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3,561 releases
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Burbank welcomes council decisions on fracking and the extraction of oil and gas
Alliance Councillor Jay Burbank welcomes a unanimous Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council motion backing a moratorium on oil and gas exploration and extraction in Northern Ireland, and opposing fracking. He questions the DUP's commitment after two of its MPs voted against Labour's fracking…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Antrim and Newtownabbey council motion on oil and gas moratorium and fracking Original release: Burbank welcomes council decisions on fracking and the extraction of oil and gas (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – Government needs to focus on replacing the Protocol
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says the Government must focus on replacing the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support before meeting the Secretary of State, warning there can be no stable Executive or Assembly until Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market is restored. He…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sir Jeffrey – Government needs to focus on replacing the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald welcomes support for Professor Colin Harvey
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald welcomes Queen's University's public support for Professor Colin Harvey amid threats and abuse toward him. She calls on the university to publicly acknowledge that permission to use its logo on his publications was sought and granted, and urges political unionist…
Constitutional affairs Education Issue: Threats and abuse towards Professor Colin Harvey over constitutional publications Original release: Archibald welcomes support for Professor Colin Harvey (opens in a new tab)
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Taking a hammer to the Belfast Agreement is unlikely to fix our problems warns Empey
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey warns the Taoiseach to be careful after calling Northern Ireland's governance 'not fit for purpose', arguing that changes to the Belfast Agreement are unlikely to fix the problems and that both governments are complicit in the stalemate.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's comments on Northern Ireland governance being not fit for purpose Original release: Taking a hammer to the Belfast Agreement is unlikely to fix our problems warns Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons – progress is only made through consensus
DUP Director of Elections and East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says Sinn Fein's leader Michelle O'Neill ignores unionist views and calls for the Protocol to be replaced before devolved government can return. He cites DUP withdrawal of the First Minister and claims hauliers warn of empty shelves.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Lyons – progress is only made through consensus (opens in a new tab)
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Savita Halappanavar: 10 Years On The Struggle Continues
People Before Profit marks ten years since Savita Halappanavar's death, arguing that reproductive justice is still unmet. It lists remaining barriers in the Republic, including a 3-day wait, a 12-week limit, and maternity hospitals not providing abortion, and says much of the North has no access.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Savita Halappanavar 10‑year anniversary Original release: Savita Halappanavar: 10 Years On The Struggle Continues (opens in a new tab)
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‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill says the British Secretary of State's U-turn leaves Northern Ireland in political limbo with no Executive, Assembly or caretaker ministers during a cost-of-living crisis. She blames the DUP for refusing to join an Executive and says she will press the…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: ‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Government should focus on dealing with the Protocol: Sir Jeffrey
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urges the Government to concentrate on fixing the Northern Ireland Protocol and restoring Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market, rather than delaying over a possible election. He says the DUP would contest a snap poll if one were called, but argues…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Government uncertainty over calling a Westminster election amid Protocol dispute Original release: Government should focus on dealing with the Protocol: Sir Jeffrey (opens in a new tab)
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Forget the mind games SOS and get on with removing EU sovereignty over NI
TUV leader Jim Allister says Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris should prioritise recovering full UK sovereignty over Northern Ireland from the EU rather than pressing for an election. He argues the Protocol, under which EU laws govern much of the economy, undermines constitutional certainty…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Forget the mind games SOS and get on with removing EU sovereignty over NI (opens in a new tab)
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Violence and/or the threat of it is never acceptable
The DUP says violence and threats of violence are never acceptable and that democratic processes are the only route to overcoming the challenges of the Protocol. It rejects claims that violence had "no alternative", saying the party has consistently condemned violence.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Violence and/or the threat of it is never acceptable (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent restoration of Executive needed to support local community organisations – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says a visit to South Antrim by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, meeting community groups in Crumlin and Glenavy, shows the urgent need to restore the power-sharing Executive. He highlights rising food bank demand and space limits at Glenavy Youth Club, and accuses…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey South Antrim community organisation visits Original release: Urgent restoration of Executive needed to support local community organisations – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader calls for clarity from Secretary of State
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara urges the Secretary of State to end uncertainty after announcing a possible Assembly election, saying people need stability and support through winter and the cost of living crisis. He says Greens are ready to contest an election and criticises the DUP's blockade of…
Constitutional affairs Environment and climate Issue: Secretary of State's comments on possible Assembly election Original release: Green Party Leader calls for clarity from Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
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The days of men and women being sent to fill jail cells or early graves in this country should be over – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA rejects a Loyalist Communities Council letter's suggestion of a return to pre-ceasefire tactics, saying the Protocol should be opposed through talks and political process. He blames the DUP for failing to secure the First Minister post at St Andrew's.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Loyalist Communities Council letter on Protocol and pre-ceasefire tactics Original release: The days of men and women being sent to fill jail cells or early graves in this country should be over – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Time to drop election and focus on restoring institutions
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says the Secretary of State should abandon the plan for an early Assembly election and instead focus on restoring Stormont, urging renewed UK‑EU talks on the Protocol and warning the DUP’s boycott harms public confidence.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris threat of December Stormont election Original release: Eastwood: Time to drop election and focus on restoring institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds – “recall stunt will not bring progress”
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says Sinn Féin's recall of the Assembly was a stunt and urges focus on replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol instead. She claims the Protocol is hurting health medicine supply, steel costs for infrastructure, transport and shop prices, and green energy tax breaks.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly recall to nominate Speaker amid DUP boycott Original release: Dodds – “recall stunt will not bring progress” (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Party dancing to SF’s tune – Brett
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett challenges the Alliance Party over refusing to back DUP recall attempts of the Assembly during Sinn Fein's three-year boycott of devolution, while now seeking an Executive without unionists. He accuses Alliance of a two-tier approach to the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Alliance Party dancing to SF’s tune – Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Everyone should be free to take part in discussion on the future – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says everyone should be free to join an informed debate on Ireland's constitutional future. She calls on unionist politicians to stop attempts to stifle academic debate after criticism of Professor Colin Harvey's Irish Unity report and his university logo, and urges…
Constitutional affairs Education Issue: Criticism of Professor Colin Harvey's Irish Unity report and university logo use Original release: Everyone should be free to take part in discussion on the future – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson in no position to lecture given the strategic errors made under his leadership - Aiken
UUP MLA Steve Aiken OBE says Peter Robinson is in no position to criticise the UUP, arguing the DUP backed the Protocol before opposing it and that Robinson's St Andrews changes to the Belfast Agreement harmed unionism.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Robinson in no position to lecture given the strategic errors made under his leadership - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Political failure testing public faith in institutions
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the failure to restore Stormont institutions is testing public faith in politics and risks a winter Assembly election. He blames the DUP's boycott and calls for the institutions to be restored, arguing this would help people facing cost of living…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly recall to elect Executive before 28 October deadline Original release: O’Toole: Political failure testing public faith in institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Election will only cause further harm to North
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP says an Assembly election would waste millions without solving issues such as heating costs, health waiting lists and housing, after meeting the Northern Ireland Secretary in London. He blames the DUP's blocking of the institutions and calls for the Irish government's…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris threat of December Stormont election Original release: Eastwood: Election will only cause further harm to North (opens in a new tab)