Latest releases
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3,067 releases
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Defeat of Progress Pride flag motion a shameful display from ANB Council, says Boyle
Alliance Alderman Lewis Boyle says he is dismayed that his motion to raise the Progress Pride flag from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council buildings each year on Belfast Pride day was defeated, with the UUP opposed and the SDLP abstaining. He accuses the UUP of empty rhetoric on LGBTQ+ issues.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Antrim and Newtownabbey council Progress Pride flag motion defeat Original release: Defeat of Progress Pride flag motion a shameful display from ANB Council, says Boyle (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: UK climbdown on goods quality marks underlines indefensibility and futility of DUP boycott
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole welcomes the UK Government's indefinite postponement of a separate UK product quality mark, saying it lowers the risk of NI-GB divergence and makes the DUP's boycott of Stormont harder to justify.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK Government postpones separate UK product quality mark regime Original release: O’Toole: UK climbdown on goods quality marks underlines indefensibility and futility of DUP boycott (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson - "the ball rests at the foot of the UKG"
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP says the UK Government must deliver on commitments made during the Prime Minister's Northern Ireland visit, arguing that broken promises have eroded trust and that the ball is in its court over restoring Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Northern Ireland visit commitments and Stormont restoration Original release: Robinson - "the ball rests at the foot of the UKG" (opens in a new tab)
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TUV reiterates dangers of Windsor Whitewash and warns against the folly of restoring Stormont
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Windsor Framework has left the Irish Sea border, EU single market rules and Customs Code in place, and warns that restoring Stormont would implement the Protocol and make Union-dismantling suspension permanent.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Recently published government guidance on Irish Sea border functioning Original release: TUV reiterates dangers of Windsor Whitewash and warns against the folly of restoring Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI need to take necessary action on hate speech at Belfast Pride, says Cllr Murray
Alliance Belfast councillor Micky Murray says he will meet the Assistant Chief Constable on 2 August to press the PSNI over a street preacher's derogatory remarks about the LGBTQ+ community during Belfast Pride, seeking assurances that homophobic hate crimes are treated seriously.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Street preacher's anti-LGBTQ+ remarks at Belfast Pride 2023 Original release: PSNI need to take necessary action on hate speech at Belfast Pride, says Cllr Murray (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart - SF over ‘self-indulgent’ border poll comments
DUP agri-food spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP says Sinn Fein should respect the political neutrality of farming organisations after MEP Chris MacManus urged them to engage in a border poll debate. She calls the proposal self-indulgent and irresponsible.
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Sinn Fein call for farming organisations to engage in border poll debate Original release: Lockhart - SF over ‘self-indulgent’ border poll comments (opens in a new tab)
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We all have our part to play combating discrimination and supporting those who are marginalised, says Nicholl, ahead of Belfast Pride
Alliance's Kate Nicholl MLA, who speaks on diversity and migration, wishes attendees a safe Pride ahead of Belfast Pride's parade and says hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are rising, urging these attitudes be challenged early.
Disability and equality Original release: We all have our part to play combating discrimination and supporting those who are marginalised, says Nicholl, ahead of Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to address biggest crisis in NI in last 25 years, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says Northern Ireland faces its most serious situation since the Good Friday Agreement, after a cross-party meeting with the Head of the Civil Service. He calls for a financial package and an Executive to be formed, blaming the DUP for the governance vacuum.
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Cross-party meeting with Head of the Civil Service on NI budget crisis Original release: Executive needed to address biggest crisis in NI in last 25 years, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Appropriate adult mental health services must be a priority for a restored Executive – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an end to the differing approach to Adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment across health trusts, after meeting Northern Trust management. He says the stalled pilot for validating private diagnoses must be expedited and that a resolution is needed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Northern Trust Adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment provision meeting Original release: Appropriate adult mental health services must be a priority for a restored Executive – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor whitewash exposed by House of Lords report
TUV party treasurer Councillor Timothy Gaston says a House of Lords committee report on the Windsor Framework undermines government claims, citing concerns on burdens for non-retail goods, green lane retail, medicines and the Stormont brake, and calls Windsor a whitewash.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: House of Lords committee report on the Windsor Framework Original release: Windsor whitewash exposed by House of Lords report (opens in a new tab)
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Voices of farming and Rural communities must be heard in Unity conversation – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus urges rural and farming representative bodies to join the discussion on Irish reunification, arguing agriculture could gain most and that Brexit has hit the agri-food sector hard. He spoke at the Erris Agricultural Show in Belmullet, County Mayo.
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Voices of farming and Rural communities must be heard in Unity conversation – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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Report proves problems have not been settled by Windsor Framework
The DUP's Lord Dodds says a House of Lords sub-committee report on the Windsor Framework shows unresolved problems and that the framework leaves businesses worse off than under earlier arrangements. He cites red and green lane workability and groupage issues, and calls the framework a failure…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: House of Lords committee report on the Windsor Framework Original release: Report proves problems have not been settled by Windsor Framework (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie MC MLA Comments on the Lords Report on the Windsor Framework
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says the Lords report confirms that boycotting Stormont has not altered the Protocol, criticises the Windsor Framework as a sub‑optimal starting point, urges Unionists to restore the Executive and challenge the Framework from within, and warns that without negotiations a move to
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: House of Lords committee report on the Windsor Framework Original release: Doug Beattie MC MLA Comments on the Lords Report on the Windsor Framework (opens in a new tab)
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Actions not words are needed: Sir Jeffrey
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson responds to the Secretary of State, saying trust was eroded by ignored unionist concerns and calling for concrete UK Government action rather than statements on the Windsor Framework, EU laws and the Protocol. He also says the Barnett formula must be replaced with…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Secretary of State comments on unionist trust and the Windsor Framework Original release: Actions not words are needed: Sir Jeffrey (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – Unionists want a fair deal
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson urge the Northern Ireland Secretary to accept that a restored Assembly and Executive cannot rest on shaky ground until NI's place in the UK internal market is legally protected. Sir Jeffrey says the Government has made promises but…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary on restoring devolved government Original release: Sir Jeffrey – Unionists want a fair deal (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart welcomes PM support for childhood cancer campaign
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Prime Minister's commitment to work on improving benefit support for families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis. She urges the Government to change DLA rules so support starts at diagnosis, not after the three-month claim delay.
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Prime Minister's PMQs response on childhood cancer benefit support Original release: Lockhart welcomes PM support for childhood cancer campaign (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: No recess on efforts to restore devolution
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says Stormont talks to restore devolution must continue through the summer after meeting Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris, and urges action on childcare costs, health waiting lists and pay.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Eastwood meeting with Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris on restoring devolution Original release: Eastwood: No recess on efforts to restore devolution (opens in a new tab)
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Inhumane Tory ‘Migration’ Bill latest in a string of anti-rights legislation – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin says the UK government's Illegal Migration Bill, passed on the day of her statement, is cruel and inhumane and breaches protections for vulnerable asylum seekers and trafficking victims. She claims it will increase trafficking and encroaches on devolved areas.
Immigration Disability and equality Issue: UK Tory 'Migration' Bill passage through Parliament Original release: Inhumane Tory ‘Migration’ Bill latest in a string of anti-rights legislation – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Legacy Bill merely continues policy of seeing victims as an inconvenience or embarrassment
TUV party chairman Keith Ratcliffe says the Legacy Bill, being debated today, does not have the support of innocent victims of terrorism and continues a policy of treating victims as an inconvenience. He claims the bill moves closer to an amnesty and will aid terrorists in rewriting history.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Westminster Legacy Bill progression despite opposition Original release: Legacy Bill merely continues policy of seeing victims as an inconvenience or embarrassment (opens in a new tab)
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Government must act to end unfair block on northern athletes representing Ireland – Chris Andrews TD and Ruairí Ó Murchú TD
Sinn Féin's Chris Andrews TD and Ruairí Ó Murchú TD urge the Irish government to push for an island-wide derogation from World Athletics' 1934 Political Boundary Rule, which bars Northern athletes from representing Ireland at European and World championships. Andrews calls on Sport Minister Thomas…
Disability and equality Issue: World Athletics 1934 Political Boundary Rule derogation for Ireland Original release: Government must act to end unfair block on northern athletes representing Ireland – Chris Andrews TD and Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (opens in a new tab)