Latest releases
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3,576 releases
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Hanna: Secretary of State cannot deny ‘appetite’ for change
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP disputes the Secretary of State’s claim that there is no public desire for a border poll, urging both governments to start planning for a New Ireland and stressing ongoing public conversation about the island’s future.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State says no appetite for border poll Original release: Hanna: Secretary of State cannot deny ‘appetite’ for change (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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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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Action on immigration must apply across all parts of the UK: Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the Government's announced curbs on illegal immigration must be backed by action applying equally across the UK, warning Northern Ireland must not become a backdoor route. He links this to concerns over the Windsor Framework's effect on border security.
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: UK Government announcements on curbing illegal immigration Original release: Action on immigration must apply across all parts of the UK: Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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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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We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says everyone must do better to reduce plastic waste on beaches after the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report found 84% of beach litter is plastic. He commends DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's work on producer responsibility and a…
Environment and climate Issue: Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report beach plastic findings Original release: We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair (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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Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP, including the First Minister, of hypocrisy for welcoming the Londonderry to Dublin air route while backing the 2050 net-zero target. She cites environment minister Andrew Muir's confirmation that international aviation…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Londonderry to Dublin air route resumption Original release: Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments (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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Action needed now on environmental and biodiversity crisis – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for urgent North-South intergovernmental action on Northern Ireland's environmental and biodiversity crisis, citing Lough Neagh pollution and only 63 fines from 4,202 NIEA-recorded water pollution incidents between 2020 and 2024, and demands an independent…
Environment and climate Original release: Action needed now on environmental and biodiversity crisis – Kearney (opens in a new tab)