Latest releases
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3,960 releases
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Families need to have continued access to courts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says the sentencing of a former British soldier over the 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie shows accountability is possible, and urges courts to stay open to families seeking redress. She backs the family's call for the Legacy Bill to be scrapped.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Sentencing of British soldier for 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie Original release: Families need to have continued access to courts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Omagh bomb inquiry welcomed
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes the UK Secretary of State's decision to hold an inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing, hoping it brings full truth to light. He says the Republic of Ireland's cooperation will be a test and criticises the government's handling of legacy prosecutions.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Omagh bomb inquiry welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag
TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper condemns Alliance's use of the call-in process to overturn the council's vote for permanent Union Flag displays at all 13 Ards and North Down war memorials and the Newtownards council building. He says Alliance is undermining democracy and calls for the…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council Union Flag call-in decision Original release: Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag (opens in a new tab)
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Omagh investigation announcement welcomed
DUP Legacy Spokesperson Emma Little Pengelly welcomes the Secretary of State's decision to set up an independent statutory inquiry into the Omagh bombing, and calls on the Irish Government to confirm whether it will open a matching investigation across the border.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Omagh investigation announcement welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Omagh families deserve truth and justice – Elliott
UUP MLA Tom Elliott welcomes the UK Government's next steps on Omagh, including the Secretary of State's announcement of an independent statutory review, and calls on the Irish Government to set out how it will meet its responsibilities for answers on the cross-border Omagh bombing.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Omagh families deserve truth and justice – Elliott (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA, marking World Wetlands Day, says action is needed now to protect and rebuild NI's wetland ecosystems. He welcomes progress on peatland restoration but says the region trails other jurisdictions and is badly underfunded.
Environment and climate Original release: Urgent action vital to conserve and restore wetlands, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly pays tribute to Omagh families as inquiry announced
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly welcomes the Secretary of State's announcement of an independent statutory public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing. He calls for those responsible to be brought to justice and urges the Government to scrap its Legacy Bill, arguing its amnesty would deny…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Donnelly pays tribute to Omagh families as inquiry announced (opens in a new tab)
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Case shows fallacy of UK Government legacy proposals, says Eastwood
Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood says the suspended sentence given to a former soldier for the 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie shows the flaws in the UK Government's legacy proposals, and urges it to drop the Legacy Bill.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Sentencing of British soldier for 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie Original release: Case shows fallacy of UK Government legacy proposals, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says a meeting with Northern Ireland Office officials on Relationship and Sexuality Education was positive and urges the Secretary of State to implement CEDAW-based RSE as a priority. She cites a Belfast Youth Forum study finding 73% of young people…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Young people deserve evidence based and inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP welcomes Statutory Inquiry into Omagh Bomb
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes the Secretary of State's announcement of an independent statutory inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing. He urges the Irish Government to take matching action and says families now have a path to the truth.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: SDLP welcomes Statutory Inquiry into Omagh Bomb (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Aidan McAnespie case shows futility of Legacy Bill
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says the suspended sentence handed to the former soldier for killing Aidan McAnespie demonstrates that the British government's legacy legislation fails to deliver truth and justice, praises the family's perseverance and condemns insensitive commentary.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Sentencing of British soldier for 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie Original release: Eastwood: Aidan McAnespie case shows futility of Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill welcomes recommitment from Irish government to deliver A5
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister-Designate, welcomes a renewed commitment from the Irish Government to deliver the A5 road after raising concerns about its high casualty rate. She calls for legal challenges and the public inquiry to be concluded quickly so construction can begin…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Irish Government recommitment to A5 road delivery Original release: O’Neill welcomes recommitment from Irish government to deliver A5 (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson – “motorists need a break not a tax hike”
DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson warns that Treasury indications of a fuel duty rise would hit Northern Ireland motorists, especially rural families who rely on cars. He says the party will press the Chancellor to rule out any increase and give motorists a break.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Treasury indications of a fuel duty increase Original release: Wilson – “motorists need a break not a tax hike” (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald to seek clarity on A6 opening date
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says she will seek clarity from the Department for Infrastructure on the expected opening of the A6 upgrade and Dungiven bypass, after an official suggested an end-of-April date. She also calls for better communication with the local community and road users.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A6 Dungiven bypass opening date comments by Department for Infrastructure official Original release: Archibald to seek clarity on A6 opening date (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Government to implement Union Connectivity Review- Brett
DUP infrastructure spokesman and North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett calls on the UK Government to implement the Union Connectivity Review's recommendations, including cutting domestic aviation tax and revising aviation subsidy rules, following the collapse of Flybe.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Flybe administration and Belfast job losses Original release: Time for Government to implement Union Connectivity Review- Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Lords must take opportunity to tackle toxic Legacy Bill
DUP legacy spokesperson Emma Little-Pengelly urges House of Lords members to substantially amend the Government's Legacy Bill at Committee stage, saying victims and survivors groups oppose it as introducing amnesties for terrorist violence.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy Bill Committee Stage amendments on glorifying terrorism Original release: Lords must take opportunity to tackle toxic Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Dodds seeks legislative change on glorifying terrorism
DUP peer Lord Dodds says he will propose a new offence of glorifying terrorism in Northern Ireland during Committee Stage of the Government's Legacy Bill, and an amendment making immunity under the Bill an aggravating factor in sentencing. He cites Sinn Féin commemorations of paramilitary figures…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Legacy Bill Committee Stage amendments on glorifying terrorism Original release: Lord Dodds seeks legislative change on glorifying terrorism (opens in a new tab)
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Gregory Campbell – calls for A6 opening date
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls on the Department for Infrastructure to publicly commit to a firm opening date for the overdue A6 upgrade, after he wrote to its Permanent Secretary over repeated delays. He says temporary restrictions cause frustration and safety concerns.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A6 upgrade overdue opening and Department for Infrastructure timescale Original release: Gregory Campbell – calls for A6 opening date (opens in a new tab)
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“Record Western Rail Corridor passenger numbers highlight potential of rail in the West” – Chris MacManus MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says record 607,000 passengers on the Western Rail Corridor's Ennis to Athenry line in 2022 show rail is viable in the West. He calls for the later phases to Mayo and Sligo to reopen without further delay and seeks clarity from Minister Eamon Ryan.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Western Rail Corridor record 2022 passenger numbers Original release: “Record Western Rail Corridor passenger numbers highlight potential of rail in the West” – Chris MacManus MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation
DUP's Sammy Wilson welcomes progress of the Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill through Commons scrutiny, saying it is needed to stop trophy hunting of near-extinct animals. He warns the bill cannot cover Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, creating a smuggling loophole, and urges…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Hunting Trophies Importation Prohibition Bill Commons scrutiny Original release: Wilson welcomes progress of trophy hunting legislation (opens in a new tab)