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5,413 releases
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Minister Lyons celebrates sport with local primary schools
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the Celebration of Sport days, launched at the Amphitheatre Wellness Centre for around 700 Carrickfergus and Larne pupils, encourage young people to try a range of sports, including disabled sports. A second session for Bangor and Ards pupils takes place at…
Health Issue: Celebration of Sport primary school days Carrickfergus and Newtownards Original release: Minister Lyons celebrates sport with local primary schools (opens in a new tab)
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Sun 23/3 1pm: UNITED AGAINST RACISM MARCH - Our Belfast Free From Racism
People Before Profit calls members to join the United Against Racism march in Belfast this Sunday, 23 March at 1pm, saying more than 100 community organisations and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions back the Our Belfast gathering against racism and fascism.
Disability and equality Issue: United Against Racism march Belfast 23 March 2025 Original release: Sun 23/3 1pm: UNITED AGAINST RACISM MARCH - Our Belfast Free From Racism (opens in a new tab)
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NHS should always protect life – Lockhart
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says the proposal to alter NHS foundation legislation within the draft assisted‑dying bill represents a risky change in healthcare and must be rejected, urging protection of life and warning of pressure on clinicians.
Health Issue: Proposed amendment to NHS foundation legislation for assisted dying Original release: NHS should always protect life – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin will always be strong allies of the LGBTQIA+ community – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin equality spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín MLA says the party will remain allies of LGBTQIA+ people after Belfast Pride excluded all Executive parties from this year's parade, calling it a backwards step and a missed opportunity.
Disability and equality Issue: Belfast Pride exclusion of Executive parties from 2025 parade Original release: Sinn Féin will always be strong allies of the LGBTQIA+ community – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Cost of Irish Sea Border checks and infrastructure close to £1 billion
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says recent parliamentary replies show the Irish Sea border has cost £650M to administer, with almost £200M being spent on border posts, bringing total costs close to £1 billion. He accuses the DUP of wrongly claiming the border was gone and says TUV will keep opposing it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Parliamentary replies on Irish Sea border costs Original release: Cost of Irish Sea Border checks and infrastructure close to £1 billion (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance firmly committed to LGBTQIA+ equality, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson reaffirms his party's commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights after Belfast Pride chose to bar Executive parties from taking part this year.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Belfast Pride exclusion of Executive parties from 2025 parade Original release: Alliance firmly committed to LGBTQIA+ equality, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Executive Office must start acting on their commitments to Ethnic Equality Monitoring, says Alliance Representatives
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Stewart Dickson urge the First and deputy First Minister to move from pledges to legislation on Ethnic Equality Monitoring, pointing to a delayed Race Relations Order update that has yet to show any detail.
Disability and equality Issue: Ethnic Equality Monitoring legislation delay and Race Relations Order update Original release: Executive Office must start acting on their commitments to Ethnic Equality Monitoring, says Alliance Representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Developer contributions won’t solve wastewater crisis
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Original release: Durkan: Developer contributions won’t solve wastewater crisis (opens in a new tab)
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TUV meet Lord Murphy to discuss Protocol review
TUV leader Jim Allister, with MLA Timothy Gaston and Dan Boucher, says the party told Lord Murphy, who is reviewing the Protocol, it has little confidence in his review because its terms only allow recommendations with cross-community support. Allister calls for mutual enforcement between Northern…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lord Murphy's review of the Windsor Framework Protocol Original release: TUV meet Lord Murphy to discuss Protocol review (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin MEPs to host Irish Unity conference in European Parliament
Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion announce a April 8 conference in the European Parliament on Irish unity and the island's place in the EU, with speakers from academia, trade unions and politics. Funchion says planning for unity is essential and urges the Irish government to prepare.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin MEPs to host Irish Unity conference in European Parliament (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on parcels but more to do
DUP MLA David Brooks says the Government's announcement removing customs checks on consumer parcels is progress, though late, and that the system will go live on 1 May. He calls for further action to remove EU law and the Irish Sea border.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government announcement removing customs checks on consumer parcels Original release: Progress on parcels but more to do (opens in a new tab)
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Statement by Jim Allister KC MP in Response to the Third Parcels Border Implementation Date
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP criticises the third postponement of the Irish Sea parcels border, now set for 1 May 2025, and argues it undermines the UK single market for goods. He calls for the Windsor Framework to be replaced with Mutual Enforcement.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government announcement removing customs checks on consumer parcels Original release: Statement by Jim Allister KC MP in Response to the Third Parcels Border Implementation Date (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must bring forward Irish Language Strategy – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan urges Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to publish the long-delayed Irish Language Strategy, which she says he is legally required to produce. She cites a party motion debated in the Assembly and says he has also refused to meet Conradh na Gaeilge.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Strategy delay and Assembly motion Original release: Communities Minister must bring forward Irish Language Strategy – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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Anti Fascist Rally in Belfast Thursday
People Before Profit says death threats scrawled on a West Belfast wall against MLA Gerry Carroll will not be tolerated, linking them to far-right activity and anti-migrant protests, and urges people to join an anti-fascism rally at Casement Park on Thursday at 7pm.
Disability and equality Immigration Issue: Death threats and graffiti against Gerry Carroll in Andersonstown Original release: Anti Fascist Rally in Belfast Thursday (opens in a new tab)
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The Chill Factor and Irish Signage
TUV says a LucidTalk survey commissioned by Analogical Research shows a "chill factor" among Unionists and Protestants towards Irish language street signs, with 88% of Unionist voters less likely to move to such a road. It claims the signs could drive ethnic cleansing and cut Unionist use of…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: LucidTalk survey on Irish signage and Unionist house-hunting and leisure centre use Original release: The Chill Factor and Irish Signage (opens in a new tab)
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Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP challenges the Government's proposed Personal Independence Payment changes, saying they will cause anxiety, fail to account for fluctuating mental health needs, and calls on the Government to rethink them and give assurances to those affected.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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‘Planned cuts to welfare are an attack on the most vulnerable’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew condemns expected UK Labour government cuts of billions of pounds to welfare support for sick and disabled people, calling them cynical and disgraceful. He calls on the Communities Minister to tell London the party opposes the measures, which he says will…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Reported £5 billion welfare budget cuts by British Labour government Original release: ‘Planned cuts to welfare are an attack on the most vulnerable’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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‘Every day of delay risks another sad and avoidable death on the A5’ – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley attended a demonstration outside Belfast's High Court urging construction of the A5 road, as a legal challenge to the scheme was lodged. She says every day of delay risks another avoidable death and that the new road would save lives, create jobs and cut journey times…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road legal challenge at Belfast High Court Original release: ‘Every day of delay risks another sad and avoidable death on the A5’ – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Government Must Review Benefits Decisions - Swann
UUP MP Robin Swann calls on the Labour Government to review the welfare decisions it announced today, arguing that its changes to disability benefits have caused confusion and fear among vulnerable people. He urges that any legislation avoid harming those with daily challenges.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Labour Government welfare reforms announcement March 2025 Original release: Government Must Review Benefits Decisions - Swann (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government's benefits move cruel and cowardly, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls the UK Government's proposed disability benefit changes cruel and cowardly, warning they would push more people into hardship, and urges it to listen to those affected. Alliance's Sian Mulholland says Alliance will call on the Communities Minister to outline…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: UK Government's benefits move cruel and cowardly, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)