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4,737 releases
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Protocol state aid restrictions will cause lasting damage to NI…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds warns that EU state aid controls under the Protocol will harm Northern Ireland's economy, after Brussels set new caps on regional aid for local businesses over five years. She says the arrangement puts NI at a competitive disadvantage and calls for decisive action to protect…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: EU approval of Northern Ireland regional aid map and state aid caps Original release: Protocol state aid restrictions will cause lasting damage to NI… (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's abortion announcement shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster is willing to act on abortion but reluctant to act on Protocol concerns. He questions whether London expects Unionists to return to devolution regardless of…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution (opens in a new tab)
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“A sad day for NI and a sad reflection on NIO’s priorities” – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, says the Secretary of State's decision to accelerate abortion legislation through Westminster is a bad decision that disrespects the devolution settlement. She contrasts this with slower progress on Irish Sea Border…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: “A sad day for NI and a sad reflection on NIO’s priorities” – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Tories’ Abortion Push deletes the Human Right to Life and Undermines the GFA
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín criticises Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis's new powers to direct the Northern Ireland Health Department to expand abortion services, saying they bypass Stormont and the Good Friday Agreement. He says Aontú is seeking legal advice on protecting…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Tories’ Abortion Push deletes the Human Right to Life and Undermines the GFA (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Leader Tells Tánaiste That The Good Friday Agreement
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD tells the Tánaiste the Good Friday Agreement "has been gutted" and urges the government to exhaust international legal avenues, seek reconstitution of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and pursue Joint Authority. He also promotes an Aontú Bill for a…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Tóibín Dáil exchange with Tánaiste on Good Friday Agreement implementation Original release: Aontú Leader Tells Tánaiste That The Good Friday Agreement (opens in a new tab)
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There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says there should be no further impediments to fully commissioning abortion services in Northern Ireland. She urges Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to take immediate steps ahead of his expected plans to speed up delivery.
Health Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson extremely disappointed at number of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says he is disappointed that PSNI figures show homophobic and transphobic hate crimes at their highest level since records began. He blames the DUP for blocking the Executive from progressing hate crime legislation and calls for an Executive to be restored.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI homophobic and transphobic hate crime figures 2021-22 Original release: Tennyson extremely disappointed at number of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes (opens in a new tab)
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Fiscal Commission report useful contribution but will gather dust unless institutions restored, says Muir
Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA calls the Fiscal Commission report on Executive tax and spending a useful contribution to funding cost-of-living support, but says it will go unused until the Assembly and Executive are restored. He also urges a plan to tackle the cost of division.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Fiscal Commission report on Executive tax and spending powers Original release: Fiscal Commission report useful contribution but will gather dust unless institutions restored, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath calls for greater transparency around health waiting lists
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath calls for greater transparency on waiting lists and welcomes a watchdog probe into how health trusts keep patients informed. He also proposes a public waiting lists dashboard modelled on the Department of Health's pandemic-era tracker.
Health Issue: Review of health trust communication with waiting list patients Original release: McGrath calls for greater transparency around health waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty urges support for Irish language march
SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty urges support for the Irish language march in Belfast on Saturday, organised by An Dream Dearg, which calls for Irish language legislation under New Decade, New Approach to be introduced without further delay. He says the DUP failed to honour the…
Disability and equality Issue: An Dream Dearg Irish language march Belfast Original release: Doherty urges support for Irish language march (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP should end Executive boycott and work to fix health service’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says an Executive must be formed immediately to begin repairing the health service, and urges the DUP to lift its Executive boycott and invest an extra £1 billion in waiting lists, staffing and cancer and mental health services.
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Middleton – “Divisive Border Poll Still SF’s No.1 Priority”
DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton says Sinn Fein is showing its true colours by demanding more clarity on calling a border poll, claiming the party is focused on division rather than the NHS and childcare. He argues Northern Ireland is best placed within the UK.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Middleton – “Divisive Border Poll Still SF’s No.1 Priority” (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson –“unionists will not sit in the corner and be quiet”
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says SDLP and Sinn Fein want unionists to stay quiet and accuses them of favouring majority rule over powersharing. He says unionists will make their voices heard against the Protocol and calls on SDLP MP Claire Hanna to apologise to Carla Lockhart.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Carla Lockhart Commons remarks on John Hume and powersharing exchange with Claire Hanna Original release: Wilson –“unionists will not sit in the corner and be quiet” (opens in a new tab)
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TUV setting the agenda
TUV Lagan Valley spokesperson Lorna Smyth says TUV's long-standing position, that Unionists must force the Government to choose between Stormont and the Protocol, is now central to the debate and that the Government has promised action it must deliver. She says TUV will keep pressing to prevent…
Constitutional affairs Original release: TUV setting the agenda (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite calls for action after spike in homophobic hate crime
SDLP Belfast councillor Séamas de Faoite calls for more action against crime targeting the LGBT+ community after PSNI figures showed homophobic hate crimes rose from 246 to 336 in 2021/22. He urges delivery of the sexual orientation strategy and a conversion therapy ban.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI homophobic and transphobic hate crime figures 2021-22 Original release: de Faoite calls for action after spike in homophobic hate crime (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey: "A good start, but actions speak louder than words"
The DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP welcomes the Foreign Secretary's Commons statement on plans to legislate on the NI Protocol but says actions must follow words. He calls for the Irish Sea border to be removed and says legislation is needed within days and weeks, not months or years.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss statement on the NI Protocol Original release: Sir Jeffrey: "A good start, but actions speak louder than words" (opens in a new tab)
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‘Tories plan to break law while backing DUP block on Executive’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane accuses the Tory government of planning to break international law over the Protocol while giving cover to the DUP's block on forming a Northern Ireland Executive. He calls for an Executive to be formed now and for the British government to work constructively with the EU.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK Government legislation to set aside aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: ‘Tories plan to break law while backing DUP block on Executive’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists must stand firm in face of lack of substance from HMG
TUV leader Jim Allister says a UK Government announcement on the Northern Ireland Protocol offers only a promise to act, with no substance, and calls on unionists not to return to Stormont or nominate an Assembly Speaker on such assurances. He rejects 'green lanes' and 'red lanes' proposals as…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK Government announcement on Northern Ireland Protocol green and red lanes Original release: Unionists must stand firm in face of lack of substance from HMG (opens in a new tab)
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Prime Minister’s weak message on the Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister, in a News Letter article reproduced by the party, says the Prime Minister's response to the Protocol in the Belfast Telegraph was weak and inadequate. He calls on unionism to force a choice, argues Stormont should not return until the Protocol is removed, and rejects any…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Belfast Telegraph response on the Protocol Original release: Prime Minister’s weak message on the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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UUP Leader Doug Beattie responds to statement from the Foreign Secretary on the NI Protocol
UUP Leader Doug Beattie welcomes Foreign Secretary Liz Truss's statement on the NI Protocol as a step towards a pragmatic fix, and calls for an end to the delay, urging the EU to change its mandate so there are no checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that stay there.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss statement on the NI Protocol Original release: UUP Leader Doug Beattie responds to statement from the Foreign Secretary on the NI Protocol (opens in a new tab)