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4,539 releases
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Urgent action needed to address the crisis in GP services across the north – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges immediate action on strained GP services after meeting GP representatives, citing Belfast practices closing their lists to new patients. He calls for an Executive to be restored to fund an extra £1 billion for health recruitment, and tells the DUP to end its…
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Statement by West Belfast Festival addresses none of the key issues
TUV North Belfast representative Ron McDowell says the West Belfast Festival's statement fails to apologise for pro-terrorist and racist chanting at its event and ignores a mural glorifying an attack on police. He calls for funders and public figures to withdraw, and says the festival's charity…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: Statement by West Belfast Festival addresses none of the key issues (opens in a new tab)
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‘Hate displays not representative of people of Derry’ – Mayor Duffy
Sinn Féin Mayor of Derry and Strabane Sandra Duffy condemns the burning of memorial wreaths and election posters on Derry bonfires, saying those responsible do not represent the city's people and that recent incidents set back a positive summer.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Meenan Square bonfire in Bogside displays of flags and poppy wreaths Original release: ‘Hate displays not representative of people of Derry’ – Mayor Duffy (opens in a new tab)
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West Belfast Festival partners must speak out – Little-Pengelly
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on all funders and partner organisations of the West Belfast Festival to publicly condemn pro-IRA "up the Ra" chants heard at its concerts and to set out what action they have taken. She says public money should not fund events glorifying PIRA terrorism and asks…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: West Belfast Festival partners must speak out – Little-Pengelly (opens in a new tab)
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Butler calls on Feile organisers to address issues of sectarian hatred
UUP Deputy Assembly Group Leader Robbie Butler MLA warns that Belfast Feile organisers must act against sectarian hatred or the party will review its participation in future Feile events, citing songs sung by young people and bonfire material.
Community relations and legacy Original release: Butler calls on Feile organisers to address issues of sectarian hatred (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance team meets mental health champion to discuss strategy implementation
Alliance MLAs say they back the full roll‑out of the Mental Health Strategy, warning that funding is not assured and highlighting the pandemic, sectarianism and the cost‑of‑living crisis as reasons the plan must be delivered without delay.
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Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter urges action on banning single-use plastics in the North, noting Scotland introduced such a ban last week. She says the New Decade, New Approach pledge to end plastic pollution has seen little progress and blames the lack of a functioning Stormont.
Environment and climate Issue: Scotland single-use plastics ban introduction Original release: Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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Kelly slams displays of hatred at Derry bonfires
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly condemns scenes from Derry bonfires on 15 August as disgraceful and calls for displays of hatred to stop now. He describes burning flags, wreaths and posters of politicians as offensive and a hate crime, contrasting them with community festivals across the city.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Meenan Square bonfire in Bogside displays of flags and poppy wreaths Original release: Kelly slams displays of hatred at Derry bonfires (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to improve access to GPs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says people need greater GP access and calls for the Executive to be restored to invest an extra £1 billion in health. He is worried by a temporary freeze on patients moving GP practices in North Down, Ards and East Belfast, which he calls a short-term fix, and blames…
Health Issue: Temporary freeze on GP patient registrations in North Down, Ards and East Belfast Original release: Executive needed to improve access to GPs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome action by Larne FC
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd welcomes Larne FC's decision to suspend John Herron from representing the club after a photo surfaced of him in a top bearing a pro-IRA slogan. Boyd says the behaviour is intolerable and calls it a poor example for young people.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Larne FC suspension of John Herron over pro-IRA top Original release: Welcome action by Larne FC (opens in a new tab)
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Ratcliffe highlights graffiti calling for sectarian genocide outside Newtownhamilton
TUV Newry and Armagh spokesman Keith Ratcliffe condemns graffiti reading "All Prods are targets" on a road outside Newtownhamilton as a sinister hate crime. He calls on political representatives and the local community to condemn it and the sectarian violence he attributes to Republicans.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Newtownhamilton "All Prods are targets" graffiti Original release: Ratcliffe highlights graffiti calling for sectarian genocide outside Newtownhamilton (opens in a new tab)
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The glorification of any terrorist is unacceptable - Lyons
DUP East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says a posted photo of a Larne FC player in an IRA-themed shirt is abhorrent and calls for glorification of the IRA to be condemned unequivocally. He also cites Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill's recent remarks on IRA violence as unhelpful.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Larne FC suspension of John Herron over pro-IRA top Original release: The glorification of any terrorist is unacceptable - Lyons (opens in a new tab)
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Funders, Unionists and the BBC need to cut links to West Belfast Festival until they clean up their act
TUV leader Jim Allister calls for funding to be withdrawn from the West Belfast Festival by Belfast City Council, the Arts Council and the National Lottery after Kneecap's mural and chanting and the Wolfe Tones concert. He also urges the BBC and unionist parties to cut ties with the festival.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: Funders, Unionists and the BBC need to cut links to West Belfast Festival until they clean up their act (opens in a new tab)
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“Fiona Donohoe Should Be Told What Happened to Her Son” - Brolly
Aontú representative for East Derry Gemma Brolly backs the family of Noah Donohue, calling for truth and justice for Fiona Donohoe and urging the scrapping of the Public Interest Immunity Certificate that she says is withholding answers.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Original release: “Fiona Donohoe Should Be Told What Happened to Her Son” - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara
The Green Party NI announces that Cllr Mal O'Hara has been selected as its new leader, unopposed, after Clare Bailey chose not to stand following the Assembly election. O'Hara says he will offer green solutions to cost of living, housing and climate challenges.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Green Party NI election of new leader Mal O'Hara Original release: Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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John Herron should never play for Larne FC again - Stewart
UUP East Antrim MLA John Stewart says Larne FC player John Herron should never play for the club again after he was pictured wearing a shirt with a pro-IRA slogan. He says both players in the photo, and their employers, have questions to answer.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Larne FC suspension of John Herron over pro-IRA top Original release: John Herron should never play for Larne FC again - Stewart (opens in a new tab)
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Feile an Phobail organisers must answer questions over pro-IRA chanting by festival crowd – Copeland
UUP Alderman Sonia Copeland says Feile an Phobail organisers must answer questions after videos showed pro-IRA singing and chanting by the festival crowd on Sunday evening. She says it is a recurring problem and calls for organisers to explain how they will tackle it.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Wolfe Tones concert pro‑IRA chanting at Féile an Phobail Original release: Feile an Phobail organisers must answer questions over pro-IRA chanting by festival crowd – Copeland (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson calls for bonfire builders to remove items
Alliance councillor Rachael Ferguson, described in the release as Alliance Foyle representative, calls on those behind the Meenan Square bonfire in the Bogside, Derry-Londonderry, to remove flags, poppy wreaths and other symbols placed on it, citing past sectarian displays.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Meenan Square bonfire in Bogside displays of flags and poppy wreaths Original release: Ferguson calls for bonfire builders to remove items (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes dual-strain vaccines
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the UK approval of Moderna's dual-strain Covid-19 vaccine, which targets both the original variant and Omicron, and encourages take-up of the autumn booster.
Health Issue: UK approval of Moderna dual-strain Covid-19 vaccine Original release: Bradshaw welcomes dual-strain vaccines (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for a review of how Maternity Allowance is treated under Universal Credit, where it is deducted from awards unlike Statutory Maternity Pay, and urges the Communities Minister to press Westminster on the policy.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants (opens in a new tab)