Latest releases
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11,724 releases
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Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement
Alliance Communities Spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for the NI Act to be updated to remove designation in the Assembly, following the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Annual Statement. She advocates a weighted majority system to replace the current designation system.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: NIHRC Annual Statement 2022 on equality law and Assembly designation Original release: Time to update the NI Act to remove designations in the assembly, says Armstrong, following NIHRC Annual Statement (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Mulrines investment transformational for Sion Mills
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes a confirmed Mulrines manufacturing plant in Sion Mills, which he says will create 54 jobs and revive a site empty for almost two decades. He argues it could attract other firms to Strabane and West Tyrone.
Economy and employment Issue: Mulrines manufacturing facility confirmed for Sion Mills Original release: McCrossan: Mulrines investment transformational for Sion Mills (opens in a new tab)
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Hard data demolishes Protocol lies: O’Toole
Matthew O’Toole MLA, the SDLP’s Assembly group leader and Brexit spokesperson, says new NISRA figures refute DUP and UK minister claims that the Protocol has damaged GB‑NI trade, showing a 7% rise in purchases from Great Britain and higher export volumes to the Republic and EU, and calls for a plan
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Trade data release on Northern Ireland Protocol impact Original release: Hard data demolishes Protocol lies: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of security fencing on city walls ‘welcome news’ – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the removal of sections of security fencing overlooking the Bogside on the Derry Walls, saying it reflects positive relationships across the city and will improve the walls' appearance for visitors.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Removal of security fencing on Derry Walls overlooking the Bogside Original release: Removal of security fencing on city walls ‘welcome news’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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British Secretary of State must set out plan to restore power-sharing – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill MLA calls on the British Secretary of State to set out a clear plan to restore the Executive and Assembly before a meeting with the parties, and urges the Prime Minister to engage urgently. She also raises the delayed £600 energy payment.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: British Secretary of State invitation to parties on restoring power-sharing Original release: British Secretary of State must set out plan to restore power-sharing – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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SF blushes shouldn’t be a factor in publication of Stakeknife report
DUP MLA Phillip Brett, North Belfast, urges that the Operation Kenova report on IRA informer 'Stakeknife' not be heavily redacted, arguing that secrecy would not help deal with the past. He says Sinn Féin's concerns should not influence publication.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Operation Kenova Stakeknife report possible extensive redaction Original release: SF blushes shouldn’t be a factor in publication of Stakeknife report (opens in a new tab)
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Internal Conservative Party politics holding up Protocol Bill
DUP MP Ian Paisley suggests the Prime Minister's pause of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill reflects internal Conservative Party politics more than prospects for a Brussels deal. He says the Protocol must be replaced by arrangements unionists can back, and warns that delaying the Bill also delays…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government pause on Northern Ireland Protocol Bill progression Original release: Internal Conservative Party politics holding up Protocol Bill (opens in a new tab)
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“Delayed Pay Award Slap in the Face to Health Workers During Cost-Of-Living Crisis” – Connolly
Aontú's Daniel Connolly, Armagh Representative, accuses the Department of Health of delaying the NHS pay award during the cost-of-living crisis. He calls for it to be paid now, blames Stormont deadlock for blocking funding, and urges reform of Stormont and MLA pay.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Department of Health health worker pay award announcement December 2022 Original release: “Delayed Pay Award Slap in the Face to Health Workers During Cost-Of-Living Crisis” – Connolly (opens in a new tab)
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Targets of paramilitary loan sharks are victims themselves, says Dickson
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson says people targeted by paramilitary loan sharks are victims and should contact police, after meeting PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne. He calls for more action to dismantle these organisations, citing financial pressures linked to Christmas and energy support payments.
Justice and policing Issue: BBC NI Spotlight investigation into paramilitary loan sharks Original release: Targets of paramilitary loan sharks are victims themselves, says Dickson (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs meet with Royal College of Emergency Medicine to discuss pressures in NI A&E departments
Alliance MLAs say they met the Royal College of Emergency Medicine about growing pressures in Northern Ireland's A&E departments. Paula Bradshaw MLA, Health Spokesperson, says a shortage of hospital beds for admission is the most pressing issue and calls for investment in capacity. Danny Donnelly…
Health Issue: Alliance meeting with Royal College of Emergency Medicine on A&E pressures Original release: Alliance MLAs meet with Royal College of Emergency Medicine to discuss pressures in NI A&E departments (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty highlights community support after people turn to loan sharks
SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty urges struggling families to seek community support rather than paramilitary loans, after a Spotlight investigation found groups offering loans to food bank users. He also says the British government and DUP have let people down over delayed energy…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: BBC NI Spotlight investigation into paramilitary loan sharks Original release: Doherty highlights community support after people turn to loan sharks (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein will never decide who it was ok for the IRA to murder
DUP MP Gavin Robinson says Sinn Fein has no authority to decide which IRA murders were acceptable, responding to Mary Lou McDonald's remarks that the IRA should not have harmed Garda members. He links Sinn Fein's rhetoric to sectarian incidents involving phrases like "Up the RA".
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Mary Lou McDonald comments on IRA harm to Garda members Original release: Sinn Fein will never decide who it was ok for the IRA to murder (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP should stop undermining postal workers ask for fair pay’ – O’Dowd
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd tells the DUP to return to the Executive and back striking postal workers seeking fair pay, rejecting DUP MP Carla Lockhart's claims that postal strikes are hurting health services.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Royal Mail industrial action disrupting postal services December 2022 Original release: ‘DUP should stop undermining postal workers ask for fair pay’ – O’Dowd (opens in a new tab)
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TUV calls out NIO deception
TUV leader Jim Allister accuses the NIO of playing politics by linking the £600 energy payment to the lack of a Stormont executive, arguing the civil service departments that delivered Covid payments still exist. He says the NIO is trying to force unionists into submission over the Protocol.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: NIO link between £600 energy payment and Stormont executive Original release: TUV calls out NIO deception (opens in a new tab)
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The NHS Strikes
People Before Profit reports visiting Belfast City and Royal Victoria hospitals during a 24-hour NHS strike by over 2,000 workers across five trusts, with GMB, NIPSA and Unison taking part. The release quotes union officials calling for a full return to collective bargaining over pay and…
Health Economy and employment Issue: NHS 24‑hour strike across Belfast trusts Original release: The NHS Strikes (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government must act now to support households in Northern Ireland – Allen
UUP MLA Andy Allen calls for at least £200 of the £600 Westminster energy support to be released to Northern Ireland households before the end of December, after confusion over delivery timing. He has written to the Energy Minister, Prime Minister and Secretary of State.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £600 energy support payment delay in Northern Ireland Original release: UK Government must act now to support households in Northern Ireland – Allen (opens in a new tab)
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Risk of homelessness exacerbated by the combination of a number of different pressures, including the lack of an Executive, says Cllr Donnelly
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly warns that combined pressures, including rising energy prices and the lack of a Stormont Executive, will increase homelessness risk. He says the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Brexit Committee unanimously backed Alliance requests on public information…
Housing Local government Original release: Risk of homelessness exacerbated by the combination of a number of different pressures, including the lack of an Executive, says Cllr Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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High air pollution demonstrates need for urgent and consistent action on air quality, says Alliance MLAs
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Paula Bradshaw say high air pollution warnings in parts of the north west show air quality needs urgent action from the incoming Executive. Blair blames the outgoing minister for refusing extra monitoring sites and says the Clean Air Strategy has not been delivered.
Environment and climate Health Issue: North west Northern Ireland high air pollution warnings December 2022 Original release: High air pollution demonstrates need for urgent and consistent action on air quality, says Alliance MLAs (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol Bill has been tediously slow - Sir Jeffrey
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson writes to the Northern Ireland Secretary calling for the Government to replace the Protocol with arrangements unionists can support, citing £318.7 million spent on the Trader Support Service and questioning the delay to £600 energy payments.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Protocol Bill delay and Trader Support Service costs Original release: Protocol Bill has been tediously slow - Sir Jeffrey (opens in a new tab)
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Essential role for Europe in managing constitutional change in Ireland – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA urges European progressive parties to back planning for constitutional change in Ireland, including an all-island Citizens' Assembly, while speaking at the European Left congress in Vienna.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Essential role for Europe in managing constitutional change in Ireland – Kearney (opens in a new tab)