Latest releases
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272 releases
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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 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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O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Belfast section of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 is long on aspiration and short on firm delivery commitments, questioning how the north-south Glider will be funded without an agreed budget. He also raises concerns about cuts to cycling…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 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 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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Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7%
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA challenges the Agriculture Minister over Belfast Telegraph remarks that about 7% of farmers produce around 70% of phosphorus, and his warning about herd size. She calls for support for the 90% of farmers doing the right thing and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7% (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 14 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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At £200m the A5 is a Catalogue of Failures - Erskine and Buchanan
DUP MLAs Deborah Erskine and Tom Buchanan say the Court of Appeal's decision overturning the A5 ruling is a milestone and call on the Infrastructure Minister to explain its impact on delivery and set a realistic timetable. They claim £200 million has been spent with no new road built and urge fair…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: At £200m the A5 is a Catalogue of Failures - Erskine and Buchanan (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: A5 farmers to be paid 2024 prices for land taken in 2026
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture spokesperson Diana Armstrong says A5 route farmers are being shortchanged, as the Infrastructure Minister confirmed land taken for the scheme will be valued at November 2024 prices. She calls for the valuation law to be changed and asks what discretion exists over…
Agriculture and rural affairs Infrastructure and transport Original release: Armstrong: A5 farmers to be paid 2024 prices for land taken in 2026 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must act on empty homes
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing to tackle empty homes, citing Finance Minister figures of 22,817 vacant properties as of 30 June 2026 and calling for concrete action as homelessness rises.
Housing Original release: Durkan: Executive must act on empty homes (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: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says farmers went a year without capital investment support after DAERA delays, and calls for clarity on when larger farm investment support will open. She says the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme opened only in…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Armstrong: A year lost, and still nothing for the big investments farmers need (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive parties' failure to deliver the Programme for Government pledge to prevent homelessness is a betrayal of 65,000 people, after the Communities Minister confirmed the First Minister refused to table a paper prioritising homelessness prevention funding.
Housing Original release: Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention (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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Carroll Brings Toxic Lough Neagh Water into Assembly Chamber: "Would any MLA Take a Sip?"
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll brought a jar of algae-contaminated Lough Neagh water into the Assembly chamber, challenging Executive ministers over the lough's pollution crisis and accusing the DUP of stoking sectarian tension around Drumcree. He also promotes a clean-water march at…
Environment and climate Original release: Carroll Brings Toxic Lough Neagh Water into Assembly Chamber: "Would any MLA Take a Sip?" (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s attempt to take credit action on homelessness shows just how little he has delivered – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, says the DUP Communities Minister's claim to credit for homelessness action shows how little he has delivered, after Gordon Lyons announced a Homelessness Commission. He says current homelessness laws need reform and points to his…
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Government spinning asylum figures to fit its narrative on EU Migration Pact – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD accuses the Government of manipulating migration numbers to back its EU Migration Pact stance, arguing Minister Colm Brophy's claim that falling applications prove the pact works does not hold up. He calls for IPAS accommodation profiteering to end and for an all-Ireland…
Immigration International affairs Original release: Government spinning asylum figures to fit its narrative on EU Migration Pact – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive housing failures destroying the dream of homeownership
SDLP Opposition Housing Spokesperson Mark H Durkan warns that homeownership is slipping out of reach for young people, especially in the North West, and calls on the Executive to reform planning, address wastewater constraints and set a legal duty to cooperate on homelessness prevention.
Housing Economy and employment Original release: Durkan: Executive housing failures destroying the dream of homeownership (opens in a new tab)
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Stewart: It's not the flag on the lamppost, it's whether the lamppost works
UUP Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA says the party will vote against the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill at Second Stage, arguing it forces the Department for Infrastructure to judge cultural symbols instead of fixing roads, street lighting and drainage.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Stewart: It's not the flag on the lamppost, it's whether the lamppost works (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA responds to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Croke Park climate speech, calling for Northern Ireland's climate targets to be reviewed and revised, citing Climate Change Committee advice on an 82% reduction and Scotland's move to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 October 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Blair denounces failure of leadership from UFU
Alliance AERA spokesperson John Blair MLA dismisses the Ulster Farmers' Union's no-confidence vote in Minister Muir and DAERA officials as a stunt, saying it pre-empts an independent review into the Fivemiletown operation.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Blair denounces failure of leadership from UFU (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein should stop blaming 1609 for A5 failure
West Tyrone DUP MLA Tom Buchanan says Sinn Fein's claim that the Plantation of Ulster caused A5 delays is an attempt to avoid responsibility. He blames net zero targets and the Department's handling of landowners and compulsory purchase, and asks whether the First Minister agrees with Francie…
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Sinn Fein should stop blaming 1609 for A5 failure (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin's double standards on illegal banners exposed
UUP Councillor Victor Warrington accuses Sinn Féin councillors of hypocrisy after they voted down his proposal to send the Infrastructure Minister photographic evidence of an Easter commemoration banner on a DfI road sign in Erne West. He calls for the Minister to receive the evidence and state…
Community relations and legacy Local government Original release: Sinn Féin's double standards on illegal banners exposed (opens in a new tab)