Latest releases
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5,206 releases
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Historic day as legislation passes to give official recognition to the Irish language – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill welcomes legislation passing to give official recognition to the Irish language, saying it secures Irish speakers' rights to public services and court use. She credits grassroots activists and points to a planned Irish language commissioner with statutory powers.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Act legislation passes Original release: Historic day as legislation passes to give official recognition to the Irish language – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Culture Bill shatters fine balance secured by NDNA: Gavin Robinson
DUP MP Gavin Robinson says the party will not support the Identity and Language Bill, arguing it departs from the New Decade New Approach agreement and shatters the fine balance secured in 2020. He criticises the Government for ignoring unionist concerns raised during Commons debate.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill final Commons reading and defeated SDLP amendment Original release: Culture Bill shatters fine balance secured by NDNA: Gavin Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Taoiseach’s ‘no return to direct rule’ commitment
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald welcomes the Taoiseach's position that Dublin will not accept a return to London direct rule while the Belfast Executive remains blocked. She urges him to press new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on joint authority and on restoring the institutions.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's position on direct rule amid Stormont Executive deadlock Original release: Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Taoiseach’s ‘no return to direct rule’ commitment (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey: Replacing Protocol only way to make progress
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the Secretary of State cannot ignore that replacing the Protocol is needed to restore Stormont's institutions, after a call with him alongside Gavin Robinson MP. He says any Assembly election would see the DUP seek a mandate for replacement arrangements.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's comments on possible Assembly election Original release: Sir Jeffrey: Replacing Protocol only way to make progress (opens in a new tab)
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Spectre of joint authority shouldn’t scare unionists back to Protocol implementation
TUV Lagan Valley spokesperson Lorna Smyth says joint authority is legally and constitutionally impossible and dismisses it as a bogeyman used to pressure unionists into accepting the Protocol. She claims the Protocol has already undermined Northern Ireland's place in the UK and urges unionists to…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Spectre of joint authority shouldn’t scare unionists back to Protocol implementation (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government Cannot Allow Stormont Dysfunction to Default Back to Direct Rule - Gerard Herdman
Aontú's Gerard Herdman, its West Belfast representative, rejects calls for Westminster to restore direct rule, urging the Dublin government to push for Stormont reform and joint authority if reform fails, and blaming DUP refusal to share power.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's position on direct rule amid Stormont Executive deadlock Original release: Irish Government Cannot Allow Stormont Dysfunction to Default Back to Direct Rule - Gerard Herdman (opens in a new tab)
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Joint Authority would be a fatal blow to Belfast Agreement - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA rejects SDLP leader Colum Eastwood's call for Joint Authority over Northern Ireland, saying any such change would breach the Belfast Agreement's principle of consent. He calls for focus on restoring Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP calls for Joint Authority over Northern Ireland Original release: Joint Authority would be a fatal blow to Belfast Agreement - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Unconscionable to leave health system without clear leadership during severe winter ahead, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says leaving the health service without clear political leadership this winter is unacceptable, after Health Minister Robin Swann's statement on severe winter pressures. She calls for a comprehensive Executive plan across all departments and says other parties are…
Health Issue: Health Minister Robin Swann's statement on winter pressures on health and social care Original release: Unconscionable to leave health system without clear leadership during severe winter ahead, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood urges leaders to back joint authority in absence of Stormont institutions
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP urges Stormont party leaders to back Joint Authority from the British and Irish governments if Assembly and Executive institutions are not formed in the coming months, ruling out direct rule from Westminster.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Eastwood urges leaders to back joint authority in absence of Stormont institutions (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan calls for intervention to avoid Housing Executive maintenance delays
SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan warns that re-tendering planned maintenance contracts could delay work on 3600 Housing Executive homes by up to a year. He calls on the Finance Minister and his department to look again at further support where Procurement Advice Note guidance…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Housing Executive planned maintenance contract re-tendering delays Original release: McCrossan calls for intervention to avoid Housing Executive maintenance delays (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must ensure no further blockage of language rights
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna urges the UK Government to guarantee no further obstruction of Irish language protections after an SDLP amendment on the Identity and Language Bill was defeated in the Commons. She says the bill passed its final reading.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill final Commons reading and defeated SDLP amendment Original release: Hanna: UK Government must ensure no further blockage of language rights (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson - Baker in no position to preach
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker is in no position to preach to Northern Ireland parties, accusing him of inconsistency over the Protocol he voted for. Wilson urges Baker to replace the Protocol rather than lecture others on restoring devolution.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Wilson - Baker in no position to preach (opens in a new tab)
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Government must establish All-Island Citizens Assembly on Constitutional Change – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus calls on the Irish Government to set up an all-island Citizens Assembly, including the diaspora, to examine constitutional change, speaking at a Crann na Saoirse planting at the Jim Gralton Monument in Leitrim. He also says EU institutions should engage with civic…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Government must establish All-Island Citizens Assembly on Constitutional Change – MacManus (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – PM must deal with NI Protocol
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says new Prime Minister Sunak has a chance to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can back and restore devolution. He argues the Protocol is harming medicine supplies, haulage costs and infrastructure investment, and calls for a long-term solution.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Sunak's new premiership and NI Protocol replacement Original release: Sir Jeffrey – PM must deal with NI Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons – NI needs a lasting solution not a stunt
DUP Director of Elections and East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says Sinn Féin must accept that recall stunts will not sustain Stormont and calls on it to retract its support for rigorous implementation of the NI Protocol, arguing a lasting solution unionists can back is needed for powersharing.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Féin calls for rigorous implementation of the NI Protocol Original release: Lyons – NI needs a lasting solution not a stunt (opens in a new tab)
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Endometriosis sufferers still require urgent action: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says urgent action is still needed on endometriosis healthcare, calling for reinstatement of specialist care in the Western Trust and full accreditation for the Belfast centre. She also urges access to care across the UK for local patients, citing APPG and RCOG reports.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Endometriosis sufferers still require urgent action: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly to call for Executive to support struggling workers, families and business – Sheehan
Sinn Féin Chief Whip Pat Sheehan calls for an Executive to be formed immediately to aid workers, families and businesses hit by high bills and health‑service waiting lists, urges the DUP to stop blocking the process and says Sinn Féin will invest £1 billion in health to tackle the cost‑of‑living‑cru
Economy and employment Health Issue: Assembly recall to elect Executive before 28 October deadline Original release: Assembly to call for Executive to support struggling workers, families and business – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol a threat even to animal health
TUV leader Jim Allister says a DAERA answer confirms the Protocol threatens farming, warning that about half of veterinary medicines used by NI farmers, including vaccines, could become unobtainable and calling for the Protocol to go.
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA answer on veterinary medicines under the Protocol Original release: Protocol a threat even to animal health (opens in a new tab)
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Joint Authority in any form is not acceptable – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says any move to impose joint authority over Northern Ireland by London and Dublin would breach the Belfast Agreement and urges focus on restoring devolved government at Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Joint Authority in any form is not acceptable – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Women’s Health Strategy needed to address gynaecological waiting lists, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA urges action on a Women's Health Strategy, citing a Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists report that about 36,900 women here are on gynaecology waiting lists, the longest in the UK.
Health Issue: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists report on NI gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Women’s Health Strategy needed to address gynaecological waiting lists, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)