Latest releases
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20 releases
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Sinn Fein’s ANC Bill would rob lowland farmers to boost payments to…
The DUP says Sinn Féin's Agricultural Natural Constraints (ANC) Bill would take money from lowland farmers to boost payments to hill farmers, though the release text provided is only a truncated headline.
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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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the Chancellor to use the 2026 Budget to fund extra Home Heating Oil Support, an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit and extend Rural Fuel Duty Relief, and to pledge a ten‑year partnership investing in infrastructure, housing and skills to build a stronger
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
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DUP will oppose carbon audit penalties on farmers – McIlveen
The party opposes carbon audit penalties on farmers. Minister McIlveen is involved.
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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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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Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance MLA Mulholland says new figures showing more than one in five people in Northern Ireland ran out of food and could not afford more in the last year should be a wake-up call for the Communities Minister. He calls for a funded, ambitious Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and measurable…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont poverty statistics release Original release: Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says MulhollandArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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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 gone
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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
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong criticises Labour's Family Farm Tax and red diesel changes. She says these policies are causing stress and financial difficulties for farmers.
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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Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
Aontú representative in Slieve Gullion Liam Reichenberg says residents of Radius sheltered accommodation in Crossmaglen and Keady have been excluded from the £100 home heating oil voucher and calls on the minister and department to urgently review the criteria.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Home Heating Oil Support Scheme voucher eligibility criteria review Original release: Reichenberg highlights oil voucher discrimination
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Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping
Alliance MLA Armstrong, the Strangford MLA, calls for interventions to support rough sleepers in Northern Ireland after a Prime Minister-hosted summit on rough sleeping, urging accommodation at scale and partnership with the voluntary sector.
Housing Social security and welfare Issue: Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping Original release: Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping
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Cllr Flynn slams agriculture minister over cattle cull
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn criticises agriculture minister Muir over DAERA's decision to destroy 51 cattle in Fivemiletown, calling for an independent review to examine alternatives and for the operational plan and welfare risk assessment to be published now.
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Cattle cull in Fivemiletown by DAERA Original release: Cllr Flynn slams agriculture minister over cattle cull
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Councillor Flynn has called for urgent action on greyhound racing in Northern Ireland
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn calls for urgent action to regulate greyhound racing in Northern Ireland after Scotland and Wales voted to ban it. He says there is no dedicated legislation, official injury data or DAERA oversight, and criticises the minister's response to a Belfast City…
Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Councillor Flynn has called for urgent action on greyhound racing in Northern Ireland
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Sinn Féin must come clean on fox hunting - Cllr Flynn
Green Party Cllr Flynn accuses Sinn Féin of defending fox hunting after its Dáil vote on 17 December, and calls on the party to state its position openly and back a ban on hunting with dogs.
Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Parades Commission ruling Original release: Sinn Féin must come clean on fox hunting - Cllr Flynn
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Harkin: Starmer Backsliding On Two-Child Policy Disproportionately Impacts Derry
PBP Cllr Shaun Harkin criticises Keir Starmer for refusing to commit to scrapping the two-child policy on benefits, arguing the policy disproportionately affects Derry and the North due to larger households with children.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Original release: Harkin: Starmer Backsliding On Two-Child Policy Disproportionately Impacts Derry
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Council Hardship Fund A Response To Westminster & Stormont Criminal Negligence
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says he is frustrated by a further delay to the Council Emergency Hardship Fund in Derry, with officers re-inviting bids for a Fuel Payment Partner to run it. He blames Westminster and Stormont for failing to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Council Emergency Hardship Fund roll-out delay Original release: Council Hardship Fund A Response To Westminster & Stormont Criminal Negligence
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DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the DfC Minister to suspend punitive debt deductions from Universal Credit and other benefits, citing a unanimous Derry and Strabane District Council motion and DfC correspondence showing no plans to act.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Derry and Strabane Council motion on suspending benefit debt deductions Original release: DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions
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Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Council Hardship Fund is a drop in the ocean and condemns the SDLP, Sinn Féin and DUP for blocking or cutting it, calling their actions hypocritical and urging additional funding to tackle the cost‑of‑living crisis.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Council Hardship Fund Original release: Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites
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A Billionaire’s Budget
People Before Profit says the Tory budget announced by Liz Truss is an anti‑working‑class plan that favours billionaires, cuts benefits and ignores the cost‑of‑living crisis, and calls for mass rallies in Belfast and Derry to oppose it.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Liz Truss 2022 budget announcement Original release: A Billionaire’s Budget
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Action Needed On Cost Of Living Crisis To Protect Women And Girls
People Before Profit Councillor Maeve O’Neill says the cost‑of‑living crisis deepens structural inequalities for women and calls for action, including investment in domestic‑violence services, education on consent and reforms to benefits, childcare and reproductive rights, as Derry and Strabane Coun
Justice and policing Economy and employment Issue: Derry and Strabane Council gender‑based violence meeting Original release: Action Needed On Cost Of Living Crisis To Protect Women And Girls