Latest releases
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71 releases
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Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says Budget 2027 must put workers and families first, setting out proposals to abolish USC on the first €40,000 and provide a €400 energy credit. She also calls on the Irish government to prepare for Irish unity and to put the Triple Lock dismantling plan to a…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Original release: Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP launches plan for food system transformation
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP launches a policy paper, Seeds of Success, proposing a legal entitlement to food, ring-fenced soft drinks levy revenue, local sourcing targets for public procurement and a healthy food subsidy pilot. It frames food insecurity as a public health and economic issue.
Agriculture and rural affairs Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Seeds of Success food systems policy paper launch Original release: SDLP launches plan for food system transformation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland’s Presidency of the EU comes at defining time for Europe and for Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD sets out three priorities for Ireland's EU Council Presidency: preparing for Irish unity, standing up for workers and farmers, and defending military neutrality and peace. She urges the Government to open talks with European partners on constitutional change.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: Ireland's EU Council Presidency commencement ceremony in Dublin Castle Original release: Ireland’s Presidency of the EU comes at defining time for Europe and for Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA introduces the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill to the Assembly, seeking to ban conversion therapy and coercive conversion behaviour in Northern Ireland with penalties of fines or up to two years in custody.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill introduced to Assembly Original release: Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ten Years On, Brexit Remains Undelivered in Northern Ireland
TUV spokesman Dr Dan Boucher marks ten years since the 2016 EU referendum, arguing Brexit remains undelivered in Northern Ireland and that the UK must leave the EU as a whole. He backs the European Union Withdrawal Alternative Arrangements Bill over the government's proposed European Partnership…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Ten Years On, Brexit Remains Undelivered in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Time to reset relationships after lost decade of Brexit, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the UK should reset its EU relations, marking ten years since the referendum, and calls for re-entry to the Single Market and Customs Union. He claims Brexit costs £90 billion a year and urges eventual rejoining.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Time to reset relationships after lost decade of Brexit, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston welcomes a Scottish Court of Session judgment ruling that prison accommodation must be segregated by biological sex, and says it should prompt reflection in Northern Ireland. He points to Rule 90 of the 1995 Prison Rules and says his Amendment 97 to the Justice Bill will be…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Court of Session ruling on prison accommodation by biological sex Original release: Gaston Amendment Backed by Fresh Court Ruling on Prison Accommodation (opens in a new tab)
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The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD says the DUP’s proposed hard border between the north and south is impossible to police, would damage the all‑Ireland economy and risk a return to Troubles‑era controls, and calls on the Irish government to open talks with the UK, pledging to raise the issue at the BI‑
Constitutional affairs Immigration Issue: DUP proposed hard border between North and South Original release: The DUP’s Proposed Hard Border between North and South is Impossible – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Baker moves bill to tackle holiday hunger
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has introduced his Bill to the Assembly to make payments to parents of around 90,000 children receiving free school meals during school holidays. He says the Bill passed its first stage and calls for cross-party work to progress it.
Social security and welfare Issue: Danny Baker bill on holiday payments for free school meal children Original release: Baker moves bill to tackle holiday hunger (opens in a new tab)
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Horrifying reports of AI-generated abuse of disabled people highlights need for regulation, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl calls for AI regulation after reports that Meta is investigating accounts sharing AI-generated sexualised content degrading disabled people. She says she will bring an amendment to the Justice Bill banning tools built to create non-consensual sexually explicit images.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Meta investigation into AI-generated sexualised content of disabled people Original release: Horrifying reports of AI-generated abuse of disabled people highlights need for regulation, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes the strongly positive response to a survey by the Education Committee on a plan guaranteeing all pupils the right to wear trousers, with about 98% in favour. She says the School Uniform Bill was a missed opportunity and calls for it to pass before next year's…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee survey on pupils' right to wear trousers Original release: Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Only through building a new Ireland will we realise our full potential – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney says only a new united Ireland can undo the damage of Brexit, ahead of an Assembly motion calling for closer alignment with EU trade rules and a joint customs union. He calls for a date to be set for a unity referendum.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly motion on closer alignment with EU trade rules Original release: Only through building a new Ireland will we realise our full potential – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an EU office in Belfast to act as a resource for businesses, citing Brexit-related trading difficulties and a recent Murphy review recommendation for a single administrative access point.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the response to her consultation on a Bill that would give legal protection to breastfeeding in public and require businesses and service providers to make premises breastfeeding-friendly. She urges councils, businesses and public facilities to display…
Disability and equality Issue: Linda Dillon breastfeeding in public Bill consultation closure Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)
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Costs faced by families in schools must be reduced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to move towards free school meals for all children, ahead of an Assembly debate on school meals. He also says he is bringing forward legislation to support families during school holidays.
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly debate on school meals Original release: Costs faced by families in schools must be reduced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
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Ending the rip-off and supporting workers and families must be top priority in this budget – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Ending the rip-off and supporting workers and families must be top priority in this budget – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has re-submitted amendments to the School Uniforms Bill to reduce family costs, proposing limits on branded items, generic alternatives, girls' right to wear trousers, support for children with additional needs, and uniform banks and swap schemes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments re-submitted in the Assembly Original release: Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Index showing Belfast and Derry among worst places to live highlights need for Regional Balance Bill
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin cites a UK Better Lives Index ranking Belfast and Derry poorly and says she is seeking to introduce a Regional Balance Bill to ensure every part of Northern Ireland gets fair investment and opportunity.
Disability and equality Issue: UK Better Lives Index ranking of Belfast and Derry Original release: McLaughlin: Index showing Belfast and Derry among worst places to live highlights need for Regional Balance Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland needs a new Economic Programme that addresses the gathering momentum for constitutional change – Caoimhe Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says Ireland needs a new Economic Programme that tackles the growing push for constitutional change, calls for citizen assemblies and a coordinated plan to harmonise tax, social security, employment law, currency and public services across the island.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Ireland needs a new Economic Programme that addresses the gathering momentum for constitutional change – Caoimhe Archibald (opens in a new tab)