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5,674 releases
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Political Parties should end towering hypocrisy on waiting lists - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA calls on other parties and candidates to stop making what he calls baseless claims about tackling Northern Ireland's waiting lists. He says their votes against a £135m health budget bid, which included outpatient mega-clinics and a reimbursement scheme, show hypocrisy.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive rejection of UUP health budget bid on waiting lists Original release: Political Parties should end towering hypocrisy on waiting lists - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs still lack suitable school places for September and urges the Education Minister to adopt a ‘SEN first’ strategy that embeds SEN pupils in schools’ planned enrolments, giving families assurance and schools clarity.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Shortfall of SEN school places for September 2024 Original release: SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Election is a question of trust
TUV leader Jim Allister says Unionist voters should back his party ahead of the 4 July election, arguing it alone has a consistent record of truthfulness and integrity. He criticises unnamed rivals over a shifting platform and says border posts are being built at the ports.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Election is a question of trust (opens in a new tab)
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'Beyond belief’ that the deputy First Minister doesn’t appear to have been aware of key waiting list document - Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie calls on deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to explain how she was unaware of the Elective Care Framework, which he says was endorsed by the Executive and proposes a £700m multi-year investment to tackle waiting lists. He says she appears not to have read the…
Health Issue: Little-Pengelly's awareness of Elective Care Framework waiting lists plan Original release: 'Beyond belief’ that the deputy First Minister doesn’t appear to have been aware of key waiting list document - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister Speaks Out Following Traders’ Concerns
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Green Lane Customs Border, due to start on 1 October, will entrench the Irish Sea border rather than remove it, rebutting DUP leader Gavin Robinson's claims that the border would be removed in the autumn. He cites traders' concerns about the complexity of the new…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Green Lane Customs Border introduction on 1 October Original release: Jim Allister Speaks Out Following Traders’ Concerns (opens in a new tab)
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UUP should withdraw misleading ‘poll’ advert – Lyons
DUP director of elections Gordon Lyons MLA urges UUP Lagan Valley candidate Robbie Butler to pull a social media advert he calls misleading, arguing its polling figures ignore the DUP's decision not to stand in North Down. He says the campaign is desperate and backs Jonathan Buckley as the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: UUP Lagan Valley social media poll advert Original release: UUP should withdraw misleading ‘poll’ advert – Lyons (opens in a new tab)
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BBC and UTV aren’t interested in real debate as they create echo chamber for Protocol implementors
TUV leader Jim Allister accuses the BBC and UTV of bias after both broadcasters excluded TUV from their leaders' debates, citing a late change to TUV's broadcast allocation and polling he says shows the party level with the SDLP. He says the broadcasters are creating echo chambers.
Constitutional affairs Issue: BBC and UTV exclusion of TUV from leaders' debates Original release: BBC and UTV aren’t interested in real debate as they create echo chamber for Protocol implementors (opens in a new tab)
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DUP position on their deal changing on a daily basis
TUV Lagan Valley candidate Lorna Smyth accuses the DUP of shifting positions on the Windsor Framework, citing claims about "zero checks, zero paperwork" and calls for mutual enforcement. She says the DUP's position on the deal that returned it to Stormont changes daily and cites Queen's polling on…
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP responses to Press Association questions on Windsor Framework checks Original release: DUP position on their deal changing on a daily basis (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch
The DUP, launching its General Election manifesto in East Belfast, says it will press the next Government to ensure Northern Ireland funding cannot fall below assessed need, citing a £124 for every £100 spent in England benchmark. It also lists its record on energy support, sub-postmasters…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: DUP Leader addresses Manifesto Launch (opens in a new tab)
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Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland welcomes Assembly approval of remote meetings regulations for councils, saying they give councillors with disabilities, caring duties or rural constituencies more flexible participation. She voices concern that each council will set its own hybrid working rules, which…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of local government remote meetings regulations 2024 Original release: Ms Mulholland welcomes introduction of hybrid working for Council groups (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD said Wolfe Tone’s legacy should inspire a united, independent Ireland and pledged Sinn Fein will work harder to deliver the Ireland people deserve, urging referendums on reunification and an all‑Ireland republic.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown (opens in a new tab)
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Former MP Endorses Kyle for East Londonderry
Former East Londonderry MP William Ross endorses Allister Kyle for the constituency at the general election, saying he has the ability to handle the challenges facing Northern Ireland. Ross warns Labour is set to win a large majority and says the Union is under threat over Article Six trade rules.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Former MP Endorses Kyle for East Londonderry (opens in a new tab)
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Restore the Union – TUV manifesto launch
TUV leader Jim Allister, speaking at the launch of the TUV/Reform UK manifesto, says the Union is splintered by the Protocol and accuses the DUP of falsely claiming the Irish Sea border had been removed under the Donaldson Deal. He calls on unionist voters to back TUV/Reform UK as the trustworthy…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: TUV/Reform UK manifesto launch Original release: Restore the Union – TUV manifesto launch (opens in a new tab)
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UUP leadership has questions to answer over GFA commitment following Collins' comments, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the UUP must clarify its position on the Good Friday Agreement after North Down candidate Colonel Tim Collins backed leaving the European Court of Human Rights, which she argues would undermine the agreement's policing and justice reforms.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Tim Collins comments on leaving the European Court of Human Rights Original release: UUP leadership has questions to answer over GFA commitment following Collins' comments, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Mutual Enforcement: An idea whose time has come!
The TUV welcomes a statement by former Ulster Unionist MLA and Ulster University economist Dr Esmond Birnie backing Mutual Enforcement as a Windsor Framework alternative. Dr Birnie argues it would avoid the Red Lane, border infrastructure and ongoing spending, while Dr Dan Boucher, TUV candidate…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Esmond Birnie statement on Mutual Enforcement as Windsor Framework alternative Original release: Mutual Enforcement: An idea whose time has come! (opens in a new tab)
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Greater clarity on abortion required
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Department of Health's abortion statistics published today understate figures he obtained through Assembly questions, citing 8,488 abortions since 2020 against 5,497 in the release. He also calls for Northern Ireland data on reasons for abortion and maternal…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion statistics publication June 2024 Original release: Greater clarity on abortion required (opens in a new tab)
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To actually tackle mental health crisis we must invest in services, says Honeyford
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA calls for increased investment in mental health services after the Public Accounts Committee report on mental health services, saying only £10m was allocated to the Department of Health's strategy in its first three years, £24m below the estimated…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland Original release: To actually tackle mental health crisis we must invest in services, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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TUV calls on RCN to speak out following Cullen’s shameful failure to condemn murders of nurses
TUV West Tyrone Westminster candidate Stevan Patterson criticises RCN chief Pat Cullen for not condemning the Enniskillen and Omagh murders of nurses and retired healthcare workers, and calls on the Royal College of Nursing to distance itself from her comments.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: TUV calls on RCN to speak out following Cullen’s shameful failure to condemn murders of nurses (opens in a new tab)
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DUP u-turn on Single Market
TUV leader Jim Allister says DUP MLA Deborah Erskine's Assembly disavowal of EU single market subjection under the Donaldson Deal is progress, but accuses the DUP of flip-flopping on sovereignty and Irish Sea border issues.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DUP Assembly stance on EU law under Donaldson Deal Original release: DUP u-turn on Single Market (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly in Complete Denial About Dual Market Access
TUV's Dr Dan Boucher, TUV/Reform UK PPC for Belfast South and Mid Down, says 'dual market access' is a myth ahead of an SDLP motion, arguing Northern Ireland faces customs and SPS checks on Irish Sea trade with GB. He calls for Mutual Enforcement to manage the border.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: SDLP Opposition Day on dual market access and cross‑border tourism Original release: Assembly in Complete Denial About Dual Market Access (opens in a new tab)