Latest releases
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11,692 releases
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Sinn Fein highlight contempt for victims
TUV North Belfast spokesperson Ron McDowell condemns a City Hall portrait showing convicted IRA member Bobby Sands alongside former Sinn Féin mayor Danny Baker, calling it an insult to victims of republican violence. He calls for the painting to be removed from display and for Sinn Féin to pay for…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Bobby Sands portrait displayed at Belfast City Hall Original release: Sinn Fein highlight contempt for victims (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr McKee welcomes support for workers undergoing fertility treatment
Green Party councillor Barry McKee welcomes unanimous backing from Ards and North Down Council's Corporate Committee for a motion to expand support for staff undergoing fertility treatment. He hopes officers' forthcoming report leads to a swift introduction of the measures.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council motion on fertility treatment support for staff Original release: Cllr McKee welcomes support for workers undergoing fertility treatment (opens in a new tab)
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Conduct of the Republic of Ireland`s Women`s football team is disgraceful – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA condemns the Republic of Ireland women's football squad as disgraceful after a video showed them singing a pro-IRA song while celebrating World Cup qualification. He says the FAI must respond robustly, with an apology for the players' actions and evidence of…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Republic of Ireland women's team pro-IRA song apology Original release: Conduct of the Republic of Ireland`s Women`s football team is disgraceful – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Agency spend issue should long ago have been dealt with, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says the Department of Health's order to cut £15 million from agency staff spending shows the issue was known for years and Northern Ireland has not addressed it, unlike other parts of the UK that regulated agency pay or introduced safe staffing…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health £15 million agency staff spending cut instruction Original release: Agency spend issue should long ago have been dealt with, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly group on universal basic income important step towards potential introduction here, says Brown
Alliance MLA Patrick Brown welcomes the first meeting of a cross-party Assembly working group on universal basic income, which discussed developing a UBI pilot for Northern Ireland. He says the economic pressures of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis make new support measures necessary.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Assembly All-Party Working Group on universal basic income first meeting Original release: Assembly group on universal basic income important step towards potential introduction here, says Brown (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes progress on Irish language legislation
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna welcomes progress on the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill ahead of its Westminster second reading, calling for the protections to be enacted promptly and criticising that the legislation is not being progressed locally at Stormont.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill second reading at Westminster Original release: Hanna welcomes progress on Irish language legislation (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Lack of funding stopping education reform
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes the Interim report of the Independent Review of Education but says it sets out problems without solutions. He says reform depends on funding, citing a 5.5% gap below the UK average and a need for £267m to stand still.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Review of Education interim report Original release: McCrossan: Lack of funding stopping education reform (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan criticises refusal to show parking fine leniency
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says he is disappointed Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has declined to lengthen the 50% discount window for parking Penalty Charge Notices. Durkan had proposed extending it from 14 days to six weeks to ease cost-of-living pressures, and urges caretaker ministers…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Infrastructure Minister rejects extended parking fine discount period proposal Original release: Durkan criticises refusal to show parking fine leniency (opens in a new tab)
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‘Outrageous Tory budget still wreaking economic chaos’ – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the UK government's mini-Budget is still causing economic disruption, raising mortgage and business borrowing costs, and calls on Liz Truss's administration to drop the plan, halt cuts to public services and introduce a windfall tax on energy firms.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Liz Truss 2022 budget announcement Original release: ‘Outrageous Tory budget still wreaking economic chaos’ – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew requests urgent meeting over emergency surgical services at Enniskillen Hospital
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says she has written to the Western Trust's chief executive seeking an urgent meeting over worries about emergency surgery provision at Enniskillen Hospital, after raising the issue with Health Minister Robin Swann last month.
Health Issue: Enniskillen Hospital emergency surgery concerns raised with Western Trust Original release: Gildernew requests urgent meeting over emergency surgical services at Enniskillen Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom must be restored
DUP peer Lord Dodds of Duncairn, speaking in the Lords 2nd reading debate on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, says the Protocol removes democratic control over Northern Ireland's laws and undermines the Belfast Agreement, and argues it breaches international law on political participation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill second reading in the House of Lords Original release: Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom must be restored (opens in a new tab)
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Senator Ó Donnghaile welcomes Minister’s interest in all-island Defence Forces recruitment campaign
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile welcomes Defence Minister Coveney's acceptance of his suggestion to advertise Defence Forces positions across the whole island, and says he has written seeking an update on the steps required.
Other Issue: Defence Forces national recruitment advertising across the island Original release: Senator Ó Donnghaile welcomes Minister’s interest in all-island Defence Forces recruitment campaign (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to support businesses and protect jobs – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald calls for the Executive to be restored to support businesses and protect jobs, citing Ulster Bank's monthly outlook on rising costs and NISRA figures showing a fall in payroll employees. She blames the British government and the DUP's boycott for blocking support.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Original release: Executive needed to support businesses and protect jobs – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Tory policy a threat to local fishing industry – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard urges the British government to engage with fishing representatives over changes to visa rules that he says will hit South Down fleets in Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie. He has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, warning that a stricter enforcement timetable…
Immigration Economy and employment Issue: Nationality and Borders Act visa changes affecting Co Down fishing fleet Original release: Tory policy a threat to local fishing industry – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson encourages victims of hate crime to come forward and report incidents
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson urges victims and witnesses of hate crime to come forward to support services and police, citing recent PSNI figures showing rises in five motivation categories, with disability-motivated incidents at their highest since records began.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI hate crime statistics showing rises across five motivation categories Original release: Dickson encourages victims of hate crime to come forward and report incidents (opens in a new tab)
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Budget chaos threatens core public services: O’Toole
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, Leader of the Opposition, says the Finance Minister's statement shows a near £1 billion overspend wiping out unallocated Stormont funds, threatening public services next year. He blames the DUP's boycott and calls for it to end now.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Finance Minister's written statement on in-year overspend and unallocated funds Original release: Budget chaos threatens core public services: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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DUP And UU Think 6000 Students At Magee Is Good Enough For Derry
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the DUP and Ulster University are content with a 6,000-student target at Magee, Derry, and calls for an urgent plan to reach 10,000 students within five years. He also calls for a campaign of investment across Derry and the North West.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University Magee campus student number target 6,000 Original release: DUP And UU Think 6000 Students At Magee Is Good Enough For Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Donaldson & DUP Are A Waste Of Space In Westminster If They Can’t Challenge Tory Economic Vandalism
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin criticises the DUP for not challenging the Truss government's budget, which he says will deepen inequality and harm public services, and calls for escalated protests and industrial action.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Liz Truss 2022 budget announcement Original release: Donaldson & DUP Are A Waste Of Space In Westminster If They Can’t Challenge Tory Economic Vandalism (opens in a new tab)
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Friary comments on John Carson suspension
Sinn Féin councillor Ian Friary welcomes the local government commissioner’s three‑month suspension of DUP councillor John Carson for despicable social‑media comments and urges DUP leadership to take action against Carson.
Local government Issue: John Carson three‑month suspension Original release: Friary comments on John Carson suspension (opens in a new tab)
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O’Dowd slashes road maintenance budget but increases cycle path spend
TUV leader Jim Allister says Infrastructure Minister O'Dowd has halved the 2022/23 road maintenance budget in Northern Division to £15m while raising cycle path spending, including £1.9m for a Coleraine Ring Road cycle path. He calls for the priorities to be reviewed.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Division road maintenance budget cut and cycle path spending Original release: O’Dowd slashes road maintenance budget but increases cycle path spend (opens in a new tab)