Latest releases
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3,932 releases
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Assembly Commissioner for Standards resigns after a week in office
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Assembly Commission should have confirmed Mark McEwan's commitment before his appointment as Commissioner for Standards, after McEwan resigned a week later to become Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Constabulary. Gaston also says his questioning of the appointment…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Assembly Commissioner for Standards Mark McEwan resignation Original release: Assembly Commissioner for Standards resigns after a week in office (opens in a new tab)
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Veterans who defended our borders now separated by one
TUV deputy leader Count Councillor Ron McDowell says a veteran was made to complete a customs declaration to receive a t-shirt sent to Northern Ireland, calling it a symbol of constitutional betrayal. He accuses the DUP's Gavin Robinson of failing to deliver on his April 2024 pledge to remove the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Customs declaration for veteran's t-shirt delivery to Northern Ireland Original release: Veterans who defended our borders now separated by one (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Lyons welcomes the construction of social homes in Cushendall
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons visited a 34-home social housing phase at Kilnadore Brae in Cushendall and announced the development will be named Lir View, chosen from pupils' suggestions in local primary schools.
Housing Issue: Lir View social housing naming at Kilnadore Brae, Cushendall Original release: Minister Lyons welcomes the construction of social homes in Cushendall (opens in a new tab)
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Time for meaningful action and a united front against racism, says Mulholland ahead of Alliance motion
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA ahead of an Alliance motion calling for condemnation of racist and intimidating attacks on people and their homes, and for leaders to act on community relations and housing. She calls for a renewed Good Relations Strategy and for the…
Disability and equality Housing Issue: Alliance motion condemning racist and intimidating attacks on homes Original release: Time for meaningful action and a united front against racism, says Mulholland ahead of Alliance motion (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Reform clueless on Good Friday Agreement
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP dismisses Reform UK MP Richard Tice's claim that the Good Friday Agreement could be altered without consent, calling Reform figures clueless about the agreement. She says Reform will not be allowed to weaponise it over immigration and argues a New Ireland offers a…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Reform comments on renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement Original release: Hanna: Reform clueless on Good Friday Agreement (opens in a new tab)
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Reform showing total disregard for the Irish people – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says recent comments by Reform MPs on renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement show disregard for the Irish people. He criticises Richard Tice's remarks on leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and calls for full implementation of the agreement, including a…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Reform comments on renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement Original release: Reform showing total disregard for the Irish people – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland must invest properly in palliative care - Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says Northern Ireland must invest properly in end-of-life services instead of relying on fundraising, and calls for a statutory obligation on commissioning of palliative beds with funding matched to need. She also urges the government to prioritise palliative care over assisted…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill House of Lords debate Original release: Northern Ireland must invest properly in palliative care - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcomes comments in Grand Central case and challenges DUP approach to Irish going forward
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP welcomes a judge's comments in the Grand Central case, saying the decision required Executive agreement, and calls on the DUP to block Irish language signage there and any Irish Language Commissioner proposal to impose signs.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Grand Central Irish language signage court case comments Original release: TUV welcomes comments in Grand Central case and challenges DUP approach to Irish going forward (opens in a new tab)
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World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the public to respond to the consultation on her proposed Suicide Prevention Training Bill, which would require public bodies to train frontline staff in suicide prevention. The consultation closes on 17 September 2025.
Health Issue: Suicide Prevention Training Bill public consultation Original release: World Suicide Prevention Day highlights urgent need for action – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston granted oral hearing in Grand Central Station Irish signage case
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he has been granted an oral hearing after lodging a High Court application to intervene in Jamie Bryson's challenge to Sinn Féin Minister Liz Kimmons' order requiring Irish-language signs at Belfast's Grand Central Station. He argues the Minister's reliance on a section…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Grand Central Station Irish signage High Court challenge oral hearing Original release: Gaston granted oral hearing in Grand Central Station Irish signage case (opens in a new tab)
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Time for DUP to accept Brexit reality and work together to maximise economic opportunities – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls on the DUP to accept the Windsor Framework and work with other Assembly parties to maximise economic opportunities, after a DUP motion calling for its dismantling. He claims the motion reflects DUP electoral pressure from the TUV.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Assembly motion calling for dismantling of Windsor Framework Original release: Time for DUP to accept Brexit reality and work together to maximise economic opportunities – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald TD addresses Sinn Féin Dáil think-in
Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald calls for three €450 energy credits to be included in the upcoming 2025 Budget, condemns the government’s cost‑of‑living policies and urges action on rising prices, housing and childcare to protect ordinary households.
Economy and employment Health Issue: 2025 Irish Budget Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD addresses Sinn Féin Dáil think-in (opens in a new tab)
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Divisive border poll talk reflective of SFs misguided priorities –…
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen says First Minister Michelle O'Neill's call for a border poll to coincide with the Belfast Agreement's 30th anniversary reflects misguided priorities. She claims it lays groundwork for using the 2027 election cycle as a mandate and urges Sinn Fein to focus on…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Michelle O'Neill call for border poll around Belfast Agreement anniversary Original release: Divisive border poll talk reflective of SFs misguided priorities –… (opens in a new tab)
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We must get real on standards reform - Beattie
UUP MLA Doug Beattie says the Standards Commissioner's oversight is dominated by major parties and calls for lay members with voting rights on the Committee on Standards, citing the 2020 New Decade New Approach commitment. He also argues MLAs' conduct should be investigated when it brings the…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly vote on new Northern Ireland Commissioner for Standards Original release: We must get real on standards reform - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Efforts to divide communities will fail, we all must stand against racism – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says equality and solidarity will defeat current efforts to stoke division, responding to fresh attempts by small groups to turn people against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. He cites migrant workers' role in stabilising services at Daisy Hill Hospital and blames…
Immigration Health Original release: Efforts to divide communities will fail, we all must stand against racism – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney calls on Irish trade union movement to become an active player in unity debate
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney urges Irish trade unions to play a decisive role in the Irish unity debate, citing the benefits of higher union density and the Assembly's Good Jobs Bill as a step toward stronger collective bargaining and worker protections.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Good Jobs Bill advancing in the Assembly Original release: Kearney calls on Irish trade union movement to become an active player in unity debate (opens in a new tab)
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EU noose tightens again – now on potatoes from GB
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Labour Government let the Movement Assistance Scheme regulations expire, so potato shipments from GB to NI now carry inspection fees and certificate costs passed on to merchants. He says he is pursuing the issue with government.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Movement Assistance Scheme expiry and potato inspection fees on GB imports Original release: EU noose tightens again – now on potatoes from GB (opens in a new tab)
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Racist attacks on Trust employees are “deplorable” – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen condemns recent racist attacks on Western Trust employees as unacceptable and calls for them to be dealt with through the courts, stressing that everyone has a right to feel safe at work.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attacks on Western Trust employees Original release: Racist attacks on Trust employees are “deplorable” – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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Why Has Dr Hilary Cass Been Brought in After Minister Nesbitt Has Already Made His Decision?
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston questions why Baroness Hilary Cass was brought in to assess Northern Ireland's gender identity services after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt had already allocated £806,000 for expansion. He calls on the Minister to explain the sequence and whether her review can shape policy…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Baroness Cass review of Northern Ireland gender identity services Original release: Why Has Dr Hilary Cass Been Brought in After Minister Nesbitt Has Already Made His Decision? (opens in a new tab)
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"We do not need another review, we need healthcare" - Ash Jones
Green Party representative Ash Jones calls the Health Minister's decision to commission Hilary Cass to review local Gender Identity Services a betrayal of trans patients. Jones says the review is unnecessary given recent local reviews, criticises the Cass Review's use for puberty blocker…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Baroness Cass review of Northern Ireland gender identity services Original release: "We do not need another review, we need healthcare" - Ash Jones (opens in a new tab)