Latest releases
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2,922 releases
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Empey comments on Lord Benyon letter
Lord Empey, UUP peer and member of the Lords Committee on the Northern Ireland Protocol, says Lord Benyon's letter on physical infrastructure at NI ports is not the real reason for the checks, blaming the Government for sidelining the NI Department of Agriculture and calling for talks and a fresh…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lord Benyon letter on Protocol green and red lanes Original release: Empey comments on Lord Benyon letter (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney – construction of post-Brexit check facilities necessary
Sinn Féin Brexit Spokesperson Declan Kearney MLA welcomes the British government's plan to legislate for a legal basis for post-Brexit checks at ports of entry, calling it long overdue. He criticises the DUP's earlier pause on procurement for agri-food checks and urges the British government to…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: British government legislation for post-Brexit port of entry checks Original release: Kearney – construction of post-Brexit check facilities necessary (opens in a new tab)
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Enhancement of Protocol related infrastructure at Northern Ireland ports is unacceptable - Elliott
UUP DAERA spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says the UK government is giving ground to the EU by enhancing checks at Northern Ireland ports on goods moving onward to the EU, while the Westminster Protocol Bill offers nothing positive. He calls for progress information on UK-EU talks.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Enhanced checks at Northern Ports on onward EU-bound goods Original release: Enhancement of Protocol related infrastructure at Northern Ireland ports is unacceptable - Elliott (opens in a new tab)
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Gerry Kelly expresses condolences to the family of Bobby Lavery
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly offers sympathy after the death of former North Belfast councillor Bobby Lavery, who died in the US, and pays tribute to his decades of republican activism in the New Lodge and on Belfast City Council.
Other Justice and policing Original release: Gerry Kelly expresses condolences to the family of Bobby Lavery (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill expresses deepest sympathies to families of those killed in Tyrone road collision
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Designate and Mid Ulster MLA, offers sympathy to families of three adults who died in a Co. Tyrone road crash, and wishes recovery for the other casualties.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Co. Tyrone road traffic collision December 2022 Original release: O’Neill expresses deepest sympathies to families of those killed in Tyrone road collision (opens in a new tab)
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TUV warns against extension of “Gender Recognition” legislation to Northern Ireland
TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth criticises Alliance MP Stephen Farry for welcoming Scotland's Gender Recognition Reform Bill and wanting it extended to Northern Ireland. She claims the bill risks women's safe spaces, allows sex offenders to apply for recognition, and should be repealed.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Scotland Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill passed Original release: TUV warns against extension of “Gender Recognition” legislation to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Ofcom report demonstrates benefits of DUP broadband investment
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says the Ofcom Connected Nations 2022 report shows the benefits of DUP-secured broadband investment, citing full fibre availability of 85% in Northern Ireland against 41% in England and 71% in Fermanagh and Omagh.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Ofcom Connected Nations 2022 report on broadband availability Original release: Ofcom report demonstrates benefits of DUP broadband investment (opens in a new tab)
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‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse
SDLP Representative for Cusher Emmajayne McKernan urges people experiencing domestic abuse to seek support over the festive period, after a meeting with Women's Aid. She directs people to Armagh Down Women's Aid for confidential help.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: ‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people
Alliance representatives express concern at planned Education Authority cuts to youth services, which could close LGBTQ youth groups. Connie Egan MLA says she has written to the EA seeking Section 75 protections in funding applications, while Andrew Muir MLA calls for the decision to be reversed.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Authority cuts to youth services and LGBTQ youth groups Original release: Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people (opens in a new tab)
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Solutions needed to maintain Heathrow connectivity – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris urging urgent action on the Aer Lingus Belfast City to Heathrow route, which faces disruption from EU carrier rules after March 2023. She calls for a derogation or faster UK registration and certification for the…
Infrastructure and transport International affairs Issue: Aer Lingus Belfast City to Heathrow route withdrawal Original release: Solutions needed to maintain Heathrow connectivity – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement
Alliance Communities Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for the NI Act to be updated to remove designation in the Assembly, following the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Annual Statement. She advocates a weighted majority system to replace the current designation system.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: NIHRC Annual Statement 2022 on equality law and Assembly designation Original release: Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement (opens in a new tab)
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High air pollution demonstrates need for urgent and consistent action on air quality, says Alliance MLAs
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Paula Bradshaw say high air pollution warnings in parts of the north west show air quality needs urgent action from the incoming Executive. Blair blames the outgoing minister for refusing extra monitoring sites and says the Clean Air Strategy has not been delivered.
Environment and climate Health Issue: North west Northern Ireland high air pollution warnings December 2022 Original release: High air pollution demonstrates need for urgent and consistent action on air quality, says Alliance MLAs (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín writes to Speaker over ‘unacceptable comments’
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says UUP leader Doug Beattie’s remarks about women on the Assembly floor were totally unacceptable and fell below expected standards, and she has written to the Speaker urging the incident be formally acknowledged.
Disability and equality Issue: Doug Beattie comments on women in Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín writes to Speaker over ‘unacceptable comments’ (opens in a new tab)
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“Abortion Censorship Zones Echo the Ban in Civil Rights Marches in the North” – Denise Mullen
Aontú Cllr Denise Mullen criticises the UK Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Abortion Censorship Bill, arguing it restricts pro-life campaigners and cites 6,412 public submissions, mostly opposed. She calls on Stormont to reverse the bill and fund support for women with unplanned pregnancies.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Safe Access Zones legislation Original release: “Abortion Censorship Zones Echo the Ban in Civil Rights Marches in the North” – Denise Mullen (opens in a new tab)
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Clare Bailey has welcomed today’s ruling from the Supreme Court
Green Party MLA Clare Bailey welcomes the Supreme Court ruling that the Northern Ireland Assembly had legal competence to pass the Safe Access Zones Bill, which will now proceed to Royal Assent. She pays tribute to campaigners and says the ruling paves the way for similar legislation elsewhere.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Safe Access Zones legislation Original release: Clare Bailey has welcomed today’s ruling from the Supreme Court (opens in a new tab)
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Outcome of COP15 crucial to secure future for nature, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl, Chair of the All Party Group on Climate, argues ahead of COP15 in Montreal that the outcome will be crucial for nature as well as climate. She criticises the Prime Minister's decision not to attend and the Retained EU Law Bill, and says Northern Ireland's absence from…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP15 UN biodiversity conference in Montreal, December 2022 Original release: Outcome of COP15 crucial to secure future for nature, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling shows benefit of functioning Stormont, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes a UK Supreme Court ruling that allows the Safe Access Zones Bill to become law in Northern Ireland, upholding the ban on protests outside abortion service facilities, and cites it as evidence of a functioning Stormont.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Safe Access Zones legislation Original release: Supreme Court ruling shows benefit of functioning Stormont, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Women have waited too long for modern and compassionate health services – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls on the Department of Health to start commissioning abortion services for women in the north now, after the British Secretary of State instructed it to do so. She says women have waited long enough and have had to travel to England, often alone.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Women have waited too long for modern and compassionate health services – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's decision to waive building control fees for individual loft insulation applications, saying it will make insulation more affordable amid the cost of living crisis.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council waiving building control fees for loft insulation Original release: Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's ringfenced funding and formal instruction to the Department of Health to commission reproductive health services, calling it a further step, while urging swift full provision locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)