Latest releases
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4,050 releases
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Ireland and Palestine top political agenda in the US this week
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald says her US trip will involve meetings with Capitol Hill, the US administration, Irish diaspora and business leaders, and will press for an immediate cease‑fire in Palestine and a two‑state peace process.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: Israel‑Gaza conflict ceasefire call Original release: Ireland and Palestine top political agenda in the US this week (opens in a new tab)
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It is Protocol Implementers who are dividing Unionism
TUV leader Jim Allister says those who have abandoned the 2021 Unionist Declaration against the Protocol, not TUV, are dividing unionism, and rejects claims that he and others holding that position are to blame. He speaks at a Carrickfergus meeting about the Donaldson deal.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson deal and unionist division over the Protocol Original release: It is Protocol Implementers who are dividing Unionism (opens in a new tab)
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School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston says the Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme excludes Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, which bans trees from Great Britain entering the region. He argues this shows the Windsor Framework has not removed such bans and accuses the DUP…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Woodland Trust Free Trees scheme unavailable in Northern Ireland Original release: School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett says his amendment to a Sinn Fein motion, agreed by the Assembly, should extend statutory leave and pay to workers who suffer a miscarriage up to 23 weeks, matching existing stillbirth provision.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Assembly vote on Sinn Fein workers' rights motion with DUP miscarriage leave amendment Original release: Brett secures support for miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the Executive to work with employers and trade unions, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to negotiate a new deal for workers and families. He says young people, women and disabled people face wage inequality and poor conditions, and his Assembly…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: ‘Time for a new deal for workers and families’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Allister to Host European Victims Day Event
TUV leader Jim Allister announces a European Victims Day event in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings on 11 March, with a minute's silence and five victims of republican, loyalist and European terrorism sharing their stories.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Allister to Host European Victims Day Event (opens in a new tab)
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Jeffrey’s non-existent border requires 150 staff
TUV leader Jim Allister says DAERA employs 151.5 staff on inspections and official controls at ports and plans to fill 28 more posts, arguing the Irish Sea border is real and strengthening, not gone as the DUP claimed.
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA port inspection staffing figures and planned vacancies Original release: Jeffrey’s non-existent border requires 150 staff (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to overhaul special educational needs provision, saying young people and families are being failed by the current system and urging the minister to act on his commitment following a Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs deserve best start to life – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Second Von der Leyen term would be bad for Ireland & EU
Sinn Féin calls on the Irish government and Irish MEPs to oppose Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a further Commission presidency, citing Article 16 vaccine export controls, her COVID vaccine contract handling and her Gaza response, and urges all MEP candidates to state their position.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Original release: Second Von der Leyen term would be bad for Ireland & EU (opens in a new tab)
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‘Community heartbroken at tragic death of Caolán Devlin’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill expresses shock and sorrow at the fatal A5 collision that killed Caolán Devlin on Tuesday night, and urges the public to help police with dash cam footage. She also calls for the opponents of the A5 upgrade to drop their objections without further delay.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road fatal collision Omagh to Ballygawley March 2024 Original release: ‘Community heartbroken at tragic death of Caolán Devlin’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Irish remains preserve of one community
TUV leader Jim Allister challenges DUP MLA Paul Givan's claim that Irish belongs to everyone, arguing the Irish language is not supported by facts such as its absence from controlled school curricula. He says Irish language legislation aims to promote Gaelicisation as part of a nationalist…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Paul Givan's comments that Irish belongs to all of us Original release: Irish remains preserve of one community (opens in a new tab)
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A5 road death another ‘absolute tragedy’ – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley offers condolences to the family of a man killed in a crash on the A5 near Omagh, pays tribute to emergency services, and calls for the A5 to be built without further delays.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road fatal collision Omagh to Ballygawley March 2024 Original release: A5 road death another ‘absolute tragedy’ – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to fund weekend nightbus services in Belfast, costing around £150,000 a year, after the Minister said the matter is for Translink. He argues the services would boost the night-time economy and help…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast weekend nightbus funding request to Infrastructure Minister Original release: de Faoite urges Minister to fund nightbus services (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
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Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border
TUV Braid Councillor Christopher Jamieson says the Department's planned change of livestock tag prefix in Northern Ireland from 'UK' to 'XI' is another example of the Sea Border. He says TUV raised the issue through a question to the Agriculture Minister, which was answered after the Department…
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Northern Ireland livestock tag prefix change from UK to XI Original release: Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell accuses Alliance leader Naomi Long of using a sectarianism charge to deflect from Casement Park's cost, asking how the £300 million bill would be funded and whether the GAA funding deal bars chanting at the stadium.
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park redevelopment funding and sectarianism accusation Original release: Alliance dog whistle politics avoids the main issue (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, raises serious concerns after 14 MOT lifts were found to have hairline cracks, asking the Minister to outline steps to address the situation. She says lessons from 2019 should have been learnt and will press DVA for updates at…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Hairline cracks found in MaHa MOT testing lifts Original release: Erskine raises concerns about latest cracks found in MOT centre lifts (opens in a new tab)
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We must be driven by making NI the best it can be
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at East Antrim DUP Association, urges supporters to focus on making Northern Ireland work and warns against a border poll. He also criticises legacy measures from the 1998 Belfast Agreement as corrupting justice and calls for unionism to unite…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: We must be driven by making NI the best it can be (opens in a new tab)