NEWS

Ulster Unionist Party Leader & North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Northern Ireland’s First Minister and deputy First Minister are being urged to begin immediate civil contingency planning amid growing concern over the risk of potential fuel shortages linked to the escalating geopolitical crisis in the Middle East. Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA has written directly to Stormont’s joint leaders calling for emergency preparedness measures to be activated now, warning tha

Children in Northern Ireland are still afforded less legal protection from physical harm than adults because parents and carers can continue to rely on the defence of “reasonable punishment” , the NSPCC has warned, as pressure mounts for Stormont to amend the law through the Justice Bill. The children’s charity is urging all political parties to back an amendment currently tabled at the Northern Ireland Assembly which would remove what it describes as an outdated legal defenc

The number of babies born in Northern Ireland continued its long-running downward trend through 2025, while newly published provisional figures also point to rising three-year averages for suicide and drug-related deaths. The latest Registrar General Quarterly Report, published on Monday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), provides a detailed snapshot of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships recorded between 1 October and 31 December 202

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston Fresh questions have been raised over spending at Stormont after newly revealed documents showed the refurbishment of the Assembly’s Blue Flax canteen cost almost £200,000 more than originally budgeted, prompting sharp criticism from TUV MLA Timothy Gaston. The final bill for the renovation of the canteen at Parliament Buildings came to £530,532, according to documents obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information request. The Bl

TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston The political fallout over Northern Ireland’s special educational needs summer schemes deepened today after TUV MLA Timothy Gaston launched a blistering attack in the Assembly, accusing ministers and officials of failing some of the most vulnerable children in society. In a strongly worded address, the North Antrim MLA said the decision to cancel the schemes — before a subsequent reversal — was “not simply an administrative mis-step” but

Sainsbury’s in Ballymena Motorists across Northern Ireland have been reassured that fuel continues to be delivered as normal, despite reports over the weekend of shortages at a small number of local filling stations. The reassurance from Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald comes as drivers face a sharp rise in costs at the pumps, with new figures showing petrol and diesel prices have climbed to their highest levels in more than two years. Dr Archibald said there is no conf

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has today published the Northern Ireland’s first Aviation Policy for consultation. Pictured (L-R) are Katy Best, Chief Commercial Officer, Belfast City Airport, Dan Owens, CEO, Belfast International, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Steve Frazer, Managing Director, City of Derry Airport. A major new aviation policy designed to strengthen Northern Ireland’s global connections and drive economic growth has been launched — with ambi

L-R: Declan McAleer MLA, Deputy Chair of the AERA Committee; Robbie Butler, MLA, Chair of the AERA Committee; Kathleen McBride, CEO of Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co‑Operative Society; Michelle McIlveen MLA, AERA Committee member and Dr Janice Thompson, Committee Clerk. The scale of the crisis engulfing Lough Neagh was laid bare this week as Stormont committee members heard stark warnings from local fishers who say their industry is “dying” amid environmental decline, collapsing

Ulster Unionist Party leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA Summer schemes for children with special educational needs will now go ahead — a dramatic turnaround following days of uncertainty that left families fearing vital support had been lost. The confirmation, welcomed by Ulster Unionist Party leader and education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA , follows intense political pressure and urgent engagement between the Departments of Education and Health. For familie

Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan, and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Families of children with special educational needs have been handed renewed hope after Stormont ministers stepped in over the controversial cancellation of summer schemes. Education Minister Paul Givan has called for urgent engagement to restore provision, while Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has now voiced “extreme concern” — ordering officials to explore how schemes could still go ahead. The

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA   Fresh pressure is mounting on the Education Authority after the Ulster Unionist Party warned the cancellation of special school summer schemes raises “serious questions” — including whether the decision was justified at all. Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has criticised the move by the Education Authority (EA), describing it as “deeply alarming” for children a

Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson And North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston The sudden cancellation of special school summer schemes has sparked a political backlash, with calls to urgently recall the Northern Ireland Assembly as families face losing what many describe as a “lifeline” service. The Alliance Party has formally tabled a recall petition, aiming to force ministers back into the chamber during Easter recess to answer for a decision that has left parents scramblin

Tens of thousands of road openings carried out by utility companies each year are contributing to the deterioration of Northern Ireland’s road network, Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee has warned — raising concerns that taxpayers may be footing the bill. In a critical report, MLAs said the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) cannot currently determine how much of the growing maintenance burden is linked to utility reinstatements, nor confirm that companies are covering t

Senior health officials are being hauled back before a Stormont committee this week after what has been branded an “unacceptable” response to mounting concerns over access to GP services in Northern Ireland. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will question Department of Health officials on Thursday, 26 March, following sharp criticism that progress on fixing the struggling primary care system lacks urgency, clarity and credible delivery timelines. “Deeply disappointed” by la

A major €40million funding programme aimed at transforming communities and strengthening relationships in Mid and East Antrim, across Northern Ireland and border regions is now fully open — offering local groups a rare chance to turn ideas into real-world impact. The PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme will provide grants of up to €100,000 for grassroots initiatives designed to bring people together across communities and borders, with a strong focus on building lasting

Northern Ireland’s overall sense of wellbeing has remained steady over the past year — but beneath the surface, new figures reveal a stubborn undercurrent of anxiety and loneliness affecting thousands of people. Fresh data published recently by The Executive Office shows that while life satisfaction, happiness and feelings of purpose remain high, around one in five people continue to experience high levels of anxiety , and nearly 18% report feeling lonely at least some of the

Jim Allister MP takes to the platform at the TUV’s annual conference in Cookstown Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister has delivered a scathing and wide-ranging critique of the Northern Ireland political landscape, warning that the region is being “sleepwalked out of the United Kingdom” under the current system. In a combative conference speech, Allister targeted the Windsor Framework, Stormont’s functioning, rival unionist parties, and the UK Government—framing the

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at the Giant’s Causeway. Visitor numbers from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland surged in 2025, delivering a major boost to the local economy with spending jumping by almost a third in a single year. New figures show a 15% rise in trips from the south, alongside a striking 31% increase in visitor spending — a trend being hailed as a powerful sign of growing cross-border tourism momentum. Strong growth in trips and sp

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Leader Jon Burrows MLA, with party colleague, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA Northern Ireland must continue to show up on the global stage or risk being left behind, Ulster Unionist Leader Jon Burrows MLA has said, following what he described as a “high impact” visit to Washington DC aimed at promoting the region’s economic and strategic strengths. Representing both Northern Ireland and his party in the US capital, Burrows positioned the trip a

A major legal change aimed at protecting young people across Northern Ireland is now underway, as legislation to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 has been formally introduced at Stormont. Finance Minister John O’Dowd has brought forward the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, which will end the current provision allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent — a move he says is essential to safeguarding children and preventing harm. Stronger protections