Latest releases
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6,134 releases
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Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says unpaid carers are among those worst affected by rising living costs, citing higher energy, heating, food and transport bills. She points to new figures showing 27% of carers struggling to make ends meet and 23% cutting back on essentials, and blames the DUP's…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Original release: Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Difficult times ahead, says Farry, as Secretary of State sets local Budget
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP warns of tough public spending ahead after the Secretary of State set a Northern Ireland budget, blaming the lack of an Executive and Assembly for missed long-term planning and a stalled reform agenda.
Public finance and taxation Original release: Difficult times ahead, says Farry, as Secretary of State sets local Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says a Westminster-set budget forcing cuts to the Department of Education stems from political failure and financial mismanagement. He blames the DUP for enabling Chris Heaton Harris to set spending and calls for an Executive to be formed.
Public finance and taxation Education Original release: Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure (opens in a new tab)
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Time for economic honesty from Sinn Fein: Forsythe
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe calls on Sinn Fein to be honest about Northern Ireland's finances, accusing its figures of offering false hope. She demands immediate release of the £400 energy payment held in London and says no restored Executive will have £300 million to distribute.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Time for economic honesty from Sinn Fein: Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood challenges British Government on criteria for unity referendum
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP calls on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to publish clear criteria for an Irish unity referendum, saying democratic transparency is needed after a Supreme Court ruling on Scottish independence powers.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Eastwood challenges British Government on criteria for unity referendum (opens in a new tab)
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It is vital a maternity unit is kept at Causeway
The DUP's representatives for East Londonderry and North Antrim, including MPs Ian Paisley and Gregory Campbell and MLAs Alan Robinson, Paul Frew and Maurice Bradley, say a maternity unit must be kept at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. They oppose a Trust option to move maternity services to a new…
Health Original release: It is vital a maternity unit is kept at Causeway (opens in a new tab)
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"Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers."
Aontú's Kieran Mc Causland, Upper Bann representative, calls for urgent funding and reliable respite breaks for unpaid carers, citing the £69.70 weekly carer's allowance and the loss of entitlement for those earning above £132.
Social security and welfare Health Original release: "Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers." (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes new air route announcement
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair welcomes plans by Fly Atlantic to launch a transatlantic route from Belfast International Airport from summer 2024. He calls on the UK Government to protect connectivity for outlying parts of the UK while cutting aviation's carbon footprint.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Blair welcomes new air route announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA warns that reconfiguring maternity and other services during a crisis, without a Health Minister or Committee able to scrutinise, will see services crumble, as the Northern Trust begins consulting on maternity reconfiguration.
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Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the recent withdrawal of emergency surgery at South West Acute Hospital is a service collapse, not reform, and urges the Western Trust to publish its plans for recruiting surgeons. He also calls on the DUP to end its boycott and allow an Executive to be formed.
Health Original release: Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Beware of well packaged but meaningless change on Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister warns unionists against settling for less than full restoration of UK sovereignty over Northern Ireland in the Protocol talks with the EU. He sets out tests for any deal, including whether EU single market, customs and VAT laws still apply and whether Irish Sea checks remain.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Beware of well packaged but meaningless change on Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the Stormont deadlock is worsening pressures on GPs after the Maple Healthcare practice in Lisnaskea signalled it may hand back its contract. She calls for MLAs to restore the Executive and pursue health reform, and accuses the DUP of using health services as…
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Urgent need for a negotiated solution on veterinary medicines, says Brown
Alliance's Patrick Brown MLA urges an extension of the grace period for veterinary medicines to give EU and UK negotiators more time, warning that disruption could harm animal welfare and cut supply in Northern Ireland. He also criticises the DUP for boycotting the Assembly and Executive while…
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Original release: Urgent need for a negotiated solution on veterinary medicines, says Brown (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup
SDLP Sports Spokesperson Justin McNulty criticises FIFA's threat of bookings against teams wearing OneLove armbands at the World Cup, calling it a disgrace and urging players to find other ways to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community in Qatar.
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes the COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance for poorer countries but says it does not go far enough. He calls for radical action on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and urges restoration of the Executive so Northern…
Environment and climate International affairs Original release: Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he has written to members of the House of Lords to reiterate opposition to the British government's Legacy Bill, which he claims will block families seeking truth and justice. He calls on peers to urge the government to implement the Stormont House Agreement legacy…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he is deeply concerned that ambulance cover in some areas is being held up for hours outside hospitals, calling the pressures on staff and patients a crisis. He urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive and health minister can be restored.
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Forsythe – Protocol not acceptable to unionists
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says she told Taoiseach Micheál Martin during his constituency visit that the Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support. She also questions the Narrow Water bridge project, citing Trader Support Service costs and urging investment in…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Forsythe – Protocol not acceptable to unionists (opens in a new tab)
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Irish language not part of “shared heritage”
TUV North Down spokesperson John Gordon criticises Alliance's Stephen Farry and the party for welcoming the Identity and Language Bill and describing Irish as shared heritage, arguing Irish is not a shared heritage because unionists do not regard it as part of their identity and citing 2021 Census…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Original release: Irish language not part of “shared heritage” (opens in a new tab)
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Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair says the outcome of COP27 will be crucial for securing nature's future, arguing climate change and biodiversity loss are linked. He warns that without concrete targets at the climate summit and success at the UN Biodiversity Conference, halting biodiversity…
Environment and climate International affairs Original release: Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair (opens in a new tab)