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7,116 releases
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de Faoite: Councils can’t be held to ransom
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite says councils cannot be held to ransom after unionist and other parties blocked a council-backed flag-raising for Gaza solidarity at City Hall, calling it a culture war tactic and urging councillors to refocus on local issues.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: de Faoite: Councils can’t be held to ransom (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates
SDLP MLA O'Toole welcomes the introduction of baby loss certificates, which he says will give families recognition of pregnancy and baby loss. The release is brief and gives no further detail on the scheme's scope or timing.
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: O’Toole welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast City Council should focus on core responsibilities and service delivery, not divisive symbolism
UUP MLA Andy Allen criticises Belfast City Council's vote to raise the Palestinian flag over City Hall, arguing councillors should prioritise council services and that the move is political theatre that deepens local division.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Belfast City Council should focus on core responsibilities and service delivery, not divisive symbolism (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council
Alliance says a motion it brought forward, proposing that Belfast City Council explore nature-friendly burials, has passed the People and Communities committee. Cllr Hedley Abernethy says the motion would consider the feasibility of natural burials as an alternative to traditional burial and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council People and Communities committee passes nature-friendly burials motion Original release: Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificate Scheme marks a compassionate step forward, says Tennyson
Alliance Finance spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA says the new legislation creating a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme is a compassionate advance, and urges the Department of Finance to swiftly issue regulations while pressing the Health Minister to launch a comprehensive Women’s Health Strategy and to 지원
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme marks a compassionate step forward, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Unionists to take Belfast City Council to High Court over Palestinian flag
TUV Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council has disregarded due process by voting to raise a Palestinian flag over City Hall from midnight, and that emergency High Court proceedings will be lodged to halt it. He also argues the council blocked lighting City Hall in Israeli colours after…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Unionists to take Belfast City Council to High Court over Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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We must do all we can to protect and grow our ‘world-class’ agri-food industry – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer urges continued support for Northern Ireland's agri-food sector, opposing cattle culls and warning that cutting local production could raise emissions through imports, ahead of an Assembly food security debate.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on food security Original release: We must do all we can to protect and grow our ‘world-class’ agri-food industry – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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Herzog Park controversy an insight into the Irish Republic
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes Dublin City Council's reversal of its plan to rename Herzog Park, but says the proposal's existence reveals growing anti-Israel attitudes in the Irish Republic. He cites a Holocaust memorial walkout, a Dublin statue to a Nazi collaborator, and a statue to IRA…
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Dublin City Council reverses plan to rename Herzog Park Original release: Herzog Park controversy an insight into the Irish Republic (opens in a new tab)
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Police shouldn’t be expected to pick up pieces of broken health system, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says police are being left to handle mental health crisis calls that belong in the health system, citing 39,000 yearly safety calls and urging the Health Minister to deliver the Mental Health Strategy and Right Care, Right Person model ahead of an…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Assembly motion on police time spent on mental health calls Original release: Police shouldn’t be expected to pick up pieces of broken health system, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan expresses shock and sadness at Fermanagh road traffic deaths
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says she is shocked and saddened by reports that two men died in a road collision in Fermanagh, offering condolences to the families and urging anyone with information to contact police.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fermanagh fatal two-vehicle collision deaths of two men Original release: Dolan expresses shock and sadness at Fermanagh road traffic deaths (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney appeals for extra care in the run up to Christmas
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, welcomes the PSNI's 'Operation Season's Greetings' festive safety campaign and its Project Vigilant nightlife operation, and appeals for extra caution on roads, citing 47 road deaths in the north this year.
Justice and policing Infrastructure and transport Issue: PSNI Operation Season's Greetings Christmas safety campaign launch Original release: Kearney appeals for extra care in the run up to Christmas (opens in a new tab)
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There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell welcomes the decision not to fly the Palestinian flag over Belfast City Hall, crediting the call-in mechanism with averting community tension. He accuses the motion's Nationalist and Alliance backers of attacking Israel rather than showing sympathy, and insists only…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall accuses the Economy Minister and the Executive of stalling Safe Leave, which would give paid leave to domestic abuse victims, and says the delay is letting victims down. She links the criticism to new Women's Aid figures on refuge use and referrals in 2024/25.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Safe Leave legislation delay and inaction Original release: Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 29 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein hypocrisy highlighted following Enniskillen Hotel event
TUV spokesperson Alex Elliott accuses Sinn Fein of hypocrisy over an Enniskillen Hotel event on an all-Ireland health service, linking the party to a republican terror campaign that he says drained health resources. He also rejects a proposed €100 GP charge and calls the event an electioneering…
Health Community relations and legacy Issue: Sinn Fein Enniskillen Hotel all-Ireland health service event Original release: Sinn Fein hypocrisy highlighted following Enniskillen Hotel event (opens in a new tab)
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Dual Vehicle Approval System Is Damaging Northern Ireland’s Car Market
DUP peer Lord Dodds, speaking in the House of Lords, says the dual vehicle type approval regulations breach Section 46 of the UK Internal Market Act and are damaging Northern Ireland's car market, citing a 6% sales fall and about 17,600 jobs. He calls for an extension of the transition period and…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Dual vehicle type approval regulations affecting Northern Ireland car market Original release: Dual Vehicle Approval System Is Damaging Northern Ireland’s Car Market (opens in a new tab)
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Allister tables far-reaching amendments to Legacy Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says he has tabled amendments to the Troubles (Legacy) Bill, including defining terrorism in Clause 2, barring anyone who has taken part in a terrorist act from the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group, and presuming a lack of criminal intent in assessing security force…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Troubles (Legacy) Bill amendments tabled by Jim Allister Original release: Allister tables far-reaching amendments to Legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Citizens’ Assembly on future of Ireland must have healthcare front and centre – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, speaking at a Commission on the Future of Ireland event in Enniskillen on rural health, urges Dublin to hold a citizens' forum on the island's future with health and social care central, and urges deeper cross-border health planning and an all-island public…
Health Constitutional affairs Original release: Citizens’ Assembly on future of Ireland must have healthcare front and centre – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Brett – TEO Committee to Request City Hall Documents
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett welcomes the Executive Office Committee’s decision to adopt his motion to obtain all papers concerning the 19 October 2024 Belfast City Hall event that damaged a former DUP Lord Mayor’s portrait, and says Sinn Féin’s lack of cooperation must end.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Belfast City Hall portrait damage document request Original release: Brett – TEO Committee to Request City Hall Documents (opens in a new tab)
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Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes cross-party support on the Education Committee for a proposal giving girls a clear right to wear trousers in school. She says the DUP Education Minister missed a chance to modernise school uniform policy and pledges to work with others to deliver it.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee proposal on girls' right to wear trousers in school Original release: Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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TUV responds to Budget
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Budget does little for Northern Ireland, criticising the continued farm death tax, lack of funding for PSNI data breach costs and officer shortages, and a £16m Irish Sea border payment he says amounts to under £5m a year over three years.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: November 2025 Budget income tax threshold freeze Original release: TUV responds to Budget (opens in a new tab)