Latest releases
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3,573 releases
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‘No time to waste on forming Executive to deliver for people’ – Michelle O’Neill after Tánaiste meeting
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Leas-Uachtarán, urges the DUP to return to the Executive table and form an Executive quickly, after meeting Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Belfast. She says the DUP's block is hurting public services, energy costs and Dáithí's Law on organ donation.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Michelle O'Neill and Tánaiste Micheál Martin Belfast meeting on Executive formation Original release: ‘No time to waste on forming Executive to deliver for people’ – Michelle O’Neill after Tánaiste meeting (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - "Protocol must be replaced with arrangements that…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says he met Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin in Belfast, urging that the Protocol be swapped for arrangements unionists can back. He also calls on the Republic to run a parallel process to the Omagh bombing inquiry.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson meeting with Micheál Martin in Belfast on Omagh inquiry Original release: Sir Jeffrey - "Protocol must be replaced with arrangements that… (opens in a new tab)
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Irish translation service costing over £100,000 while Assembly doesn’t sit
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Irish-English interpretation service introduced after a June 2021 Assembly vote has cost the public purse £117,075.41, including agency staff costs, while the Assembly is not sitting. He calls the spending scandalous.
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish/English interpretation service cost figures from Assembly Commission Original release: Irish translation service costing over £100,000 while Assembly doesn’t sit (opens in a new tab)
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Utterly shameful Northern Ireland remains without a First and deputy First Minister, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA says the year-long absence of a First and deputy First Minister is damaging society, citing unpassed legislation including hate crime and violence against women strategies, and urges those blocking the Executive to end the deadlock.
Constitutional affairs Issue: One year without First and deputy First Minister after Givan resignation Original release: Utterly shameful Northern Ireland remains without a First and deputy First Minister, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag
TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper condemns Alliance's use of the call-in process to overturn the council's vote for permanent Union Flag displays at all 13 Ards and North Down war memorials and the Newtownards council building. He says Alliance is undermining democracy and calls for the…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council Union Flag call-in decision Original release: Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA, marking World Wetlands Day, says action is needed now to protect and rebuild NI's wetland ecosystems. He welcomes progress on peatland restoration but says the region trails other jurisdictions and is badly underfunded.
Environment and climate Original release: Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says a meeting with Northern Ireland Office officials on Relationship and Sexuality Education was positive and urges the Secretary of State to implement CEDAW-based RSE as a priority. She cites a Belfast Youth Forum study finding 73% of young people…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Office meeting on Relationship and Sexuality Education Original release: Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Dodds issues warning over medicines supply to Northern Ireland
The DUP's Lord Dodds warns the Government to act on medicine supply to Northern Ireland, citing a year-end cliff edge that could see vital medicines withdrawn. He calls for medicines to be removed from the Protocol, arguing that EU rules and checks cause the problem.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords sub-committee evidence on Protocol impact on medicine supply Original release: Lord Dodds issues warning over medicines supply to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Paisley - focus on substance rather than speculation
DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley says Westminster commentary on a UK‑EU deal is mere wishful thinking and urges focus on concrete steps, insisting the Northern Ireland Protocol must be replaced with arrangements that restore devolution and NI’s position in the UK internal market.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Speculation on UK‑EU deal and NI Protocol replacement Original release: Paisley - focus on substance rather than speculation (opens in a new tab)
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Government kite flying over Protocol deal offers no basis for progress
TUV leader Jim Allister says a Times newspaper report on government suggestions for the Protocol does nothing to address sovereignty concerns, arguing the talks are not changing the legal text and that no principled Unionist could implement the Protocol through Stormont.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Times report on government Protocol suggestions Original release: Government kite flying over Protocol deal offers no basis for progress (opens in a new tab)
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‘Pragmatic and durable solution on Protocol must be priority’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says talks between the British Government and the EU should keep working toward a lasting, practical settlement on the Northern Ireland Protocol, after recent progress. He calls for good-faith engagement and argues the Protocol protects the all-island economy.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Recent progress on Northern Ireland Protocol talks between UK and EU Original release: ‘Pragmatic and durable solution on Protocol must be priority’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Restoration of internal market would assist economic growth – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the UK Government must urgently restore the internal market to boost Northern Ireland's economy, after raising the issue in a Commons Urgent Question on IMF growth forecasts. She says investment is stalling while businesses await a new Protocol deal and calls for a…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: IMF forecast showing UK recession as only G7 economy shrinking Original release: Restoration of internal market would assist economic growth – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation
DUP's Sammy Wilson welcomes progress of the Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill through Commons scrutiny, saying it is needed to stop trophy hunting of near-extinct animals. He warns the bill cannot cover Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, creating a smuggling loophole, and urges…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill Commons scrutiny Original release: Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara has detailed the dystopia of Brexit
Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara says Brexit has harmed the UK economy, environmental protections and Northern Ireland's institutions, marking three years since the UK left the EU. He calls for all Executive parties to return to government and says the EU and UK must resolve protocol problems.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara has detailed the dystopia of Brexit (opens in a new tab)
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Appalling post-Brexit UK economic prospects make case for a new future: O’Toole
SDLP Stormont Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says the IMF's forecast of UK contraction in 2023 underlines the need to protect the Northern Ireland Protocol's economic benefits and plan a future inside the EU within a new Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: IMF forecast showing UK recession as only G7 economy shrinking Original release: Appalling post-Brexit UK economic prospects make case for a new future: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard slams intimidatory sign at local school
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard condemns a 'racist and intimidatory' sign placed outside a school in Clough that attacked Irish-language learners and named the school. He urges anyone with information to contact the police.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Clough school intimidatory sign targeting Irish-language learners Original release: Hazzard slams intimidatory sign at local school (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey announces Assembly spokespeople
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP announces a reshuffle of the DUP Assembly team's spokespeople, with portfolios including Finance, Health, Justice and Policing. He says the Protocol is not disconnected from public services, citing £318.7 million spent on the Trader Support Service.
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Sir Jeffrey announces Assembly spokespeople (opens in a new tab)
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Three years on, NDNA commitments not being fulfilled – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the UK Government has failed to deliver its New Decade, New Approach commitments, including on consensus politics, UK internal market status and 7,500 police officers. She says Stormont cannot be restored until the Protocol is replaced.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Three years on, NDNA commitments not being fulfilled – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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All-party talks should take place immediately to discuss institutional reform in order to get the Assembly and Executive back up and running, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA calls for immediate all-party talks on reforming the institutions to restore the Assembly and Executive, citing the cost of living crisis and health service problems caused by the lack of an Executive.
Constitutional affairs Original release: All-party talks should take place immediately to discuss institutional reform in order to get the Assembly and Executive back up and running, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – “don’t make the same mistake twice”
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sir Jeffrey – “don’t make the same mistake twice” (opens in a new tab)