Latest releases
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22 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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Milestone of Shame: 50,000 on Housing Waiting List
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says 50,000 families on the social housing waiting list, over 33,000 of them officially homeless, should shame Stormont ministers. He calls for rent controls, a ban on no-fault evictions, a funded social house-building programme and empty homes brought back…
Housing Original release: Milestone of Shame: 50,000 on Housing Waiting List (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns a Housing Executive eviction in west Belfast, where masked men carried out the removal of a family under PSNI presence. He says the Housing Executive's succession policy has left families homeless after bereavements and blames Stormont for not…
Housing Original release: Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction (opens in a new tab)
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No Water Levy on Struggling Households – Make the Developers Pay
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll rejects an additional levy on households to fund water infrastructure, calling instead for the Executive to fund repairs and for housing developers to contribute, criticising Sinn Féin's voluntary developer contributions scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Original release: No Water Levy on Struggling Households – Make the Developers Pay (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister Can't Be Trusted on Extent of Defective Block in Derry
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of dismissing a wider defective block problem in the North too readily, and says the Derry and Strabane council area's full extent remains unknown. He calls for assurances of government support for potentially…
Housing Local government Original release: Communities Minister Can't Be Trusted on Extent of Defective Block in Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Toothless Voluntary Contributions Scheme Lets Developers Off the Hook
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll criticises the Finance Minister's voluntary developer contributions scheme as toothless, arguing it lets developers off the hook while about 50,000 families wait for social housing blocked by infrastructure shortfalls. He calls for profitable property…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Original release: Toothless Voluntary Contributions Scheme Lets Developers Off the Hook (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party leader warns against SDLP populism to unpick the Climate Act
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the SDLP of populism over its call to unpick the Climate Act 2022 to fund a road project. He says the SDLP voted to split climate targets and backed Going for Growth, and calls for the money to fund A5 road safety and a Portadown to Derry rail line instead.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Original release: Green Party leader warns against SDLP populism to unpick the Climate Act (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party leader responds to NI exec's climate action plan
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara says the Executive's climate action plan is late and lacks ambition, particularly on agriculture and transport, and urges the Minister to act on ICCC recommendations and the All-Island Rail Review.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Green Party leader responds to NI exec's climate action plan (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party calls for Communities minister to resign
Green Party Councillor for Botanic Áine Groogan calls for Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to resign, accusing him of stirring division after an earlier social media post about a Larne community centre housing people who had been intimidated from their homes.
Housing Local government Original release: Green Party calls for Communities minister to resign (opens in a new tab)
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Executive’s Housing Budget Fails Northern Ireland’s Most Vulnerable
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall condemns the Executive for cutting the social housing budget, saying the Department for Communities cannot meet basic commitments and must cut new social homes. She calls on the Executive to review its priorities.
Housing Public finance and taxation Original release: Executive’s Housing Budget Fails Northern Ireland’s Most Vulnerable (opens in a new tab)
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Cruel, Punishing Budget Won’t Deliver for Working Class People
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the 2025/26 Budget, which he voted against, is another year of crisis management, citing homelessness, toxic algae in Lough Neagh and health waiting lists. He calls for mitigations to Westminster social security cuts and the two-child limit and for…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland 2025/26 Budget vote Original release: Cruel, Punishing Budget Won’t Deliver for Working Class People (opens in a new tab)
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Overdue Programme for Government Shows Executive Out Of Touch
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the final Programme for Government is vague and lacks detail on delivery, and calls for a People's Housing Bill, a no-fault eviction ban and rent control to tackle homelessness.
Housing Issue: Final Programme for Government publication Original release: Overdue Programme for Government Shows Executive Out Of Touch (opens in a new tab)
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New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara says Sinn Féin lacks ambition on public transport and criticises the Infrastructure Minister's reason for not extending the Glider to Glengormley, citing congestion. Cllr Aine Groogan calls the decision short-sighted and says there is no plan to extend the Glider to…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: New Infrastructure Minister has fallen at the first hurdle - Green Party (opens in a new tab)
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Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth criticises DFI Minister John O'Dowd's decision to allow private taxis in Belfast bus lanes, calling it desperate and warning it puts cyclists at risk and confuses drivers. He calls for a walking, cycling and public transport-focused transport strategy.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party NI Leader Senator Mal O’Hara furious over homelessness figures in Northern Ireland
Green Party NI leader Senator Mal O'Hara says the executive parties have overseen a rising homelessness figure, now 58,238 people with homeless status per recent Assembly figures, and criticises the executive for failing to address root causes such as social housing investment and private rented…
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Infrastructure Ministers pilot scheme "raises safety concerns for cyclists" - Cllr Flynn
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn criticises Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's pilot allowing some taxis into bus lanes, saying it endangers cyclists without a funded cycle network and does little to ease Belfast city-centre congestion. He says the Belfast cycle network plan has been awaited for…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Infrastructure Ministers pilot scheme "raises safety concerns for cyclists" - Cllr Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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MIPIM conference "Belfast is not for sale" - Cllr Groogan
Green Party Cllr Aine Groogan says the Green proposal that Belfast City Council not send a delegation to MIPIM, the Cannes real estate fair, was voted down by Sinn Féin, the DUP, Alliance, UUP and TUV. She criticises attending the event and calls for the money to be spent on housing instead.
Housing Local government Original release: MIPIM conference "Belfast is not for sale" - Cllr Groogan (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods slams changes to Affordable Warmth Scheme
Green Party NI councillor Rachel Woods, for Holywood and Clandeboye, criticises the decision to cut the Affordable Warmth Scheme without replacements and the removal of councils' eligibility assessment role from September. She calls for a fuel poverty strategy and tighter building regulations.
Housing Local government Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams changes to Affordable Warmth Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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O’neill: People Before Profit Won’t Be Silent In Face Of Drastic Tory Cuts
PBP councillor Maeve O'Neill, for The Moor in Derry, says Tory budget cuts will hit local households hard and accuses Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance of voting with the DUP against PBP motions on rent freezes and a hardship grant. She vows continued opposition to Tory, Stormont and council cuts.
Public finance and taxation Local government Original release: O’neill: People Before Profit Won’t Be Silent In Face Of Drastic Tory Cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Housing Executive Hike Another Decision In The Wrong Direction
People Before Profit Ballyarnett representative Damien Doherty criticises the Housing Executive's 7% rent increase, citing other recent price rises and the Housing Executive's reserves. He accuses Sinn Féin of hypocrisy over its criticism, given its council votes on rates, and calls for central…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Housing Executive 7% rent increase decision February 2023 Original release: Doherty: Housing Executive Hike Another Decision In The Wrong Direction (opens in a new tab)