Latest releases
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3,561 releases
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Historic day as legislation passes to give official recognition to the Irish language – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill welcomes legislation passing to give official recognition to the Irish language, saying it secures Irish speakers' rights to public services and court use. She credits grassroots activists and points to a planned Irish language commissioner with statutory powers.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Act legislation passes Original release: Historic day as legislation passes to give official recognition to the Irish language – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Culture Bill shatters fine balance secured by NDNA: Gavin Robinson
DUP MP Gavin Robinson says the party will not support the Identity and Language Bill, arguing it departs from the New Decade New Approach agreement and shatters the fine balance secured in 2020. He criticises the Government for ignoring unionist concerns raised during Commons debate.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill final Commons reading and defeated SDLP amendment Original release: Culture Bill shatters fine balance secured by NDNA: Gavin Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Taoiseach’s ‘no return to direct rule’ commitment
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald welcomes the Taoiseach's position that Dublin will not accept a return to London direct rule while the Belfast Executive remains blocked. She urges him to press new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on joint authority and on restoring the institutions.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's position on direct rule amid Stormont Executive deadlock Original release: Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Taoiseach’s ‘no return to direct rule’ commitment (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey: Replacing Protocol only way to make progress
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the Secretary of State cannot ignore that replacing the Protocol is needed to restore Stormont's institutions, after a call with him alongside Gavin Robinson MP. He says any Assembly election would see the DUP seek a mandate for replacement arrangements.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's comments on possible Assembly election Original release: Sir Jeffrey: Replacing Protocol only way to make progress (opens in a new tab)
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Spectre of joint authority shouldn’t scare unionists back to Protocol implementation
TUV Lagan Valley spokesperson Lorna Smyth says joint authority is legally and constitutionally impossible and dismisses it as a bogeyman used to pressure unionists into accepting the Protocol. She claims the Protocol has already undermined Northern Ireland's place in the UK and urges unionists to…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Spectre of joint authority shouldn’t scare unionists back to Protocol implementation (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government Cannot Allow Stormont Dysfunction to Default Back to Direct Rule - Gerard Herdman
Aontú's Gerard Herdman, its West Belfast representative, rejects calls for Westminster to restore direct rule, urging the Dublin government to push for Stormont reform and joint authority if reform fails, and blaming DUP refusal to share power.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's position on direct rule amid Stormont Executive deadlock Original release: Irish Government Cannot Allow Stormont Dysfunction to Default Back to Direct Rule - Gerard Herdman (opens in a new tab)
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Joint Authority would be a fatal blow to Belfast Agreement - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA rejects SDLP leader Colum Eastwood's call for Joint Authority over Northern Ireland, saying any such change would breach the Belfast Agreement's principle of consent. He calls for focus on restoring Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP calls for Joint Authority over Northern Ireland Original release: Joint Authority would be a fatal blow to Belfast Agreement - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood urges leaders to back joint authority in absence of Stormont institutions
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP urges Stormont party leaders to back Joint Authority from the British and Irish governments if Assembly and Executive institutions are not formed in the coming months, ruling out direct rule from Westminster.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Eastwood urges leaders to back joint authority in absence of Stormont institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must ensure no further blockage of language rights
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna urges the UK Government to guarantee no further obstruction of Irish language protections after an SDLP amendment on the Identity and Language Bill was defeated in the Commons. She says the bill passed its final reading.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill final Commons reading and defeated SDLP amendment Original release: Hanna: UK Government must ensure no further blockage of language rights (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson - Baker in no position to preach
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker is in no position to preach to Northern Ireland parties, accusing him of inconsistency over the Protocol he voted for. Wilson urges Baker to replace the Protocol rather than lecture others on restoring devolution.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Wilson - Baker in no position to preach (opens in a new tab)
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Government must establish All-Island Citizens Assembly on Constitutional Change – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus calls on the Irish Government to set up an all-island Citizens Assembly, including the diaspora, to examine constitutional change, speaking at a Crann na Saoirse planting at the Jim Gralton Monument in Leitrim. He also says EU institutions should engage with civic…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Government must establish All-Island Citizens Assembly on Constitutional Change – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – PM must deal with NI Protocol
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says new Prime Minister Sunak has a chance to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can back and restore devolution. He argues the Protocol is harming medicine supplies, haulage costs and infrastructure investment, and calls for a long-term solution.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Sunak's new premiership and NI Protocol replacement Original release: Sir Jeffrey – PM must deal with NI Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons – NI needs a lasting solution not a stunt
DUP Director of Elections and East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says Sinn Féin must accept that recall stunts will not sustain Stormont and calls on it to retract its support for rigorous implementation of the NI Protocol, arguing a lasting solution unionists can back is needed for powersharing.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Féin calls for rigorous implementation of the NI Protocol Original release: Lyons – NI needs a lasting solution not a stunt (opens in a new tab)
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Endometriosis sufferers still require urgent action: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says urgent action is still needed on endometriosis healthcare, calling for reinstatement of specialist care in the Western Trust and full accreditation for the Belfast centre. She also urges access to care across the UK for local patients, citing APPG and RCOG reports.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Endometriosis sufferers still require urgent action: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol a threat even to animal health
TUV leader Jim Allister says a DAERA answer confirms the Protocol threatens farming, warning that about half of veterinary medicines used by NI farmers, including vaccines, could become unobtainable and calling for the Protocol to go.
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA answer on veterinary medicines under the Protocol Original release: Protocol a threat even to animal health (opens in a new tab)
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Joint Authority in any form is not acceptable – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says any move to impose joint authority over Northern Ireland by London and Dublin would breach the Belfast Agreement and urges focus on restoring devolved government at Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Joint Authority in any form is not acceptable – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson welcomes protection of Citypark in Craigavon
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson welcomes the Court of Appeal's ruling overturning planning permission for a Southern Regional College campus at Craigavon Lakes. He calls on SRC and the council to accept public opposition and find an alternative site in the area.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Court of Appeal overturns Southern Regional College Citypark campus planning approval Original release: Tennyson welcomes protection of Citypark in Craigavon (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna expresses concerns around removal of environment and public health protections
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna warns that the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, due for its Commons second reading, could strip environmental and nature protections in Northern Ireland. She has tabled an Early Day Motion asking ministers to halt the removal of these laws.
Environment and climate Issue: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill second reading Original release: Hanna expresses concerns around removal of environment and public health protections (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Recall chance for DUP to do what’s right
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says Thursday's Assembly recall gives the DUP a chance to allow Stormont's institutions to restore before a winter election. He says an election would not address cost of living, hospital waiting lists or the Protocol, and calls on every party to back…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly recall to nominate Speaker amid DUP boycott Original release: O’Toole: Recall chance for DUP to do what’s right (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald calls for politics to work for all our people
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald calls on the DUP to join an Executive with Sinn Féin, UUP and Alliance, saying the DUP's refusal to form one amounts to political negligence during the cost of living crisis and health service pressures. She also urges an end to the boycott ahead of the…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP refusal to nominate First Minister and Deputy First Minister Original release: Mary Lou McDonald calls for politics to work for all our people (opens in a new tab)