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4,936 releases
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald, speaking after Leo Varadkar's election as Taoiseach, says the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green coalition has failed, citing the housing emergency, hospital waiting lists and foodbank reliance.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following nomination of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says the Taoiseach nomination of Leo Varadkar will not be supported, citing housing, healthcare and rent rises under Fine Gael and arguing the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government has failed people.
Housing Health Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD speech following nomination of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach (opens in a new tab)
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Long congratulates Varadkar on second term as Taoiseach and pays tribute to Martin
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA congratulates Leo Varadkar on starting his second term as Taoiseach, thanks Micheál Martin for his work, and pays tribute to Simon Coveney as he likely leaves Foreign Affairs.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Long congratulates Varadkar on second term as Taoiseach and pays tribute to Martin (opens in a new tab)
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Varadkar has a lot of work to do in rebuilding relations with Unionists – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says Leo Varadkar's return as Taoiseach comes at a sensitive point in EU-UK talks and Anglo-Irish relations. He wishes Micheál Martin well, but says Varadkar must repair ties with unionists and hopes he has matured on Brexit and the Protocol.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Change of Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland December 2022 Original release: Varadkar has a lot of work to do in rebuilding relations with Unionists – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Issues at South West Acute Hospital reinforce need for planned transformation, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says a meeting with the Western Health and Social Care Trust over recruitment difficulties at South West Acute Hospital showed the need for planned transformation, and calls for a functioning Executive with a cross-departmental plan.
Health Issue: South West Acute Hospital recruitment difficulties and Western Trust meeting Original release: Issues at South West Acute Hospital reinforce need for planned transformation, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people
Alliance representatives express concern at planned Education Authority cuts to youth services, which could close LGBTQ youth groups. Connie Egan MLA says she has written to the EA seeking Section 75 protections in funding applications, while Andrew Muir MLA calls for the decision to be reversed.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Education Authority cuts to youth services and LGBTQ youth groups Original release: Planned cuts to youth services greatly concerning, says Alliance representatives, particularly for LGBTQIA+ young people (opens in a new tab)
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Girvan welcomes further steps for victims of contaminated blood
DUP South Antrim MP Paul Girvan welcomes further Government steps to address people affected by contaminated blood products from the 1970s and 1980s. He says he will meet victims in Northern Ireland to consider the announcement with them, building on the £100k interim payment announced last August.
Health Issue: Government announcement on contaminated blood victims redress Original release: Girvan welcomes further steps for victims of contaminated blood (opens in a new tab)
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Appointment of new GP contractor at Flax Medical Centre welcome news for patients – Kelly
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly welcomes confirmation that a new contractor has been brought in to run GP services at Flax Medical Centre in North Belfast. He says GP services must be protected and calls on an Executive and health minister to be restored, pledging an extra £1 billion for health.
Health Issue: Appointment of new GP contractor at Flax Medical Centre Original release: Appointment of new GP contractor at Flax Medical Centre welcome news for patients – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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Court ruling on reckless attempt to halt port checks ‘welcome’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes a court ruling that found former agriculture minister Edwin Poots acted unlawfully in trying to stop checks on goods at ports. He also urges the DUP to end its Executive boycott and return to work amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Court ruling on attempt to halt Northern Ireland port checks Original release: Court ruling on reckless attempt to halt port checks ‘welcome’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist refusal to operate Stormont vindicated by Protocol judgement
TUV leader Jim Allister says a High Court ruling that former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots and his department were required to impose Protocol checks vindicates Unionists refusing to run Stormont while the Protocol stands. He argues Stormont cannot be operated while opposing the Protocol and…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Court ruling on attempt to halt Northern Ireland port checks Original release: Unionist refusal to operate Stormont vindicated by Protocol judgement (opens in a new tab)
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Striking Nurses deserve our support – Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says he stood with striking nurses on a Royal College of Nurses picket at Bangor Community Hospital, citing public support and concerns over patient safety, staff retention and nurse-to-patient ratios, and calls for political leadership to set out an NHS…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Royal College of Nurses strike at Bangor Community Hospital Original release: Striking Nurses deserve our support – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Emergency intervention required to support nurses
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath urges the British government to meet the Royal College of Nursing and other unions and reach a fair pay agreement for nurses and health staff, and calls for Stormont's devolved government to resume.
Health Economy and employment Issue: RCN nurses strike over pay and safe staffing, December 2022 Original release: McGrath: Emergency intervention required to support nurses (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP welcomes court ruling on Poots’ ‘desperate protocol stunt’
SDLP Assembly Group Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA welcomes a High Court ruling quashing former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots' instruction to suspend protocol-related checks, calling the decision overtly political and a cynical DUP move before the Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Court ruling on attempt to halt Northern Ireland port checks Original release: SDLP welcomes court ruling on Poots’ ‘desperate protocol stunt’ (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna frustrated with lack of progress following NI Secretary meeting
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna says her party is frustrated at the slow pace of talks after meeting the Secretary of State, criticising the lack of clarity on the £600 energy payment and on EU Protocol negotiations. She calls for urgent government action to restore the Assembly and Executive.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: NI Secretary meeting with Northern Ireland parties on Stormont talks Original release: Hanna frustrated with lack of progress following NI Secretary meeting (opens in a new tab)
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Beware of the spin of Protocol fanatics
TUV leader Jim Allister warns against spin on NISRA 2021 trade figures, arguing the claimed GB trade rise compares with a Covid-depressed 2020 and that grace periods and the £300m Business Support Service mask the Protocol's full impact. He says the Protocol remains irredeemable for unionists.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Beware of the spin of Protocol fanatics (opens in a new tab)
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Crisis situations in Emergency Departments at Royal and Mater hospitals ‘deeply concerning’ – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says reports of crises in the Emergency Departments at the Royal Victoria and Mater hospitals alarm her, and will meet the Belfast Trust with Belfast MPs. She calls for an Executive to be formed to pass a three-year budget and invest an extra £1 billion in health.
Health Issue: Belfast Trust Emergency Department pressures at Royal and Mater hospitals Original release: Crisis situations in Emergency Departments at Royal and Mater hospitals ‘deeply concerning’ – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Trade data debunks false claims around the Protocol – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says newly released trade data shows the Protocol is having a positive impact on the local economy, citing increased trade from Britain to the north. She calls for an early negotiated settlement between the British government and the EU to give businesses certainty.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Trade data debunks false claims around the Protocol – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Internal UK trade highlights need to restore NI’s place within UK…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says trade with the rest of the UK shows why Northern Ireland's standing in the UK internal market must be fully reinstated. He argues the Trader Support Service is propping up trade and calls on the government to make the restoration a priority.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Internal UK trade highlights need to restore NI’s place within UK… (opens in a new tab)
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Situation at RVH Emergency Department deeply concerning – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the emergency care crisis at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital is deeply concerning, citing patients medically fit for discharge who cannot leave due to a lack of community care packages. He calls for an Executive to deliver a three-year budget and invest an extra…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital Emergency Department pressures Original release: Situation at RVH Emergency Department deeply concerning – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald address to Liam Mellows commemoration
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers an oration at the centenary commemoration for Liam Mellows in Castletown, Co. Wexford, recalling the 1922 executions of Mellows and three other republicans in Mountjoy Gaol. She links the executions to the Free State's reprisal policy and to…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: Mary Lou McDonald address to Liam Mellows commemoration (opens in a new tab)