Latest releases
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3,573 releases
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Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson, speaking as COP27 closed with a deal on loss and damage funding for vulnerable nations, says wealthy industrialised countries bear disproportionate blame for climate harm and calls for justice for affected communities. He welcomes the new fund and points to Alliance's…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency (opens in a new tab)
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Former Finance Minister’s failures laid bare: Forsythe
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says Finance Minister Conor Murphy failed to set a budget and manage Northern Ireland expenditure, criticising the budget's impact on public services and households. She also accuses Michelle O'Neill of misleading claims and says the Secretary of State should…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State sets Northern Ireland budget for executive departments Original release: Former Finance Minister’s failures laid bare: Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Donaldson - Protocol destroyed cross-community balance
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells the Foreign Press Association in London that Stormont has no solid foundation unless the Protocol is replaced with arrangements unionists can support. He says the Protocol has eroded cross-community balance and that devolved government cannot work without its…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Donaldson - Protocol destroyed cross-community balance (opens in a new tab)
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TUV spells out the case against Sinn Fein rule
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MLA argues in a News Letter platform piece that unionists should not serve under a Sinn Fein First Minister, citing PSNI assessments that Sinn Fein is controlled by the IRA Army Council and criticising Michelle O'Neill's remarks on IRA violence. He also dismisses joint…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: TUV spells out the case against Sinn Fein rule (opens in a new tab)
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Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says unpaid carers are among those worst affected by rising living costs, citing higher energy, heating, food and transport bills. She points to new figures showing 27% of carers struggling to make ends meet and 23% cutting back on essentials, and blames the DUP's…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI cost of living statistics on carers' financial struggles Original release: Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood challenges British Government on criteria for unity referendum
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP calls on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to publish clear criteria for an Irish unity referendum, saying democratic transparency is needed after a Supreme Court ruling on Scottish independence powers.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Scottish independence referendum Original release: Eastwood challenges British Government on criteria for unity referendum (opens in a new tab)
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"Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers."
Aontú's Kieran Mc Causland, Upper Bann representative, calls for urgent funding and reliable respite breaks for unpaid carers, citing the £69.70 weekly carer's allowance and the loss of entitlement for those earning above £132.
Social security and welfare Health Original release: "Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers." (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes new air route announcement
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair welcomes plans by Fly Atlantic to launch a transatlantic route from Belfast International Airport from summer 2024. He calls on the UK Government to protect connectivity for outlying parts of the UK while cutting aviation's carbon footprint.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Fly Atlantic proposed transatlantic and European routes from Belfast International Airport Original release: Blair welcomes new air route announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Beware of well packaged but meaningless change on Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister warns unionists against settling for less than full restoration of UK sovereignty over Northern Ireland in the Protocol talks with the EU. He sets out tests for any deal, including whether EU single market, customs and VAT laws still apply and whether Irish Sea checks remain.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Beware of well packaged but meaningless change on Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent need for a negotiated solution on veterinary medicines, says Brown
Alliance's Patrick Brown MLA urges an extension of the grace period for veterinary medicines to give EU and UK negotiators more time, warning that disruption could harm animal welfare and cut supply in Northern Ireland. He also criticises the DUP for boycotting the Assembly and Executive while…
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: Veterinary medicines grace period expiry under the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Urgent need for a negotiated solution on veterinary medicines, says Brown (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup
SDLP Sports Spokesperson Justin McNulty criticises FIFA's threat of bookings against teams wearing OneLove armbands at the World Cup, calling it a disgrace and urging players to find other ways to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community in Qatar.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: FIFA threat of bookings over OneLove armbands at World Cup Original release: McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes the COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance for poorer countries but says it does not go far enough. He calls for radical action on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and urges restoration of the Executive so Northern…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he has written to members of the House of Lords to reiterate opposition to the British government's Legacy Bill, which he claims will block families seeking truth and justice. He calls on peers to urge the government to implement the Stormont House Agreement legacy…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government Legacy Bill House of Lords Original release: Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe – Protocol not acceptable to unionists
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says she told Taoiseach Micheál Martin during his constituency visit that the Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support. She also questions the Narrow Water bridge project, citing Trader Support Service costs and urging investment in…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Taoiseach Micheál Martin's visit to South Down and Narrow Water bridge progress Original release: Forsythe – Protocol not acceptable to unionists (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language not part of “shared heritage”
TUV North Down spokesperson John Gordon criticises Alliance's Stephen Farry and the party for welcoming the Identity and Language Bill and describing Irish as shared heritage, arguing Irish is not a shared heritage because unionists do not regard it as part of their identity and citing 2021 Census…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language Bill passage through Westminster Commons Original release: Irish language not part of “shared heritage” (opens in a new tab)
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Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair says the outcome of COP27 will be crucial for securing nature's future, arguing climate change and biodiversity loss are linked. He warns that without concrete targets at the climate summit and success at the UN Biodiversity Conference, halting biodiversity…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 climate summit outcome and UN Biodiversity Conference targets Original release: Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Paisley presses Chancellor on Autumn statement
DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley responds to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, saying Northern Ireland benefits from UK-wide schemes but the budget is challenging. He calls for a clear timetable for the increased oil and electricity payments and for Tax-Free Childcare to be increased.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Fiscal Statement November 2022 Northern Ireland funding Original release: Paisley presses Chancellor on Autumn statement (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart secures Equality Commission commitment on Ulster-Scots…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Census 2021 figures show similar ability in Irish and Ulster-Scots, yet funding is far unequal, and welcomes an Equality Commission pledge to assess the equality implications of the £4m An Ciste Infheistiochta Gaeilge award.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Census 2021 language findings and Equality Commission funding assessment commitment Original release: Lockhart secures Equality Commission commitment on Ulster-Scots… (opens in a new tab)
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This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara criticises the Chancellor's Autumn Statement as austerity that will deepen recession, and says it fails to protect vulnerable people, tackle tax avoidance or deliver adequate climate action. He also says the DUP blockade of the Assembly stops the £650 million Barnett…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK (opens in a new tab)
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Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the Chancellor's Autumn Statement is painful for the economy and public services, warning of "Austerity 2.0" and calling for investment in a Green New Deal, insulation and renewables instead, plus wealth and windfall taxes.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry (opens in a new tab)