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3,565 releases
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald, speaking after Leo Varadkar's election as Taoiseach, says the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green coalition has failed, citing the housing emergency, hospital waiting lists and foodbank reliance.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Long congratulates Varadkar on second term as Taoiseach and pays tribute to Martin
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA congratulates Leo Varadkar on starting his second term as Taoiseach, thanks Micheál Martin for his work, and pays tribute to Simon Coveney as he likely leaves Foreign Affairs.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Long congratulates Varadkar on second term as Taoiseach and pays tribute to Martin (opens in a new tab)
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Varadkar has a lot of work to do in rebuilding relations with Unionists – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says Leo Varadkar's return as Taoiseach comes at a sensitive point in EU-UK talks and Anglo-Irish relations. He wishes Micheál Martin well, but says Varadkar must repair ties with unionists and hopes he has matured on Brexit and the Protocol.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Varadkar has a lot of work to do in rebuilding relations with Unionists – Beattie (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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Court ruling on reckless attempt to halt port checks ‘welcome’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes a court ruling that found former agriculture minister Edwin Poots acted unlawfully in trying to stop checks on goods at ports. He also urges the DUP to end its Executive boycott and return to work amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Court ruling on attempt to halt Northern Ireland port checks Original release: Court ruling on reckless attempt to halt port checks ‘welcome’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist refusal to operate Stormont vindicated by Protocol judgement
TUV leader Jim Allister says a High Court ruling that former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots and his department were required to impose Protocol checks vindicates Unionists refusing to run Stormont while the Protocol stands. He argues Stormont cannot be operated while opposing the Protocol and…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Court ruling on attempt to halt Northern Ireland port checks Original release: Unionist refusal to operate Stormont vindicated by Protocol judgement (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP welcomes court ruling on Poots’ ‘desperate protocol stunt’
SDLP Assembly Group Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes a High Court ruling quashing former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots' instruction to suspend protocol-related checks, calling the decision overtly political and a cynical DUP move before the Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Court ruling on attempt to halt Northern Ireland port checks Original release: SDLP welcomes court ruling on Poots’ ‘desperate protocol stunt’ (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna frustrated with lack of progress following NI Secretary meeting
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna says her party is frustrated at the slow pace of talks after meeting the Secretary of State, criticising the lack of clarity on the £600 energy payment and on EU Protocol negotiations. She calls for urgent government action to restore the Assembly and Executive.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: NI Secretary meeting with Northern Ireland parties on Stormont talks Original release: Hanna frustrated with lack of progress following NI Secretary meeting (opens in a new tab)
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Beware of the spin of Protocol fanatics
TUV leader Jim Allister warns against spin on NISRA 2021 trade figures, arguing the claimed GB trade rise compares with a Covid-depressed 2020 and that grace periods and the £300m Business Support Service mask the Protocol's full impact. He says the Protocol remains irredeemable for unionists.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Beware of the spin of Protocol fanatics (opens in a new tab)
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Trade data debunks false claims around the Protocol – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says newly released trade data shows the Protocol is having a positive impact on the local economy, citing increased trade from Britain to the north. She calls for an early negotiated settlement between the British government and the EU to give businesses certainty.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Trade data debunks false claims around the Protocol – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Internal UK trade highlights need to restore NI’s place within UK…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says trade with the rest of the UK shows why Northern Ireland's standing in the UK internal market must be fully reinstated. He argues the Trader Support Service is propping up trade and calls on the government to make the restoration a priority.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Internal UK trade highlights need to restore NI’s place within UK… (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald address to Liam Mellows commemoration
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers an oration at the centenary commemoration for Liam Mellows in Castletown, Co. Wexford, recalling the 1922 executions of Mellows and three other republicans in Mountjoy Gaol. She links the executions to the Free State's reprisal policy and to…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: Mary Lou McDonald address to Liam Mellows commemoration (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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Hard data demolishes Protocol lies: O’Toole
Matthew O’Toole MLA, the SDLP’s Assembly group leader and Brexit spokesperson, says new NISRA figures refute DUP and UK minister claims that the Protocol has damaged GB‑NI trade, showing a 7% rise in purchases from Great Britain and higher export volumes to the Republic and EU, and calls for a plan
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Hard data demolishes Protocol lies: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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British Secretary of State must set out plan to restore power-sharing – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill MLA calls on the British Secretary of State to set out a clear plan to restore the Executive and Assembly before a meeting with the parties, and urges the Prime Minister to engage urgently. She also raises the delayed £600 energy payment.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: British Secretary of State invitation to parties on restoring power-sharing Original release: British Secretary of State must set out plan to restore power-sharing – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Internal Conservative Party politics holding up Protocol Bill
DUP MP Ian Paisley suggests the Prime Minister's pause of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill reflects internal Conservative Party politics more than prospects for a Brussels deal. He says the Protocol must be replaced by arrangements unionists can back, and warns that delaying the Bill also delays…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government pause on Northern Ireland Protocol Bill progression Original release: Internal Conservative Party politics holding up Protocol Bill (opens in a new tab)
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TUV calls out NIO deception
TUV leader Jim Allister accuses the NIO of playing politics by linking the £600 energy payment to the lack of a Stormont executive, arguing the civil service departments that delivered Covid payments still exist. He says the NIO is trying to force unionists into submission over the Protocol.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: NIO link between £600 energy payment and Stormont executive Original release: TUV calls out NIO deception (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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Protocol Bill has been tediously slow - Sir Jeffrey
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson writes to the Northern Ireland Secretary calling for the Government to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support, citing £318.7 million spent on the Trader Support Service and questioning the delay to £600 energy payments.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Protocol Bill delay and Trader Support Service costs Original release: Protocol Bill has been tediously slow - Sir Jeffrey (opens in a new tab)
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Essential role for Europe in managing constitutional change in Ireland – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA urges European progressive parties to back planning for constitutional change in Ireland, including an all-island Citizens' Assembly, while speaking at the European Left congress in Vienna.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Essential role for Europe in managing constitutional change in Ireland – Kearney (opens in a new tab)