Latest releases
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11,692 releases
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de Faoite calls for action after spike in homophobic hate crime
SDLP Belfast councillor Séamas de Faoite calls for more action against crime targeting the LGBT+ community after PSNI figures showed homophobic hate crimes rose from 246 to 336 in 2021/22. He urges delivery of the sexual orientation strategy and a conversion therapy ban.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: PSNI homophobic and transphobic hate crime figures 2021-22 Original release: de Faoite calls for action after spike in homophobic hate crime (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Families on brink as inflation reaches 40-year high
SDLP South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole says families are on the brink as inflation climbs to 9%, a 40‑year high, and blames the DUP’s refusal to re‑join the Executive for Stormont’s inability to act. He urges a £200 household payment and emergency legislation to tackle the cost crisis.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: UK inflation rise to 9% and cost of living crisis Original release: O’Toole: Families on brink as inflation reaches 40-year high (opens in a new tab)
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British government legacy proposals ‘cruel blow’ to victims and families – Kelly
Sinn Féin Policing & Justice spokesperson Gerry Kelly says the British government’s legacy proposals deal a harsh blow to victims and their families, amounting to an amnesty for state forces and seeking to bar court access for inquests and judicial reviews.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British Government legacy legislation abandoning Stormont House Agreement Original release: British government legacy proposals ‘cruel blow’ to victims and families – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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Bill will further corrupt justice if access to justice is undermined
DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson warns that the proposed Troubles legacy bill would deepen injustice if it weakens victims' access to justice. He says terrorist killings must not go unpunished and that victims must remain central to any new legacy structures.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill Second Reading Original release: Bill will further corrupt justice if access to justice is undermined (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey: "A good start, but actions speak louder than words"
The DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP welcomes the Foreign Secretary's Commons statement on plans to legislate on the NI Protocol but says actions must follow words. He calls for the Irish Sea border to be removed and says legislation is needed within days and weeks, not months or years.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss statement on the NI Protocol Original release: Sir Jeffrey: "A good start, but actions speak louder than words" (opens in a new tab)
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‘Tories plan to break law while backing DUP block on Executive’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane accuses the Tory government of planning to break international law over the Protocol while giving cover to the DUP's block on forming a Northern Ireland Executive. He calls for an Executive to be formed now and for the British government to work constructively with the EU.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK Government legislation to set aside aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: ‘Tories plan to break law while backing DUP block on Executive’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists must stand firm in face of lack of substance from HMG
TUV leader Jim Allister says a UK Government announcement on the Northern Ireland Protocol offers only a promise to act, with no substance, and calls on unionists not to return to Stormont or nominate an Assembly Speaker on such assurances. He rejects 'green lanes' and 'red lanes' proposals as…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK Government announcement on Northern Ireland Protocol green and red lanes Original release: Unionists must stand firm in face of lack of substance from HMG (opens in a new tab)
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Prime Minister’s weak message on the Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister, in a News Letter article reproduced by the party, says the Prime Minister's response to the Protocol in the Belfast Telegraph was weak and inadequate. He calls on unionism to force a choice, argues Stormont should not return until the Protocol is removed, and rejects any…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Belfast Telegraph response on the Protocol Original release: Prime Minister’s weak message on the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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UUP Leader Doug Beattie responds to statement from the Foreign Secretary on the NI Protocol
UUP Leader Doug Beattie welcomes Foreign Secretary Liz Truss's statement on the NI Protocol as a step towards a pragmatic fix, and calls for an end to the delay, urging the EU to change its mandate so there are no checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that stay there.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss statement on the NI Protocol Original release: UUP Leader Doug Beattie responds to statement from the Foreign Secretary on the NI Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Legacy legislation must be both victim and justice focused – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says he raised serious concerns with the NIO over the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, calling for legacy legislation to balance victims' needs with pursuit of justice. He wants a mechanism to pursue those who directed terror without pulling…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill briefing from NIO Original release: Legacy legislation must be both victim and justice focused – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Moves by UK Government on Protocol will make it harder to address issues, says Farry
Alliance MP Stephen Farry says UK Government moves to change the Northern Ireland Protocol, including legislation to set aside aspects of it, will make existing implementation problems harder to address. He calls the action unwanted, unwarranted and counterproductive, and urges a mutual UK-EU…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK Government legislation to set aside aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Moves by UK Government on Protocol will make it harder to address issues, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Johnson should stop standing in the way of Executive being formed – McDonald
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald tells Boris Johnson to stop obstructing the formation of a Northern Ireland Executive, arguing that DUP blocking is delaying health funding and cost-of-living support after the election.
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Féin leadership meeting with Boris Johnson on Executive formation Original release: Johnson should stop standing in the way of Executive being formed – McDonald (opens in a new tab)
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John Brady TD to raise Irish Protocol with U.S. Administration
Sinn Féin's John Brady TD says he is travelling to the US with a Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence delegation to brief officials and Republican lawmakers on British government moves over the Irish Protocol, and to raise undocumented Irish emigrants.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: John Brady TD to raise Irish Protocol with U.S. Administration (opens in a new tab)
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Jim Allister’s reply to the NIO following a refusal of a meeting with the Prime Minister
TUV leader Jim Allister rejects a Northern Ireland Office offer of a meeting with a junior minister instead of the Prime Minister, saying it slights the 65,000 people who voted TUV ten days earlier.
Other Issue: NIO refusal of Allister meeting with Prime Minister Original release: Jim Allister’s reply to the NIO following a refusal of a meeting with the Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey – “the Government knows what is needed”
The DUP, led by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP, says the Government knows what is needed on the Protocol after a meeting with the Prime Minister at Hillsborough Castle. It calls for action on promises made in New Decade, New Approach and says the Protocol makes powersharing impossible.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Hillsborough Castle meeting with DUP delegation on the Protocol Original release: Sir Jeffrey – “the Government knows what is needed” (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to extend free school meal payments- Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the DUP boycott is blocking an extension of free school meal payments into school holidays for three years, and calls on the DUP to end its boycott and help form an Executive immediately.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Summer school meal payments delayed by Stormont impasse Original release: Executive needed to extend free school meal payments- Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew: Bank closures will be a hammer blow to rural communities
Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Colm Gildernew says he is disappointed by Danske Bank's plan to shut branches in Fivemiletown, Lurgan, Cookstown and Kilkeel. He urges the bank to listen to customers, pause closures and proposes a future banking forum on digital-age services.
Economy and employment Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Danske Bank branch closures in Fivemiletown, Lurgan, Cookstown and Kilkeel Original release: Gildernew: Bank closures will be a hammer blow to rural communities (opens in a new tab)
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Bus lanes should be suspended during industrial action to ease congestion and help environment, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for bus lanes to be opened to motorists during the week-long Translink drivers' strike starting Tuesday, arguing it would ease expected congestion and reduce idling traffic. She has asked Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to suspend bus lane enforcement.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Translink bus drivers' strike bus lane suspension request Original release: Bus lanes should be suspended during industrial action to ease congestion and help environment, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Only way to avoid constant cycle of collapse and crisis is reform of institutions, Alliance tells Prime Minister
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA says the only way to avoid repeated collapse and crisis in Northern Ireland's institutions is reform, after meeting the Prime Minister during his visit to speak with local parties on restoring devolution. She also calls for trust and pragmatic changes to the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Prime Minister's visit to Northern Ireland on restoring devolution Original release: Only way to avoid constant cycle of collapse and crisis is reform of institutions, Alliance tells Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Children cannot become collateral damage of DUP strategy
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan accuses the DUP of putting children at risk of hunger by collapsing Stormont, after the Department of Education confirmed funding for the free school meal payment scheme over summer is not yet allocated. He urges parents to contact DUP MLAs.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Summer school meal payments delayed by Stormont impasse Original release: McCrossan: Children cannot become collateral damage of DUP strategy (opens in a new tab)