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2,558 releases
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TUV responds to Budget
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Budget does little for Northern Ireland, criticising the continued farm death tax, lack of funding for PSNI data breach costs and officer shortages, and a £16m Irish Sea border payment he says amounts to under £5m a year over three years.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: November 2025 Budget income tax threshold freeze Original release: TUV responds to Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Swann Slams Autumn Budget as ‘Failure for Workers and Rural Communities’
UUP MP Robin Swann says the Autumn Budget fails workers, households and farm families, criticising the threshold freeze and the absence of Farm Family Inheritance Tax changes. He also says the £370m Barnet consequential falls short of the Finance Minister's £400m shortfall and that the Internal…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Autumn Budget 2025 Northern Ireland funding and tax threshold freeze Original release: Swann Slams Autumn Budget as ‘Failure for Workers and Rural Communities’ (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Welcomes Cut in Electricity Connection Costs as Boost for Rural Growth and Renewable Energy
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the Department's move to limit connection charges to the cables and equipment needed to reach the main grid, arguing it will boost rural businesses, developers and renewable energy projects. She says small initial rises in bills should level…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Department for the Economy electricity connection cost reduction Original release: Armstrong Welcomes Cut in Electricity Connection Costs as Boost for Rural Growth and Renewable Energy (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Do nothing Executive letting Belfast Lough go same way as Lough Neagh
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive lacks any plan to tackle sewage pollution in Belfast Lough, after the Office for Environmental Protection reported spills there are damaging the environment. He calls for the Infrastructure Minister and Executive to bring forward…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough Original release: O'Toole: Do nothing Executive letting Belfast Lough go same way as Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Lough investigation must prompt action from Infrastructure Minister, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Stewart Dickson and Connie Egan call on the Infrastructure Minister to act after an Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough. They urge green-lighting Kinnegar Wastewater Treatment Works upgrades and criticise Executive…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Office for Environmental Protection investigation into NI Water sewage discharges into Belfast Lough Original release: Belfast Lough investigation must prompt action from Infrastructure Minister, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Tinkering around the edges will not fix a fundamentally flawed system…
DUP MLA David Brooks says a £16 million Treasury package for businesses affected by Windsor Framework supply chain disruption is "too little, too late" and calls for radical change beyond the framework, not limited damage control. He argues the funding does not remove the at-risk customs test, SPS…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Treasury £16 million Windsor Framework business support package Original release: Tinkering around the edges will not fix a fundamentally flawed system… (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Jim O’Callaghan to admit EU Migration and Asylum Pact is not in Ireland’s interest – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD urges Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to concede that the EU migration pact fails Ireland given its Common Travel Area ties, and to prioritise a bilateral returns deal with Britain before O'Callaghan meets EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
Immigration International affairs Issue: Justice Minister O'Callaghan meeting with EU Commissioner Brunner on migration pact Original release: Time for Jim O’Callaghan to admit EU Migration and Asylum Pact is not in Ireland’s interest – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Allister highlights TUV growth at largest ever annual party dinner
TUV leader Jim Allister says the party is expanding and attacks the DUP for backing the Donaldson/DUP deal that enforces the Stormont Protocol, warning of customs borders and urging unionists to support a No Executive stance in the 2027 election.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson/DUP deal implementing Stormont Protocol Original release: Allister highlights TUV growth at largest ever annual party dinner (opens in a new tab)
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Executive statement dodges COVID findings on Stormont disfunction
TUV chairman Allister Kyle says the Executive Office's written statement on the COVID Inquiry avoids its findings on Stormont dysfunction, including ministerial party politics, leaks and the Michelle O'Neill funeral attendance. He calls the response evasive and says Stormont is unreformable.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Covid Inquiry second report findings Original release: Executive statement dodges COVID findings on Stormont disfunction (opens in a new tab)
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First and deputy First Minister’s response to Covid-19 Inquiry inadequate, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the Executive's response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is inadequate and calls for independent expert input. She criticises the planned inter-departmental committee and calls for collegiate decision-making led from the Executive Office…
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive response to UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 findings Original release: First and deputy First Minister’s response to Covid-19 Inquiry inadequate, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Covid Inquiry underscores need for Stormont reform, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the Covid Inquiry’s second report shows cross‑community votes were misused, creating dysfunctional decision‑making, and calls on the Secretary of State to begin Stormont power‑sharing reform with local parties and the Irish Government.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Covid Inquiry second report findings Original release: Covid Inquiry underscores need for Stormont reform, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Allister challenges Stormont / China links
TUV leader Jim Allister, the North Antrim MP, says Stormont has entered a strategic co-operation arrangement with the Chinese state, which he argues is a reserved matter for Westminster. He calls for a full, urgent investigation into the Invest NI agreement, its authorisation and any…
International affairs Economy and employment Issue: Invest NI strategic co-operation agreement with Chinese state representatives Original release: Allister challenges Stormont / China links (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Ministers cannot evade accountability
SDLP MLA Justin McNulty says Ministers are trying to avoid accountability by deflecting written Assembly questions to 'operational matters' or arm's length bodies. He welcomes the Speaker's reminder of Ministers' responsibilities after a Point of Order raised the issue.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Speaker's reminder to Ministers on answering MLA written questions Original release: McNulty: Ministers cannot evade accountability (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Secretary of State cannot deny ‘appetite’ for change
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP disputes the Secretary of State’s claim that there is no public desire for a border poll, urging both governments to start planning for a New Ireland and stressing ongoing public conversation about the island’s future.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State says no appetite for border poll Original release: Hanna: Secretary of State cannot deny ‘appetite’ for change (opens in a new tab)
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Swann Challenges Troubles Bill and Tables Amendments
UUP MP Robin Swann, speaking as the Troubles Bill passed its Second Reading, asks where legacy sits within the Belfast Agreement's three strands and says the legislation gives veterans no specific protections. He announces amendments on victim definition, sexual crimes, the Director of…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy Bill Second Reading in the Commons Original release: Swann Challenges Troubles Bill and Tables Amendments (opens in a new tab)
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Action on immigration must apply across all parts of the UK: Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the Government's announced curbs on illegal immigration must be backed by action applying equally across the UK, warning Northern Ireland must not become a backdoor route. He links this to concerns over the Windsor Framework's effect on border security.
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: UK Government announcements on curbing illegal immigration Original release: Action on immigration must apply across all parts of the UK: Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Justice Minister’s comments on British migration changes show folly of signing up to EU Migration and Asylum Pact – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD says the Justice Minister's remarks that Britain's immigration changes may require Irish law updates show Ireland should not join the EU migration pact. He calls on Jim O'Callaghan to secure a bilateral deal with Britain to promptly return international protection…
Immigration International affairs Issue: Minister Jim O'Callaghan comments on British immigration law changes and Common Travel Area Original release: Justice Minister’s comments on British migration changes show folly of signing up to EU Migration and Asylum Pact – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Conditions laid out in the Good Friday Agreement for a referendum on Irish reunification have been met – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says the conditions for an Irish reunification referendum set out in the Good Friday Agreement have been met, and calls on the British and Irish governments to agree a referendum date and work with civil society on a vision for a united Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Conditions laid out in the Good Friday Agreement for a referendum on Irish reunification have been met – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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DUP welcomes Speaker’s ruling on DfE Israel decision
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson welcomes the Speaker's ruling that the DUP-backed call-in petition on the Economy Minister's Israel trade decision is valid and must go to the Executive. He says the matter should be placed before the Executive and says ministers must follow established government…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: DfE Israel trade decision call-in petition Speaker's ruling Original release: DUP welcomes Speaker’s ruling on DfE Israel decision (opens in a new tab)
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Time to work together to drive economic growth – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls the DUP's upcoming Assembly motion on the Windsor Framework a diversion and says the DUP is using it to offset pressure from the TUV. He urges the DUP to stop looking backwards and engage on post-Brexit trading.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Assembly motion on the Windsor Framework debate Original release: Time to work together to drive economic growth – Kearney (opens in a new tab)