUP putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson (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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UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says it is a shameful indictment that Northern Ireland has no budget ahead of the UK Budget during a cost-of-living crisis. She warns public services are on the brink and calls for a UK Budget with practical support to tackle business costs and boost growth.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Budget without NI Budget Original release: UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood (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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McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency department waiting times statistics September Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget (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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O'Toole: DUP/SF mudslinging distracting from Christmas pay scandal
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says a bitter DUP-Sinn Féin clash at the Executive Office Committee drew attention from the Department of Finance confirmation that civil servants' pay settlement cannot reach Christmas wages because no Budget has been agreed, calling on Ministers to…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Civil service pay settlement missing Christmas wages due to no Budget Original release: O'Toole: DUP/SF mudslinging distracting from Christmas pay scandal (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 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 Issue: Education Authority "wear more clothes" energy cost advice to schools Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools (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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British government making a political choice not to properly fund the north – O’Dowd
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd says the British budget on Wednesday will not break from past approaches, arguing the Executive is underfunded because of political choices, not a lack of money. He calls for public sector pay rises and for banks and oil and gas firms' profits to be taxed.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British government budget and Executive funding for Northern Ireland Original release: British government making a political choice not to properly fund the north – O’Dowd (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Committee boycott is an affront to democratic scrutiny, says Burrows
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says the Education Minister’s decision to keep senior Department of Education officials out of the Assembly’s Education Committee undermines democratic scrutiny and urges the Committee, via Chair Nick Mathison MLA, to use its formal powers to summon the ‑
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Education Committee boycott is an affront to democratic scrutiny, says Burrows (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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Education Minister cannot simply opt out of scrutiny, says Guy
Alliance Education Spokesperson Michelle Guy says the Education Minister must stop refusing to let departmental officials, including the Permanent Secretary, attend the Education Committee. She calls the move unacceptable amid a projected overspend and unclear school funding.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Education Minister cannot simply opt out of scrutiny, says Guy (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)