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4,936 releases
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Time to seize ‘historic opportunity’ and begin preparations for Irish unity – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes urges the Irish government to begin planning for Irish unity after an EU sentiment poll found over 60% on the island would back a united Ireland. He says Sinn Féin will bring legislation to the Dáil before summer requiring preparations to start.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU sentiment poll on support for a united Ireland Original release: Time to seize ‘historic opportunity’ and begin preparations for Irish unity – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite secures commitment to recognise contribution of women to Belfast
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite says Council has agreed to honour women's contribution to the city with the Freedom of Belfast, after raising the gender imbalance among past recipients. Proposals will be developed with the women's sector to name four women for the honour…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast Freedom of the City honour for women proposal Original release: De Faoite secures commitment to recognise contribution of women to Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Democracy should not be up for grabs, says Long, as Alliance publish reform proposals
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA says democracy must not be for sale and unveils the Democratic Renewal paper proposing to stop any party collapsing Stormont, ensure equal voting weight, curb executive deadlock, boost minister accountability and increase transparency of political funding.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Alliance Party Assembly and Executive reform proposals Original release: Democracy should not be up for grabs, says Long, as Alliance publish reform proposals (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to community and voluntary groups ‘another consequence of disastrous Brexit agenda’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says communities will bear the brunt of cuts to community and voluntary groups after the British government cut funding here, which he links to Brexit. He accuses Westminster of prioritising spending on the war economy and calls for rejoining the EU in a united Ireland.
Public finance and taxation International affairs Issue: British government cuts to community funding lost through Brexit Original release: Cuts to community and voluntary groups ‘another consequence of disastrous Brexit agenda’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew praises Economy Minister for stepping in to save translation organisation
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's intervention to keep the Place-Name Project running. He accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of trying to eradicate the organisation and of hostility to the Irish language.
Disability and equality Issue: Economy Minister intervention to save the Place-Name Project Original release: Gildernew praises Economy Minister for stepping in to save translation organisation (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes Health Minister confirmation that Keytruda is already available in three Health Trusts, and urges swift rollout to the remaining two areas. She says the immunotherapy could save lives.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Health Trusts Original release: Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI (opens in a new tab)
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New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard writes to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt demanding the immediate rollout of Keytruda, a new injectable cancer immunotherapy being introduced in England and Wales, and asks for a clear timeline for its use in Northern Ireland.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug rollout in England and Wales Original release: New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Serious lessons must be learned from Katie Simpson death – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin says lessons must be learned after the independent review into the killing of Katie Simpson by Jonathan Creswell found serious justice system failings, including institutional misogyny within the PSNI and poor investigation standards. She calls on the PSNI to respond…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Katie Simpson Review findings Original release: Serious lessons must be learned from Katie Simpson death – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces he has approved changes to childcare regulation after consultation, limiting GP-countersigned health declarations to senior childcare roles and altering adult:child ratios for childminders and group day care from 1 June 2026.
Education Health Issue: Health Minister childcare regulation changes on GP declarations and adult:child ratios Original release: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin and DUP allergic to scrutiny, says Tennyson, after they block amendment to look at cost of division
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the DUP of being unwilling to face scrutiny after they voted down an amendment requiring the Fiscal Council to assess the cost of duplicated and segregated services. He says Alliance will keep pressing for transparency and a debate on…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Fiscal Council Bill amendment on cost of division voted down Original release: Sinn Féin and DUP allergic to scrutiny, says Tennyson, after they block amendment to look at cost of division (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin will not accept DUP’s efforts to attack and undermine Irish identity – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, demands that Communities Minister Gordon Lyons appear before MLAs over his decision on funding for the Place-Name Project, which he calls a disgrace. He says Sinn Féin will work to ensure the project continues.
Disability and equality Issue: Place-Name Project funding decision by Communities Minister Original release: Sinn Féin will not accept DUP’s efforts to attack and undermine Irish identity – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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BP's Obscene Record Profits Based on War, Environmental Destruction and Poverty
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says BP's $3.2bn first quarter profits are obscene price-gouging during the cost of living crisis, and calls for fuel and energy price caps plus significantly higher taxes on the company's profits. He also calls for nationalisation of energy companies to…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: BP first-quarter 2026 profits of $3.2 billion Original release: BP's Obscene Record Profits Based on War, Environmental Destruction and Poverty (opens in a new tab)
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McIlveen: Just Transition Commission is an afterthought built on a…
DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen says proposed regulations establishing a Just Transition Commission are an afterthought that do not fix flaws in Northern Ireland's climate framework, and calls for priorities of economic resilience and jobs. The DUP says it cannot support the regulations, citing concerns…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Proposed Just Transition Commission from the Environment Minister Original release: McIlveen: Just Transition Commission is an afterthought built on a… (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says his Voting Rights in Presidential Elections Bill, which passed second stage, would let Irish citizens across the island vote in presidential elections, enfranchising around one million people, with the change taking effect at the next election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise
TUV's Lord Dodds and Jim Allister KC MP say the Independent Monitoring Panel failed to explain why it measured goods value rather than freight movements in assessing the Internal Market Guarantee. They demand revised figures on the UK Internal Market System share of GB-NI freight, saying the 96%…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Independent Monitoring Panel first Internal Market Guarantee report on freight Original release: Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise (opens in a new tab)
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Antrim flood protocol must be aligned with clear operational plan – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, welcomes Regional Community Resilience Group engagement with residents after flooding and calls for the refreshed flood protocol to be aligned with a clear operational plan and a named council oversight official.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Antrim flooding after Storm Chandra Regional Community Resilience Group meeting Original release: Antrim flood protocol must be aligned with clear operational plan – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he is dismayed by the low number of Protestant-background legal staff in the PPS, citing figures showing 46 Protestant and 105 Catholic legal staff, and criticises the Justice Minister for not pursuing the issue.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PPS legal staff community background figures Original release: TUV raises concerns about imbalance in community background of PPS staff (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt highlights critical role of primary care elective services
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt praises primary care elective services after a visit to Glengormley Practice, citing £2.9million funding, over 1,450 GP vasectomies and around 3,000 gynaecology procedures. He says the model is cutting hospital waiting lists and looks forward to more elective pathways…
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Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services
UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken condemns the lack of an agreed Executive budget, saying departments face real-terms cuts under interim spending limits and health services, including staff pay awards and waiting list progress, are suffering.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive failure to pass multi-year budget Original release: Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe backs extending the presidential vote to Irish citizens abroad and in the North, regardless of residence, and says a Peadar Tóibín bill debated in the Dáil is a narrower but important first step.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)