Latest releases
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5,296 releases
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Triple lock commitment welcome – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Prime Minister's Commons assurance that the triple lock on pensions will remain, after speculation it could be scrapped. She says the DUP secured the triple lock in its 2017 agreement and opposed any move to drop it.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Government assurance that triple lock on pensions will remain Original release: Triple lock commitment welcome – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill holds virtual meeting with First Minister of Wales
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister designate, says she briefed Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford on the stalled power-sharing talks and the approaching exit of caretaker ministers from departments. She says she is ready to form and lead an Executive to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: O’Neill holds virtual meeting with First Minister of Wales (opens in a new tab)
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‘Economy minister must clarify £400 energy payment date’ – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald presses the economy minister to confirm when and how the £400 energy support payments will reach households, accusing the DUP of an information gap and of delaying support through its boycott of the Executive.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 energy support payment timing in Northern Ireland Original release: ‘Economy minister must clarify £400 energy payment date’ – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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NI Protocol is the blockage to devolution – Robinson
DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson says the Northern Ireland Protocol, not any Assembly election, is the blockage to restoring devolution and calls on London and Brussels to accept this. He claims the Protocol raises costs for steel used in construction and for groceries.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: NI Protocol is the blockage to devolution – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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“Growing Support for Aontú’s Proposed Stormont Reforms” – Cllr Mullen
Aontú Cllr Denise Mullen welcomes Alliance leader Naomi Long's comments backing Aontú's call to reform Stormont, arguing that one party should not be able to hold the institution hostage. She urges more parties to join calls for reform amid the cost-of-living and energy crisis.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: “Growing Support for Aontú’s Proposed Stormont Reforms” – Cllr Mullen (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance submits Assembly recall petition as Long says May's election result must be respected and Assembly restored on sustainable basis
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA says the May election result must be respected and urges the Assembly and Executive be restored immediately on a sustainable footing, submitting a recall petition that also calls for reforms to stop any single party blocking devolution amid Westminster Conservative tur
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Impending deadline to restore the Northern Ireland Executive Original release: Alliance submits Assembly recall petition as Long says May's election result must be respected and Assembly restored on sustainable basis (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes hospital announcement and says service transformation now appears to be happening at pace
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the decision to make Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry an elective overnight stay centre, saying hospital transformation now appears to be moving at pace. She calls for the full blueprint for the wider health estate reconfiguration to be…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital elective overnight stay centre announcement Original release: Bradshaw welcomes hospital announcement and says service transformation now appears to be happening at pace (opens in a new tab)
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Government needs to confirm benefits rise now inflation rate is clear, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the UK Government to confirm that benefits will rise with the 10.1 per cent CPI inflation figure, ahead of the April 2023 uprating. She says ministers have so far given vague answers, and urges an urgent announcement to protect universal credit claimants.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: UK inflation rise to 10.1% and winter cost of living pressures Original release: Government needs to confirm benefits rise now inflation rate is clear, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson brands student finance news as insult to injury
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA says he is alarmed by the Economy Minister's decision to raise student maintenance loans by 40 per cent and tuition fees by 1.8 per cent. He calls for an urgent financial support package for students, including higher maintenance grants and…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Economy Minister's student finance changes and maintenance loan increase Original release: Dickson brands student finance news as insult to injury (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Inflation rise shows challenge facing families this winter
SDLP Cost of Living Spokesperson Matthew O'Toole says rising inflation signals a hard winter for households, warning that families may struggle to afford heating and food. He calls for urgent support, including the SDLP's proposed 1,000 litre home heating oil voucher scheme, rather than an…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: UK inflation rise to 10.1% and winter cost of living pressures Original release: O’Toole: Inflation rise shows challenge facing families this winter (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty urges Minister to clarify future of emergency general surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital
SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty asks Health Minister Robin Swann to clarify the future of emergency surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital after reports it could be moved permanently, while welcoming plans for an elective surgery hub there. Colin McGrath separately urges a statement on emergency…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital emergency general surgery relocation reports Original release: McNulty urges Minister to clarify future of emergency general surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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December Election: Tory Clowns Treating Us With Contempt
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin accuses Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris of treating people in Northern Ireland with contempt over threatening a December Stormont election. He says such a vote would do nothing for cost of living pressures, and calls for escalated protests and mass…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris threat of December Stormont election Original release: December Election: Tory Clowns Treating Us With Contempt (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan raises concerns over surgical services at South West Acute
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says she is concerned about surgical services at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, urges an Executive to invest an extra £1 billion in health to recruit staff, and requests an urgent meeting with the health minister to address staffing shortages.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Staffing shortfall at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Dolan raises concerns over surgical services at South West Acute (opens in a new tab)
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Paisley – EU negotiating mandate must change
DUP MP Ian Paisley says the Northern Ireland Secretary's confirmation that only talks are under way between Brussels and London shows the EU must change its negotiating mandate on the Protocol. He calls for a shift in thinking so that devolution can be restored.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Northern Ireland Secretary confirmation on Brussels-London Protocol talks at Westminster committee Original release: Paisley – EU negotiating mandate must change (opens in a new tab)
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“Government Demonises Farmers Yet Doesn’t Recognise Their Emissions Reductions” – Cllr. O’Reilly
Aontú Spokesperson for Agriculture Cllr. Sarah O'Reilly says the Government demands carbon cuts from farmers but fails to recognise or support emissions-reducing practices such as Anaerobic Digestion, which she says lacks support and incentives in Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: “Government Demonises Farmers Yet Doesn’t Recognise Their Emissions Reductions” – Cllr. O’Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Financial burden for keeping people healthy should not fall on individual pharmacists, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA backs Community Pharmacy NI's call for work on a drugs tariff for dispensing medicines, warning that pharmacists should not bear the financial burden and urging the Department of Health to act urgently.
Health Issue: Community Pharmacy NI warning on medicine shortages from rising costs Original release: Financial burden for keeping people healthy should not fall on individual pharmacists, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Carers in crisis could be helped if there was a local Executive
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls on the DUP to consider the stress its position is placing on carers across Northern Ireland, citing a Carers NI report finding fewer than one in three could afford their bills. She urges a return to the Executive to agree a budget.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Carers NI State of Caring Northern Ireland 2022 report Original release: Carers in crisis could be helped if there was a local Executive (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader announces changes to Front Bench Team
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP announces a new Opposition front bench team of MPs, MLAs and councillors, saying it will hold Ministers to account over the cost of living crisis and health service pressures while Stormont remains down.
Economy and employment Health Original release: SDLP Leader announces changes to Front Bench Team (opens in a new tab)
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Space for all voices in New Ireland discussion – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew urges people from all backgrounds to take part in the New Ireland debate, speaking at a Time For Irish Unity event in Westminster. She calls for the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly so the public can have its say.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Space for all voices in New Ireland discussion – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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TUV senses government weakness on Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister says the change of Prime Minister leaves unionists alert to further weakening of the government's resolve on the Protocol, and predicts the EU will offer nothing of substance in technical talks. He calls on unionists to stand firm and criticises Sinn Féin, the SDLP and…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Change of Prime Minister and Protocol technical talks Original release: TUV senses government weakness on Protocol (opens in a new tab)