Latest releases
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492 releases
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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)
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Lucy's Law without the register is only half the job - McIlveen
DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen says a register of puppy and kitten sellers, dropped from Lucy's Law regulations before Stormont's Agriculture Committee, is a planning failure by the Department. She calls on the Minister for a firm timetable and resources for councils.
Agriculture and rural affairs Local government Issue: Lucy's Law regulations register of puppy and kitten sellers deferred Original release: Lucy's Law without the register is only half the job - McIlveen (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: DUP Veto on Irish-Medium Bill is Sectarian Attack on Children and Workers
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns the DUP’s use of a Petition of Concern to stop the Irish‑medium Education Workforce Plan Bill, calling the veto a sectarian attack on children and workers and urging the petition be abolished.
Education Community relations and legacy Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: Carroll: DUP Veto on Irish-Medium Bill is Sectarian Attack on Children and Workers (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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A shambles from start to finish and a damning indictment of DAERA
UUP Deputy Leader and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong says the Blake review of DAERA exposes contradictions and communication failures in the handling of the operation to cull cattle in the fields. She questions why animals were shot after a stop order, why Site 2 was not searched…
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Fivemiletown cattle cull independent review findings Original release: A shambles from start to finish and a damning indictment of DAERA (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Fivemiletown review exposes serious failings at the heart of DAERA -…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says the independent review of the Fivemiletown cattle cull confirms DAERA got it badly wrong, citing missing written policy, unrecorded ear tags and cattle loose on a road. She calls on Minister Andrew Muir to address the Assembly, accept all findings and set a timetable…
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Fivemiletown cattle cull independent review findings Original release: Fivemiletown review exposes serious failings at the heart of DAERA -… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the DUP's Petition of Concern against an Assembly bill on Irish-medium education punishes children and schools. He calls for reform of Stormont so no single party can block progress.
Education Disability and equality Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson (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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Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan slams the DUP's plan to veto his Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill via a petition of concern, saying it would harm children learning through Irish. He calls on the DUP to abandon the move and let the Assembly vote, describing the opposition as anti-Irish bigotry.
Education Disability and equality Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to…
DUP agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA warns that Sinn Féin's proposed ANC legislation would shift funding from lowland dairy, cereal and beef and sheep producers to large landowners in disadvantaged areas, and calls for Sinn Féin to identify extra money.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Fein ANC Bill proposal Original release: Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -…
DUP MLA Pam Cameron says a Committee for Communities survey shows 93.55% of 1,379 respondents opposed the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill, and calls on the Alliance Party to heed the public and halt the Bill. She argues prosecutors flagged vague harm thresholds and reach into family…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Alliance Conversion Practices Bill Original release: Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 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 Issue: Carbon Footprinting Project farm payment regulations before Agriculture Committee 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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Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but says it leaves customs and tariffs in Northern Ireland. He criticises Whitehall for ignoring the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and calls for the Stormont Brake to be applied, and says applying parts of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Proposed UK-EU SPS agreement and Union Customs Code parcel handling fee Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Budget leaves the Family Farm Tax unchanged and sets a cliff edge on red diesel from July next year. She welcomes fertiliser and kerosene tariff suspensions but calls for index-linking of the agriculture budget.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Labour's Family Farm Tax implementation and red diesel duty changes Original release: Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again (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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SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation
SDLP Opposition challenges the Executive over delayed racial equality legislation after record race hate incidents and crimes in 2025/26, and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain the delay. Its Black History Month Opposition Day motion also recognised black communities.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Executive delay to racial equality legislation following record race hate figures Original release: SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation (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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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 Issue: Agriculture Minister's phosphorus remarks and herd size warning in Belfast Telegraph interview 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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No plans to help families threatened over drug debts, a year after Executive report
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says rural families threatened over drug debts are waiting in vain after the Justice Minister confirmed no dedicated reporting route is planned. She criticises the response to a year-old Executive report on drug-related…
Justice and policing Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Justice Minister's response on drug-related intimidation reporting route Original release: No plans to help families threatened over drug debts, a year after Executive report (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine challenges First Minister Michelle O'Neill to condemn abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA, contrasting her refusal with John O'Dowd's condemnation and urging her to tell those responsible to stop.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA Original release: If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 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 Issue: Court of Appeal ruling overturning A5 road judgment Original release: At £200m the A5 is a Catalogue of Failures - Erskine and Buchanan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance arrogance shows contempt for farming community - Wilson
Newry and Armagh DUP MLA Gareth Wilson accuses Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir and Alliance MLAs of leaving the Assembly during the DUP's no confidence motion against the Minister, calling it a display of arrogance toward farmers. He also criticises Sinn Fein for largely emptying its benches.
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP no confidence motion in Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir Original release: Alliance arrogance shows contempt for farming community - Wilson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)