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3,067 releases
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Senator Conor Murphy leads Sinn Féin delegation at British Irish Parliamentary Assembly
Sinn Féin Leader in the Seanad Senator Conor Murphy, leading a six-strong delegation at the 67th BIPA plenary in Surrey, says constitutional change is firmly on the agenda and calls for discussion of a date for Irish Unity referendums at future meetings.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Senator Conor Murphy leads Sinn Féin delegation at British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Executive 2025–26 Legislation Programme and 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
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‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Belfast City Council's dual-language street sign policy protects minority languages and follows international best practice, after a DUP Assembly motion seeking its replacement was defeated. He cites new Conradh na Gaeilge figures showing broad public support.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: ‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister KC MP, Leader of the TUV, responds to EU demands for tighter enforcement of the Irish Sea Border
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP condemns EU calls for stricter Irish Sea Border enforcement, arguing the UK should instead trigger Article 16 and reject a UK-wide SPS Agreement that would disenfranchise Great Britain too.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU demand for stricter Irish Sea Border enforcement before SPS talks Original release: Jim Allister KC MP, Leader of the TUV, responds to EU demands for tighter enforcement of the Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Conradh na Gaeilge survey data finding that only 2.9% of residents on 536 approved streets opposed bilingual signage in Belfast. He points to the DUP's Assembly motion seeking to condemn the policy.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister questions why the DUP brought a Belfast City Council Irish language signage motion to the Assembly, which Alliance opposed. She says Stormont should focus on health and education, and calls on the DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approaches.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the party is launching a new phase to recruit members and candidates, pledges to champion fairness, anti‑sectarianism and a New Ireland, and criticises the Executive for failing on housing, services and environmental issues.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Original release: SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Health Minister has left parents and special school staff in limbo after a review into nursing provision in special schools gave no clarity. He urges urgent answers and calls for full nursing provision to be reinstated.
Health Education Issue: Health Minister's review on nursing provision in special schools Original release: Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Budget is a missed opportunity to advance constitutional change – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin's Senator Conor Murphy says Budget 2026 is a missed opportunity for constitutional change and urges the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly on Irish unity, backed by funding, with economic planning for reunification.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Budget 2026 constitutional change and Irish unity planning Original release: Budget is a missed opportunity to advance constitutional change – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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TUV responds to UUP attack
TUV councillor Anna Henry accuses UUP leader Mike Nesbitt of abandoning unionist promises after he called TUV demands undeliverable, citing the 2021 United Unionist Declaration and claiming TUV now polls ahead of the UUP.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Mike Nesbitt comments on TUV demands in Belfast Telegraph Original release: TUV responds to UUP attack (opens in a new tab)
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Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy says reform of the Assembly and Executive is overdue and calls for a Citizens' Assembly to be explored, after the Assembly Executive Review Committee backed her proposal to examine how one could be set up. She argues no single party can deliver reform and that the public…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Executive Review Committee backing for a Citizens' Assembly proposal Original release: Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP secures proposal for First Ministers to give evidence on Stormont reform
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole says the First Ministers should appear before the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to give evidence on Stormont reform. The proposal, which he tabled at the committee, covers rules to prevent future collapses, equalising the First Minister titles…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly and Executive Review Committee proposal to hear evidence from First Ministers on reform Original release: SDLP secures proposal for First Ministers to give evidence on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says non-fatal strangulation cases are handled inadequately, citing 2023-24 figures showing 329 of 344 prosecutions heard in the Magistrates' Court and only 28 prison sentences, and calls for sentences that deter.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Non-fatal strangulation prosecutions and sentencing figures 2023-2024 Original release: Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Leaving the ECHR would be a strategic mistake, says Nesbitt.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA criticises Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's plan to withdraw from the ECHR, arguing it would breach the 1998 Agreement's guaranteed access to the convention and that the real issue is domestic court interpretation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Conservative plan to withdraw from ECHR if returned to government Original release: Leaving the ECHR would be a strategic mistake, says Nesbitt. (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, also South Belfast MLA, demands urgent clarity from the First and deputy First Minister on Identity and Language Commissioner appointments, as publicised appointees have not received confirmation after resigning from their current jobs.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language Act Commissioner appointments delay Original release: Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments (opens in a new tab)
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Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns reported loyalist paramilitary plans to attack council vehicles bearing Irish language signage, saying paramilitaries should not exist. He defends the council's Irish language policy and pledges SDLP cooperation with…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Loyalist paramilitary threats to Belfast City Council facilities Original release: De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles (opens in a new tab)
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Lynch condemns Lisburn racist graffiti
Sinn Féin councillor Declan Lynch condemns racist graffiti that has appeared in Lisburn North, saying hate has no place in the community. He praises Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for removing it quickly and the PSNI for arresting an individual linked to the incidents.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti in Lisburn North and arrest Original release: Lynch condemns Lisburn racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)