Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Public finance and taxation: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Immigration: remove filter
71 releases
-
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
-
Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its Job
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes any UK Budget support for Northern Ireland households facing rising energy and bill costs, but says the Executive must agree its own Budget and stop relying on short-term crisis fixes. She calls for a clear long-term plan for families and businesses.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Hanna: UK Budget Underlines Failure of Executive to Do Its JobArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
-
Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP writes to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, urging targeted help for households facing high energy and bills, including extra money for the home heating oil scheme and an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit. She also proposes a ten-year investment partnership on…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget request for household support and infrastructure investment Original release: Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's futureArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
-
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
-
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: 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
-
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
-
Call-in reveals serious concerns around transparency and fairness in council funding, says Murray
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Micky Murray says legal opinion backed his party's call-in over a £339,242 discretionary funding redirection by the DUP and Sinn Féin. He claims procedures were not properly followed, including a proposal to ring-fence funds for bilingual street signs before other…
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
-
Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces £1.95 million for endometriosis care, with £700,000 for the regional centres in the Belfast and Western Trusts and £1.25 million across all five trusts to support a new regional pathway.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
-
DUP putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA criticises the DUP's decision to withdraw from joint engagements with the First Minister, including a UK-wide Economic Forum chaired by the Prime Minister, arguing it harms people amid no agreed budget and public sector pay disputes.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP putting cynical party politics ahead of people’s livelihoods, says Tennyson
-
Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
Alliance MLAs Andrew Muir and Connie Egan say they have been re‑selected to contest North Down in the 6 May 2027 Assembly election, highlighting Muir’s record on water quality, climate action and farming, and Egan’s work on ending violence against women, integrated education and a reformed Stormont.
Other Environment and climate Original release: Andrew Muir and Connie Egan selected as Alliance North Down Assembly candidates
-
Wilson responds to Budget
DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson says the Budget offers little relief from the tax burden, criticises the lack of action on family farm tax and defence spending, and says the minimum wage rise will push costs onto employers and consumers.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Wilson responds to Budget
-
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
-
Swann responds to Budget
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes £7.5 million for cyber and AI research in Belfast and £1 million for a Northern Ireland Investment Summit, but says the Budget's £270 million Barnett consequentials are spread over four years and fall short. He calls for clarity on whether they will be allocated this…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Swann responds to Budget
-
Alliance representatives express concern following devastating oil contamination incident
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland and Ballymena Braid councillor Chelsea Harwood say they are shocked and saddened by an oil contamination at the Broughshane wildlife trust BEWWT, which killed several birds, including two Trumpeter swans.
Environment and climate Issue: Broughshane Environment Waterfowl and Wildlife Trust oil contamination Original release: Alliance representatives express concern following devastating oil contamination incident
-
UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says it is a shameful indictment that Northern Ireland has no budget ahead of the UK Budget during a cost-of-living crisis. She warns public services are on the brink and calls for a UK Budget with practical support to tackle business costs and boost growth.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Budget without NI Budget Original release: UK Budget taking place without NI Budget is a shameful indictment, says Eastwood
-
New Strategy must mark a turning point for nature in Northern Ireland, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the launch of the Nature Recovery Strategy, calling it a chance to turn around decades of decline. He points to 12 per cent of species facing extinction and urges other parties to back the strategy without further delay.
Environment and climate Issue: Launch of Nature Recovery Strategy Original release: New Strategy must mark a turning point for nature in Northern Ireland, says Blair
-
Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey says the Drumcree standoff has backfired on republicans, criticising Gerry Adams’s intervention and Sinn Féin’s involvement, and argues the dispute exposes threats to the Orange tradition and highlights demographic changes in a united Ireland.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Garvaghy Road residents' protest against Orange Order march Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
-
McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
-
O'Toole: DUP/SF mudslinging distracting from Christmas pay scandal
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says a bitter DUP-Sinn Féin clash at the Executive Office Committee drew attention from the Department of Finance confirmation that civil servants' pay settlement cannot reach Christmas wages because no Budget has been agreed, calling on Ministers to…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont brake request on Budget agreement Original release: O'Toole: DUP/SF mudslinging distracting from Christmas pay scandal
-
McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid criticises Education Authority guidance telling pupils to dress warmer in schools amid high energy costs, linking it to cuts and crumbling school buildings. She raised the issue at a Derry City and Strabane council committee.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools