Latest releases
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11,691 releases
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Robinson in no position to lecture given the strategic errors made under his leadership - Aiken
UUP MLA Steve Aiken OBE says Peter Robinson is in no position to criticise the UUP, arguing the DUP backed the Protocol before opposing it and that Robinson's St Andrews changes to the Belfast Agreement harmed unionism.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Robinson in no position to lecture given the strategic errors made under his leadership - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Political failure testing public faith in institutions
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the failure to restore Stormont institutions is testing public faith in politics and risks a winter Assembly election. He blames the DUP's boycott and calls for the institutions to be restored, arguing this would help people facing cost of living…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly recall to elect Executive before 28 October deadline Original release: O’Toole: Political failure testing public faith in institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Election will only cause further harm to North
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP says an Assembly election would waste millions without solving issues such as heating costs, health waiting lists and housing, after meeting the Northern Ireland Secretary in London. He blames the DUP's blocking of the institutions and calls for the Irish government's…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris threat of December Stormont election Original release: Eastwood: Election will only cause further harm to North (opens in a new tab)
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DUP’s boycott of the Executive punishing businesses, workers and families – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the DUP's refusal to take part in the Executive is hurting businesses, workers and families, and urges the party to rejoin so decisions on costs and the economy can be made. She cites a NI Chamber of Commerce statement.
Economy and employment Issue: NI Chamber of Commerce statement on Executive boycott Original release: DUP’s boycott of the Executive punishing businesses, workers and families – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Historic day as legislation passes to give official recognition to the Irish language – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill welcomes legislation passing to give official recognition to the Irish language, saying it secures Irish speakers' rights to public services and court use. She credits grassroots activists and points to a planned Irish language commissioner with statutory powers.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Act legislation passes Original release: Historic day as legislation passes to give official recognition to the Irish language – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Culture Bill shatters fine balance secured by NDNA: Gavin Robinson
DUP MP Gavin Robinson says the party will not support the Identity and Language Bill, arguing it departs from the New Decade New Approach agreement and shatters the fine balance secured in 2020. He criticises the Government for ignoring unionist concerns raised during Commons debate.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill final Commons reading and defeated SDLP amendment Original release: Culture Bill shatters fine balance secured by NDNA: Gavin Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Taoiseach’s ‘no return to direct rule’ commitment
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald welcomes the Taoiseach's position that Dublin will not accept a return to London direct rule while the Belfast Executive remains blocked. She urges him to press new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on joint authority and on restoring the institutions.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's position on direct rule amid Stormont Executive deadlock Original release: Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Taoiseach’s ‘no return to direct rule’ commitment (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey: Replacing Protocol only way to make progress
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the Secretary of State cannot ignore that replacing the Protocol is needed to restore Stormont's institutions, after a call with him alongside Gavin Robinson MP. He says any Assembly election would see the DUP seek a mandate for replacement arrangements.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's comments on possible Assembly election Original release: Sir Jeffrey: Replacing Protocol only way to make progress (opens in a new tab)
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Spectre of joint authority shouldn’t scare unionists back to Protocol implementation
TUV Lagan Valley spokesperson Lorna Smyth says joint authority is legally and constitutionally impossible and dismisses it as a bogeyman used to pressure unionists into accepting the Protocol. She claims the Protocol has already undermined Northern Ireland's place in the UK and urges unionists to…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Spectre of joint authority shouldn’t scare unionists back to Protocol implementation (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government Cannot Allow Stormont Dysfunction to Default Back to Direct Rule - Gerard Herdman
Aontú's Gerard Herdman, its West Belfast representative, rejects calls for Westminster to restore direct rule, urging the Dublin government to push for Stormont reform and joint authority if reform fails, and blaming DUP refusal to share power.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's position on direct rule amid Stormont Executive deadlock Original release: Irish Government Cannot Allow Stormont Dysfunction to Default Back to Direct Rule - Gerard Herdman (opens in a new tab)
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Joint Authority would be a fatal blow to Belfast Agreement - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA rejects SDLP leader Colum Eastwood's call for Joint Authority over Northern Ireland, saying any such change would breach the Belfast Agreement's principle of consent. He calls for focus on restoring Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP calls for Joint Authority over Northern Ireland Original release: Joint Authority would be a fatal blow to Belfast Agreement - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes welfare mitigations review but warns no action without Executive
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes the Department for Communities' published independent review of welfare mitigation schemes, but says none of its recommendations can proceed without an Executive. She urges the DUP to end its blocking of the Executive now.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Independent review of welfare mitigation schemes published by Department for Communities Original release: Armstrong welcomes welfare mitigations review but warns no action without Executive (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Proud day for Integrated Education
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes the enactment of the Integrated Education Act as a proud day for the integrated sector, saying it supports families seeking integrated schooling. She notes the act followed her private members bill and gives the Department for Education and Education…
Education Issue: Integrated Education Act becomes law Original release: Armstrong: Proud day for Integrated Education (opens in a new tab)
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NI sports clubs missing out on millions in funding due to lack of Executive, says Honeyford
Alliance MLA David Honeyford says Northern Ireland sports clubs and athletes are losing out on an estimated £15-20 million in Barnett Consequentials from the UK Government's Birmingham Commonwealth Games funding, blaming the lack of an Executive and urging the DUP to return to work.
Public finance and taxation Issue: Barnett Consequentials from Birmingham Commonwealth Games funding lost without Executive Original release: NI sports clubs missing out on millions in funding due to lack of Executive, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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Unconscionable to leave health system without clear leadership during severe winter ahead, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says leaving the health service without clear political leadership this winter is unacceptable, after Health Minister Robin Swann's statement on severe winter pressures. She calls for a comprehensive Executive plan across all departments and says other parties are…
Health Issue: Health Minister Robin Swann's statement on winter pressures on health and social care Original release: Unconscionable to leave health system without clear leadership during severe winter ahead, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood urges leaders to back joint authority in absence of Stormont institutions
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP urges Stormont party leaders to back Joint Authority from the British and Irish governments if Assembly and Executive institutions are not formed in the coming months, ruling out direct rule from Westminster.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Eastwood urges leaders to back joint authority in absence of Stormont institutions (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Huge opportunity for GAA to grow audience and participation in Gaelic Games
SDLP Sport Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA welcomes the GAA's new BBC deal alongside an expanded RTÉ rights agreement, saying free-to-air coverage of finals and big games after the end of the Sky Sports deal could grow audiences and participation in Gaelic Games.
Other Issue: GAA new BBC broadcasting deal and expanded RTÉ rights agreement Original release: McNulty: Huge opportunity for GAA to grow audience and participation in Gaelic Games (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Damning report should end Troubles amnesty plan
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP urges new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to scrap the legacy bill after a Westminster committee judged it likely to breach human rights standards. He says victims' groups and all Northern parties oppose the legislation.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Westminster Joint Committee on Human Rights report on legacy bill Original release: Eastwood: Damning report should end Troubles amnesty plan (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan calls for intervention to avoid Housing Executive maintenance delays
SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan warns that re-tendering planned maintenance contracts could delay work on 3600 Housing Executive homes by up to a year. He calls on the Finance Minister and his department to look again at further support where Procurement Advice Note guidance…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Housing Executive planned maintenance contract re-tendering delays Original release: McCrossan calls for intervention to avoid Housing Executive maintenance delays (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must ensure no further blockage of language rights
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna urges the UK Government to guarantee no further obstruction of Irish language protections after an SDLP amendment on the Identity and Language Bill was defeated in the Commons. She says the bill passed its final reading.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill final Commons reading and defeated SDLP amendment Original release: Hanna: UK Government must ensure no further blockage of language rights (opens in a new tab)