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11,733 releases
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Hunter: NI cannot be left behind on AI regulation
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter calls on the North to quickly follow the UK Government's move to criminalise creating explicit AI-generated images without consent, and urges a timeline from the Justice Minister for introducing equivalent offences locally.
Justice and policing Issue: UK Government criminalises non-consensual AI explicit image creation under Crime and Policing Bill Original release: Hunter: NI cannot be left behind on AI regulation (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says people cannot accept a five-year timeline for fixing the health service, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt suggested recovery could take that long. He presses the Minister and Executive on ambulance response delays, citing a 75-year-old…
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt says health recovery could take five years Original release: McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service (opens in a new tab)
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EU Customs Shake-Up to Hit Northern Ireland Consumers with New Parcel Charges
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken warns that the EU's accelerated customs reforms, bringing a €3 levy and €2 handling fee on small non-EU parcels forward to July 2026, will add costs for Northern Ireland consumers and retailers. He calls for clarity from HM Government and HMRC on how the rules apply under…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: EU accelerated customs reform and small parcel charges for Northern Ireland Original release: EU Customs Shake-Up to Hit Northern Ireland Consumers with New Parcel Charges (opens in a new tab)
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Teacher pay deal welcome but action still needed on working conditions, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the acceptance of the 2025/26 teacher pay offer by the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council, but calls on the Education Minister to set out how he will manage pay pressures and to act on workload and working conditions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teacher pay deal welcome but action still needed on working conditions, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an EU office in Belfast to act as a resource for businesses, citing Brexit-related trading difficulties and a recent Murphy review recommendation for a single administrative access point.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Leader's Weekly email - 10th January
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP says the Prime Minister must protect veterans in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and reject any Irish Republic veto over amendments, and criticises the Sinn Fein Finance Minister's draft Budget as lacking Executive agreement.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Leader's Weekly email - 10th January (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist co-operation stops SF’s observer status proposal – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says a Petition of Concern defeating Sinn Féin's motion for EU observer status shows unionists can work together to resist SF's pro-EU agenda. He claims the move would deepen EU links and damage Northern Ireland's economy.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly Petition of Concern defeats Sinn Féin EU observer status motion Original release: Unionist co-operation stops SF’s observer status proposal – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -…
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says Health Minister figures show over 72,000 recorded incidents of abuse against health and social care staff over five years, and says the true number is higher. She calls for further information on alcohol, substances, mental illness, time off work and…
Health Issue: Health Minister figures on abuse against health and social care staff Original release: Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -… (opens in a new tab)
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Stricter Immigration Regulations Welcome But Are Not Enough – Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín welcomes some government steps to reduce immigration but says they fall short. He calls for tighter family reunification rules, a cut in student visas and work permits, faster deportations, and a third-country asylum application plan.
Immigration International affairs Issue: Stricter family reunification rules for asylum seekers announced Original release: Stricter Immigration Regulations Welcome But Are Not Enough – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Petition of concern confusion exposes Stormont farce
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says confusion over petitions of concern exposes Stormont dysfunction, as standing orders to implement 2022 reforms remain unintroduced. He calls a petition of concern against the non-binding EU Observer Status motion an abuse of power and urges the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Petition of Concern defeats Sinn Féin EU observer status motion Original release: O’Toole: Petition of concern confusion exposes Stormont farce (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party comments on Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland Flag
The Ulster Unionist Party expresses regret that Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland has stopped using the Ulster Banner to represent athletes, arguing the status quo should have remained without guidance from the Executive. It says such decisions belong with elected representatives in the Assembly.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland discontinues Ulster Banner for athletes Original release: Ulster Unionist Party comments on Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland Flag (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Rejects Sinn Féin Proposal for EU Office in Belfast
The Ulster Unionist Party opposes Sinn Féin's proposal for an EU office in Belfast, calling it a political stunt. Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA and Windsor Framework Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA say Northern Ireland already has EU representation, the office raises sovereignty…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Rejects Sinn Féin Proposal for EU Office in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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People of NI are demanding reform, says Eastwood, ahead of Westminster Hall debate
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says public demand for reform of Stormont's institutions is growing and calls on the UK and Irish Governments, as Good Friday Agreement co-guarantors, to act ahead of her Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday 13 January.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Westminster Hall debate on Stormont institutional reform Original release: People of NI are demanding reform, says Eastwood, ahead of Westminster Hall debate (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP proposes new law to combat Executive inaction as public loses confidence
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the party has tabled an amendment to the forthcoming fiscal watchdog legislation so that Stormont's fiscal council must assess whether Executive budgets deliver on the Programme for Government. The move follows criticism of the draft multi-year…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: SDLP amendment on fiscal council powers over Programme for Government delivery Original release: SDLP proposes new law to combat Executive inaction as public loses confidence (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance focused on building better, brighter, shared future for everyone as Assembly returns for 2026, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA says the party is committed to creating a better, shared future for all of Northern Ireland as the Assembly reconvenes for 2026, pledging improved public services, health system reform, integrated education, a sustainable economy and institutional change.
Other Issue: 2026 Assembly session commencement Original release: Alliance focused on building better, brighter, shared future for everyone as Assembly returns for 2026, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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30 years on from BSE but has Beef ever properly recovered?
TUV agriculture spokesman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle says beef prices have not recovered in real terms since the 1996 BSE crisis, citing October 1995 and 2025 meat plant quotes and rising red diesel, fertiliser, feed and land costs. He says processor margins have grown too large and that…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: 30 years on from BSE but has Beef ever properly recovered? (opens in a new tab)
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Mercosur a serious threat to farmers North and South – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says the EU-Mercosur trade deal is a serious threat to farmers North and South, accusing the Irish Government of failing to stop it. He also warns that British Government consideration of similar trade arrangements would expose Northern farmers to low-standard imports.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU-Mercosur trade deal threat to farmers Original release: Mercosur a serious threat to farmers North and South – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Grok’s nudification functionality must be disabled on all accounts – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin calls for the nudification feature built into Grok, the AI tool on X, to be switched off on all accounts and for abusive content to be removed urgently. She says Sinn Féin will push the Department of Justice to criminalise non-consensual sexual deepfakes in the Justice…
Justice and policing Issue: Grok nudification feature on X deepfake and child abuse imagery concerns Original release: Grok’s nudification functionality must be disabled on all accounts – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Rejects Status Quo Budget from Sinn Féin
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll rejects the Executive's draft budget, saying Finance Minister blames Westminster while Executive parties choose cuts and a 5% rates rise each year. He calls for abolishing industrial derating, completing income tax devolution and a fairer rates system.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 Executive disagreement Original release: People Before Profit Rejects Status Quo Budget from Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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North Down TUV demands accountability from local council
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson accuses Ards and North Down Council of poor governance after it funded a first-time Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor alongside the Ulster Pipe Band Championships. He says a formal complaint has been lodged, demands an Equality Impact Assessment, and questions why…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor clashing with Ulster Pipe Band Championships Original release: North Down TUV demands accountability from local council (opens in a new tab)