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3,054 releases
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TUV Leader’s New Year Message
TUV leader says the 1 January ICS2 customs controls and ban on GB veterinary and pet medicines will add paperwork and costs at the Irish Sea border, and attacks Stormont's record and Sinn Fein's role. He calls on unionists, including DUP and UUP activists, to join TUV before the 2027 elections.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: TUV Leader’s New Year Message (opens in a new tab)
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2026 New Year Message
Alliance leader Naomi Long MLA says 2025 must be the last year of dysfunctional government and calls for the institutions to be reformed. She says Alliance's call for reform, backed by an Assembly majority, is now being pressed on the UK and Irish governments to launch a process in the new year.
Constitutional affairs Original release: 2026 New Year Message (opens in a new tab)
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New Year Message from DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP calls for less rhetoric and more delivery in 2026, prioritising working families, the economy and public services over a border poll and what he describes as ideology on climate policy.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: New Year Message from DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader’s New Year Message
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says attention must return to Northern Ireland's challenges in 2026, criticising Executive infighting and unmet promises in 2025 and calling on the Executive to deliver for people. The release also urges the UK and Irish Governments to begin preparation ahead of any…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: SDLP Leader’s New Year Message (opens in a new tab)
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Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell criticises the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for advocating gender self-identification after the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex. He calls for the Executive Office to hold the Commission to account and says the Health Minister will be held…
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission gender self-identification advocacy Original release: Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework Still Failing to Deliver for Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the government's response to Lord Murphy's recommendations and House of Lords findings on the Windsor Framework is cautiously welcome but falls well short of fixing Irish Sea Border problems. He points to retailer refusals, veterinary medicines…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government response to Lord Murphy's Windsor Framework recommendations Original release: Windsor Framework Still Failing to Deliver for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (opens in a new tab)
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2025 Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes the publication of the Commission on the Future of Ireland's annual report, saying the Irish unity conversation is growing and calling on the Irish and British governments to plan for constitutional change. The release lists 2025 events, including 23…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Commission on the Future of Ireland 2025 annual report Original release: 2025 Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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The Irish language is thriving right across society – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says the 227% rise in Irish language enrolments at Queen’s University Belfast shows the language is thriving across society and pledges Sinn Féin will keep supporting its promotion and preservation.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Queen’s University Belfast Irish language enrolment surge Original release: The Irish language is thriving right across society – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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The EU Grinch brings unpleasant gifts for the New Year
UUP Windsor Framework spokesperson Steve Aiken warns that tightening EU rules and ending grace periods from 1 January 2026 will bring new customs checks, bureaucracy and Irish Sea Border controls, and accuses DAERA, the Government and the Executive of failing to publish a full list of changes.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework Committee review of incoming EU regulations Original release: The EU Grinch brings unpleasant gifts for the New Year (opens in a new tab)
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Strength, not weakness remains TUV’s watchword
TUV leader Jim Allister tells the Central Council in Antrim that 2025 confirmed TUV as central to unionism, criticises the DUP's return to government with Sinn Fein over the Protocol, and says the party is starting preparations for the 2027 elections.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Strength, not weakness remains TUV’s watchword (opens in a new tab)
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TUV congratulates new Orange Grand Master
TUV Party Chairman Cllr Allister Kyle congratulates Harold Henning on becoming Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. He says the Institution has long supported unionism and that the Protocol remains a threat, and TUV says it will engage constructively with the new leader.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Harold Henning elected Grand Master of the Orange Order in Ireland Original release: TUV congratulates new Orange Grand Master (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin MPs meet British government minister on votes at 16
Sinn Féin MPs John Finucane, Paul Maskey and Cathal Mallaghan report a recent meeting with UK minister Samantha Dixon on lowering the voting age to 16, which they say will bring a positive step for democracy and a voice for young people in the north.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Votes at 16 extension confirmed for UK elections Original release: Sinn Féin MPs meet British government minister on votes at 16 (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls the Communities Minister's cut to social housing grant reckless and inhumane amid a supply crisis, citing Simon Community homelessness figures and an NI Audit Office finding, and urges him to reconsider priorities.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State must act following historic Assembly vote for reform, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long urges the Secretary of State to start an institutional reform process at Stormont after the Assembly backed Alliance's call following the Covid Inquiry's latest report. She says she will write to request talks with the co-guarantors and local parties.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly vote backing Stormont institutional reform after Covid Inquiry report Original release: Secretary of State must act following historic Assembly vote for reform, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches a public consultation on the draft ten-year Executive Disability Strategy for 2025 to 2035, with commitments including a Regional Disability Forum, a review of disability legislation and an annual Disability Data compendium. The consultation runs…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MPs fail to block pro-EU Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is dismayed that DUP MPs abstained in the Commons on a Bill to rejoin the EU Customs Union, letting it be introduced after a tied vote and a casting vote. He says the DUP could have blocked it and calls on every DUP MP to explain their decision.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Commons vote on private member's Bill to rejoin EU Customs Union Original release: DUP MPs fail to block pro-EU Bill (opens in a new tab)
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New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Department for Communities' draft Disability Strategy, published as it goes out for public consultation, calling it a step toward real equality for disabled people. He urges the Communities Minister to bring forward legislative change and encourages people…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Empey shocked by huge cost of Trader Support Service
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey says Treasury Parliamentary Answers show £385.01m spent over four years on the Trader Support Service, calling the cost colossal and warning that businesses and consumers will bear the costs of the Windsor Framework.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Trader Support Service cost revealed in Treasury Parliamentary Answers Original release: Lord Empey shocked by huge cost of Trader Support Service (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists Unite to Secure Petition of Concern on EU Observer Status…
The DUP says it welcomes 30 unionist MLAs signing a Petition of Concern to block a Sinn Féin motion proposing EU observer status for Northern Ireland, arguing the move would weaken the region’s place in the United Kingdom.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin motion on EU observer status Original release: Unionists Unite to Secure Petition of Concern on EU Observer Status… (opens in a new tab)