Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
11,692 releases
-
Protocol state aid restrictions will cause lasting damage to NI…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds warns that EU state aid controls under the Protocol will harm Northern Ireland's economy, after Brussels set new caps on regional aid for local businesses over five years. She says the arrangement puts NI at a competitive disadvantage and calls for decisive action to protect…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: EU approval of Northern Ireland regional aid map and state aid caps Original release: Protocol state aid restrictions will cause lasting damage to NI… (opens in a new tab)
-
Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's abortion announcement shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster is willing to act on abortion but reluctant to act on Protocol concerns. He questions whether London expects Unionists to return to devolution regardless of…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution (opens in a new tab)
-
Closure of nine Ulster Bank branches huge blow to workers – Archibald
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says she is deeply concerned by Ulster Bank's plans to shut nine branches across the North from September, warning of job losses and reduced services in small towns and rural areas. She has asked the bank for a meeting on potential redundancies, opposes…
Economy and employment Issue: Ulster Bank closure of nine Northern Ireland branches Original release: Closure of nine Ulster Bank branches huge blow to workers – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
-
“A sad day for NI and a sad reflection on NIO’s priorities” – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, says the Secretary of State's decision to accelerate abortion legislation through Westminster is a bad decision that disrespects the devolution settlement. She contrasts this with slower progress on Irish Sea Border…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: “A sad day for NI and a sad reflection on NIO’s priorities” – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
-
Closure of Ballymoney Ulster Bank branch
TUV MLA Jim Allister says he is disappointed by the planned closure of Ulster Bank's Ballymoney branch at the end of September. He warns elderly customers relying on public transport will struggle to reach the nearest branch in Coleraine, and raises concern for staff.
Economy and employment Issue: Ulster Bank closure of nine Northern Ireland branches Original release: Closure of Ballymoney Ulster Bank branch (opens in a new tab)
-
Tories’ Abortion Push deletes the Human Right to Life and Undermines the GFA
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín criticises Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis's new powers to direct the Northern Ireland Health Department to expand abortion services, saying they bypass Stormont and the Good Friday Agreement. He says Aontú is seeking legal advice on protecting…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Tories’ Abortion Push deletes the Human Right to Life and Undermines the GFA (opens in a new tab)
-
Aontú Leader Tells Tánaiste That The Good Friday Agreement
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD tells the Tánaiste the Good Friday Agreement "has been gutted" and urges the government to exhaust international legal avenues, seek reconstitution of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and pursue Joint Authority. He also promotes an Aontú Bill for a…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Tóibín Dáil exchange with Tánaiste on Good Friday Agreement implementation Original release: Aontú Leader Tells Tánaiste That The Good Friday Agreement (opens in a new tab)
-
There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says there should be no further impediments to fully commissioning abortion services in Northern Ireland. She urges Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to take immediate steps ahead of his expected plans to speed up delivery.
Health Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Tennyson extremely disappointed at number of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says he is disappointed that PSNI figures show homophobic and transphobic hate crimes at their highest level since records began. He blames the DUP for blocking the Executive from progressing hate crime legislation and calls for an Executive to be restored.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI homophobic and transphobic hate crime figures 2021-22 Original release: Tennyson extremely disappointed at number of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes (opens in a new tab)
-
Dickson hits out at Ulster Bank plans to close branches
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA criticises Ulster Bank's plans to close nine branches across Northern Ireland from September, following Danske Bank's closure of four branches. He says he will seek a meeting to urge reconsideration or better customer support.
Economy and employment Issue: Ulster Bank closure of nine Northern Ireland branches Original release: Dickson hits out at Ulster Bank plans to close branches (opens in a new tab)
-
Pressing need for standardised relationship and sexuality education across Northern Ireland, says McAllister
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister says a new relationship and sexuality programme for Catholic primary schools shows gaps in the current curriculum, and calls for standardised, evidence-based teaching across Northern Ireland. She says Alliance will keep lobbying the Education Minister, citing its…
Education Issue: Catholic primary schools new RSE programme launch Original release: Pressing need for standardised relationship and sexuality education across Northern Ireland, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
-
Fiscal Commission report useful contribution but will gather dust unless institutions restored, says Muir
Alliance Finance spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA calls the Fiscal Commission report on Executive tax and spending a useful contribution to funding cost-of-living support, but says it will go unused until the Assembly and Executive are restored. He also urges a plan to tackle the cost of division.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Fiscal Commission report on Executive tax and spending powers Original release: Fiscal Commission report useful contribution but will gather dust unless institutions restored, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath calls for greater transparency around health waiting lists
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath calls for greater transparency on waiting lists and welcomes a watchdog probe into how health trusts keep patients informed. He also proposes a public waiting lists dashboard modelled on the Department of Health's pandemic-era tracker.
Health Issue: Review of health trust communication with waiting list patients Original release: McGrath calls for greater transparency around health waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
-
Doherty urges support for Irish language march
SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty urges support for the Irish language march in Belfast on Saturday, organised by An Dream Dearg, which calls for Irish language legislation under New Decade, New Approach to be introduced without further delay. He says the DUP failed to honour the…
Disability and equality Issue: An Dream Dearg Irish language march Belfast Original release: Doherty urges support for Irish language march (opens in a new tab)
-
‘DUP should end Executive boycott and work to fix health service’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says an Executive must be formed immediately to begin repairing the health service, and urges the DUP to lift its Executive boycott and invest an extra £1 billion in waiting lists, staffing and cancer and mental health services.
-
Middleton – “Divisive Border Poll Still SF’s No.1 Priority”
DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton says Sinn Fein is showing its true colours by demanding more clarity on calling a border poll, claiming the party is focused on division rather than the NHS and childcare. He argues Northern Ireland is best placed within the UK.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Middleton – “Divisive Border Poll Still SF’s No.1 Priority” (opens in a new tab)
-
Post Office scandal victims ‘entitled to justice’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Designate, pledges full support to sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft and fraud in the Post Office scandal, and urges that they receive justice and compensation following the Belfast inquiry hearing.
Justice and policing Issue: Post Office scandal public inquiry hearing in Belfast Original release: Post Office scandal victims ‘entitled to justice’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
-
Wilson –“unionists will not sit in the corner and be quiet”
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says SDLP and Sinn Fein want unionists to stay quiet and accuses them of favouring majority rule over powersharing. He says unionists will make their voices heard against the Protocol and calls on SDLP MP Claire Hanna to apologise to Carla Lockhart.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Carla Lockhart Commons remarks on John Hume and powersharing exchange with Claire Hanna Original release: Wilson –“unionists will not sit in the corner and be quiet” (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP needs to get back into Executive and work with other parties to support people struggling with cost of living – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says inflation rising to 9%, a 40-year high, means the DUP must return to the Executive immediately to back people struggling with the cost of living. She calls for ministers to allocate £400 million of available funding and agree a health budget.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: UK inflation rise to 9% and cost of living crisis Original release: DUP needs to get back into Executive and work with other parties to support people struggling with cost of living – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV setting the agenda
TUV Lagan Valley spokesperson Lorna Smyth says TUV's long-standing position, that Unionists must force the Government to choose between Stormont and the Protocol, is now central to the debate and that the Government has promised action it must deliver. She says TUV will keep pressing to prevent…
Constitutional affairs Original release: TUV setting the agenda (opens in a new tab)