Latest releases
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3,622 releases
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Cost of Irish Sea Border checks and infrastructure close to £1 billion
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says recent parliamentary replies show the Irish Sea border has cost £650M to administer, with almost £200M being spent on border posts, bringing total costs close to £1 billion. He accuses the DUP of wrongly claiming the border was gone and says TUV will keep opposing it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Parliamentary replies on Irish Sea border costs Original release: Cost of Irish Sea Border checks and infrastructure close to £1 billion (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance firmly committed to LGBTQIA+ equality, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson reaffirms his party's commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights after Belfast Pride chose to bar Executive parties from taking part this year.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Belfast Pride exclusion of Executive parties from 2025 parade Original release: Alliance firmly committed to LGBTQIA+ equality, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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TUV meet Lord Murphy to discuss Protocol review
TUV leader Jim Allister, with MLA Timothy Gaston and Dan Boucher, says the party told Lord Murphy, who is reviewing the Protocol, it has little confidence in his review because its terms only allow recommendations with cross-community support. Allister calls for mutual enforcement between Northern…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lord Murphy's review of the Windsor Framework Protocol Original release: TUV meet Lord Murphy to discuss Protocol review (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin MEPs to host Irish Unity conference in European Parliament
Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion announce a April 8 conference in the European Parliament on Irish unity and the island's place in the EU, with speakers from academia, trade unions and politics. Funchion says planning for unity is essential and urges the Irish government to prepare.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin MEPs to host Irish Unity conference in European Parliament (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on parcels but more to do
DUP MLA David Brooks says the Government's announcement removing customs checks on consumer parcels is progress, though late, and that the system will go live on 1 May. He calls for further action to remove EU law and the Irish Sea border.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government announcement removing customs checks on consumer parcels Original release: Progress on parcels but more to do (opens in a new tab)
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Statement by Jim Allister KC MP in Response to the Third Parcels Border Implementation Date
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP criticises the third postponement of the Irish Sea parcels border, now set for 1 May 2025, and argues it undermines the UK single market for goods. He calls for the Windsor Framework to be replaced with Mutual Enforcement.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government announcement removing customs checks on consumer parcels Original release: Statement by Jim Allister KC MP in Response to the Third Parcels Border Implementation Date (opens in a new tab)
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Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP challenges the Government's proposed Personal Independence Payment changes, saying they will cause anxiety, fail to account for fluctuating mental health needs, and calls on the Government to rethink them and give assurances to those affected.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood says Labour Government must stop balancing the books on backs of vulnerable people
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood accuses the UK Government of cutting welfare to balance the books, opposing proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility and support for those unable to work. She says the measures would push disabled people into hardship and add pressure on health and…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Eastwood says Labour Government must stop balancing the books on backs of vulnerable people (opens in a new tab)
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Devlin: Endometriosis Awareness Month should break taboos around women's health
SDLP Mournes councillor Laura Devlin calls for a funded Women’s Health Strategy, saying March’s Endometriosis Awareness Month should be used to break taboos around menstrual health and press the Health Minister to prioritise and fund the strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Endometriosis Awareness Month women’s health strategy call Original release: Devlin: Endometriosis Awareness Month should break taboos around women's health (opens in a new tab)
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President Trump calling time on Irish Republic underscores the urgent need for the UK to stand up for NI and reject the Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, argues that Donald Trump's move against Irish Republic tax arrangements shows the UK must challenge the Republic's special status, and calls on the UK Government to press Dublin to back an end to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Trump action on Republic of Ireland corporate tax dispensation Original release: President Trump calling time on Irish Republic underscores the urgent need for the UK to stand up for NI and reject the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Respite provision failing families in need – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says health trusts across Northern Ireland lack a clear pathway for respite care, with over 800 unallocated cases and 500 in the South Eastern Trust. She calls for urgent action to cut waiting lists and deliver the respite beds promised by the £13 million investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight ‘I am not OK’ documentary on respite care Original release: Respite provision failing families in need – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Don’t Let the Government Pull the Wool over your Eyes with talk of the ‘UK Internal Market System’ – It is really ‘the Windsor Framework GB – EU/NI International Trade Border System.’
TUV's Dan Boucher says the term 'UK Internal Market System' misrepresents the Windsor Framework, arguing the Green Lane still involves customs and SPS border checks. His party's written evidence to a Westminster committee inquiry on the framework says the label is misleading and calls for honesty…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework inquiry evidence on UK Internal Market System terminology Original release: Don’t Let the Government Pull the Wool over your Eyes with talk of the ‘UK Internal Market System’ – It is really ‘the Windsor Framework GB – EU/NI International Trade Border System.’ (opens in a new tab)
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EU retaliation to tariffs drives home how Northern Ireland has been cut off from the rest of our own country
North Antrim TUV MP Jim Allister says EU retaliatory tariffs against US steel and aluminium duties would leave Northern Ireland businesses on EU tariff rules, adding inflation pressure. He calls on the UK Government to scrap the Irish Sea border and seek a US trade deal.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU retaliatory tariffs response to US steel and aluminium tariffs Original release: EU retaliation to tariffs drives home how Northern Ireland has been cut off from the rest of our own country (opens in a new tab)
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Panel for Bhaile Ghib People’s Assembly announced – Darren O’Rourke TD
Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke announced the independent chairperson and panel for the People’s Assembly at Halla Bhaile Ghib on 14 March, urging the public to attend and discuss future constitutional arrangements, language rights and an all‑island economy.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Bhaile Ghib People’s Assembly panel announcement Original release: Panel for Bhaile Ghib People’s Assembly announced – Darren O’Rourke TD (opens in a new tab)
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Pan-UK approach to tackle drugs needed : Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell urges the UK Government to work with devolved administrations on a joined-up, pan-UK drugs strategy, prioritising prevention and reviewing enforcement, after raising the issue at Justice Questions in the Commons.
Justice and policing Health Original release: Pan-UK approach to tackle drugs needed : Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan concerned by Ambulance Handover waiting times
Sinn Féin Health Committee Chair Phillip McGuigan, North Antrim MLA, expresses concern at an Audit Office report on ambulance handovers, calling on the Health Department to act on its recommendations and review ambulance workforce and hospital and social care capacity.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: McGuigan concerned by Ambulance Handover waiting times (opens in a new tab)
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End the self-sabotage of our Health Service: Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds, MLA for Upper Bann, calls the Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays devastating and urges an end to what she calls self-sabotage in the health system. She says she has pressed the Health Minister for months to name a senior lead with a dedicated team…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: End the self-sabotage of our Health Service: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Patients will continue to suffer without action to fix crisis in ambulance service, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Department of Health must take definitive action on the ambulance service crisis, citing an NIAO review that found handover delays cost NIAS £50 million and could have harmed over 3,800 patients. He criticises repeated DoH strategies that…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: Patients will continue to suffer without action to fix crisis in ambulance service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Audit Office report underlines ambulances crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says an Audit Office report showing a dramatic rise in ambulance handover times – over 11,000 took more than three hours in 2023/24 – highlights a crisis and calls for fundamental change, welcoming the Health Minister’s willingness to discuss the
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: McGrath: Audit Office report underlines ambulances crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Overdue Public Appointments Commissioner must see all public appointments properly regulated, says Alliance representatives
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA and Stewart Dickson MLA welcome the advert for a Public Appointments Commissioner but say it is long overdue. They warn that other public appointments the Department plans to make will proceed without regulation.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Public Appointments Commissioner recruitment advertisement Original release: Overdue Public Appointments Commissioner must see all public appointments properly regulated, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)