Latest releases
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39 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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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 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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Carroll Brings Toxic Lough Neagh Water into Assembly Chamber: "Would any MLA Take a Sip?"
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll brought a jar of algae-contaminated Lough Neagh water into the Assembly chamber, challenging Executive ministers over the lough's pollution crisis and accusing the DUP of stoking sectarian tension around Drumcree. He also promotes a clean-water march at…
Environment and climate Original release: Carroll Brings Toxic Lough Neagh Water into Assembly Chamber: "Would any MLA Take a Sip?" (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn criticises Northern Ireland being left behind as plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, saying NIE Networks' G98/NI changes were promised to run in parallel. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to explain the delay and say when households here…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: plug-in solar launch in Great Britain Original release: Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain (opens in a new tab)
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for the car dumped in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, such as a battery leaching heavy metals. They also demand written confirmation that the river will be clear next summer, and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On (opens in a new tab)
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Clacton Must Reject Farage’s Establishment Politics of Hate for Good
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll responds to Nigel Farage's resignation as MP for Clacton, which triggers a by-election, calling him a grifter and corrupt establishment figure. He urges Clacton voters to reject his politics of hate and division, and Reform and Restore Britain.
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BP's Obscene Record Profits Based on War, Environmental Destruction and Poverty
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says BP's $3.2bn first quarter profits are obscene price-gouging during the cost of living crisis, and calls for fuel and energy price caps plus significantly higher taxes on the company's profits. He also calls for nationalisation of energy companies to…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Original release: BP's Obscene Record Profits Based on War, Environmental Destruction and Poverty (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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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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North Down Councillors blast DUP and UUP over climate hypocracy
Green Party councillors Barry McKee and Lauren Kendall accuse the DUP and UUP of contradiction after Ards and North Down Borough Council approved its Climate Action Plan while also seeking a rethink of statutory emissions goals, which they say risks delaying progress.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Drumcree Parades Commission ruling Original release: North Down Councillors blast DUP and UUP over climate hypocracy (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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Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the parties behind Lough Neagh's decline of selling off public land for profit, citing seven new mineral licences granted in the West under a 1969 law despite over 2,000 objections. He also criticises Alliance and Environment Minister Andrew Muir for failing…
Environment and climate Original release: Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit (opens in a new tab)
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Greens welcome vote to create Climate Commissioner role
Green Party NI Leader Mal O'Hara welcomes the Assembly's vote to establish a Climate Commissioner, which he says would scrutinise the Executive's environmental record, and criticises the five Executive parties' approach to Lough Neagh and environmental protection.
Environment and climate Original release: Greens welcome vote to create Climate Commissioner role (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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OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth says the new Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report condemns the Stormont Executive, warning that current agri‑industry practices are unsustainable, polluting land, rivers and air, and urging urgent nutrient cuts, habitat recovery
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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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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OEP findings "depressing and concerning" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth, for Lisnasharragh, says the Office for Environmental Protection's findings that water quality laws are not being implemented properly are depressing and concerning. He accuses the Stormont Executive of giving persistent polluters a free pass and says it may have…
Environment and climate Original release: OEP findings "depressing and concerning" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Labour's first King's speech lacks ambition to be bold - Senator O'Hara
Green Party NI leader Senator Mal O'Hara says the King's speech lacks the bold action needed on the NHS, public services, and the climate and nature emergencies. He welcomes the planned scrapping of the Legacy Act but says there is no commitment on votes at 16, AI regulation, or banning extraction.
Environment and climate Original release: Labour's first King's speech lacks ambition to be bold - Senator O'Hara (opens in a new tab)