Latest releases
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4,367 releases
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Mandatory carbon audits are finished
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Department's proposal to link carbon audits to farm payments is effectively dead, with four parties opposed. She calls for the Department to stop and listen, arguing the calculators ignore carbon stored in hedges, trees…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Carbon Footprinting Project farm payment regulations before Agriculture Committee Original release: Mandatory carbon audits are finished (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Compulsory Carbon Audits unnecessary and disproportionate – McAleer
Sinn Féin Agriculture spokesperson and West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer opposes Department proposals to make carbon audits compulsory for farmers, saying linking them to 10% to 15% cuts in Farm Sustainability Payments goes beyond the Climate Change Act and penalises smaller farmers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Carbon Footprinting Project farm payment regulations before Agriculture Committee Original release: Compulsory Carbon Audits unnecessary and disproportionate – McAleer (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Stormont Is Running Out of Road
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the Prime Minister to back urgent reform of Stormont ahead of Prime Minister's Questions, citing a Petition of Concern used to block children's education legislation and warning of collapse after the next election. She points to the SDLP's Politics for the Common…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Petition of Concern blocks Irish-medium Education Bill Original release: Hanna: Stormont Is Running Out of Road (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA criticises a further rise in school meal costs, saying working families are bearing the impact of Executive dysfunction and the lack of a Budget. He questions the cost gap with England and calls for procurement transparency.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Fine Gael unity blueprint and calls for joint action
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Fine Gael's all-island proposals, including a North-South ministerial role, a constitutional planning unit and a fund for transition costs. She calls for Government parties to co-ordinate preparation for constitutional change and says the debate must also weigh…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Fine Gael Irish reunification proposals announcement at Ard Fheis Original release: Hanna welcomes Fine Gael unity blueprint and calls for joint action (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers face payment raid as Sinn Fein pushes ANC Bill through –…
DUP Agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA urges farmers outside disadvantaged areas to lobby their MLAs before Committee stage of the ANC Bill, claiming Sinn Fein's amendments delay but do not change plans to fund it by trimming Farm Sustainability Payments.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Fein ANC Bill proposal Original release: Farmers face payment raid as Sinn Fein pushes ANC Bill through –… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna urges Prime Minister and Taoiseach to deliver Stormont reforms before Assembly election
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin to enact a set of Stormont reforms – including automatic succession of First Minister, removal of the extra Executive agenda veto, a two‑thirds majority for electing the Assembly Speaker, equalising de
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont reforms before May Assembly election Original release: Hanna urges Prime Minister and Taoiseach to deliver Stormont reforms before Assembly election (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney says EU must play a leading role in planning for Irish unity
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney calls on the Irish government to lead practical preparations for Irish unity and engage European partners, after launching a Brussels publication on the EU's role in constitutional change.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Launch of 'The EU and Irish Unity' publication in Brussels Original release: Kearney says EU must play a leading role in planning for Irish unity (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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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TUV announces Mid Ulster candidate
TUV announces Glenn Moore as its Mid Ulster candidate for the next Assembly election. Moore says Unionists there want a party they can trust, and criticises the DUP's handling of Drumcree and its choice of Michelle O'Neill over Carla Lockhart. Leader Jim Allister says the election will come down…
Constitutional affairs Original release: TUV announces Mid Ulster candidate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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EU noose tightens further
TUV leader Jim Allister says the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee has extended EU law in Northern Ireland, notably the AI Act, which he claims will further divorce NI from the UK market. He also criticises stricter EU food border demands and calls for a UK government willing to confront…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee adds EU AI Act to Windsor Framework Original release: EU noose tightens further (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin MEPs host Irish Unity Week in Brussels – Funchion and Boylan
Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan call on the Irish government to start structured engagement with European partners on practical preparations for a United Ireland, as they host Irish Unity Week in the European Parliament. They say Irish unity has been absent from European-level…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin MEPs host Irish Unity Week in Brussels – Funchion and Boylan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Parents hit with 31% rise in school dinner costs in 13 months
UUP South Antrim Assembly candidate Liz Clarke urges an immediate halt to the January school dinner price rise, which follows the Education Authority's second increase in about a year, and wants the full costings behind its £5.28 per-meal figure published. She also calls for a review of the free…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Parents hit with 31% rise in school dinner costs in 13 months (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children!
Aontú calls on the Education Minister, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to halt proposed education cuts, including a further £20 million in reductions, and to reverse changes to SEN transport and school meal charges. The party also urges restoring school programme funding…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority further £20 million education cuts announcement Original release: STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dublin should be honest about its part in the past
DUP Newry & Armagh MLA Gareth Wilson says Fine Gael's five-month blueprint, offering a forum, junior minister and further talks, does not change Northern Ireland's place in the UK, and calls on Dublin to be honest about its role in the past, particularly regarding victims of terrorism.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: Fine Gael Irish reunification proposals announcement at Ard Fheis Original release: Dublin should be honest about its part in the past (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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Alliance comment on announcement of new contract between GPs and Department of Health
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes the new GP contract but says the BMA's view that the offer is a drop in the ocean means it cannot cap ambition. She urges all parties to join Alliance's proposed multi-party framework for health and social care.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Alliance comment on announcement of new contract between GPs and Department of Health (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler welcomes the conclusion of GP contract negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee, including £17.384million for 2026/27 and an extra £40m over two years to improve patient access. He says NIGPC has committed to easier access and to the Neighbourhood…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Fine Gael proposals on Irish unity a welcome step forward – Mary Lou McDonald
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes Fine Gael's Irish unity proposals announced at its Ard Fheis and urges Tánaiste Simon Harris to engage with the Opposition, Northern parties and civil society. She calls on the Government to publish a Green Paper on reunification and establish a…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Fine Gael Irish reunification proposals announcement at Ard Fheis Original release: Fine Gael proposals on Irish unity a welcome step forward – Mary Lou McDonald (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Pulling Stormont Brake is another DUP stunt, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA calls the unionist request to trigger the Stormont Brake a cynical, self-defeating stunt that would undermine progress on an SPS agreement ahead of a UK-EU summit. He urges a full reset of the EU relationship instead.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: Pulling Stormont Brake is another DUP stunt, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)