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173 releases
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Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes UK-EU decisions confirmed ahead of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 10 November, under which 'not at risk' parcels moving to Northern Ireland consumers would avoid new EU handling fees. He says uncertainty remains over how the EU AI Act applies under the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
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Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but says it does not cover customs or tariffs. He criticises Whitehall's handling of the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and EU AI Act provisions in Northern Ireland, and calls for the Stormont Brake to be used.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern IrelandArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong calls for investment in rural fire services after farm fire costs rose 73% in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025 statistics release Original release: Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UKArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Burrows rejects call for dissident deal as PSNI marks 25 years
The party Leader Jon Burrows MLA rejects a call for a deal with dissident republicans, paying tribute to the PSNI on its 25th anniversary.
Justice and policing Issue: PSNI 25th anniversary Original release: Burrows rejects call for dissident deal as PSNI marks 25 yearsArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says Mulholland
Alliance MLA Mulholland says new figures showing more than one in five people in Northern Ireland ran out of food and could not afford more in the last year should be a wake-up call for the Communities Minister. He calls for a funded, ambitious Anti-Poverty Strategy with deadlines and measurable…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont poverty statistics release Original release: Hunger figures must be a wake-up call for Communities Minister, says MulhollandArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Burrows: ‘I’ll take no lectures from Sinn Féin on democracy, on equality or on the past’
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says he will not accept Sinn Féin’s accusations of supremacism, rejects their right to lecture on democracy, equality or the past, and criticises their government record after North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan’s scripted attack in the Assembly.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Philip McGuigan's Assembly speech accusing Jon Burrows MLA of supremacist attitude Original release: Burrows: ‘I’ll take no lectures from Sinn Féin on democracy, on equality or on the past’
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Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to ensure Relationships and Sex Education is age‑appropriate, evidence‑based and tailored to young people’s development, after yesterday’s Assembly debate.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: Education Minister must ensure RSE is age appropriate and evidence based – Mason
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Draft agreement between EU and British government ‘further evidence of failed Brexit project’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes a draft agreement between the EU and the British government on food and plant products, calling it further evidence that Brexit was a failed political project. She says she met the British Cabinet Office Windsor Framework team about the announcement.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Draft agreement between EU and British government ‘further evidence of failed Brexit project’ – Ferguson
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BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly, ahead of an Assembly debate on the Education Committee's RSE report, says safeguarding must not sideline parents and calls for parental withdrawal rights, school ethos and transparency to be protected in future reforms.
Education Issue: Assembly debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Original release: BROLLY: “Safeguarding must not be used as an excuse to sideline parents”
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Political leadership needed to promote PSNI recruitment - Clarke
The party's Clarke says political leadership is needed to promote PSNI recruitment.
Justice and policing Original release: Political leadership needed to promote PSNI recruitment - Clarke
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Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken welcomes the draft UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on food checks, but warns that Northern Ireland will stay split from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade divergence.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
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TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA says Paul Givan’s TransformED is steering education the wrong way, warning it would increase high‑stakes exams, cut coursework, narrow the curriculum and add pressure on teachers while ignoring academic selection, and urges the Minister to listen to ‑
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: TransformED is taking education system in the wrong direction – Sheehan
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Burrows calls for end to private fireworks sales
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA calls for a ban on private fireworks sales in Northern Ireland, limiting them to organised public displays and low‑noise options, and urging tougher penalties for illegal supply, citing animal distress.
Justice and policing Issue: Fireworks law reform call by party leader Jon Burrows MLA Original release: Burrows calls for end to private fireworks sales
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Bradshaw condemns DUP gaslighting over Flags Bill
Alliance MLA Paul Bradshaw accuses the DUP of using filibustering tactics to delay the Flags Bill, which he says is an attempt to block legislation on abusive flags. He says the Committee Stage should move faster and that he has drafted amendments and offered meetings with other parties.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: DUP attempt to filibuster Flags Bill in Assembly Committee Stage Original release: Bradshaw condemns DUP gaslighting over Flags Bill
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Allen welcomes opening of new Harland & Wolff fabrication hall
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the opening of Harland & Wolff’s new Resurgent Hall, saying the £100 million investment creates over 900 skilled jobs and apprenticeships, supports Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and boosts Belfast’s shipbuilding future, and urges more work for local workers.
Economy and employment Issue: Harland & Wolff £100 million investment announcement Original release: Allen welcomes opening of new Harland & Wolff fabrication hall
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Attacks on Rasharkin Orange Hall
TUV North Antrim MP Jim Allister welcomes Rasharkin Chosen Few's public account of repeated attacks on its Orange hall, including IRA graffiti, and calls on the PSNI to deliver results under its action plan and to act on claims that policing is influenced by PIRA feelings.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Rasharkin attacks Original release: Attacks on Rasharkin Orange Hall
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Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison says the Education Minister is placing an unsustainable additional workload on teachers through the TransformED reforms, ahead of an Assembly motion on the day raising concerns from teachers, principals and parents.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
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Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says the British government must drop proposals to give the British Attorney General final authority over conflict‑related prosecutions, arguing it would undermine the independent prosecution service established after the Good Friday Agreement and place state forces beyond
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: British government proposals to give Attorney General final say on conflict-related prosecutions Original release: Sinn Féin will oppose any attempt to place British state forces beyond reach of accountability – Finucane
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Alliance need to stop making excuses for law-breakers
The Alliance party is criticised for making excuses for law-breakers.
Justice and policing Original release: Alliance need to stop making excuses for law-breakers
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Egan welcomes Bail Support Pilot for women
Alliance MLA Egan welcomes Justice Minister Long's announcement of a Bail Support Pilot for women on remand, saying early intervention can address mental health, addiction and domestic abuse issues and stop cycles of further harm.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Bail Support Pilot announcement Original release: Egan welcomes Bail Support Pilot for women