Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
2,560 releases
-
Sinn Féin welcomes today’s EU-UK agreement to reduce trade barriers to the benefit of business, workers and consumers – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes the EU-UK summit agreement to reduce trade barriers, calling for the Windsor Framework and dual market access to be safeguarded and the North treated as a full participant. She also criticises the summit for offering no concrete action on Gaza.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Sinn Féin welcomes today’s EU-UK agreement to reduce trade barriers to the benefit of business, workers and consumers – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
-
EU deal still leaves Irish Sea border in place and NI captured by EU
TUV leader Jim Allister says the UK-EU deal leaves the Irish Sea border in place and keeps Northern Ireland under EU customs rules. He cites unchanged EU regulations, ongoing border post spending and the parcel border, and accuses the government of handing control back to Brussels.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU agreement on SPS trade and Windsor Framework Original release: EU deal still leaves Irish Sea border in place and NI captured by EU (opens in a new tab)
-
UK-EU deal a first, positive step towards closer, better relationship, says Long
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA says the new UK-EU deal, which removes some checks on animal and plant products and includes security measures, is a first, positive step towards a closer relationship. She says further work is needed on customs and veterinary medicines and calls for the package to…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU trade deal and Windsor Framework implications for Northern Ireland Original release: UK-EU deal a first, positive step towards closer, better relationship, says Long (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna: UK-EU Summit must bring ambition and agreement on way forward
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the forthcoming UK-EU Summit to produce concrete agreement on closer relations, saying welcome warmer tone must be matched with firm commitments. She points to freedom of movement for young people and ETA cross-border travel for tourists as outstanding issues.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Hanna: UK-EU Summit must bring ambition and agreement on way forward (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna welcomes agreement on UK-EU deal
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the UK‑EU agreement reached on Monday, saying it includes initiatives that will help Northern Ireland businesses and travellers and advances the SDLP’s ‘Our European Future’ policy on SPS, environmental protection and youth opportunities.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Hanna welcomes agreement on UK-EU deal (opens in a new tab)
-
Prime Minister must pursue ambitious relationship with EU, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA urges the UK Government to use this week's EU summit to pursue closer alignment with the bloc, citing remaining Windsor Framework barriers and calling for talks on rejoining the single market and customs union.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Prime Minister must pursue ambitious relationship with EU, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler Welcomes NAP Extension But Real Change Demands Co-Design
UUP MLA Robbie Butler, agriculture, environment and rural affairs spokesperson, welcomes the Minister's extension of the Nitrates Action Programme consultation to 24 July 2025 but says it must include co-design with farmers, representative bodies and rural communities.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Nitrates Action Programme consultation extension to 24 July 2025 Original release: Butler Welcomes NAP Extension But Real Change Demands Co-Design (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA criticises the award of seven new mineral prospecting licences to four companies, saying it contradicts the Economy Minister's earlier support for a moratorium. She calls for the licences to be suspended until a departmental review of mineral…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme
DUP representatives, including Westminster spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP and Stormont agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen, reject DAERA's draft Nutrients Action Programme and call for publication of a full economic impact assessment and the data behind its modelling.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme (opens in a new tab)
-
Extending presidential voting rights was agreed in 2013 and now needs to be implemented – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calls on the Taoiseach to set a date for a referendum extending presidential voting to Irish citizens in the North, citing a 2013 Constitutional Convention agreement postponed in 2019. She urges action after the Assembly backed the measure, and says the coming…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont vote on presidential voting rights for Northern citizens Original release: Extending presidential voting rights was agreed in 2013 and now needs to be implemented – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is disappointed the Assembly rejected all of his amendments to the MLA pay Bill, including tying any rise to the return of powers ceded to Brussels under the Protocol and requiring public consultation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly second stage vote on MLA pay increase Bill Original release: Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward (opens in a new tab)
-
Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the parties behind Lough Neagh's decline of selling off public land for profit, citing seven new mineral licences granted in the West under a 1969 law despite over 2,000 objections. He also criticises Alliance and Environment Minister Andrew Muir for failing…
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit (opens in a new tab)
-
Unique Chance to Make Northern Ireland Work – Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA says every major party now wants to make Northern Ireland work, citing a speech at St Mary's University College on a "Prosperity Agenda" and arguing that power-sharing is the only way forward.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Unique Chance to Make Northern Ireland Work – Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA warns that proposed 2026–2029 Nutrients Action Programme changes must not strain farmers' livelihoods, calls for scrutiny of the consultation, and urges stakeholders to respond before the deadline.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation (opens in a new tab)
-
Michelle O’Neill urges An Taoiseach to make the extension of Presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in the north a priority
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin asking him to prioritise giving Irish citizens in the North the right to vote in presidential elections. She also welcomes Tánaiste Simon Harris's support for the principle following an Assembly motion backing the change.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont vote on presidential voting rights for Northern citizens Original release: Michelle O’Neill urges An Taoiseach to make the extension of Presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in the north a priority (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister Slams Trade Deal as Betrayal of Union on VE Day
TUV leader Jim Allister says a UK-EU trade deal will likely bring the Protocol into play and confirm the Windsor Framework's Union-dismantling nature, criticising Northern Ireland being governed by EU law on matters such as beef.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU trade deal and Windsor Framework implications for Northern Ireland Original release: Allister Slams Trade Deal as Betrayal of Union on VE Day (opens in a new tab)
-
Government must now act on commitments to extend presidential voting rights to citizens in the North – Pearse Doherty TD
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty TD urges the government to set a timeline and date for a referendum on giving Irish citizens in the North a vote in presidential elections, following a Stormont vote and the Tánaiste's supportive response.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: Stormont vote on presidential voting rights for Northern citizens Original release: Government must now act on commitments to extend presidential voting rights to citizens in the North – Pearse Doherty TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Erskine praises response to Clogher Valley fire
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine thanks emergency services on the third day of battling wildfires in the Clogher Valley, describing the scale of the damage as massive and upsetting. She urges the public to avoid lighting fires during the dry spell and to stay clear of the blaze.
Environment and climate Issue: Clogher gorse fire, County Tyrone Original release: Erskine praises response to Clogher Valley fire (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna: UK-EU summit opportunity to reverse Brexit damage
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the upcoming UK-EU summit on 19 May must start a process to repair Brexit damage, and has written to the UK, Irish and EU governments raising Northern Ireland issues including an SPS agreement, youth freedom of movement and removal of Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Hanna: UK-EU summit opportunity to reverse Brexit damage (opens in a new tab)
-
A United Ireland within the European Union presents new opportunity for entire island – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy welcomes an Amárach poll for European Movement Ireland showing majorities in both parts of Ireland backing a United Ireland within the EU. He calls on the Irish Government to convene a Citizens' Assembly and begin constitutional planning.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Amárach poll on United Ireland support within the EU Original release: A United Ireland within the European Union presents new opportunity for entire island – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)