Latest releases
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3,564 releases
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Lord Empey: Growing Intolerance Within Unionism for Differing Points of View
UUP peer Lord Empey says tolerance for differing views within unionism has declined, criticising the DUP's boycott of Stormont over the Protocol and Windsor Framework and the 'collaborators' label used against those favouring another path. He argues the Brexit negotiations and DUP-backed 2019…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Lord Empey: Growing Intolerance Within Unionism for Differing Points of View (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw outlines Alliance rejection of Health Budget and seeks maintenance of Core Grants Funding Scheme
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA rejects the current Health Budget, saying it is unfairly drawn up without ministers and calls for the Core Grants Funding Scheme to be maintained and expanded to tackle health inequalities.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: 2023 Health Budget rejection Original release: Bradshaw outlines Alliance rejection of Health Budget and seeks maintenance of Core Grants Funding Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin leaders travel to Australia with message of hope and optimism
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD and Pearse Doherty TD announce a trip to Australia covering Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. They will meet ministers including Penny Wong, discuss the Northern Ireland institutions, and raise housing, health and climate policy.
Constitutional affairs Housing Original release: Sinn Féin leaders travel to Australia with message of hope and optimism (opens in a new tab)
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North Down beaches water quality testing failure incredibly concerning, says Egan
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan says it is very worrying that several bathing sites across North Down have failed water quality tests, prompting warning signs and advice to stay out of the water. She welcomes a DAERA water pollution investigation and says she will press DAERA and the NI…
Environment and climate Issue: North Down bathing water quality test failures and swimming warnings Original release: North Down beaches water quality testing failure incredibly concerning, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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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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Cllr Brian Smyth has condemned today's announcement by the Prime Minister
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth for Lisnasharragh condemns the Prime Minister's plan to allow 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences, saying it undermines Net Zero by 2050 and will not lower fuel bills. He calls for a renewable energy revolution with green jobs instead.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Prime Minister's approval of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences Original release: Cllr Brian Smyth has condemned today's announcement by the Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Sunak’s expansion of oil and gas ‘economically and environmentally illiterate’ says Tennyson
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Sunak’s expansion of oil and gas ‘economically and environmentally illiterate’ says Tennyson (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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Environmental crisis in NI only being fuelled by lack of Executive, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says Northern Ireland has again failed on its environmental commitments after DAERA missed the deadline for its first Environment Improvement Plan. He blames the lack of a functioning Executive and calls for Assembly scrutiny and a Minister to lead.
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA misses deadline for first Environment Improvement Plan Original release: Environmental crisis in NI only being fuelled by lack of Executive, says Blair (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)