Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Community relations and legacy: remove filter
- Justice and policing: remove filter
- Education: remove filter
107 releases
-
Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
UUP Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its restriction, allowing Orange Order members to wear collarettes at the 8 November Remembrance service. He thanks the Queen's Orange Society for raising the issue and urges the university to consult affected…
Community relations and legacy Education Original release: Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
-
Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
DUP MLA and Economy Committee Chair Phillip Brett welcomes Queen's University Belfast's reversal of its ban on Orange collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service, saying his direct intervention with senior management secured the change and calling for lessons to be learned.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Orange collarette policy change Original release: Brett Welcomes Queen’s U-Turn on Orange Collarettes
-
Dervock shooting
TUV MP Jim Allister condemns a Dervock attack in which a man was shot in the leg and beaten with iron bars, calling it the latest effort by criminal elements to intimidate the community. He calls for rigorous police action against those responsible.
Justice and policing Issue: Dervock shooting Original release: Dervock shooting
-
Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra calls on Queen's University Belfast to explain its Remembrance Sunday Order of Service, which bars Orange collarettes at the 8 November service, noting such wear was previously allowed without issue.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast Remembrance Sunday service collarette ban Original release: Queen’s urged to explain Remembrance collarette ban
-
Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
UUP peer Lord Empey says the recent Drumcree stand‑off has back‑fired on republicans, accusing Gerry Adams of strategic interference and Michelle O’Neill of unlawful action, and warns that sectarian attacks and rising immigration undermine a united Ireland vision.
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Garvaghy Road residents' protest against Orange Order march Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
-
McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid criticises Education Authority guidance telling pupils to dress warmer amid energy cost pressures, saying school budgets are overstretched and schools are being left cold heading into winter.
Education Local government Original release: McDaid slams ‘wear more clothes’ advice in schools
-
Allister: West Tyrone Can Vote for Strength, Not Weakness
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says High Court revelations show the PIRA continues to exist and influenced policing of Drumcree, and calls on the DUP to resign Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy First Minister, urging West Tyrone voters to back TUV candidate Stevan Patterson at next year's election.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Portadown policing controversy Original release: Allister: West Tyrone Can Vote for Strength, Not Weakness
-
Buckley warns of further trade barriers
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley raises concerns that sweeping EU reforms, including the proposed EU Customs Code, could add costs, delays and bureaucracy to trade across the UK, and says the DUP will work with unionists to press these concerns.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK-EU trade agreement renegotiation Original release: Buckley warns of further trade barriers
-
Robinson welcomes Secretary of State’s openness to ministerial…
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP welcomes the Secretary of State's openness to changing the Northern Ireland Act 1998 so that ministers who break the law face a sanction. He calls for that openness to be turned into an effective law change.
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Secretary of State's openness to ministerial roles Original release: Robinson welcomes Secretary of State’s openness to ministerial…
-
Surprise, surprise PIRA not a benign spectator
TUV leader Jim Allister says a High Court hearing shows the PSNI holds undisclosed intelligence about the PIRA that is not benign, and calls for political consequences for Sinn Féin. He also accuses the DUP of remaining in lockstep with Sinn Féin by keeping the First Minister in office.
Justice and policing Issue: PSNI's undisclosed intelligence on PIRA's malevolent involvement Original release: Surprise, surprise PIRA not a benign spectator
-
No-one can be above the law: Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson welcomes confirmation that police investigations into Sinn Féin representatives, including Michelle O'Neill, are progressing. He says she must answer questions through official policing, legal and standards routes.
Justice and policing Original release: No-one can be above the law: Robinson
-
DUP reinforces need for transparency and action from Chief Constable
The DUP says its delegation, led by leader Gavin Robinson, met the Chief Constable to press for full transparency on investigations into those who blocked the Garvaghy Road and on the advice behind the Drumcree parade ban. Robinson says ongoing legal proceedings will reveal more.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Original release: DUP reinforces need for transparency and action from Chief Constable
-
Paramilitary gangs must not be allowed to linger - Frew
DUP Justice Spokesperson Paul Frew responds to the release of an independent report on paramilitary groups' transition to disbandment, arguing that paramilitary organisations have no place in society and that any pathway out must not reward them. He says groups must fully abandon violence and…
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Original release: Paramilitary gangs must not be allowed to linger - Frew
-
DUP representatives welcome Court of Appeal ruling
Upper Bann DUP representatives, MP Carla Lockhart and MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Dodds, welcome a Court of Appeal ruling upholding the Parades Commission determination on Portadown District Lodge's church parade. They call on the Secretary of State to clarify whether he knew the judgement's…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Court of Appeal ruling Original release: DUP representatives welcome Court of Appeal ruling
-
Green Party call for independent mediation as Drumcree "fails" the people of Garvaghy Road
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica says the Drumcree stalemate is a failure of politics and process, and calls for independent international mediation to address the Garvaghy Road dispute and establish a human‑rights‑based peace mechanism.
Community relations and legacy Constitutional affairs Issue: Drumcree dispute Original release: Green Party call for independent mediation as Drumcree "fails" the people of Garvaghy Road
-
Green Party statement on Parades Commission ruling
Green Party’s East Belfast candidate, Councillor Brian Smyth calls for all sides to ensure the restricted Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road proceeds peacefully, urges a transparent account of the Parades Commission ruling and stresses the need for lasting community reconciliation.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Parades Commission Garvaghy Road ruling Original release: Green Party statement on Parades Commission ruling
-
Safe access zones law working as intended
The Green Party welcomes a judgment, which it says upholds the Safe Access Zones legislation for abortion services, and says the Supreme Court found the law strikes the right balance. It describes the case as a deliberate test of the law.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court judgment on Safe Access Zones law Original release: Safe access zones law working as intended
-
The Department for the Economy has failed Ulster University’s staff
Green Party NI leader Mal O'Hara says the Economy Department has let down Ulster University staff after plans put up to 450 jobs at risk when no promised funding settlement arrived. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to address the Assembly with a plan for higher education, and urges…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: The Department for the Economy has failed Ulster University’s staff
-
Honouring and remembering women and girls who have lost their lives to domestic abuse
Councillor Kendall, Green Party calls for real action to protect women after 28 murders since 2020, including the 2025 killing of Sarah Montgomery in Donaghadee. She says existing strategies are only words and urges sustained funding for Women’s Aid and joined‑up government action.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Honouring and remembering women and girls who have lost their lives to domestic abuse
-
Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall says the Executive and Economy Minister are failing to implement Safe Leave, paid leave for domestic abuse victims, and calls for it to be delivered now. She links this to the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy and Women's Aid NI 2024/25 figures.
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