Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
3,564 releases
-
Assembly recall about stunt politics rather than powersharing
DUP East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says the Assembly recall on Tuesday is stunt politics rather than a route to restoring powersharing, noting a Speaker will not be elected. He says energy support payments and Dáithí's Law can be delivered via Westminster, and that Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will seek an…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly recall petition for Tuesday sitting, February 2023 Original release: Assembly recall about stunt politics rather than powersharing (opens in a new tab)
-
Taoiseach Supports Aontú Campaign to Have Cash Ticket Purchases Returned to GAA Matches
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, the Meath West TD, calls on the GAA to reverse its move away from cash ticket sales at matches, saying it excludes older fans. He welcomes the Taoiseach's support in the Dáil and urges at least one cash turnstile per match.
Disability and equality Issue: GAA cash ticket purchase ban at matches Original release: Taoiseach Supports Aontú Campaign to Have Cash Ticket Purchases Returned to GAA Matches (opens in a new tab)
-
Onus still on Secretary of State to act on organ donation – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says the Assembly sitting will achieve little because the DUP will block election of a Speaker, so he urges the Secretary of State to take action to stop further delay to organ donation legislation. He also calls for devolution to be restored urgently.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont Assembly sitting without a Speaker and organ donation legislation delay Original release: Onus still on Secretary of State to act on organ donation – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP refusal to move on quickest, surest route to organ donation law implementation is unedifying, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the DUP's refusal to let the Assembly meet to approve Dáithí's Law is pointless, and urges an immediate Speaker election so organ donation regulations can take effect.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Dáithí's Law implementation and Assembly recall to elect Speaker Original release: DUP refusal to move on quickest, surest route to organ donation law implementation is unedifying, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Blair condemns pollution in Crumlin River and expresses concern over impact on environment and local wildlife
Alliance Agriculture & Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA condemns a slurry spill under investigation in the Crumlin River and its impact on fish and wildlife, and says he has written to DAERA asking when it was reported, what action was taken and for details of a fish kill.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Crumlin River slurry spill and fish kill investigation Original release: Blair condemns pollution in Crumlin River and expresses concern over impact on environment and local wildlife (opens in a new tab)
-
If Acts of Union suspended, then Stormont also need to stay down
TUV leader Jim Allister, speaking at the Lagan Valley TUV fundraising dinner, says a Supreme Court ruling that the Protocol overrides part of Article 6 leaves the Union in crisis and calls on unionists to keep Stormont suspended until the Acts of Union are fully restored.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: If Acts of Union suspended, then Stormont also need to stay down (opens in a new tab)
-
Shameful political exploitation of tragic family situation
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Assembly recall to activate Daithi's Law would not assure Daithi a transplant, calling the Secretary of State's proposal political exploitation and urging Westminster to approve the outstanding regulations.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Dáithí's Law implementation and Assembly recall to elect Speaker Original release: Shameful political exploitation of tragic family situation (opens in a new tab)
-
Organ donation should not be used as blackmail for return of…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urges the UK Government to stop tying Dáithí's Law on organ donation to restoring devolution, and says he will table a Westminster amendment on 22 February to finish the legislation by spring.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Daithi's Law organ donation secondary legislation Westminster progress Original release: Organ donation should not be used as blackmail for return of… (opens in a new tab)
-
The Suspension of Democracy In The North of Ireland Is Dangerous and Damaging – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín condemns the British Government's decision to push back the timetable for reforming the Executive and Stormont elections to January 2024, calling the suspension dangerous and damaging. He calls for reform of the law underpinning Stormont and says Aontú is investigating a…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont Executive reformation and elections timetable pushed back to January 2024 Original release: The Suspension of Democracy In The North of Ireland Is Dangerous and Damaging – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
-
Recent anniversary puts need for reform back on the table, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA calls for reform of the Assembly and Executive, including letting the next largest party nominate a First and deputy First Minister if one party declines, replacing parallel consent with weighted majority voting, and restricting petitions of concern.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Recent anniversary puts need for reform back on the table, says Long (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: DUP need to do right thing for people in North
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath says the DUP should support nominating an Assembly Speaker so Dáithí's Law can pass, and condemns Ian Paisley's comments on recalling the Assembly for it. He says the SDLP would back recall for the legislation but wants a wider solution to…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Dáithí's Law implementation and Assembly recall to elect Speaker Original release: McGrath: DUP need to do right thing for people in North (opens in a new tab)
-
Progress only possible with support of both unionists and nationalists
DUP MLAs Gordon Lyons and Emma Little-Pengelly, after meeting Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, say progress needs unionist and nationalist support and urge spending on public services instead of the £18,000-an-hour Trader Support Service.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris Belfast meeting on Executive restoration and budget Original release: Progress only possible with support of both unionists and nationalists (opens in a new tab)
-
We need an Executive up and running and investment in essential public services – McDonald
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald urges the formation of a Stormont Executive now and calls on the British Government to increase funding for public services instead of cuts, after meeting the Secretary of State with Michelle O'Neill.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill meeting with Chris Heaton-Harris on Executive formation Original release: We need an Executive up and running and investment in essential public services – McDonald (opens in a new tab)
-
Extension of bereavement benefits is welcomed says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong welcomes new legislation extending bereavement benefit to parents of dependent children whose cohabiting partner has died, including backdated payments and a 12-month application window. She urges anyone needing help with applications to contact…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Bereavement benefit extension to cohabiting parents legislation Original release: Extension of bereavement benefits is welcomed says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin voices concern that the Executive Office has warned work on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy may stall without a functioning Executive, blaming the DUP boycott for putting it at risk.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office warning on delayed Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Original release: McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
-
Eastwood: Focus must be on restoring Stormont
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP says Stormont must be restored to address waiting lists, pay, energy costs and public services, responding to reports of legislation delaying an Assembly election to next year. He calls on the British Government not to ease pressure and urges parties to back the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Heaton-Harris legislation delaying Assembly election until next year Original release: Eastwood: Focus must be on restoring Stormont (opens in a new tab)
-
Any deal between Brussels & London must address democratic deficit – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says any Brussels-London deal on the Irish Protocol must tackle the democratic deficit affecting citizens in the North. He urges Dublin to let northern citizens vote in the next European Parliament elections and welcomes speculation about including Belfast MLAs in the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Brussels-London Irish Protocol deal speculation and democratic deficit Original release: Any deal between Brussels & London must address democratic deficit – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
-
Kearney welcomes Supreme Court judgement and said it’s time to move forward politically
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Supreme Court ruling that the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful, says Brexit created division and the Protocol limits damage, and calls for a swift political deal between the UK and EU to make it work better.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Kearney welcomes Supreme Court judgement and said it’s time to move forward politically (opens in a new tab)
-
Supreme Court ruling does not alter necessity of political campaign against Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Supreme Court ruling that the Northern Ireland Protocol was lawfully made does not reduce its political unacceptability, and calls for the political campaign against the Protocol to intensify. He argues the finding that Article 6 of the Acts of Union has been…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Supreme Court ruling does not alter necessity of political campaign against Protocol (opens in a new tab)
-
Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urges the Government to consider the Supreme Court judgement and its own arguments in the case, and to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support (opens in a new tab)