Latest releases
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3,573 releases
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill.
Green Party leader Councillor Mal O'Hara welcomes Royal Assent for the Buffer Zones Bill, which he says will be enforceable from 7 May 2023 and end intimidation of people accessing abortion services. He credits former MLA Clare Bailey and campaigners.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Safe Access Zones Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming law Original release: Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill. (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling highlights legitimate concerns of Unionists – Aiken
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken says the Supreme Court's findings on the Protocol show Unionist concerns are legitimate, and calls on the UK Government to replace it with an agreement restoring Northern Ireland's place in the UK Internal Market.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Supreme Court ruling highlights legitimate concerns of Unionists – Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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We need to focus on pragmatic solutions after Supreme Court’s Protocol judgement, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the UK Supreme Court's ruling that the NI Protocol is lawful shows pragmatic solutions are needed, calling for all Northern Ireland parties to focus on a deal through the current UK-EU negotiations and restored institutions.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: We need to focus on pragmatic solutions after Supreme Court’s Protocol judgement, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP statement following Supreme Court judgment
SDLP Assembly Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling that the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful and urges EU and UK negotiators to reach a resolution protecting Northern Ireland's access to the Single Market while addressing implementation concerns. He also urges caution…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: SDLP statement following Supreme Court judgment (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson and Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says a 7% Translink fares increase, directed by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, will hit families struggling with the cost of living. He calls for sustainable transport to be made more accessible rather than costlier.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Translink 7% fares increase directed by Secretary of State Original release: Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Roundtable talks must address restoration proposals
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says roundtable talks with the British Government in Belfast must address Assembly reform and restoration, and calls on other parties to back the SDLP's proposal to change how an Assembly Speaker is elected to end the deadlock.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Roundtable talks between parties and British Government in Belfast Original release: Eastwood: Roundtable talks must address restoration proposals (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart – Protocol has undermined stability
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Protocol was a mistake pressed ahead despite unionist opposition, and calls for it to be replaced with arrangements unionists can support, after an exchange with Sir John Major at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sir John Major exchange at Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the Protocol Original release: Lockhart – Protocol has undermined stability (opens in a new tab)
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TUV announces Braid council candidates
TUV announces Cllr Christopher Jamieson and Matthew Warwick as its Braid council candidates for Mid & East Antrim, saying they offer rural and urban representation and calling for accountable local government. Jim Allister pays tribute to outgoing Cllr Brian Collins after nine years.
Local government Constitutional affairs Original release: TUV announces Braid council candidates (opens in a new tab)
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Red and green lanes means acceptance of a border dividing the UK
TUV leader Jim Allister says proposed red and green lanes would confirm and solidify the Irish Sea border, with the UK policing the EU single market and costly declarations and spot checks inhibiting trade. He argues the Protocol's sovereignty issue, including EU law imposed on Northern Ireland…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Red and green lanes proposal in possible UK-EU deal Original release: Red and green lanes means acceptance of a border dividing the UK (opens in a new tab)
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Latest reports on progress in protocol talks very encouraging – Kearney
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Brexit Declan Kearney welcomes reports of possible new progress in EU-UK talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol, citing British government movement on sharing goods-flow data. He calls for the Assembly to be restored immediately and urges the DUP to end its blocking of…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Reports of new EU-UK progress in Northern Ireland Protocol talks Original release: Latest reports on progress in protocol talks very encouraging – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol – a strategy for Irish unity
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol is a deliberate strategy for Irish unity, arguing it intensifies harmonisation on the island and undermines the UK's internal market, and calls for it to be scrapped in full.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Protocol – a strategy for Irish unity (opens in a new tab)