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3,573 releases
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Solidarity with the strikers – end the blackmail Secretary of State
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell expresses solidarity with striking public sector workers and Unite members seeking pay parity, and calls on the Secretary of State to release the funding needed to resolve the dispute immediately.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland public sector pay strikes and Secretary of State funding Original release: Solidarity with the strikers – end the blackmail Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
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NI Secretary of State should release pay funding immediately
DUP Finance Spokesperson Gordon Lyons calls the Assembly recall a stunt timed with public sector strikes and says the Secretary of State should release the one-off pay funding immediately rather than tie it to tax rises or Assembly restoration.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Public sector pay dispute and Assembly recall to restore Executive Original release: NI Secretary of State should release pay funding immediately (opens in a new tab)
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"Do the right thing and release the money"
DUP members of the House of Lords urge the Chancellor and Northern Ireland Secretary to immediately release close to £600 million earmarked for public sector pay, arguing the money is owed to underpaid workers. They also say Northern Ireland has been funded below the Holtham definition of need…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Withheld Northern Ireland public sector pay funding release call Original release: "Do the right thing and release the money" (opens in a new tab)
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REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill MLA says the DUP's boycott is jeopardising public services and a 170,000-worker strike, and calls on the DUP to join Executive formation, warning the Assembly may be near its final sitting.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly sitting to elect Speaker and form Executive, 17 January 2024 Original release: REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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Standing in Solidarity: Addressing the Impact of Political Stalemate on Public Sector Workers - Butler
Robbie Butler MLA, UUP deputy leader and education spokesperson, says public‑sector staff will strike this Thursday and the UUP will join picket lines, blaming the two‑year absence of an Executive and the DUP’s Stormont boycott for the stalemate that threatens children’s education and welfare.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Standing in Solidarity: Addressing the Impact of Political Stalemate on Public Sector Workers - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly recall will achieve nothing: Lyons
DUP Assembly Finance spokesman Gordon Lyons MLA says Wednesday's Assembly recall will achieve nothing, arguing the public sector pay settlement is a matter for the UK Government and that devolution conditions have not been secured.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Public sector pay dispute and Assembly recall to restore Executive Original release: Assembly recall will achieve nothing: Lyons (opens in a new tab)
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Pay parity is an equal citizenship right, not a tool of barefaced blackmail
TUV leader Jim Allister accuses the Secretary of State of blackmail over public sector pay parity, saying pay claims must be met regardless of whether Stormont implements the Windsor Framework-related Protocol, and calls on unionists to stand firm ahead of the Assembly recall.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State pay parity conditional on Stormont Protocol implementation Original release: Pay parity is an equal citizenship right, not a tool of barefaced blackmail (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will meet Secretary of State in Hillsborough
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says the party will meet the Secretary of State in Hillsborough on Monday, and calls on the Treasury to release public sector pay funds immediately rather than use them as leverage. He says talks have progressed but will continue until arrangements unionists can…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: DUP will meet Secretary of State in Hillsborough (opens in a new tab)
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Workers can’t continue to be left in the lurch by DUP time wasting and inaction – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Designate, accuses the DUP of time wasting and inaction as public service workers prepare for widespread industrial action over pay. She says the party has called the Assembly back to restore the Executive and secure a fair public sector pay deal.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Public sector pay dispute and Assembly recall to restore Executive Original release: Workers can’t continue to be left in the lurch by DUP time wasting and inaction – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Allister challenges Sir Robert Buckland KC MP on arrogant and offensive comments
TUV leader Jim Allister writes to Sir Robert Buckland KC MP calling his BBC comments on intelligent unionism supremely arrogant and offensive, arguing the Northern Ireland Protocol dismantles the Union and that unionists should refuse to implement it through Stormont.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sir Robert Buckland BBC comments on intelligent unionism and the Protocol Original release: Allister challenges Sir Robert Buckland KC MP on arrogant and offensive comments (opens in a new tab)
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TUV sets out election strategy
TUV says it will back an agreed single unionist candidate in seats held by non-unionists that are winnable for unionism, naming North Down, Fermanagh & South Tyrone, South Belfast and North Belfast ahead of the General Election. It also warns against any return to Stormont that accepts EU law and…
Constitutional affairs Original release: TUV sets out election strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Focus on restoring NI’s place in UK rather than hollow threats on…
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson urges former minister Sir Robert Buckland to concentrate on returning Northern Ireland to its position in the UK Internal Market instead of issuing threats about Joint Authority. Robinson says Buckland is confused and argues the Protocol, not any other factor, is…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Buckland remarks on Joint Authority over Northern Ireland Original release: Focus on restoring NI’s place in UK rather than hollow threats on… (opens in a new tab)
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EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Authority to engage urgently with Unite and agree a special derogation so Special Schools keep services running during eight days of planned industrial action by EA staff. He also says the DUP's collapse of the Executive is…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Unite eight days of industrial action at Education Authority Original release: EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit (opens in a new tab)
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The claims of ‘privileged access’ to EU market under the Protocol don’t stand up to scrutiny
TUV leader Jim Allister says the notion of ‘privileged access’ to the EU market under the Northern Ireland Protocol is unfounded, citing House of Commons data that GB sold £187.8bn of goods to the EU in 2022 and that NI’s exports are £5.9bn, and noting UK‑EU trade has risen since Brexit.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Privileged access claims under NI Protocol Original release: The claims of ‘privileged access’ to EU market under the Protocol don’t stand up to scrutiny (opens in a new tab)
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Climate Commissioner role key to meeting our climate change targets, says Donnelly and Blair
Alliance MLAs Danny Donnelly and John Blair call for the creation of a Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner, a requirement of the Climate Change Act, and urge the restoration of the Executive so the legislation can be brought forward urgently.
Environment and climate Original release: Climate Commissioner role key to meeting our climate change targets, says Donnelly and Blair (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds welcomes NI Chamber of Commerce paper on reforms to planning system
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA welcomes a newly published paper from the Chamber of Commerce with 10 recommendations to improve planning, and calls for legislation for planning reform in a future Executive. He also backs priority for renewable energy projects to help…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Chamber of Commerce report on planning system reform Original release: McReynolds welcomes NI Chamber of Commerce paper on reforms to planning system (opens in a new tab)
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Bold and decisive action needed in 2024 to restore our natural environment, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for 2024 to bring significant progress on restoring the natural environment, citing an RSPB report on threatened species and pressing DAERA on marine strategies, Lough Neagh and the Waste Management Strategy.
Environment and climate Original release: Bold and decisive action needed in 2024 to restore our natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill tells nurses there should be no delay in forming Executive and delivering fair pay rises
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Designate, says there should be no further delay in restoring the Executive and securing pay settlements for nurses and other public workers after meeting the Royal College of Nursing. She calls on the DUP to end its blockade and urges the Secretary of…
Health Economy and employment Original release: O’Neill tells nurses there should be no delay in forming Executive and delivering fair pay rises (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - Talks with Government Recommence
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says talks with the Government are set to restart this week, aiming for a fair outcome that restores Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and reverses the destabilising NI Protocol arrangements.
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP talks with Government on NI Protocol restart Original release: Sir Jeffrey - Talks with Government Recommence (opens in a new tab)
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So called ‘privileged access’ to EU single market means submissive access
TUV leader Jim Allister says Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's pursuit of 'privileged access' for Northern Ireland to the EU single market for goods would in reality mean submissive access, bringing EU law, the EU court and an Irish Sea border. He points to Annex 2 of the Protocol as evidence of the cost.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson's seeking privileged EU single market access for Northern Ireland goods Original release: So called ‘privileged access’ to EU single market means submissive access (opens in a new tab)