Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
11,710 releases
-
Royal Mail Strike Belfast: Picket Interviews Pt. 3
People Before Profit profiles Sammy, a recently retired Royal Mail worker from the Castlereagh Road delivery centre, who joins CWU pickets in Belfast. He criticises Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson and says the changes to service and working conditions threaten the public service posties provide, and…
Economy and employment Issue: Royal Mail Belfast strike November 2022 Original release: Royal Mail Strike Belfast: Picket Interviews Pt. 3 (opens in a new tab)
-
Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
Green Party Councillor Rachel Woods calls for a Northern Ireland Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, saying the lack of an Executive has stalled delivery despite promises, and urges mandatory relationship and sexuality education alongside recent abuse legislation.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
-
Termination of Ballymena GPs contracts a sad state of affairs and indicates need for institutional reform, says O’Lynn
Alliance North Antrim MLA Patricia O'Lynn says she is saddened by the termination of two Ballymena GP practice contracts, which could close services for over 7,000 patients, and blames the DUP's boycott of the institutions for stalling health decision-making and calling for institutional reform.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Ballymena GP practices terminating contracts and potential closure Original release: Termination of Ballymena GPs contracts a sad state of affairs and indicates need for institutional reform, says O’Lynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan
Alliance Spokesperson for Violence Against Women & Girls Connie Egan MLA says targeted gender-based violence must be eliminated, citing 32,000 PSNI domestic abuse incidents in 2021 and calling for the stalled Executive Office VAWG strategy to move forward without ministerial sign-off.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
-
Fire shows urgency in replacing cladding, says McReynolds
Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds says a recent fire at Obel Tower in Belfast shows the urgency of replacing cladding on similar towers across the city, and calls for costs to be met by government rather than tenants and owners. He blames the lack of an Executive, which he links to the DUP boycott…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Obel Tower fire in Belfast city centre Original release: Fire shows urgency in replacing cladding, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
-
Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson, speaking as COP27 closed with a deal on loss and damage funding for vulnerable nations, says wealthy industrialised countries bear disproportionate blame for climate harm and calls for justice for affected communities. He welcomes the new fund and points to Alliance's…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency (opens in a new tab)
-
Reid expresses concern over GP surgery closures
SDLP councillor Eugene Reid expresses concern over two Ballymena GP surgeries handing back their contracts, affecting around 7,000 patients. He calls on the Department of Health to find doctors to take over the practices and links the situation to GP workforce planning shortfalls.
Health Issue: Ballymena GP practices terminating contracts and potential closure Original release: Reid expresses concern over GP surgery closures (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan welcomes verdict in Aidan McAnespie case
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes the court verdict in the Aidan McAnespie case, saying it shows victims can still get truth and justice, and calls on the British government to drop its legacy bill and end any amnesty.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Former British soldier found guilty of Aidan McAnespie manslaughter Original release: McCrossan welcomes verdict in Aidan McAnespie case (opens in a new tab)
-
Former Finance Minister’s failures laid bare: Forsythe
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says Finance Minister Conor Murphy failed to set a budget and manage Northern Ireland expenditure, criticising the budget's impact on public services and households. She also accuses Michelle O'Neill of misleading claims and says the Secretary of State should…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Secretary of State sets Northern Ireland budget for executive departments Original release: Former Finance Minister’s failures laid bare: Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP boycott of Executive could cost rate payers millions – Peacock
Sinn Féin's Leanne Peacock warns that Causeway Coast and Glens council could lose its Rates Support Grant because the DUP's boycott of the Executive leaves the budget unagreed, and calls on the DUP to end it.
Public finance and taxation Local government Issue: Rates Support Grant 2022/23 budget unagreed without functioning Executive Original release: DUP boycott of Executive could cost rate payers millions – Peacock (opens in a new tab)
-
Families need energy support payment urgently – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane calls on the British government to urgently pay the Energy Support payments to hard-pressed families, saying they were promised over six months ago and the delay is unacceptable. He also blames the DUP's boycott of the Executive for preventing the payment.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: Families need energy support payment urgently – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
-
Immediate funding needed to tackle delays in discharging patients – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls for immediate additional funding for social care to tackle delays in discharging patients from hospitals, and for mileage costs to be met for domiciliary care workers in rural areas. She also urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive can be formed.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Meeting between five main parties and Department of Health Permanent Secretary on discharge delays Original release: Immediate funding needed to tackle delays in discharging patients – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
-
Answers needed on courtroom allegations
DUP MLA Emma Little Pengelly says Mary Lou McDonald must answer allegations, aired at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, that she used the Hutch gang for money and votes. She says the claims came from a former Sinn Fein councillor and asks whether gangland money is influencing politics.
Justice and policing Issue: Allegations about Mary Lou McDonald and Hutch gang in Special Criminal Court recording Original release: Answers needed on courtroom allegations (opens in a new tab)
-
Tory budget highlights the cost of DUP boycott – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the DUP's refusal to let the Executive set a budget will hurt hospital waiting lists and businesses, after the British Government's one-year budget left out extra business rates relief.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British Government one-year budget for Northern Ireland, November 2022 Original release: Tory budget highlights the cost of DUP boycott – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
-
Donaldson - Protocol destroyed cross-community balance
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells the Foreign Press Association in London that Stormont has no solid foundation unless the Protocol is replaced with arrangements unionists can support. He says the Protocol has eroded cross-community balance and that devolved government cannot work without its…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Donaldson - Protocol destroyed cross-community balance (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV spells out the case against Sinn Fein rule
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MLA argues in a News Letter platform piece that unionists should not serve under a Sinn Fein First Minister, citing PSNI assessments that Sinn Fein is controlled by the IRA Army Council and criticising Michelle O'Neill's remarks on IRA violence. He also dismisses joint…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: TUV spells out the case against Sinn Fein rule (opens in a new tab)
-
Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says unpaid carers are among those worst affected by rising living costs, citing higher energy, heating, food and transport bills. She points to new figures showing 27% of carers struggling to make ends meet and 23% cutting back on essentials, and blames the DUP's…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI cost of living statistics on carers' financial struggles Original release: Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
Difficult times ahead, says Farry, as Secretary of State sets local Budget
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP warns of tough public spending ahead after the Secretary of State set a Northern Ireland budget, blaming the lack of an Executive and Assembly for missed long-term planning and a stalled reform agenda.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Secretary of State sets Northern Ireland budget for executive departments Original release: Difficult times ahead, says Farry, as Secretary of State sets local Budget (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin: Universities need to value their staff
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin expresses solidarity with university staff at Queen's and Ulster after three days of strike action over pay, conditions and pensions, and calls on universities to engage with unions.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Queen's and Ulster University staff three-day strike action over pay and pensions Original release: McLaughlin: Universities need to value their staff (opens in a new tab)
-
Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says a Westminster-set budget forcing cuts to the Department of Education stems from political failure and financial mismanagement. He blames the DUP for enabling Chris Heaton Harris to set spending and calls for an Executive to be formed.
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Westminster budget allocations and Department of Education cuts Original release: Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure (opens in a new tab)