Latest releases
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5,775 releases
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Beattie welcomes confirmation there won’t be a pre-Christmas Election
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MLA welcomes the Secretary of State's confirmation that there will be no pre-Christmas Assembly election, arguing it would not resolve NI Protocol problems. He calls for time to restore the Executive and warns against a January election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: Beattie welcomes confirmation there won’t be a pre-Christmas Election (opens in a new tab)
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Long: SOS now needs to listen on the issue of reform
Alliance leader Naomi Long welcomes the Secretary of State's decision to delay an Assembly election beyond Christmas, but says he must now push for institutional reform to end the Executive's dysfunction. She urges the DUP to end its boycott and consider the impact on people facing the cost of…
Constitutional affairs Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: Long: SOS now needs to listen on the issue of reform (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Stormont needed to provide cost of living support
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP calls on the DUP to return to Stormont so cost of living support can reach families, citing the paused Assembly election and delays to energy and heating oil payments.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: Eastwood: Stormont needed to provide cost of living support (opens in a new tab)
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“FOI Reveals Extent Of Dysfunction in Provision of ADHD Assessments” – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for urgent action on failures in assessing children for ASD and ADHD, citing FOI figures showing waiting numbers and times have risen sharply across Health Trusts. Aontú has written to the Education and Health Ministers seeking a cross-body task force.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Freedom of Information figures on ASD and ADHD assessment waiting times Original release: “FOI Reveals Extent Of Dysfunction in Provision of ADHD Assessments” – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Triggering Article 16 could provide the time and space to achieve a negotiated outcome on Protocol - Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie says UK-EU negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol could be undermined by an unnecessary Assembly election costing £6.5million, and calls for the UK to trigger Article 16 to allow talks to continue.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly election call and Article 16 Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations Original release: Triggering Article 16 could provide the time and space to achieve a negotiated outcome on Protocol - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Unconscionable for any party to veto Executive formation when health system under so much pressure, says Bradshaw, as Alliance publishes action document
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says blocking Executive formation while health services face heavy strain is indefensible, and publishes an updated Fighting Fit document setting out winter health actions for the Executive and Health Minister, including a patient safety commissioner…
Health Issue: Alliance Fighting Fit health policy update on winter pressures Original release: Unconscionable for any party to veto Executive formation when health system under so much pressure, says Bradshaw, as Alliance publishes action document (opens in a new tab)
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Overriding local decision-making undermines devolution
DUP MP Carla Lockhart and MLA Paul Givan say they opposed Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris over the Northern Ireland Office's decision to commission abortion services, arguing it is a devolved matter for Stormont. They say the move undermines devolution and should be reversed.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland announced by Secretary of State Original release: Overriding local decision-making undermines devolution (opens in a new tab)
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Democracy never the first choice for Sinn Fein
DUP MP Gregory Campbell accuses Sinn Féin of undermining democracy, citing its calls for 'joint authority' and an election while the Secretary of State has held off setting a date. He says devolution can only be restored by dealing with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Constitutional affairs Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: Democracy never the first choice for Sinn Fein (opens in a new tab)
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Martin takes Unionists for fools
TUV leader Jim Allister rejects Taoiseach Micheál Martin's claim that the Protocol did not undermine Northern Ireland's constitutional position, arguing that unionists understand the implications of a border in the Irish Sea.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Martin takes Unionists for fools (opens in a new tab)
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We need urgent clarification on the roll-out of energy support payments in Northern Ireland, says Armstrong
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong urges immediate clarification on how the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme will be administered in Northern Ireland, questioning who will manage electricity and heating‑oil payments, delivery timelines and warning households could miss support until after Xmas,
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Energy bill support payment timing uncertainty, utility regulator update Original release: We need urgent clarification on the roll-out of energy support payments in Northern Ireland, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood secures £1m funding commitment for Northlands Centre
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says the British government has committed £1m to fund addiction services in Derry, and calls on Stormont's Department of Health to bring forward a business case for the Northlands Centre's new treatment facility.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northlands Centre addiction treatment facility £1m funding commitment Original release: Eastwood secures £1m funding commitment for Northlands Centre (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – Protocol needs replaced & Stormont needs a solid…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, with MLAs Emma Little Pengelly and Gordon Lyons, says there can be no Executive or Assembly until the Protocol is replaced, after meeting the Secretary of State in Belfast. He also says the DUP is ready for an election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP meeting with Secretary of State in Belfast on Protocol and election speculation Original release: Sir Jeffrey – Protocol needs replaced & Stormont needs a solid… (opens in a new tab)
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British Secretary of State indecision adds to political limbo – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill says Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has given no clarity on when he will call an Assembly election, adding to political limbo caused by the DUP's boycott. She calls for urgent action to support workers, families and health services.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State Heaton-Harris meeting on Assembly election timing Original release: British Secretary of State indecision adds to political limbo – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Burbank welcomes council decisions on fracking and the extraction of oil and gas
Alliance Councillor Jay Burbank welcomes a unanimous Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council motion backing a moratorium on oil and gas exploration and extraction in Northern Ireland, and opposing fracking. He questions the DUP's commitment after two of its MPs voted against Labour's fracking…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Antrim and Newtownabbey council motion on oil and gas moratorium and fracking Original release: Burbank welcomes council decisions on fracking and the extraction of oil and gas (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – Government needs to focus on replacing the Protocol
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says the Government must focus on replacing the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support before meeting the Secretary of State, warning there can be no stable Executive or Assembly until Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market is restored. He…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sir Jeffrey – Government needs to focus on replacing the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Archibald welcomes support for Professor Colin Harvey
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald welcomes Queen's University's public support for Professor Colin Harvey amid threats and abuse toward him. She calls on the university to publicly acknowledge that permission to use its logo on his publications was sought and granted, and urges political unionist…
Constitutional affairs Education Original release: Archibald welcomes support for Professor Colin Harvey (opens in a new tab)
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Taking a hammer to the Belfast Agreement is unlikely to fix our problems warns Empey
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey warns the Taoiseach to be careful after calling Northern Ireland's governance 'not fit for purpose', arguing that changes to the Belfast Agreement are unlikely to fix the problems and that both governments are complicit in the stalemate.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's comments on Northern Ireland governance being not fit for purpose Original release: Taking a hammer to the Belfast Agreement is unlikely to fix our problems warns Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons – progress is only made through consensus
DUP Director of Elections and East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says Sinn Fein's leader Michelle O'Neill ignores unionist views and calls for the Protocol to be replaced before devolved government can return. He cites DUP withdrawal of the First Minister and claims hauliers warn of empty shelves.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Lyons – progress is only made through consensus (opens in a new tab)
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Savita Halappanavar: 10 Years On The Struggle Continues
People Before Profit marks ten years since Savita Halappanavar's death, arguing that reproductive justice is still unmet. It lists remaining barriers in the Republic, including a 3-day wait, a 12-week limit, and maternity hospitals not providing abortion, and says much of the North has no access.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Savita Halappanavar 10‑year anniversary Original release: Savita Halappanavar: 10 Years On The Struggle Continues (opens in a new tab)
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‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill says the British Secretary of State's U-turn leaves Northern Ireland in political limbo with no Executive, Assembly or caretaker ministers during a cost-of-living crisis. She blames the DUP for refusing to join an Executive and says she will press the…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: British Secretary of State U-turn on Northern Ireland Assembly election timing Original release: ‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)