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Pressing issues include support for households impacted by the cost-of-living crisis

Cost of living, housing and Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme feature in first Assembly questions of the new mandate

The cost-of-living crisis, housing and an emergency fuel payment scheme: these are just some of the most pressing issues covered in the first written Assembly questions for Stormont’s caretaker ministers.

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Rosalind Skillen Opinion Green Party forged a path for others to follow, now the conversation must go on

This year has been hugely significant for the climate movement in Northern Ireland and other parts of the globe.

Celebration: A beaming Michelle O’Neill (right) and Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Fein arrive at the count in the Titanic Centre in Belfast yesterday. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA

NI election results: Seismic day for our political landscape as Sinn Fein tops poll

Sinn Fein is set to romp home far ahead of the DUP in the Assembly election with Michelle O’Neill becoming First Minister if a new Executive is formed.

TUV leader Jim Allister (Brian Lawless/PA)

Andrew Madden Opinion Election briefing: The most inquisitive candidate is revealed, as Naomi Long hopes for another earthquake

The most inquisitive Assembly candidate?

Hot work: Crews battle a gorse fire in the Mournes above Newcastle. Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Stormont criticised for ‘inadequate response’ after 3,820 wildfires in two years

Firefighters have tackled almost 4,000 gorse fires in the last two years.

Way forward: Welsh Deputy minister for social services Julie Morgan high-fives a child in celebration of the new law banning the physical punishment of children. Credit: Welsh Government

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Fionola Meredith Opinion Why there’s no such thing as giving kids a ‘loving smack’

Could we please stop hitting the kids? Scotland has banned smacking. The Welsh have just done the same. So why is it still acceptable in Northern Ireland? It’s outrageous that adults are protected from assault by the law, yet children — who are, by definition, the smallest, the most defenceless and the most vulnerable people in society — do not enjoy the same basic protections.

Extreme weather: Workmen removing cars from the River Faughan after flooding in 2017. Credit: Kelvin Boyes/Presseye

Stormont department criticised for building Derry park-and-ride which breaches planning rules

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has been strongly criticised for building a second park-and-ride facility on the outskirts of Londonderry in breach of planning conditions.

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Women’s Aid calls for tougher sanctions after reports of numerous PSNI officers subject to non-molestation orders

Women’s Aid has called on the PSNI to implement stiffer sanctions and better vetting procedures to ensure members of the public are protected against police officers suspected of being abusers.

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons rules out financial support to help people working from home

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has ruled out providing financial support for those facing increased costs as a result of working from home (WFH) due to the pandemic.

A minibus arriving at Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre. Credit: Liam McBurney/Razorpix

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Concern as 200 young offenders are referred for mental health care

More than 200 young offenders in Northern Ireland have been referred to mental health services in the last three years, according to new figures.

Sugden’s anger as Stormont crisis endangers mental health court plan

A former Justice Minister has hit out after it emerged the political crisis at Stormont could scupper proposals to establish a dedicated mental health court here.

New domestic abuse legislation ‘will save lives’, says Green Party MLA

Green Party MLA Rachel Woods has welcomed the commencement of key elements of the Domestic Abuse Act which came into force on Monday.

Maghaberry Prison. Credit: Michael Cooper

Four in 10 jail inmates in Northern Ireland have not had their day in court

Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of prisoners on remand in these islands.

Rachel Woods, Green Party MLA and member of the Justice Committee

Cuts to Stormont’s justice budget could lead to ‘legal aid deserts’ in parts of Northern Ireland, MLAs to be told

Cuts to Stormont’s justice budget could lead to “legal aid deserts” in parts of Northern Ireland, MLAs will be told today.

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Politicians question Invest NI handing out £1.6m to fossil fuel extraction firms

The public will be “rightly concerned” that £1.61m has been provided to 21 businesses for fossil fuel and mineral extraction in Northern Ireland in the last five years by Invest NI, it has been warned.

PSNI is facing severe funding pressures. (Stock image)

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Questions raised after Justice Department returns £47m to Finance Department as PSNI faces budget shortfall

Concerns have been raised after it emerged that Stormont’s Department of Justice (DoJ) handed back more than £47m since the beginning of the last financial year.

Most children start school in the September after their fourth birthday. Credit: monkeybusinessimages

NI school starting age law change moves a step closer

A change in legislation to allow more flexibility over when children start primary school has moved a step closer after the Department of Education revealed an overwhelmingly positive response to a consultation on the proposal.

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‘No Executive agreement’ on raising age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland

Moves to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland appear to be thwarted for now after Justice Minister Naomi Long said Executive support for the proposals "has not be forthcoming".

The wastewater treatment works at Whitehouse

Revealed: 7 million tonnes of raw sewage dumped into Northern Ireland seas and rivers every year

More than seven million tonnes of raw sewage is being dumped into Northern Ireland’s seas and rivers every year, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

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Strategy to tackle violence against women needed now, says Green Party MLA Rachel Woods

A strategy for dealing with violence against women and girls needs introduced “as a matter of urgency” an MLA has said, after it emerged that Northern Ireland has one of the highest rates of femicide in Europe.

Young voices: Green Party MLA Rachel Woods with participants Nicole Parkinson-Kelly, Shannon Turley, Ethan Redmond, Rachel Marcus, Eoin Millar, Adam Parkinson-Kelly and John Marcus

Pupils want to be heard over mental health issues

Pupils should be allowed to access mental health support in schools in private and confidentially, according to young people taking part in the first of a series of Have Your Say Days.

Revealed: £190m cost of air pollution to NI health service and new diseases it will cause

Air pollution is set to cost the Northern Ireland health service up to £190m by 2025, it has emerged.

Belfast Crown Court. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

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MLAs call for debt collection unit as unpaid court fines rise by almost £5m

More than £16m in fines handed down by Northern Ireland's courts remained unpaid last year.

The PSNI works to combat these gangs through the Organised Crime Taskforce. Stock image

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Concern as PSNI warns 73 organised crime groups currently operating here

There are more than 70 organised crime groups (OCGs) currently operating in Northern Ireland, according to the PSNI.

The PPS received 1,568 files relating to an alleged sexual offence in the 12 months to April. File image posed by model

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PPS under fire after just eight out of over 600 rape cases end in court conviction

Just eight people have been convicted of rape in Northern Ireland in the past year despite the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) receiving files linked to more than 600 suspects.

Green Party MLA Rachel Woods said many more cases go unreported

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3,000 domestic violence guilty verdicts ‘the tip of the iceberg’

There have been more than 3,000 convictions in court relating to domestic violence in the last three years, it has emerged.

There have been over 3,000 convictions relating to domestic violence in NI in the last three years. Stock image posed by model

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Viewpoint Opinion Root out domestic violence cowards

That there have been over 3,000 convictions relating to domestic violence in Northern Ireland in the last three years sounds like it might be something to be happy about.

‘A lack of leadership shown’ by flying to climate summit

The First and Deputy First Ministers have been criticised for not showing leadership after flying to and from the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow.

Concerns have been raised over lengthy waits in the court system

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Concern as defendants in NI waiting over two years for court cases to be heard

More than 1,300 people facing prosecution for alleged crimes in Northern Ireland are waiting more than two years for their first court date, according to “unacceptable” new figures.

Worried: Rachel Woods of the Green Party

Concerns raised over amount of time that prisoners spent in isolation units

More than 500 inmates in Northern Ireland's prisons had to be isolated from other prisoners last year for their own safety and that of others.