Latest releases
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4,967 releases
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Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine
DUP Infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes, but asks why it came a week before Christmas. She says the interim measure could have been introduced earlier and calls for lessons to be learned…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Baker welcomes decision to allow taxis into some bus lanes in Belfast city centre
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes over the coming weeks, saying it will ease festive congestion and encourage shoppers to visit.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Baker welcomes decision to allow taxis into some bus lanes in Belfast city centre (opens in a new tab)
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Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth criticises DFI Minister John O'Dowd's decision to allow private taxis in Belfast bus lanes, calling it desperate and warning it puts cyclists at risk and confuses drivers. He calls for a walking, cycling and public transport-focused transport strategy.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Taxis in bus lanes will not solve congestion issues, says McReynolds.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says allowing taxis in several Belfast city centre bus lanes over the festive period will not ease congestion. He urges the Infrastructure Minister to reverse the measure and pursue alternatives that reduce car use and support public…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Taxis in bus lanes will not solve congestion issues, says McReynolds. (opens in a new tab)
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Allister raises impact of tightening noose of the Protocol in Commons and tables a motion on the issue
TUV leader Jim Allister says EU general product safety rules applied in Northern Ireland are leading GB suppliers to stop selling to NI, and asks whether the Government will restore NI's place in the UK internal market. He has also tabled a Commons motion urging ministers to assert UK internal…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Allister raises impact of tightening noose of the Protocol in Commons and tables a motion on the issue (opens in a new tab)
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Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald TD and National Party Chairperson Declan Kearney publish a report on the Commission on the Future of Ireland's work since its establishment. McDonald calls on the next Dublin government to prioritise preparations for Irish unity, including a green paper and a Minister…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Publication of Commission on the Future of Ireland report Original release: Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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The Nationalist and Republican Alliance prove to be the modern day Scrooges of 2024
TUV West Tyrone spokesperson Stevan Patterson says small GB companies have stopped supplying Northern Ireland after the EU General Product Safety Regulation took effect on 13 December, and blames Nationalist and Republican Alliance MLAs for voting for continued EU rules.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: The Nationalist and Republican Alliance prove to be the modern day Scrooges of 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle hails actions of local siblings to raise money for good cause
Traditional Unionist Voice vice‑chair Allister Kyle, a Causeway councillor, welcomes the effort of siblings Leo (11) and Evie (8) McKeowen, who have baked and sold treats to raise almost £800 for the Friends of Cancer Centre and calls on the public to support them before Christmas.
Other Health Issue: McKeowen siblings fundraising for Friends of Cancer Centre Original release: TUV Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle hails actions of local siblings to raise money for good cause (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition briefs business groups in Dublin as EU and UK urged to embrace NI Protocol opportunities
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole calls for an independent review of the UK's relationship with Europe, not limited to the Protocol/Framework, to be launched quickly in the new year. The party also says it has written to the UK-EU Joint Committee chairs urging focus on EU programme…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Northern Ireland Protocol protections Original release: SDLP Opposition briefs business groups in Dublin as EU and UK urged to embrace NI Protocol opportunities (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood tables amendment to protect NI Health and Voluntary sectors from employer National Insurance hike.
Alliance Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood tables a unique amendment to shield NI health, hospice and voluntary services from the government’s proposed employer National Insurance rise, seeking exemptions for care homes, home‑care providers, GP and dental practices, pharmacists, charities and other社区
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Employer National Insurance increase announced in Autumn Budget Original release: Eastwood tables amendment to protect NI Health and Voluntary sectors from employer National Insurance hike. (opens in a new tab)
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Designation system at Stormont creates democratic deficit, says Armstrong.
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the Assembly's binary designation system creates a democratic deficit and disenfranchises non-unionist and non-nationalist voters, and calls for a weighted majority system without designations after this week's Windsor Framework vote.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Windsor Framework vote and designation system reform Original release: Designation system at Stormont creates democratic deficit, says Armstrong. (opens in a new tab)
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Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA writes in An Phoblacht that the 2024 Irish general election has realigned Dáil politics, ending the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael duopoly, and argues left republican and progressive parties should cooperate as an opposition.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: 2024 Irish general election result and realignment of Dáil politics Original release: Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance more interested in pleasing Brussels than battling for NI -…
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the Alliance Party's opposition to the Democratic Scrutiny Committee considering the General Product Safety Regulations 2024 shows it prioritises Brussels over Northern Ireland. He claims the regulations will push small traders out of supplying Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Democratic Scrutiny Committee consideration of General Product Safety Regulations 2024 Original release: Alliance more interested in pleasing Brussels than battling for NI -… (opens in a new tab)
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Time to pull public funding to body promoting illegal drug use and dangerous messages on consent
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says he is disappointed that neither the Justice nor Health Minister appears concerned about Rainbow Project website advice on illegal drug use and consent, and calls for public funding to the organisation to be withdrawn.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Rainbow Project website drug use and consent content Original release: Time to pull public funding to body promoting illegal drug use and dangerous messages on consent (opens in a new tab)
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‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes news that NI Water will have capacity to connect 2,300 new properties to wastewater infrastructure, following Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd’s £19.5 million allocation, and says Sinn Féin will press the British government for fairer funding.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: ‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Statement on the introduction of the EU General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is deeply concerned about the EU General Product Safety Regulations taking effect in Northern Ireland, claiming they cut Northern Ireland off from GB suppliers, with eleven GB crafts firms reportedly ceasing service. He points to his EU (Withdrawal Arrangements)…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Statement on the introduction of the EU General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken Highlights Impact of New EU Regulations
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken OBE says the EU's General Product Safety Regulations, now in force, add cost and red tape for UK firms selling into Northern Ireland. He says Alliance and Sinn Féin voted down his party's request for the Windsor Framework scrutiny committee to examine the regulation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Aiken Highlights Impact of New EU Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andy McMurray MLA says a further £19.5m for NI Water from the October Monitoring round falls well short of its £266m capital shortfall. He calls for the Minister to explore alternative funding models, including mutualisation.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan welcomes funding for waterways in border communities
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a €32 million PEACEPLUS investment aimed at improving water in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay. She says it will also upgrade wastewater treatment for cross-border communities, benefiting up to 6,000 people.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: PEACEPLUS €32 million cross-border waterways investment Original release: Brogan welcomes funding for waterways in border communities (opens in a new tab)
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Where is Minister’s pilot scheme to “help ease traffic”?
DUP infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine questions why the consultation on legislation for a pilot allowing some taxis to use Belfast city centre bus lanes during Grand Central Station roadworks has not started. She says a response indicated an announcement would come "in the near future"…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre taxi bus lane pilot consultation delay Original release: Where is Minister’s pilot scheme to “help ease traffic”? (opens in a new tab)