Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Social security and welfare: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Education: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
65 releases
-
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 commitmentsArchived 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
-
Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessible
Alliance Belfast Councillor Michael Long welcomes Belfast City Council's endorsement of an Alliance proposal to have council officers meet the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee before next year's Fleadh. The move follows disability groups' concerns about this year's event.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Fleadh 2026 accessibility concerns and proposals Original release: Alliance calls for progress in making Fleadh more accessibleArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
-
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
-
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
-
Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA expresses concern at Trussell figures showing 21% of people in Northern Ireland reported their household ran out of food in the last year, and calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward an funded Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and…
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
-
Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to ensure Relationships and Sex Education is age‑appropriate, evidence‑based and tailored to young people’s development, after yesterday’s Assembly debate.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
-
BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of an Assembly debate on the Education Committee's RSE report, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental withdrawal rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected in future reforms.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
-
TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Paul Givan’s TransformED is steering education the wrong way, warning it would increase high‑stakes exams, cut coursework, narrow the curriculum and add pressure on teachers while ignoring academic selection, and urges the Minister to listen to ‑
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
-
Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the Education Minister is placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers through the TransformED reforms, ahead of an Assembly motion on the day raising concerns from teachers, principals and parents.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
-
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
-
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
-
Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal allowing Orange collarettes at its 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected groups before future changes.
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
-
Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its ban on Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, saying his direct intervention with senior management secured the change and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
-
Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra urges Queen's University Belfast to explain why its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service bars Orange collarettes, noting they were worn at earlier services without problems. He asks the university to reconsider the restriction.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
-
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
-
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
-
Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says he has written to the Taoiseach, the Transport Minister and the Infrastructure Minister urging them to explore Shared Island funding for the A2 Buncrana Road widening scheme. He criticises repeated delays and says the project should be treated as cross-border.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A2 Buncrana Road Widening Scheme delay Original release: Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project
-
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