Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
3,576 releases
-
EU deal still leaves Irish Sea border in place and NI captured by EU
TUV leader Jim Allister says the UK-EU deal leaves the Irish Sea border in place and keeps Northern Ireland under EU customs rules. He cites unchanged EU regulations, ongoing border post spending and the parcel border, and accuses the government of handing control back to Brussels.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU agreement on SPS trade and Windsor Framework Original release: EU deal still leaves Irish Sea border in place and NI captured by EU (opens in a new tab)
-
UK-EU deal a first, positive step towards closer, better relationship, says Long
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA says the new UK-EU deal, which removes some checks on animal and plant products and includes security measures, is a first, positive step towards a closer relationship. She says further work is needed on customs and veterinary medicines and calls for the package to…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU trade deal and Windsor Framework implications for Northern Ireland Original release: UK-EU deal a first, positive step towards closer, better relationship, says Long (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna: UK-EU Summit must bring ambition and agreement on way forward
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the forthcoming UK-EU Summit to produce concrete agreement on closer relations, saying welcome warmer tone must be matched with firm commitments. She points to freedom of movement for young people and ETA cross-border travel for tourists as outstanding issues.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Hanna: UK-EU Summit must bring ambition and agreement on way forward (opens in a new tab)
-
Hanna welcomes agreement on UK-EU deal
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the UK‑EU agreement reached on Monday, saying it includes initiatives that will help Northern Ireland businesses and travellers and advances the SDLP’s ‘Our European Future’ policy on SPS, environmental protection and youth opportunities.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Hanna welcomes agreement on UK-EU deal (opens in a new tab)
-
Whyte condemns racist graffiti
SDLP North Belfast councillor Carl Whyte condemns racist 'Muslims out' graffiti, featuring a firearm's cross hairs, in North Belfast, saying it has been removed after he reported it to the council and urging anyone with information to contact police.
Disability and equality Issue: North Belfast 'Muslims out' racist graffiti removal Original release: Whyte condemns racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
-
Prime Minister must pursue ambitious relationship with EU, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA urges the UK Government to use this week's EU summit to pursue closer alignment with the bloc, citing remaining Windsor Framework barriers and calling for talks on rejoining the single market and customs union.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU summit on 19 May 2025 Original release: Prime Minister must pursue ambitious relationship with EU, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV Chair Warns of Trans Lobby Influence in Local Government
TUV chairman Councillor Keith Ratcliffe says he has asked Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council to seek assurances on single-sex toilet use at the August Lurgan Pride event in Lurgan Park. He also calls for the council's staff guidance on transgender access to be brought into line with the…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Supreme Court ruling on legal definition of a woman council facilities Original release: TUV Chair Warns of Trans Lobby Influence in Local Government (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister: Assisted Dying Bill is a Dangerous Charter for Death
TUV leader Jim Allister MP criticises the Assisted Dying Bill as a danger to vulnerable people, arguing it lacks safeguards, including on mental capacity and minors, and urges MPs to reject it.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assisted Dying Bill Committee Stage amendments and vote Original release: Allister: Assisted Dying Bill is a Dangerous Charter for Death (opens in a new tab)
-
Hargey appeals for information following ‘despicable’ racist attack
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey describes a racially motivated assault on a man near the City Hospital in south Belfast, reportedly carried out by up to 15 teenagers who stole his bike. She appeals for anyone with information to contact the PSNI and says those involved must be brought to justice.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: South Belfast racially motivated assault near City Hospital bike theft Original release: Hargey appeals for information following ‘despicable’ racist attack (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler Welcomes NAP Extension But Real Change Demands Co-Design
UUP MLA Robbie Butler, agriculture, environment and rural affairs spokesperson, welcomes the Minister's extension of the Nitrates Action Programme consultation to 24 July 2025 but says it must include co-design with farmers, representative bodies and rural communities.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Nitrates Action Programme consultation extension to 24 July 2025 Original release: Butler Welcomes NAP Extension But Real Change Demands Co-Design (opens in a new tab)
-
Irish medium early years education must be supported – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the Department of Education must do more to enhance Irish medium early years education, calling for investment in facilities, training and retention of early years educators. Her remarks follow an Education Committee meeting.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Irish medium early years education must be supported – Mason (opens in a new tab)
-
McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA criticises the award of seven new mineral prospecting licences to four companies, saying it contradicts the Economy Minister's earlier support for a moratorium. She calls for the licences to be suspended until a departmental review of mineral…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme
DUP representatives, including Westminster spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP and Stormont agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen, reject DAERA's draft Nutrients Action Programme and call for publication of a full economic impact assessment and the data behind its modelling.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme (opens in a new tab)
-
Extending presidential voting rights was agreed in 2013 and now needs to be implemented – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calls on the Taoiseach to set a date for a referendum extending presidential voting to Irish citizens in the North, citing a 2013 Constitutional Convention agreement postponed in 2019. She urges action after the Assembly backed the measure, and says the coming…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont vote on presidential voting rights for Northern citizens Original release: Extending presidential voting rights was agreed in 2013 and now needs to be implemented – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is disappointed the Assembly rejected all of his amendments to the MLA pay Bill, including tying any rise to the return of powers ceded to Brussels under the Protocol and requiring public consultation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly second stage vote on MLA pay increase Bill Original release: Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward (opens in a new tab)
-
Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the parties behind Lough Neagh's decline of selling off public land for profit, citing seven new mineral licences granted in the West under a 1969 law despite over 2,000 objections. He also criticises Alliance and Environment Minister Andrew Muir for failing…
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit (opens in a new tab)
-
Rejection of balanced amendment undermines opportunity to protect rights – Beattie MC MLA
UUP MLA Doug Beattie criticises Alliance, Sinn Féin and the SDLP for voting down his party's amendment to an Assembly motion on discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community, which also sought to protect women's rights. He calls the rejection disappointing and says the amendment struck a fair…
Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion amendment on LGBTQI+ discrimination and women's rights rejected Original release: Rejection of balanced amendment undermines opportunity to protect rights – Beattie MC MLA (opens in a new tab)
-
Unique Chance to Make Northern Ireland Work – Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA says every major party now wants to make Northern Ireland work, citing a speech at St Mary's University College on a "Prosperity Agenda" and arguing that power-sharing is the only way forward.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Unique Chance to Make Northern Ireland Work – Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA (opens in a new tab)
-
Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA warns that proposed 2026–2029 Nutrients Action Programme changes must not strain farmers' livelihoods, calls for scrutiny of the consultation, and urges stakeholders to respond before the deadline.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation (opens in a new tab)
-
Every young person deserves same opportunity to thrive, says Donnelly, welcoming passing of Caleb's Causing motion
Alliance Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly welcomes the council's passing of her motion backing Caleb's Cause and Alma White, which calls for better post-19 SEN provision. It urges the Economy, Health and Education Ministers to consider legislation for post-19 Education Health and Care plans.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Larne Borough Council motion on post-19 SEN provision and Caleb's Cause Original release: Every young person deserves same opportunity to thrive, says Donnelly, welcoming passing of Caleb's Causing motion (opens in a new tab)