Latest releases
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53 releases
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Reilly Secures Council Backing for Action on Economic Abuse
SDLP Waterside Councillor Martin Reilly says Derry and Strabane District Council has backed his motion for stronger action on economic abuse, urging emergency financial assistance, specialist debt advice and a coordinated Executive response to remove barriers for victim‑survivors.
Justice and policing Local government Issue: Derry and Strabane District Council economic abuse motion Original release: Reilly Secures Council Backing for Action on Economic AbuseArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland calls for council officers to meet the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee to address disability groups' concerns about the 2026 Fleadh, urging more inclusive pedestrianisation and accessibility ahead of Fleadh 2027.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fleadh 2026 accessibility concerns and proposals Original release: Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
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CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!
Aontú calls on the Causeway Coast and Glens council’s Land and Property Sub‑Committee to halt the proposed sale of public land for the Coleraine AI campus data‑centre expansion, warning of massive power demand, lack of a development plan and urging full impact assessments and public consultation.
Local government Infrastructure and transport Issue: Coleraine data centre expansion proposal Original release: CCG: Don’t sell our land for an AI campus!Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to ensure Relationships and Sex Education is age‑appropriate, evidence‑based and tailored to young people’s development, after yesterday’s Assembly debate.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of an Assembly debate on the Education Committee's RSE report, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental withdrawal rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected in future reforms.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
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Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
Alliance councillor Murray says a call-in found serious concerns over transparency and fairness in Belfast City Council's £339,242 discretionary funding redirection, which DUP and Sinn Féin backed with UUP and SDLP support. He claims legal opinion validated Alliance's concerns about procedures and…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast City Council discretionary funding allocation call-in Original release: Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Paul Givan’s TransformED is steering education the wrong way, warning it would increase high‑stakes exams, cut coursework, narrow the curriculum and add pressure on teachers while ignoring academic selection, and urges the Minister to listen to ‑
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
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Belfast to bid for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Belfast City Council’s decision to launch a bid to bring the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to Belfast in 2028, praising the 2023 event’s impact and urging everyone to support the bid for another historic year.
Local government Issue: Belfast City Council bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 Original release: Belfast to bid for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2028 – Maskey
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Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the Education Minister is placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers through the TransformED reforms, ahead of an Assembly motion on the day raising concerns from teachers, principals and parents.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
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Council’s Armed Forces jobs fair ban is insulting and ridiculous
TUV West Tyrone Assembly candidate Stevan Patterson says Derry City and Strabane District Council’s decision to withdraw from any future jobs fairs involving the UK Armed Forces is ridiculous and insulting, calling the ban regressive and urging the council to allow the fair, citing recent bomb‑dis‑p
Local government Economy and employment Issue: Derry City and Strabane District Council Armed Forces jobs fair ban Original release: Council’s Armed Forces jobs fair ban is insulting and ridiculous
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Job Fairs decision is discrimination driven by narrow political…
DUP Foyle MLA Julie Middleton condemns Derry City and Strabane District Council's decision to pull backing from job fairs that include the Armed Forces, calling it divisive and discriminatory towards those who serve.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: Job Fairs decision is discrimination driven by narrow political…
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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its restriction, allowing Orange Order members to wear collarettes at the 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected…
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
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Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its ban on Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, saying his direct intervention with senior management secured the change and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
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Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra calls on Queen's University Belfast to explain its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service, which bars Orange collarettes at the 8 November service, noting such wear was previously allowed without issue.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
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Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
UUP peer Lord Empey says the recent Drumcree stand‑off has back‑fired on republicans, accusing Gerry Adams of strategic interference and Michelle O’Neill of unlawful action, and warns that sectarian attacks and rising immigration undermine a united Ireland vision.
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Garvaghy Road residents' protest against Orange Order march Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
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SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
SDLP Group Leader Séamas de Faoite backs a proposal for Belfast to bid to host a further year of the Fleadh Cheoil, citing 1.6 million visitors and the council's decision to take the bid work forward. The party also says it is exploring bringing the MTV Europe Music Awards to the city.
Economy and employment Local government Original release: SDLP Backs Bid for Third Year of Belfast Fleadh
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Harkin: FinTrU Redundancy Process Must be Restarted
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls for the redundancy process at FinTrU in Derry to be restarted, backing the Financial Services Union's demand and requesting a meeting with management. He says Derry staff are treated differently from Belfast workers and claims public money is funding…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: FinTrU proposed redundancies at Derry site Original release: Harkin: FinTrU Redundancy Process Must be Restarted
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McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid criticises Education Authority guidance telling pupils to dress warmer amid energy cost pressures, saying school budgets are overstretched and schools are being left cold heading into winter.
Education Local government Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
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SDLP selects Malachy Quinn as Assembly Candidate for Mid Ulster
The SDLP selects Councillor Malachy Quinn as its Mid Ulster candidate for the 2027 Assembly election, noting his work on Caoimhé’s Law, school‑bus safety legislation and an All‑Island Animal Cruelty Register.
Other Local government Original release: SDLP selects Malachy Quinn as Assembly Candidate for Mid Ulster
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Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds
Alliance MLA McReynolds says the planning system is holding back economic growth, citing June 2026 figures showing over 30% of live applications were over a year old and only three councils met statutory timeframes. She calls for a comprehensive reform programme with mandatory timeframes and…
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