Latest releases
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357 releases
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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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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP writes to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, urging targeted help for households facing high energy and bills, including extra money for the home heating oil scheme and an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit. She also proposes a ten-year investment partnership on…
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 future (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
Alliance Belfast Councillor Michael Long welcomes Belfast City Council's endorsement of an Alliance proposal to have council officers meet the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee before next year's Fleadh. The move follows disability groups' concerns about this year's event.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fleadh 2026 accessibility concerns and proposals Original release: Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 UK (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!
Aontú calls on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's sub-committee to halt and reject the proposed sale of public land for a data centre expansion at the Coleraine campus. It argues the project lacks an updated Local Development Plan and demands transparency, public consultation and full…
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Coleraine data centre expansion proposal Original release: CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA expresses concern at Trussell figures showing 21% of people in Northern Ireland reported their household ran out of food in the last year, and calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward an funded Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont poverty statistics release Original release: Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
Aontú's Liam Reichenberg, representing Slieve Gullion, says residents of Radius sheltered accommodation in Crossmaglen and Keady have been excluded from the £100 heating oil voucher. He is calling on the minister and department to urgently review the eligibility criteria.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Home Heating Oil Support Scheme voucher eligibility criteria review Original release: Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping
Alliance housing spokesperson and All‑Party Group on Homelessness Chair Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Minister for Communities to fund measures that will save homeless lives, urging coordinated, long‑term solutions after the Prime Minister’s rough‑sleeping summit.
Housing Issue: Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping Original release: Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says he has written to the Taoiseach, the Transport Minister and the Infrastructure Minister urging them to explore Shared Island funding for the A2 Buncrana Road widening scheme. He criticises repeated delays and says the project should be treated as cross-border.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A2 Buncrana Road Widening Scheme delay Original release: Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: DUP Incitement of Sectarian Tensions Must be Challenged
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says sectarian attacks on young people in Belfast must be condemned, and accuses the DUP of inflaming sectarian and racist tensions to deflect from its political crisis, linking this to Stormont cuts and housing failures.
Community relations and legacy Economy and employment Original release: Harkin: DUP Incitement of Sectarian Tensions Must be Challenged (opens in a new tab)
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Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the planning system is holding back growth, citing provisional statistics for April to June 2026 showing over 30% of live applications open for more than a year. He calls for a comprehensive reform programme, including mandatory…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Planning system statistics and business concerns Original release: Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP selects Gerard McDonald as Assembly Candidate for West Belfast
SDLP announces the selection of Gerard McDonald as its candidate for West Belfast at the next Assembly election, with Leader Claire Hanna MP welcoming the choice. McDonald says the Executive has failed to deliver on housing, cost of living and promised change.
Other Housing Original release: SDLP selects Gerard McDonald as Assembly Candidate for West Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says he will vote against the Education Minister's amendments to the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at Further Consideration Stage and back the Education Committee's amendments, so payments are never below a school dinner's cost.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes landmark A5 decision
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes the Court of Appeal ruling on the A5 road and urges the Department and Executive to start construction immediately. He cites more than fifty road deaths since 2006 as the reason for urgency and pays tribute to campaigners.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: McCrossan welcomes landmark A5 decision (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)
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SDLP proposes “no regrets” actions to enhance all-island cooperation
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the Irish Government to fast-track all-island economic integration in its upcoming 2027 spending plans, seeking more Shared Island Fund investment and an All-Island Economic Task Force. She warns that Stormont's lack of budgets is creating uncertainty for public…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: SDLP proposes “no regrets” actions to enhance all-island cooperation (opens in a new tab)
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Free School Meals Is Common-Sense That Stormont Refuses to Implement Cllr Shaun Harkin
PBP Cllr Shaun Harkin pledges support for UNISON's campaign for universal free school meals, urging Stormont to implement the policy and arguing that child poverty in Derry shows the need for it.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: Free School Meals Is Common-Sense That Stormont Refuses to Implement Cllr Shaun Harkin (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP selects Pete Byrne for Newry and Armagh
The SDLP announces that Councillor Pete Byrne has been selected by party members to contest Newry and Armagh at the 2027 Assembly election. Byrne pledges to champion fighting for Daisy Hill, local businesses and infrastructure, and Leader Claire Hanna praises his experience.
Other Local government Original release: SDLP selects Pete Byrne for Newry and Armagh (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: A5 must be delivered as the cost of failure is too high
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says the A5 must be delivered ahead of a judgment due on 6 October, citing road safety deaths, economic harm and delays. He blames the Sinn Féin/DUP-led Executive for incompetence and dysfunction and calls for the Department to get the project right.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: McCrossan: A5 must be delivered as the cost of failure is too high (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.