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110 releases
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Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal allowing Orange collarettes at its 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected groups before future changes.
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban (opens in a new tab)
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Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its decision to ban Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, crediting his direct intervention with senior management and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra urges Queen's University Belfast to explain why its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service bars Orange collarettes, noting they were worn at earlier services without problems. He asks the university to reconsider the restriction.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban (opens in a new tab)
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New Strategy must mark a turning point for nature in Northern Ireland, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the launch of the Nature Recovery Strategy, calling it a chance to turn around decades of decline. He points to 12 per cent of species facing extinction and urges other parties to back the strategy without further delay.
Environment and climate Issue: Launch of Nature Recovery Strategy Original release: New Strategy must mark a turning point for nature in Northern Ireland, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey says the Drumcree standoff has backfired on republicans, criticising Gerry Adams’s intervention and Sinn Féin’s involvement, and argues the dispute exposes threats to the Orange tradition and highlights demographic changes in a united Ireland.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Garvaghy Road residents' protest against Orange Order march Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey (opens in a new tab)
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PBP Support Daisy Hill Maternity March
People Before Profit's Newry and Armagh representative Marc Mac Seáin praises a large march against the suspension of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital. He warns the cut would burden families travelling to Craigavon and calls for accountability from the Southern Trust, the Department of…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: PBP Support Daisy Hill Maternity March (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says he has written to the Taoiseach, the Transport Minister and the Infrastructure Minister urging them to explore Shared Island funding for the A2 Buncrana Road widening scheme. He criticises repeated delays and says the project should be treated as cross-border.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A2 Buncrana Road Widening Scheme delay Original release: Durkan Urges Cross-Border Action to Advance A2 Buncrana Road Project (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood backs home carers ahead of a Unison-organised public meeting in Derry, calling on Stormont to deliver the promised real living wage and help carers with rising fuel costs.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath accuses the Executive of drawing health workers into a dispute with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant over pay, after the BMA confirmed further doctors' strike action in November. He says the Executive should stop trading blame and act for patients and staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Stormont handling of health service pay disputes Original release: McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game (opens in a new tab)
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Allister: West Tyrone Can Vote for Strength, Not Weakness
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says the High Court revelations show the PIRA still exists and influenced policing at Drumcree, and calls on the DUP to resign Emma Little-Pengelly to end the First Minister's position. He urges West Tyrone voters to back TUV candidate Stevan Patterson at the next…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Portadown policing controversy Original release: Allister: West Tyrone Can Vote for Strength, Not Weakness (opens in a new tab)
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John Blair selected as Alliance South Antrim Assembly candidate
Alliance MLA John Blair has been selected to stand for Alliance in South Antrim at the 2027 Assembly election, pledging better rural facilities, lower living costs, animal welfare, environmental protection and cuts to health waiting lists.
Other Health Original release: John Blair selected as Alliance South Antrim Assembly candidate (opens in a new tab)
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Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the planning system is holding back growth, citing provisional statistics for April to June 2026 showing over 30% of live applications open for more than a year. He calls for a comprehensive reform programme, including mandatory…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Planning system statistics and business concerns Original release: Planning system continues to hold back economic growth, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
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DUP reinforces need for transparency and action from Chief Constable
The DUP says its delegation, including leader Gavin Robinson, met the Chief Constable to press for full transparency on investigations into those who blocked the Garvaghy Road and on the threats behind the referral that led to the Drumcree parade being banned. Robinson says legal proceedings…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Original release: DUP reinforces need for transparency and action from Chief Constable (opens in a new tab)
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Paramilitary gangs must not be allowed to linger - Frew
DUP Justice Spokesperson Paul Frew says paramilitary groups must not be allowed to linger, responding to an independent report on paramilitary transition to disbandment. He calls for a pathway for those committed to leaving the past behind, while those refusing to give up violence should face the…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Original release: Paramilitary gangs must not be allowed to linger - Frew (opens in a new tab)
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DUP representatives welcome Court of Appeal ruling
Upper Bann DUP representatives Carla Lockhart MP and MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Dodds welcome a Court of Appeal ruling upholding the Parades Commission determination on Portadown District Lodge's church parade. They call on the Secretary of State to clarify whether he knew the judgement's…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Court of Appeal ruling Original release: DUP representatives welcome Court of Appeal ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party call for independent mediation as Drumcree "fails" the people of Garvaghy Road
The Green Party calls for independent international mediation over the Drumcree dispute, saying the Garvaghy Road community has been let down by institutions and parties that used it as a bargaining chip. Councillor Brian Smyth says a comprehensive mechanism for dealing with the past is still…
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Drumcree dispute Original release: Green Party call for independent mediation as Drumcree "fails" the people of Garvaghy Road (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party statement on Parades Commission ruling
Green Party East Belfast candidate and Belfast City Council group leader Cllr Brian Smyth calls for a peaceful passage of the newly permitted restricted Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road, urges full transparency from the Parades Commission after a court‑overturned decision, and stresses the need‑
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Parades Commission Garvaghy Road ruling Original release: Green Party statement on Parades Commission ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn criticises Northern Ireland being left behind as plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, saying NIE Networks' G98/NI changes were promised to run in parallel. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to explain the delay and say when households here…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: plug-in solar launch in Great Britain Original release: Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain (opens in a new tab)
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for the car dumped in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, such as a battery leaching heavy metals. They also demand written confirmation that the river will be clear next summer, and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On (opens in a new tab)