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4,033 releases
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Flag decision deeply divisive
DUP Belfast City Council Group Leader Cllr Sarah Bunting condemns Belfast City Council's decision to raise the Palestinian flag from midnight, calling it an abuse of process that bypasses protections for minorities. She says it will intimidate the city's Jewish community and accuses Sinn Féin of…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Flag decision deeply divisive (opens in a new tab)
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Dignity at the end of life must be a priority - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA responds to the Health Committee's report on palliative and end-of-life care, saying services are fragmented and under-resourced and calling for palliative care to be funded as a core service, with hospices no longer left uncertain each year.
Health Issue: Assembly Health Committee report on palliative and end-of-life care Original release: Dignity at the end of life must be a priority - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Brett – the people of Belfast deserve better
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett condemns Belfast City Council's Monday night vote to fly a Palestinian flag on City Hall, calling it an abuse of process that bypassed court scrutiny. He says the council's priorities were misplaced and that councillors laughed when a letter from the Jewish…
Local government Community relations and legacy Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Brett – the people of Belfast deserve better (opens in a new tab)
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An important day for bereaved families - Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe, Deputy Chair of the Assembly Finance Committee, welcomes the final-stage passage of the baby loss legislation at Stormont as a landmark for bereaved families. She highlights the planned Baby Loss Certificates for early pregnancy loss, a DUP manifesto pledge she says she…
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: An important day for bereaved families - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, calling for better public services, expanded supports, a narrower employment gap and accessible transport and public spaces.
Disability and equality Original release: McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Palliative care report can play a positive role in shaping change – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes the Health Committee's report on palliative care access across the North, saying it gives voice to patients and staff. He points to growing waiting lists, limited resources and uneven services by postcode, and urges the Health Minister to consider its…
Health Issue: Assembly Health Committee report on palliative and end-of-life care Original release: Palliative care report can play a positive role in shaping change – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe – sinister threat is copycat tactics of IRA
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe condemns a video by the "New Republican Movement" showing masked, armed men threatening elected representatives in Newry, Mourne and Down. She calls for every resource to trace those responsible, including the online sources used.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Threats against Newry, Mourne and Down elected representatives video Original release: Forsythe – sinister threat is copycat tactics of IRA (opens in a new tab)
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People in crisis need the right care from the right service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to lead a cross-departmental effort delivering Right Care, Right Person, so people in mental ill-health or personal crisis receive health or social care rather than relying on PSNI as a last resort.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Assembly debate on Right Care, Right Person motion Original release: People in crisis need the right care from the right service – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Councils can’t be held to ransom
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite says councils cannot be held to ransom after unionist and other parties blocked a council-backed flag-raising for Gaza solidarity at City Hall, calling it a culture war tactic and urging councillors to refocus on local issues.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: de Faoite: Councils can’t be held to ransom (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates
SDLP MLA O'Toole welcomes the introduction of baby loss certificates, which he says will give families recognition of pregnancy and baby loss. The release is brief and gives no further detail on the scheme's scope or timing.
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: O’Toole welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast City Council should focus on core responsibilities and service delivery, not divisive symbolism
UUP MLA Andy Allen criticises Belfast City Council's vote to raise the Palestinian flag over City Hall, arguing councillors should prioritise council services and that the move is political theatre that deepens local division.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Belfast City Council should focus on core responsibilities and service delivery, not divisive symbolism (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificate Scheme marks a compassionate step forward, says Tennyson
Alliance Finance spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA says the new legislation creating a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme is a compassionate advance, and urges the Department of Finance to swiftly issue regulations while pressing the Health Minister to launch a comprehensive Women’s Health Strategy and to 지원
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme marks a compassionate step forward, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists to take Belfast City Council to High Court over Palestinian flag
TUV Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council has disregarded due process by voting to raise a Palestinian flag over City Hall from midnight, and that emergency High Court proceedings will be lodged to halt it. He also argues the council blocked lighting City Hall in Israeli colours after…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Unionists to take Belfast City Council to High Court over Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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Herzog Park controversy an insight into the Irish Republic
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes Dublin City Council's reversal of its plan to rename Herzog Park, but says the proposal's existence reveals growing anti-Israel attitudes in the Irish Republic. He cites a Holocaust memorial walkout, a Dublin statue to a Nazi collaborator, and a statue to IRA…
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Dublin City Council reverses plan to rename Herzog Park Original release: Herzog Park controversy an insight into the Irish Republic (opens in a new tab)
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Police shouldn’t be expected to pick up pieces of broken health system, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says police are being left to handle mental health crisis calls that belong in the health system, citing 39,000 yearly safety calls and urging the Health Minister to deliver the Mental Health Strategy and Right Care, Right Person model ahead of an…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Assembly motion on police time spent on mental health calls Original release: Police shouldn’t be expected to pick up pieces of broken health system, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell welcomes the decision not to fly the Palestinian flag over Belfast City Hall, crediting the call-in mechanism with averting community tension. He accuses the motion's Nationalist and Alliance backers of attacking Israel rather than showing sympathy, and insists only…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall accuses the Economy Minister and the Executive of stalling Safe Leave, which would give paid leave to domestic abuse victims, and says the delay is letting victims down. She links the criticism to new Women's Aid figures on refuge use and referrals in 2024/25.
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 29 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein hypocrisy highlighted following Enniskillen Hotel event
TUV spokesperson Alex Elliott accuses Sinn Fein of hypocrisy over an Enniskillen Hotel event on an all-Ireland health service, linking the party to a republican terror campaign that he says drained health resources. He also rejects a proposed €100 GP charge and calls the event an electioneering…
Health Community relations and legacy Issue: Sinn Fein Enniskillen Hotel all-Ireland health service event Original release: Sinn Fein hypocrisy highlighted following Enniskillen Hotel event (opens in a new tab)
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Allister tables far-reaching amendments to Legacy Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he has tabled amendments to the Troubles (Legacy) Bill, including defining terrorism in Clause 2, barring anyone who has taken part in a terrorist act from the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group, and presuming a lack of criminal intent in assessing security force…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Troubles (Legacy) Bill amendments tabled by Jim Allister Original release: Allister tables far-reaching amendments to Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Citizens’ Assembly on future of Ireland must have healthcare front and centre – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, speaking at a Commission on the Future of Ireland event in Enniskillen on rural health, urges Dublin to hold a citizens' forum on the island's future with health and social care central, and urges deeper cross-border health planning and an all-island public…
Health Constitutional affairs Original release: Citizens’ Assembly on future of Ireland must have healthcare front and centre – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)