tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/search/news-and-communications News and communications from Matthew Patrick MP 2026-05-14T12:47:30+01:00 HM Government tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/environment-secretary-in-northern-ireland-for-uk-eu-reset-talks 2026-05-14T12:47:30+01:00 Environment Secretary in Northern Ireland for UK–EU Reset talks Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds visits Northern Ireland to highlight how a UK-EU food and drink deal will cut red tape, lower costs and keep trade flowing. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/british-irish-intergovernmental-conference-joint-communique-30-april-2026 2026-04-30T16:13:50+01:00 British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference Joint Communiqué, 30 April 2026 A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place at Hillsborough Castle on 30 April 2026 tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/uk-and-irish-governments-to-reaffirm-security-cooperation-and-commitment-to-legacy-at-biigc 2026-04-30T00:01:02+01:00 UK and Irish Governments to reaffirm security cooperation and commitment to Legacy at BIIGC  The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) will be held today [Thursday 30 April] at Hillsborough Castle tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/northern-ireland-start-up-boost-with-new-50-million-defence-growth-deal 2026-04-22T14:31:20+01:00 Northern Ireland start-up boost with new £50 million defence growth deal Defence tech start-ups and small businesses in Northern Ireland will benefit from a £50 million investment boost launched by the UK government today, creating highly-skilled jobs and strengthening UK national security. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/connect-fund-to-award-additional-15-million-to-community-and-voluntary-groups 2026-04-17T00:01:00+01:00 Connect Fund to award additional £1.5 million to community and voluntary groups Northern Ireland community and voluntary organisations will be able to bid for an additional £1.5 million in grant funding tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/ministers-boston-visit-puts-nis-tech-sector-in-the-spotlight 2026-03-25T17:21:00+00:00 Minister’s Boston visit puts NI's tech sector in the spotlight Minister Matthew Patrick visited Boston over St Patrick’s Day to champion NI's tech and innovation sector to US businesses, investors, and academic leaders. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/secretary-of-state-northern-ireland-minister-to-attend-annual-st-patricks-day-events-in-united-states 2026-03-16T00:01:07+00:00 Secretary of State & Northern Ireland Minister to attend annual St. Patrick’s Day events in United States The visits are an opportunity to underline the strong ties between Northern Ireland and the United States tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/1-million-community-partnership-fund-to-boost-northern-ireland-community-and-voluntary-groups 2026-03-02T00:01:00+00:00 £1 million Community Partnership Fund to boost Northern Ireland community and voluntary groups Grant will enable a forum of Northern Ireland voluntary and community sector organisations to upskill other local groups and help them secure funding. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/connect-fund-awards-nine-community-projects-over-80000 2026-02-13T00:01:01+00:00 Connect Fund awards nine community projects over £80,000 21 organisations have now received almost £500,000 in total for projects across the UK. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/uk-government-ministers-to-meet-with-northern-ireland-schools-ahead-of-east-west-council 2026-01-22T00:01:03+00:00 UK Government Ministers to meet with Northern Ireland schools ahead of East-West Council UK Government Ministers are engaging with Northern Ireland schools to highlight the importance of East-West relations in the lead up to today’s (January 22) East-West Council in Belfast. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/latest-connect-fund-round-offers-500000-to-northern-ireland-community-and-voluntary-groups 2025-12-15T00:00:00+00:00 Latest Connect Fund round offers £500,000 to Northern Ireland community and voluntary groups Round two of the Connect Fund opens for applications in New Year tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/new-package-of-support-set-to-benefit-thousands-of-children-across-northern-ireland 2025-12-12T11:07:05+00:00 New package of support set to benefit thousands of children across Northern Ireland The new strategy aims to lift 550,000 children across the UK out of poverty by 2030 tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/british-irish-intergovernmental-conference-biigc-joint-communique--2 2025-11-17T11:39:40+00:00 British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) Joint Communiqué Today the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Matthew Patrick MP, attended the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/connect-fund-supports-veterans-grassroots-communities-and-economic-equality 2025-11-10T07:43:16+00:00 Connect Fund supports veterans, grassroots communities and economic equality Three Northern Ireland community projects will receive a total of nearly £64,000 altogether in the latest round of the Northern Ireland Office’s Connect Fund tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/new-uk-connect-fund-awards-over-300000-to-community-groups-in-northern-ireland-and-great-britain 2025-10-06T09:22:33+01:00 New UK Connect Fund awards over £300,000 to community groups in Northern Ireland and Great Britain Nine voluntary and community groups are the first to receive funding from the £1 million Connect Fund grant scheme.