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4,948 releases
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Response to ‘Centre for the Union’ publication on the Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol is a sovereignty issue and calls for Northern Ireland’s full restoration to the United Kingdom, respecting the equal‑footing principle of Article 6. He backs the Centre for the Union’s Constitutional Bill and argues that any border solution must reverse EU‑U
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Centre for the Union publication on the Protocol Original release: Response to ‘Centre for the Union’ publication on the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent investigation needed into year-long waits for red flag referrals, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw calls for an urgent investigation into red flag referral waits that are now taking months, with some cancer referrals exceeding a year. She says MLAs should return to Stormont to scrutinise health reform.
Health Issue: Red flag referral waiting times for cancer patients in Northern Ireland Original release: Urgent investigation needed into year-long waits for red flag referrals, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Kate Nicholl say they met DAERA's Permanent Secretary and senior team about pressures from having no Minister, including climate and environmental protection and budgets. Blair calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and reform the institutions.
Environment and climate Issue: Alliance meeting with DAERA Permanent Secretary on Ministerial vacancy Original release: Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues (opens in a new tab)
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Farry welcomes UK-EU deal on data sharing
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says trust is essential to reaching a sustainable, mutually agreed Northern Ireland Protocol solution, welcoming the UK-EU data-sharing deal as a basis for further talks. He argues the Protocol Bill's unilateral option undermines that trust.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK agreement on sharing trade data Original release: Farry welcomes UK-EU deal on data sharing (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan urges the North to move forward with a ban on single-use plastics after England announced one would proceed before year's end. He points to Scotland's ban, Wales' plans and the New Decade, New Approach pledge on plastic pollution.
Environment and climate Issue: England single-use plastics ban announcement January 2023 Original release: Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole welcomes progress on access to trade data
SDLP Assembly Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes an agreement giving access to UK IT systems that provide real-time trade flow data, saying it builds trust in Northern Ireland Protocol talks. He also calls for a restored Executive to address public service delivery.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK agreement on sharing trade data Original release: O’Toole welcomes progress on access to trade data (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew concerned at the rising crisis in our health service
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says it is deeply concerning that non-urgent operations are being cancelled because of health service pressures. He blames years of Tory cuts and calls for substantial health investment, fair pay for workers, and the DUP to return to the Executive.
Health Issue: Cancellation of non-urgent surgeries due to health service pressures Original release: Gildernew concerned at the rising crisis in our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Problems being caused to medicines supply by Protocol “indefensible” – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says a Nuffield Trust report confirms Protocol effects on medicine availability in Northern Ireland, calls for medicines to be removed from the Protocol's scope, and urges the UK Government to track divergence and defend equal access.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Nuffield Trust report on medicine availability under the NI Protocol Original release: Problems being caused to medicines supply by Protocol “indefensible” – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Health crisis will continue to deepen without political leadership – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns that the health service crisis will worsen while the Executive remains unrestored, saying winter pressures are costing lives and staff are being let down. He says the delay is leaving the health system without the leadership needed to implement…
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Lack of Executive causing more stress for cancer patients – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the lack of an Executive is adding stress for cancer patients, citing Department of Health figures showing under 40 percent start treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral. He urges the DUP to end its blockade and form an Executive to invest £1 billion in…
Health Issue: Department of Health cancer waiting times figures January 2023 Original release: Lack of Executive causing more stress for cancer patients – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Further confirmation that Protocol is disrupting medicine supplies
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron describes a Nuffield Trust report on NI Protocol medicine supply as deeply alarming, claiming many medicines available in Great Britain are not in Northern Ireland and calling for the Protocol to be replaced.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Nuffield Trust report on medicine availability under the NI Protocol Original release: Further confirmation that Protocol is disrupting medicine supplies (opens in a new tab)
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Scenes at Causeway Hospital confirmation of recent accounts - Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says recent scenes at Causeway Hospital confirm patients' experiences, pointing to bed waits and ambulance delays, and calls on MLAs to return to work and overhaul the health system, blaming Stormont parties.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital scenes and patient accounts of bed and ambulance delays Original release: Scenes at Causeway Hospital confirmation of recent accounts - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Sunak’s priority should be reclaiming U.K. sovereignty over NI
TUV leader Jim Allister says Rishi Sunak's top priority should be restoring UK sovereignty over Northern Ireland, criticising the Prime Minister for making no such commitment in his five priorities and claiming the Protocol subjects NI to foreign laws, customs and VAT.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sunak's five priorities announcement Original release: Sunak’s priority should be reclaiming U.K. sovereignty over NI (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew requests meeting with Ambulance Service over response concerns
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Colm Gildernew MLA says the NIAS probe into delayed responses that may have contributed to eight recent deaths is deeply concerning, requests a meeting with the service and urges the DUP to end its boycott while calling for an extra £1 billion investment in health.
Health Issue: NIAS investigation into delayed response linked to eight deaths Original release: Gildernew requests meeting with Ambulance Service over response concerns (opens in a new tab)
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Tory government needs to reverse decade-long policy of cuts and invest in health service – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on the UK Tory government to reverse its decade-long cuts to health and social care and invest in the service, and urges the DUP to return to the Executive to provide political leadership for health workers.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Tory government needs to reverse decade-long policy of cuts and invest in health service – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says Northern Ireland's childcare system is broken and threatening working mothers' incomes amid the cost of living crisis. She calls for restoring the Assembly and delivering a fully costed Early Learning and Childcare Strategy urgently, and urges the DUP to end its…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – “change of attitude needed in negotiations”
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP welcomes Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's admission that mistakes were made over the Northern Ireland Protocol. He says unionists will never support the Protocol and calls for a fundamental change of attitude in negotiations to reach a durable outcome.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Taoiseach Varadkar admits mistakes made with Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Sir Jeffrey – “change of attitude needed in negotiations” (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence
First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill invites MLAs of all parties to attend a silent vigil at the front of Parliament Buildings at 2 pm on Thursday 5 January, to honour Natalie McNally – who was murdered while pregnant – and all victims of gender‑based violence.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Natalie McNally murder vigil Original release: O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw thanks health and social care staff for work through ‘twindemic’
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA thanks health and social care staff for their work over Christmas, warning that the 'twindemic' will keep affecting services while Northern Ireland has no Executive. She says waiting times were already worse than elsewhere, and calls for an Executive…
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McKernan welcomes study tour opportunity for large dairy herd farmers
SDLP representative EmmaJayne McKernan welcomes DAERA's study tour for dairy farmers to England on large herd management, and says she will write to the department's Permanent Secretary seeking details on future Farm Innovation Visits.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA dairy farmer study tour to England Original release: McKernan welcomes study tour opportunity for large dairy herd farmers (opens in a new tab)