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3,573 releases
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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)
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Protocol should serve as warning on damage to power-sharing: Paisley
DUP MP Ian Paisley says the incoming Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, must accept the damage the Northern Ireland Protocol has done to power-sharing if he wants to prioritise it. He calls for a Protocol solution that respects Northern Ireland's place in the UK and has cross-community support.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Protocol should serve as warning on damage to power-sharing: Paisley (opens in a new tab)
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Heaton-Harris must tell people when they will get £600 energy payment – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy challenges Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to set out steps taken to restore the Assembly and Executive and to say when people will receive the £600 energy payment. Murphy also calls for progress on talks with the EU over the Protocol.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Heaton-Harris must tell people when they will get £600 energy payment – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Hume’s gift to Derry enduring reminder of road to peace
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP welcomes the permanent display of John Hume's peace prizes in Derry's Guildhall, gifted by Pat Hume, and says they will remind people of the road to peace. He calls on those carrying Hume's legacy to keep working toward a shared Ireland and warns against division and…
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Display of John Hume's peace prizes at Derry Guildhall Original release: Eastwood: Hume’s gift to Derry enduring reminder of road to peace (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol is holding back devolution: Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds tells the Secretary of State that the Assembly and Executive cannot function while the Protocol stands, and rejects his plan to adjust MLA pay and delay energy payments as a route to restoring devolution.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's proposals to restore Stormont devolution Original release: Protocol is holding back devolution: Dodds (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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Sinn Féin Commission publishes report of Belfast People’s Assembly
Declan Kearney MLA, Chairperson of the Sinn Féin Commission on the Future of Ireland, has published the report on the Belfast People's Assembly, held in the Waterfront Hall, and says the audience backed a Citizens' Assembly on constitutional change.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Commission Belfast People's Assembly report publication Original release: Sinn Féin Commission publishes report of Belfast People’s Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Allister responds to MLA pay announcement
TUV leader Jim Allister says he takes no issue with the cut to MLA pay but strongly objects to the UK government's failure to restore Northern Ireland's full place within the UK over the Protocol. He criticises the government's handling of the Supreme Court Article 6 argument, the stalled Protocol…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State letter on cutting MLA pay Original release: Allister responds to MLA pay announcement (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Businesses clear on Protocol benefits
SDLP Stormont Leader Matthew O'Toole cites an NICCI and Invest NI survey finding 54% of members believe the Protocol is helping their businesses grow, and calls for the EU and UK to address Brexit-related goods issues while retaining its benefits. He also criticises the DUP's boycott of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: NICCI and Invest NI survey on Protocol benefits for businesses Original release: O’Toole: Businesses clear on Protocol benefits (opens in a new tab)
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Make the payment now – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart backs the Consumer Council NI's call for the UK Government to issue the Energy Bill Support Scheme payment to Northern Ireland households immediately. She says the delay is politically motivated and that the Government could pay now.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: £600 energy support payment delay in Northern Ireland Original release: Make the payment now – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Form Executive now to give £600 energy payment to families – Michelle O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill calls on the DUP to rethink its boycott and form an Executive now, so a £600 energy payment can reach families struggling with cold homes and rising bills. She also urges the British government to resolve the nurses' pay dispute and intensify EU negotiations.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly recall over Executive formation and £600 energy payment delay Original release: Form Executive now to give £600 energy payment to families – Michelle O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly stunt provides useful distraction for Sinn Fein: Lyons
DUP MLA Gordon Lyons says the recalled Assembly sitting was a political stunt that distracted from Special Criminal Court proceedings in Dublin concerning Sinn Féin's alleged links to gangsterism. He calls on the UK Government to deliver the Energy Support Payment to all parts of the UK.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly recall over Executive formation and £600 energy payment delay Original release: Assembly stunt provides useful distraction for Sinn Fein: Lyons (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)