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4,967 releases
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SDLP invites Executive parties to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she has contacted all Executive party leaders urging them to accept the Prime Minister's offer and attend a meeting with Keir Starmer on Stormont reform proposals. She argues the Executive has done little to advance reform and calls on parties to engage seriously.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Executive parties invited to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform Original release: SDLP invites Executive parties to meet Prime Minister on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says people cannot accept a five-year timeline for fixing the health service, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt suggested recovery could take that long. He presses the Minister and Executive on ambulance response delays, citing a 75-year-old…
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt says health recovery could take five years Original release: McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service (opens in a new tab)
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EU Customs Shake-Up to Hit Northern Ireland Consumers with New Parcel Charges
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken warns that the EU's accelerated customs reforms, bringing a €3 levy and €2 handling fee on small non-EU parcels forward to July 2026, will add costs for Northern Ireland consumers and retailers. He calls for clarity from HM Government and HMRC on how the rules apply under…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: EU accelerated customs reform and small parcel charges for Northern Ireland Original release: EU Customs Shake-Up to Hit Northern Ireland Consumers with New Parcel Charges (opens in a new tab)
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Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an EU office in Belfast to act as a resource for businesses, citing Brexit-related trading difficulties and a recent Murphy review recommendation for a single administrative access point.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Establishing European Union office in Belfast as resource for businesses ‘logical step’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Leader's Weekly email - 10th January
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP says the Prime Minister must protect veterans in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and reject any Irish Republic veto over amendments, and criticises the Sinn Fein Finance Minister's draft Budget as lacking Executive agreement.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Leader's Weekly email - 10th January (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist co-operation stops SF’s observer status proposal – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says a Petition of Concern defeating Sinn Féin's motion for EU observer status shows unionists can work together to resist SF's pro-EU agenda. He claims the move would deepen EU links and damage Northern Ireland's economy.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly Petition of Concern defeats Sinn Féin EU observer status motion Original release: Unionist co-operation stops SF’s observer status proposal – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -…
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says Health Minister figures show over 72,000 recorded incidents of abuse against health and social care staff over five years, and says the true number is higher. She calls for further information on alcohol, substances, mental illness, time off work and…
Health Issue: Health Minister figures on abuse against health and social care staff Original release: Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -… (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Petition of concern confusion exposes Stormont farce
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says confusion over petitions of concern exposes Stormont dysfunction, as standing orders to implement 2022 reforms remain unintroduced. He calls a petition of concern against the non-binding EU Observer Status motion an abuse of power and urges the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Petition of Concern defeats Sinn Féin EU observer status motion Original release: O’Toole: Petition of concern confusion exposes Stormont farce (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Rejects Sinn Féin Proposal for EU Office in Belfast
The Ulster Unionist Party opposes Sinn Féin's proposal for an EU office in Belfast, calling it a political stunt. Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA and Windsor Framework Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA say Northern Ireland already has EU representation, the office raises sovereignty…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Murphy review recommendation on EU office for Belfast businesses Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Rejects Sinn Féin Proposal for EU Office in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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People of NI are demanding reform, says Eastwood, ahead of Westminster Hall debate
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says public demand for reform of Stormont's institutions is growing and calls on the UK and Irish Governments, as Good Friday Agreement co-guarantors, to act ahead of her Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday 13 January.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Westminster Hall debate on Stormont institutional reform Original release: People of NI are demanding reform, says Eastwood, ahead of Westminster Hall debate (opens in a new tab)
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Now tray bakes in EU’s sights
TUV MP Jim Allister says a local bakery in his North Antrim constituency must relabel its tray bakes to list allergens under EU law, though it sells only locally and UK law does not require this. He calls it an example of EU law being imposed on Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Now tray bakes in EU’s sights (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address offered warm words but not the action needed to restore farmers' confidence. He calls for concrete progress on bovine TB, ammonia regulation and farm transfer, rather than pilots and timelines.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address Original release: Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to urgently set out a dedicated women's health plan, citing rising gynaecology waiting lists and long delays for women and girls with endometriosis. She urges specialist services with clear diagnosis and treatment targets.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to urgently explain how gynaecology waiting lists will be cleared, citing around 60,000 women reported by the RCOG and no timetable for a Women's Health Action Plan.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes over £1m in active travel funding from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for greenway projects in Belfast, Derry and Strabane, and Newry, Mourne and Down councils. He says the projects will provide cleaner connections and support health and the economy.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Active travel greenway funding for three councils from Infrastructure Minister Original release: Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Prime Minister’s engagement on Stormont reform
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Prime Minister Keir Starmer's willingness to discuss Stormont reform proposals at PMQs, calling it a significant shift. She urges both governments to open an inclusive dialogue with all parties on reforms to safeguard power-sharing and stop repeated collapses.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Starmer willingness to discuss Stormont reform at PMQs Original release: Hanna welcomes Prime Minister’s engagement on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Infrastructure Minister must build on success of late night services
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite says the Infrastructure Minister must build on Translink's late-night festive services, which saw around 30,000 journeys, up over 70%. He calls for enhanced timetables, more routes and considering lower fares.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Translink late-night festive services journey figures Original release: de Faoite: Infrastructure Minister must build on success of late night services (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party Warns Draft Budget Ignores Public Service Reform and Fiscal Advice
UUP finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA criticises Finance Minister John O'Dowd's draft budget for 2029/30, saying its £63 billion allocations fail to deliver transformation in Health, Education and Policing. He calls for efficiency reform and says Sinn Féin ignores existing fiscal advice…
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Draft Budget 2026–2029/30 Executive disagreement Original release: Ulster Unionist Party Warns Draft Budget Ignores Public Service Reform and Fiscal Advice (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government must make Irish Unity a central feature of this year’s EU Presidency – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy calls on the Irish Government to make Irish unity within the EU a central priority of its EU Council Presidency in July, citing a Amárach Research poll for European Movement Ireland and urging preparation for a border poll.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Irish Government must make Irish Unity a central feature of this year’s EU Presidency – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson congratulates new DUP MLA
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson welcomes new Newry & Armagh MLA Gareth Wilson, saying he is a champion for the constituency and that the DUP will keep making Northern Ireland work; Wilson says he will be a strong pro‑Union voice for the area.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Gareth Wilson takes up Newry & Armagh MLA seat Original release: Robinson congratulates new DUP MLA (opens in a new tab)