Latest releases
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2,560 releases
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Suspension of border checks
TUV leader Jim Allister MP welcomes DAERA's temporary suspension of inspections on freight vehicles carrying goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, caused by Holyhead port disruption, but argues it shows the Irish Sea arrangements can be paused for EU and Republic interests.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Suspension of border checks (opens in a new tab)
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Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley welcomes DAERA's decision to temporarily suspend seal checks on lorries bound for Belfast, which followed the temporary closure of Holyhead port, and says it exposes EU and Irish claims about Irish Sea border checks as hypocritical.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Democracy must not be about the wallets of billionaires with agendas, says Eastwood, as she tables motion
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood has tabled a Parliamentary motion calling for urgent electoral law reforms to protect UK democracy from foreign and overseas billionaire influence, including stricter donation caps and transparency on contribution origins. She also says she is writing to the Prime…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Parliamentary motion on electoral law reform and overseas political donations Original release: Democracy must not be about the wallets of billionaires with agendas, says Eastwood, as she tables motion (opens in a new tab)
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Allister raises impact of tightening noose of the Protocol in Commons and tables a motion on the issue
TUV leader Jim Allister says EU general product safety rules applied in Northern Ireland are leading GB suppliers to stop selling to NI, and asks whether the Government will restore NI's place in the UK internal market. He has also tabled a Commons motion urging ministers to assert UK internal…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Allister raises impact of tightening noose of the Protocol in Commons and tables a motion on the issue (opens in a new tab)
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Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald TD and National Party Chairperson Declan Kearney publish a report on the Commission on the Future of Ireland's work since its establishment. McDonald calls on the next Dublin government to prioritise preparations for Irish unity, including a green paper and a Minister…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Publication of Commission on the Future of Ireland report Original release: Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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The Nationalist and Republican Alliance prove to be the modern day Scrooges of 2024
TUV West Tyrone spokesperson Stevan Patterson says small GB companies have stopped supplying Northern Ireland after the EU General Product Safety Regulation took effect on 13 December, and blames Nationalist and Republican Alliance MLAs for voting for continued EU rules.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: The Nationalist and Republican Alliance prove to be the modern day Scrooges of 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition briefs business groups in Dublin as EU and UK urged to embrace NI Protocol opportunities
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole calls for an independent review of the UK's relationship with Europe, not limited to the Protocol/Framework, to be launched quickly in the new year. The party also says it has written to the UK-EU Joint Committee chairs urging focus on EU programme…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Northern Ireland Protocol protections Original release: SDLP Opposition briefs business groups in Dublin as EU and UK urged to embrace NI Protocol opportunities (opens in a new tab)
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Designation system at Stormont creates democratic deficit, says Armstrong.
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the Assembly's binary designation system creates a democratic deficit and disenfranchises non-unionist and non-nationalist voters, and calls for a weighted majority system without designations after this week's Windsor Framework vote.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Windsor Framework vote and designation system reform Original release: Designation system at Stormont creates democratic deficit, says Armstrong. (opens in a new tab)
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Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA writes in An Phoblacht that the 2024 Irish general election has realigned Dáil politics, ending the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael duopoly, and argues left republican and progressive parties should cooperate as an opposition.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: 2024 Irish general election result and realignment of Dáil politics Original release: Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance more interested in pleasing Brussels than battling for NI -…
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the Alliance Party's opposition to the Democratic Scrutiny Committee considering the General Product Safety Regulations 2024 shows it prioritises Brussels over Northern Ireland. He claims the regulations will push small traders out of supplying Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Democratic Scrutiny Committee consideration of General Product Safety Regulations 2024 Original release: Alliance more interested in pleasing Brussels than battling for NI -… (opens in a new tab)
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Statement on the introduction of the EU General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is deeply concerned about the EU General Product Safety Regulations taking effect in Northern Ireland, claiming they cut Northern Ireland off from GB suppliers, with eleven GB crafts firms reportedly ceasing service. He points to his EU (Withdrawal Arrangements)…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Statement on the introduction of the EU General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken Highlights Impact of New EU Regulations
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken OBE says the EU's General Product Safety Regulations, now in force, add cost and red tape for UK firms selling into Northern Ireland. He says Alliance and Sinn Féin voted down his party's request for the Windsor Framework scrutiny committee to examine the regulation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Aiken Highlights Impact of New EU Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan welcomes funding for waterways in border communities
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a €32 million PEACEPLUS investment aimed at improving water in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay. She says it will also upgrade wastewater treatment for cross-border communities, benefiting up to 6,000 people.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: PEACEPLUS €32 million cross-border waterways investment Original release: Brogan welcomes funding for waterways in border communities (opens in a new tab)
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Trade Figures – “highly indicative of trade diversion” – Jim Allister KC MP Responds
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP responds to NISRA 2023 trade statistics, citing economist Dr Esmond Birnie's view that Northern Ireland's purchases from the Republic grew at twice the rate of those from GB, indicating trade diversion. He calls for the Government to adopt his EU (Withdrawal…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: NISRA Trade Statistics 2023 publication on Windsor Framework trade impact Original release: Trade Figures – “highly indicative of trade diversion” – Jim Allister KC MP Responds (opens in a new tab)
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Democratic Consent motion outcome offers opportunities if Unionism provide strategic solutions – Beattie.
UUP Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie says the Democratic Consent motion outcome on Windsor Framework articles 5-10 could offer opportunities if unionism adopts strategic thinking. He points to an independent review of those articles and calls for unionists to work together to influence it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: Democratic Consent motion outcome offers opportunities if Unionism provide strategic solutions – Beattie. (opens in a new tab)
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Political reform essential to grasp economic opportunities, says Nicholl.
Alliance Economy spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA calls on political parties to provide certainty for businesses and work together to exploit post-Brexit trading arrangements, following the Democratic Consent Motion vote on the Windsor Framework. She also calls for institutional reform to secure…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Democratic Consent vote on the Windsor Framework continuation Original release: Political reform essential to grasp economic opportunities, says Nicholl. (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Unionism to stand up, not lie down under EU rule
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Assembly vote on EU-related law, passed without cross-community support, leaves unionists choosing between staying in the Executive or refusing to take part. He cites a High Court ruling on the 'Safeguarding the Union' assurances and says unionists should not stay…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: Time for Unionism to stand up, not lie down under EU rule (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLAs oppose continued imposition of Protocol on Northern Ireland
The DUP says its MLAs set out a clear objection during the Assembly debate on the consent motion for Articles 5 to 10 of the NI Protocol. It claims the vote was rigged because cross-community consent was removed for the first time in Assembly history. Jonathan Buckley MLA led for the party.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: DUP MLAs oppose continued imposition of Protocol on Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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‘Protocol mitigations allow us to seize on enormous economic potential’ – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes the Assembly vote to continue the Protocol and Windsor Framework mitigations, saying they protect against the worst Brexit impacts and preserve dual market access for businesses. He also calls for the north's position to be championed to attract investment…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: ‘Protocol mitigations allow us to seize on enormous economic potential’ – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Local residents’ concerns demand multi-agency engagement – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls for a round table meeting between DfI Rivers Agency, NI Water, Antrim and Newtownabbey Council planners and residents of Riverside and Massereene Street over flooding, sewerage capacity and a proposed Alpha housing development at Bridge Street.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Riverside and Massereene Street flooding and sewage overflow Original release: Local residents’ concerns demand multi-agency engagement – Kearney (opens in a new tab)