Latest releases
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4,345 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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Reilly: Derry needs a stronger network of rapid EV charging points
SDLP Waterside Councillor Martin Reilly calls for urgent investment in rapid EV charging across Derry, citing a shortage of reliable fast chargers. He welcomes two Waterside applications in the planning system and Council's ORCS involvement, and urges the Department for Infrastructure to act.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Original release: Reilly: Derry needs a stronger network of rapid EV charging points (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA criticises a further rise in school meal costs, saying working families are bearing the impact of Executive dysfunction and the lack of a Budget. He questions the cost gap with England and calls for procurement transparency.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers face payment raid as Sinn Fein pushes ANC Bill through –…
DUP Agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA urges farmers outside disadvantaged areas to lobby their MLAs before Committee stage of the ANC Bill, claiming Sinn Fein's amendments delay but do not change plans to fund it by trimming Farm Sustainability Payments.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Fein ANC Bill proposal Original release: Farmers face payment raid as Sinn Fein pushes ANC Bill through –… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (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)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Brett: Garth Brooks Sell-Outs Highlight Importance of Protecting…
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes a third Belfast concert by Garth Brooks, citing strong ticket demand and hospitality benefits, and says protecting the Boucher Road outdoor venue must remain a priority.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Third Garth Brooks Belfast concert announcement at Boucher Road Original release: Brett: Garth Brooks Sell-Outs Highlight Importance of Protecting… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Working together for better health: Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’
Health Minister Robbie Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’, a partnership setting out four initial HSC commitments on appointments, waiting times and cancellations, plus actions the public can take, shaped by 11,000 responses.
Health Issue: ‘The Health Deal’ launch following ‘This is Our Health’ public engagement Original release: Working together for better health: Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’ (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: First Minister's party cannot shirk blame for failing workers over pay
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole says Executive parties cannot keep avoiding responsibility for failing to agree a Budget with the British Government, which he claims is blocking pay rises for nurses, teachers and other public sector workers before Christmas.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive failure to agree Budget with British Government delaying public sector pay Original release: O'Toole: First Minister's party cannot shirk blame for failing workers over pay (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Reject Racist Divide and Rule Thuggery
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin condemns racist attacks in the Waterside, saying healthcare workers, including migrants, are being targeted by thugs stirred up by billionaires and politicians. He urges people to reject divide and rule politics and unite behind a fit-for-purpose health…
Health Issue: Racist attacks on healthcare workers in the Waterside Original release: Harkin: Reject Racist Divide and Rule Thuggery (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Parents hit with 31% rise in school dinner costs in 13 months
UUP South Antrim Assembly candidate Liz Clarke urges an immediate halt to the January school dinner price rise, which follows the Education Authority's second increase in about a year, and wants the full costings behind its £5.28 per-meal figure published. She also calls for a review of the free…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Parents hit with 31% rise in school dinner costs in 13 months (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children!
Aontú calls on the Education Minister, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to halt proposed education cuts, including a further £20 million in reductions, and to reverse changes to SEN transport and school meal charges. The party also urges restoring school programme funding…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority further £20 million education cuts announcement Original release: STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan calls for improved arthritis and musculoskeletal care
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to review the entire patient pathway, improve patient communication and bring earlier intervention for arthritis and musculoskeletal care, after an Assembly motion on the issue. He cites around 550,000 people in the North living with…
Health Issue: Assembly motion on arthritis and musculoskeletal care Original release: McGuigan calls for improved arthritis and musculoskeletal care (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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GP deal welcome but patients need an end to the 8.30am lottery - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the newly agreed GP deal but says it leaves patients still struggling to book appointments, and calls on the Health Minister to set out how and when access will improve and address the funding and workforce gaps.
Health Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: GP deal welcome but patients need an end to the 8.30am lottery - Dodds (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows invites unionists to join a revitalised UUP
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA makes a "big, broad offer" inviting unionists across Northern Ireland, including elected representatives from other unionist parties, to join the Ulster Unionist Party as it builds a new leadership team. He says unionism needs change and cites Health Minister Robbie…
Other Health Original release: Burrows invites unionists to join a revitalised UUP (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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Alliance comment on announcement of new contract between GPs and Department of Health
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes the new GP contract but says the BMA's view that the offer is a drop in the ocean means it cannot cap ambition. She urges all parties to join Alliance's proposed multi-party framework for health and social care.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Alliance comment on announcement of new contract between GPs and Department of Health (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler welcomes the conclusion of GP contract negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee, including £17.384million for 2026/27 and an extra £40m over two years to improve patient access. He says NIGPC has committed to easier access and to the Neighbourhood…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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There must be zero tolerance of attacks on health workers - McGuigan - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan condemns an assault on a female paramedic in Derry by a patient at Altnagelvin Hospital, calling for intolerance of abuse and violence against health and social care staff.
Health Issue: Assault on paramedic by patient at Altnagelvin Hospital Original release: There must be zero tolerance of attacks on health workers - McGuigan - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Continuation of incredABLE adult short break services warmly welcomed – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes the withdrawal of a 'cease and desist' order on incredABLE's adult short break services in the Southern Trust area, saying the services can continue. He calls on the Department of Health to engage with stakeholders when designing new regulatory guidelines.
Health Disability and equality Issue: incredABLE adult short break services cease and desist order withdrawn Original release: Continuation of incredABLE adult short break services warmly welcomed – Hughes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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8 Years 9 Months wait for urgent dermatology appointment in Northern Trust
TUV MP Jim Allister says the Northern Trust has confirmed an 8 years 9 months wait to see a dermatologist for an urgent referral in a constituency case. He calls the situation a catastrophic failure, encloses redacted correspondence, and says he will press the Trust's chief executive on it next…
Health Issue: Northern Trust dermatology service wait times criticism Original release: 8 Years 9 Months wait for urgent dermatology appointment in Northern Trust (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)