Latest releases
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46 releases
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Ferguson calls for action after supporters across the North blocked from FAI Cup final
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson congratulates Derry City on their FAI Cup victory but criticises RTÉ for again geo-blocking viewers in the North from watching the final. She calls on RTÉ to ensure supporters there are not excluded from major sporting occasions.
Other Original release: Ferguson calls for action after supporters across the North blocked from FAI Cup finalArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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 Areas of Natural Constraint Bill would shift farm payments from lowland producers to large landowners, as the Assembly Agriculture Committee moves to deliberation. She says no extra funding exists, so money would…
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…Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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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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 make the carbon footprinting project mandatory for the Farm Sustainability Payment, arguing it would cut payments for non-participating farms without funding in place.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveenArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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 does not cover customs or tariffs. He criticises Whitehall's handling of the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and EU AI Act provisions in Northern Ireland, and calls for the Stormont Brake to be used.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern IrelandArchived 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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Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong calls for investment in rural fire services after farm fire costs rose 73% in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025 statistics release Original release: Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UKArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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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Sinn Féin to target three Assembly seats in North Belfast
Sinn Féin announces its three candidates for the next Assembly election in North Belfast: MLAs Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín, and councillor Maighréad Ní Chonghaile. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald says the party aims to win all three seats in the May election.
Other Original release: Sinn Féin to target three Assembly seats in North Belfast
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Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken welcomes the draft UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on food checks, but warns that Northern Ireland will stay split from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade divergence.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from goneArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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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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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Michelle O’Neill pays tribute to Ciara Mageean
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill offers condolences to the family of athlete Ciara Mageean, who has died after a battle with cancer, praising her sporting achievements and character.
Other Original release: Michelle O’Neill pays tribute to Ciara Mageean
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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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Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
Alliance Party announces that Andrew Muir and Connie Egan have been selected as its candidates for the North Down Assembly constituency, with both citing their records and calling for a reformed Stormont ahead of next May's election.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
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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 farm families unchanged, with no amendment to the Family Farm Tax and a red diesel duty cut that ends in July next year. She also criticises the halving of Business Asset Disposal Relief and the expansion of…
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
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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