Latest releases
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3,055 releases
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Justice Minister’s comments on British migration changes show folly of signing up to EU Migration and Asylum Pact – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD says the Justice Minister's remarks that Britain's immigration changes may require Irish law updates show Ireland should not join the EU migration pact. He calls on Jim O'Callaghan to secure a bilateral deal with Britain to promptly return international protection…
Immigration International affairs Issue: Minister Jim O'Callaghan comments on British immigration law changes and Common Travel Area Original release: Justice Minister’s comments on British migration changes show folly of signing up to EU Migration and Asylum Pact – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Conditions laid out in the Good Friday Agreement for a referendum on Irish reunification have been met – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says the conditions for an Irish reunification referendum set out in the Good Friday Agreement have been met, and calls on the British and Irish governments to agree a referendum date and work with civil society on a vision for a united Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Conditions laid out in the Good Friday Agreement for a referendum on Irish reunification have been met – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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DUP welcomes Speaker’s ruling on DfE Israel decision
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson welcomes the Speaker's ruling that the DUP-backed call-in petition on the Economy Minister's Israel trade decision is valid and must go to the Executive. He says the matter should be placed before the Executive and says ministers must follow established government…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: DfE Israel trade decision call-in petition Speaker's ruling Original release: DUP welcomes Speaker’s ruling on DfE Israel decision (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter criticises the Education Authority over its handling of repairs at Sandelford School in Coleraine, where deteriorating classrooms and unsuitable mobile units have disrupted pupils with complex needs. She calls for faster repairs, clearer communication and a commitment that…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Sandelford School Coleraine classroom repairs and mobile unit closures Original release: Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA expresses concern that 353 special needs school support staff posts were filled without Access NI checks, according to an FOI response from Unite. She calls on the Education Minister to urgently set out plans to end temporary engagement forms…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Access NI checks for special needs school support staff Original release: Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools (opens in a new tab)
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Time to work together to drive economic growth – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls the DUP's upcoming Assembly motion on the Windsor Framework a diversion and says the DUP is using it to offset pressure from the TUV. He urges the DUP to stop looking backwards and engage on post-Brexit trading.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Assembly motion on the Windsor Framework debate Original release: Time to work together to drive economic growth – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist Protections Are Non-Negotiable Amid Reform Debate
UUP MLA John Stewart warns against diluting the Belfast Agreement's cross-community protections, arguing that an SDLP motion on reforming the institutions, including removing ministers, sets a dangerous precedent and that reform must not proceed without unionist input.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP motion on reform of Stormont cross-community consent for removing ministers Original release: Unionist Protections Are Non-Negotiable Amid Reform Debate (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Sinn Féin joined the DUP to defeat his trans rights solidarity motion at Derry City and Strabane District Council, after Sinn Féin called the motion divisive. The motion opposed Stormont transgender policies including the puberty blocker ban and school…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council vote on trans rights solidarity motion Original release: Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council (opens in a new tab)
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No role for the Irish Republic in internal affairs of NI - McIlveen
The DUP's Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen marks the 40th anniversary of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, calling it imposed without consent and saying the Irish Republic should have no role in Northern Ireland's internal affairs. She also links it to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Constitutional affairs Original release: No role for the Irish Republic in internal affairs of NI - McIlveen (opens in a new tab)
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Time to establish an Irish passport office in the north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says Department of Foreign Affairs figures showing over 120,000 passport applications from the north in 2024 show the need for a passport office here. He calls on the Irish government to set up one without delay.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Department of Foreign Affairs passport application figures for 2024 Original release: Time to establish an Irish passport office in the north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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Brit Card proposal must be scrapped – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the UK government to abandon its proposed mandatory digital ID scheme, and says that if it proceeds, Northern Ireland should be exempted. He argues the policy ignores the rights of Irish citizens and local political realities.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly debate on Labour's Digital ID plans Original release: Brit Card proposal must be scrapped – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes invites public to ‘Another Ireland is Possible’ discussion in Armagh
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes invites people from all communities to a public discussion on Irish unity, 'Another Ireland is Possible', in Armagh City Hotel on 27 November at 7pm. He says the panel includes Claire Mitchell and Reverend Karen Sethuraman, chaired by ICTU's Gerry Murphy.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Hughes invites public to ‘Another Ireland is Possible’ discussion in Armagh (opens in a new tab)
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Digital ID plan must be scrapped – Frew
DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew calls for Labour's Digital ID plans to be scrapped in full, rejecting any separate Northern Ireland arrangement that he says could create a border in the Irish Sea. He criticises Sinn Fein's Assembly motion on the issue and cites a petition and a poll against the…
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly debate on Labour's Digital ID plans Original release: Digital ID plan must be scrapped – Frew (opens in a new tab)
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Telling it as it is – the honest reasons as to why no Unionist should attend the Connolly inauguration
TUV says no unionist should attend the inauguration of Catherine Connolly as Irish President, listing reasons including her stated wish to see the UK dismembered, her alleged employment of a convicted dissident terrorist, and her remarks on Israel, Hamas and NATO. It also criticises the DUP for…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Irish President inauguration invitation declined by Deputy First Minister Original release: Telling it as it is – the honest reasons as to why no Unionist should attend the Connolly inauguration (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Stormont must beef up ministerial accountability following Givan scandal
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Stormont must toughen sanctions on Ministers who breach the Ministerial Code, ahead of a DUP-blocked no-confidence motion against Education Minister Paul Givan. The SDLP will also table a motion seeking institutional reform.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Vote of no confidence in Minister Givan Original release: O’Toole: Stormont must beef up ministerial accountability following Givan scandal (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole challenges Sinn Féin to back up their support for Assembly reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA challenges Sinn Féin to back its support for Assembly reform with action after an SDLP motion calling for a reform programme and an accountability mechanism for Executive Ministers passed.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motion on Assembly reform and Executive Minister accountability Original release: O’Toole challenges Sinn Féin to back up their support for Assembly reform (opens in a new tab)
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Baker slams decision to cut education support for vulnerable children
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker criticises the Education Authority's cuts to Education Otherwise Than at School support for vulnerable children, and says he will raise it in the Assembly next week. He blames DUP Education Ministers for financial mismanagement, and says the Lagan Valley Education Project…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority cuts to Education Otherwise Than at School support Original release: Baker slams decision to cut education support for vulnerable children (opens in a new tab)
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A century after the Boundary Commission, Irish Unity is within our grasp – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald marks the centenary of the Boundary Commission, saying Irish unity referendums could happen by the end of the decade and calling on the Irish government to start planning now.
Constitutional affairs Original release: A century after the Boundary Commission, Irish Unity is within our grasp – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)