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4,936 releases
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Recent anniversary puts need for reform back on the table, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA calls for reform of the Assembly and Executive, including letting the next largest party nominate a First and deputy First Minister if one party declines, replacing parallel consent with weighted majority voting, and restricting petitions of concern.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Recent anniversary puts need for reform back on the table, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: DUP need to do right thing for people in North
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath says the DUP should support nominating an Assembly Speaker so Dáithí's Law can pass, and condemns Ian Paisley's comments on recalling the Assembly for it. He says the SDLP would back recall for the legislation but wants a wider solution to…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Dáithí's Law implementation and Assembly recall to elect Speaker Original release: McGrath: DUP need to do right thing for people in North (opens in a new tab)
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Progress only possible with support of both unionists and nationalists
DUP MLAs Gordon Lyons and Emma Little-Pengelly, after meeting Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, say progress needs unionist and nationalist support and urge spending on public services instead of the £18,000-an-hour Trader Support Service.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris Belfast meeting on Executive restoration and budget Original release: Progress only possible with support of both unionists and nationalists (opens in a new tab)
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We need an Executive up and running and investment in essential public services – McDonald
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald urges the formation of a Stormont Executive now and calls on the British Government to increase funding for public services instead of cuts, after meeting the Secretary of State with Michelle O'Neill.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill meeting with Chris Heaton-Harris on Executive formation Original release: We need an Executive up and running and investment in essential public services – McDonald (opens in a new tab)
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Cervical smear review must be ‘thorough and robust’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill calls for the review of cervical smear testing to be rigorous so that misread results affecting a woman known as Susan are not repeated. She also urges that the hundreds of potentially affected women receive full disclosure and regular updates.
Health Issue: Cervical smear testing misreading review in Northern Ireland Original release: Cervical smear review must be ‘thorough and robust’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Women need reassurance following smear test revelations – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she has asked the Southern Health and Social Care Trust for an urgent meeting over three missed abnormal smear test results that preceded a cervical cancer diagnosis, and calls for a swift review of the case.
Health Issue: Cervical smear testing misreading review in Northern Ireland Original release: Women need reassurance following smear test revelations – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Women’s health strategy could improve cancer screening, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for a women's health strategy including cervical cancer screening, after BBC reporting that three abnormal smear tests were missed for a woman treated by the Southern and Western Trusts. She urges all Trusts to complete audits and clear the…
Health Issue: Cervical smear testing misreading review in Northern Ireland Original release: Women’s health strategy could improve cancer screening, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Extension of bereavement benefits is welcomed says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong welcomes new legislation extending bereavement benefit to parents of dependent children whose cohabiting partner has died, including backdated payments and a 12-month application window. She urges anyone needing help with applications to contact…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Bereavement benefit extension to cohabiting parents legislation Original release: Extension of bereavement benefits is welcomed says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin voices concern that the Executive Office has warned work on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy may stall without a functioning Executive, blaming the DUP boycott for putting it at risk.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office warning on delayed Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Original release: McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Focus must be on restoring Stormont
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP says Stormont must be restored to address waiting lists, pay, energy costs and public services, responding to reports of legislation delaying an Assembly election to next year. He calls on the British Government not to ease pressure and urges parties to back the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Heaton-Harris legislation delaying Assembly election until next year Original release: Eastwood: Focus must be on restoring Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes that Safe Access Zones Act is now law
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes the Safe Access Zones Act becoming law, noting it will be enforceable from 7 May 2023. She says the measure will protect people using healthcare services from intimidation and will safeguard women and healthcare workers.
Health Issue: Safe Access Zones Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming law Original release: Sheerin welcomes that Safe Access Zones Act is now law (opens in a new tab)
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The Secretary of State must progress organ donation legislation.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Secretary of State to push secondary legislation through the Commons so Daithi's Law, the organ donation measure passed by the Assembly a year ago, can take effect in Northern Ireland. She raised the request with NIO Minister of State Steve Baker.
Health Issue: Daithi's Law organ donation secondary legislation Westminster progress Original release: The Secretary of State must progress organ donation legislation. (opens in a new tab)
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Any deal between Brussels & London must address democratic deficit – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus says any Brussels-London deal on the Irish Protocol must tackle the democratic deficit affecting citizens in the North. He urges Dublin to let northern citizens vote in the next European Parliament elections and welcomes speculation about including Belfast MLAs in the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Brussels-London Irish Protocol deal speculation and democratic deficit Original release: Any deal between Brussels & London must address democratic deficit – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes Supreme Court judgement and said it’s time to move forward politically
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Supreme Court ruling that the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful, says Brexit created division and the Protocol limits damage, and calls for a swift political deal between the UK and EU to make it work better.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Kearney welcomes Supreme Court judgement and said it’s time to move forward politically (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling does not alter necessity of political campaign against Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Supreme Court ruling that the Northern Ireland Protocol was lawfully made does not reduce its political unacceptability, and calls for the political campaign against the Protocol to intensify. He argues the finding that Article 6 of the Acts of Union has been…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Supreme Court ruling does not alter necessity of political campaign against Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP urges the Government to consider the Supreme Court judgement and its own arguments in the case, and to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill.
Green Party leader Councillor Mal O'Hara welcomes Royal Assent for the Buffer Zones Bill, which he says will be enforceable from 7 May 2023 and end intimidation of people accessing abortion services. He credits former MLA Clare Bailey and campaigners.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Safe Access Zones Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming law Original release: Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill. (opens in a new tab)
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Supreme Court ruling highlights legitimate concerns of Unionists – Aiken
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken says the Supreme Court's findings on the Protocol show Unionist concerns are legitimate, and calls on the UK Government to replace it with an agreement restoring Northern Ireland's place in the UK Internal Market.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: Supreme Court ruling highlights legitimate concerns of Unionists – Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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We need to focus on pragmatic solutions after Supreme Court’s Protocol judgement, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the UK Supreme Court's ruling that the NI Protocol is lawful shows pragmatic solutions are needed, calling for all Northern Ireland parties to focus on a deal through the current UK-EU negotiations and restored institutions.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: We need to focus on pragmatic solutions after Supreme Court’s Protocol judgement, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP statement following Supreme Court judgment
SDLP Assembly Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling that the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful and urges EU and UK negotiators to reach a resolution protecting Northern Ireland's access to the Single Market while addressing implementation concerns. He also urges caution…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Supreme Court ruling on Northern Ireland Protocol lawfulness Original release: SDLP statement following Supreme Court judgment (opens in a new tab)