Latest releases
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2,554 releases
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There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell welcomes the decision not to fly the Palestinian flag over Belfast City Hall, crediting the call-in mechanism with averting community tension. He accuses the motion's Nationalist and Alliance backers of attacking Israel rather than showing sympathy, and insists only…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall accuses the Economy Minister and the Executive of stalling Safe Leave, which would give paid leave to domestic abuse victims, and says the delay is letting victims down. She links the criticism to new Women's Aid figures on refuge use and referrals in 2024/25.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Safe Leave legislation delay and inaction Original release: Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 29 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein hypocrisy highlighted following Enniskillen Hotel event
TUV spokesperson Alex Elliott accuses Sinn Fein of hypocrisy over an Enniskillen Hotel event on an all-Ireland health service, linking the party to a republican terror campaign that he says drained health resources. He also rejects a proposed €100 GP charge and calls the event an electioneering…
Health Community relations and legacy Issue: Sinn Fein Enniskillen Hotel all-Ireland health service event Original release: Sinn Fein hypocrisy highlighted following Enniskillen Hotel event (opens in a new tab)
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Allister tables far-reaching amendments to Legacy Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he has tabled amendments to the Troubles (Legacy) Bill, including defining terrorism in Clause 2, barring anyone who has taken part in a terrorist act from the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group, and presuming a lack of criminal intent in assessing security force…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Troubles (Legacy) Bill amendments tabled by Jim Allister Original release: Allister tables far-reaching amendments to Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes cross-party support on the Education Committee for a proposal giving girls a clear right to wear trousers in school. She says the DUP Education Minister missed a chance to modernise school uniform policy and pledges to work with others to deliver it.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee proposal on girls' right to wear trousers in school Original release: Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin representatives welcome Health Minister to Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew and Councillor Nuala McLernon welcome the Health Minister's visit to Woodlawn House in Dungannon, which provides adult respite for people with learning disabilities, and call for urgent action on repeated last-minute respite cancellations.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister visit to Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Original release: Sinn Féin representatives welcome Health Minister to Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy welcomes the Education Committee's decision to take forward a single-issue bill allowing girls to choose trousers as part of school uniform. She says the Education Minister could have made the change through his uniform guidance and urges him to update the guidelines…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee proposal on girls' right to wear trousers in school Original release: Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns south Belfast racist graffiti
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns graffiti on a property near Ravenhill Embankment in south Belfast that she describes as racist. She says the community is diverse and urges anyone with information to contact police.
Disability and equality Issue: Racist graffiti on property near Ravenhill Embankment, south Belfast Original release: Hargey condemns south Belfast racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence brings renewed focus to ending violence against women and girls, says Egan
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan says gender-based violence has no place in society and highlights this year's 16 Days of Activism theme, 'No Excuse for Online Abuse', amid a rise in deepfake videos of women.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence brings renewed focus to ending violence against women and girls, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Kathleen Funchion MEP to host major conference on gender-based violence
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says she will host a conference in Limerick tomorrow on gender-based violence, bringing together frontline practitioners, policymakers and survivors to share best practice and strengthen cross-sector cooperation on ending violence against women and girls.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Kathleen Funchion MEP to host major conference on gender-based violence (opens in a new tab)
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Troubles Bill Must Protect Victims, Not Empower Terrorists
UUP MP Robin Swann publishes nine amendments he has tabled to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill ahead of its Commons Committee Stage, saying they would protect victims and stop terrorists benefiting from the legacy process. He urges MPs from all sides to support them.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Committee Stage amendments Original release: Troubles Bill Must Protect Victims, Not Empower Terrorists (opens in a new tab)
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Victims and survivors of clerical abuse must be given clarity on next steps, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says victims and survivors of clerical abuse need clarity from the Stormont First and deputy First Minister on how they will respond to recommendations in commissioned research into historic clerical child abuse.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Commissioned research recommendations on historic clerical child abuse Original release: Victims and survivors of clerical abuse must be given clarity on next steps, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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We cannot simply give division a facelift, says Nelson, on proposal to remove 'peace wall'
Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson calls on Belfast City Council to fully remove the 'peace wall' in Alexandra Park rather than redesign it, ahead of a committee discussion of his proposal on Friday. He says the €13.5 million PEACEPLUS-funded project should deliver complete removal.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Alexandra Park 'peace wall' removal proposal before Belfast council committee Original release: We cannot simply give division a facelift, says Nelson, on proposal to remove 'peace wall' (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools
Green Party councillor Flynn welcomes the Supreme Court judgment on compulsory religious worship in Northern Ireland schools, urging the Executive to act quickly to overhaul the education framework so pupils from all backgrounds, including non-religious families, feel respected.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 20 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson – Bill builds on 1998 corruption of justice
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP warns the Government's Legacy Bill is unfit and needs major amendment to win victims' confidence. He says it is built on the 1998 foundations, lacks protections for veterans, and excludes the Omagh bombing from the Legacy Commission's remit.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy Bill Second Reading in the Commons Original release: Robinson – Bill builds on 1998 corruption of justice (opens in a new tab)
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Weakened legacy legislation will not be accepted – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says the Westminster legacy legislation must not be weakened from the British and Irish governments' joint framework and rejects any reported further dilution. He also opposes any shielding of British military personnel suspected of criminal acts, including murder, from…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Westminster legacy legislation progress under the joint legacy framework Original release: Weakened legacy legislation will not be accepted – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Swann Challenges Troubles Bill and Tables Amendments
UUP MP Robin Swann, speaking as the Troubles Bill passed its Second Reading, asks where legacy sits within the Belfast Agreement's three strands and says the legislation gives veterans no specific protections. He announces amendments on victim definition, sexual crimes, the Director of…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Legacy Bill Second Reading in the Commons Original release: Swann Challenges Troubles Bill and Tables Amendments (opens in a new tab)
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Challenging conversations around reimaging of memorials necessary for truly reconciled society, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says reconciliation requires separating commemorative memorials from paramilitary territory markings, and calls on Stormont's joint leaders to audit memorials to clarify who is commemorated.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Alliance motion on auditing paramilitary memorials on public land Original release: Challenging conversations around reimaging of memorials necessary for truly reconciled society, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Allister meets RNIB in Westminster
TUV MP Jim Allister thanks the RNIB after a Westminster meeting, praising its vision rehabilitation teams and guide dog work, and cites local figures of about 3,470 people in North Antrim with sight loss and roughly 130 new cases each year.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Allister meets RNIB in Westminster (opens in a new tab)
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Legacy Bill delivers progress but cannot be done on the cheap, says Bradshaw
Alliance spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the UK Government's new legacy legislation makes progress, welcoming the removal of the Troubles amnesty and resumed inquests, but warns it will be undermined without adequate funding for the Department of Justice. She also criticises the national…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UK Government Legacy Bill debate at Westminster Original release: Legacy Bill delivers progress but cannot be done on the cheap, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)