14/08/2025
Executive Leaders Meet Chancellor To Outline Priorities
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Finance Minister John O'Dowd today met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her first official visit to Northern Ireland.
The leaders outlined the Executive's priorities and the importance of investing in public services to drive economic growth and public sector transformation.
Speaking after the meeting, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the conversation was "constructive," and she had outlined the Executive's plans for economic growth, including the new Office of AI and Digital. She highlighted Northern Ireland's potential in the AI, cyber, and RegTech sectors and discussed how the Executive can work with the UK Government to make the region "globally competitive."
The deputy First Minister also raised a number of other key issues, including the impact of a high VAT rate on the hospitality sector and the "detrimental impact" that Inheritance Tax changes will have on the farming community and agri-food sector.
Finance Minister John O'Dowd said the Executive is focused on positive change, citing a recent Spending Review agreement which will deliver an additional £600 million for public services as a result of negotiations with the Treasury. He stressed to the Chancellor the importance of increased investment to stimulate the local economy and the need for a full fiscal framework to give the Executive the financial tools to deliver sustainable public services.
The leaders outlined the Executive's priorities and the importance of investing in public services to drive economic growth and public sector transformation.
The deputy First Minister also raised a number of other key issues, including the impact of a high VAT rate on the hospitality sector and the "detrimental impact" that Inheritance Tax changes will have on the farming community and agri-food sector.
Finance Minister John O'Dowd said the Executive is focused on positive change, citing a recent Spending Review agreement which will deliver an additional £600 million for public services as a result of negotiations with the Treasury. He stressed to the Chancellor the importance of increased investment to stimulate the local economy and the need for a full fiscal framework to give the Executive the financial tools to deliver sustainable public services.
Latest Northern Ireland News
14 August 2025
PSNI And SBNI Launch Campaign To Tackle Online Child Abuse
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) have launched a new social media campaign to raise awareness of the dangers children face online.
PSNI And SBNI Launch Campaign To Tackle Online Child Abuse
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) have launched a new social media campaign to raise awareness of the dangers children face online.
14 August 2025
Cookstown Man Jailed For 13 Years For Child Abuse
A 31-year-old man from Cookstown has been sentenced to 13 years in custody for a number of child sexual abuse offences. The offences, which occurred between 2017 and September 2021, included sexual assault of a child under 13, common assault, rape of a child under 13, and possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.
Cookstown Man Jailed For 13 Years For Child Abuse
A 31-year-old man from Cookstown has been sentenced to 13 years in custody for a number of child sexual abuse offences. The offences, which occurred between 2017 and September 2021, included sexual assault of a child under 13, common assault, rape of a child under 13, and possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.
14 August 2025
Northern Ireland Sees UK's Only Job Creation In July
Northern Ireland saw a solid increase in employment in July, making it the only area of the UK to record job creation, according to the latest Ulster Bank Regional Growth Tracker. The headline Business Activity Index, which measures the combined output of the private sector, rose to 49.
Northern Ireland Sees UK's Only Job Creation In July
Northern Ireland saw a solid increase in employment in July, making it the only area of the UK to record job creation, according to the latest Ulster Bank Regional Growth Tracker. The headline Business Activity Index, which measures the combined output of the private sector, rose to 49.
14 August 2025
Traffic And Travel Advice Ahead Of M3 Lagan Bridge Closure
The M3 Lagan Bridge will be closed on the westbound carriageway for essential maintenance this weekend. The closure will be in effect from 9pm on Friday, 15 August, until 6am on Monday, 18 August 2025.
Traffic And Travel Advice Ahead Of M3 Lagan Bridge Closure
The M3 Lagan Bridge will be closed on the westbound carriageway for essential maintenance this weekend. The closure will be in effect from 9pm on Friday, 15 August, until 6am on Monday, 18 August 2025.
14 August 2025
Invest NI Provides Over £8m For Mid Ulster Businesses
Invest Northern Ireland has offered over £8 million of financial support to 179 businesses in the Mid Ulster area between April 2024 and April 2025.
Invest NI Provides Over £8m For Mid Ulster Businesses
Invest Northern Ireland has offered over £8 million of financial support to 179 businesses in the Mid Ulster area between April 2024 and April 2025.
14 August 2025
Police Seize £500,000 In Cannabis And Arrest Five Men
Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch have carried out searches of five addresses and arrested five men in a coordinated day of action on Wednesday, 13 August. The five males, aged 33, 34, 38, 41, and 43, were arrested for a variety of offences, including the cultivation of cannabis, and all remain in custody at this time.
Police Seize £500,000 In Cannabis And Arrest Five Men
Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch have carried out searches of five addresses and arrested five men in a coordinated day of action on Wednesday, 13 August. The five males, aged 33, 34, 38, 41, and 43, were arrested for a variety of offences, including the cultivation of cannabis, and all remain in custody at this time.
14 August 2025
Executive Leaders Meet Chancellor To Outline Priorities
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Finance Minister John O'Dowd today met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her first official visit to Northern Ireland. The leaders outlined the Executive's priorities and the importance of investing in public services to drive economic growth and public sector transformation.
Executive Leaders Meet Chancellor To Outline Priorities
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Finance Minister John O'Dowd today met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her first official visit to Northern Ireland. The leaders outlined the Executive's priorities and the importance of investing in public services to drive economic growth and public sector transformation.
14 August 2025
Alliance Raise Issue Of 'Wasted' Wind Energy
Alliance Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she is "astounded" that £94 million worth of excess wind energy was wasted in Quarters 1 and 2 of 2025. According to information published by SONI, 306,197MWh of wind energy, which is enough to heat 102 million water tanks, was wasted this year.
Alliance Raise Issue Of 'Wasted' Wind Energy
Alliance Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she is "astounded" that £94 million worth of excess wind energy was wasted in Quarters 1 and 2 of 2025. According to information published by SONI, 306,197MWh of wind energy, which is enough to heat 102 million water tanks, was wasted this year.
14 August 2025
Features To Look For When Picking An Online Casino
Online casinos have become one of the most popular forms of digital entertainment in the UK, offering an exciting mix of games, rewards, and accessibility. With hundreds of platforms now available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.
Features To Look For When Picking An Online Casino
Online casinos have become one of the most popular forms of digital entertainment in the UK, offering an exciting mix of games, rewards, and accessibility. With hundreds of platforms now available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.
14 August 2025
Other News In Brief
MLA Urges Vigilance After West Belfast Burglaries Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has urged people in west Belfast to be vigilant following a number of attempted burglaries, including one this morning where a man armed with knives entered several properties in Mount Eagles.
Other News In Brief
MLA Urges Vigilance After West Belfast Burglaries Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has urged people in west Belfast to be vigilant following a number of attempted burglaries, including one this morning where a man armed with knives entered several properties in Mount Eagles.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.