Latest releases
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4,427 releases
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Taoiseach must now match words with action on Irish unity – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD welcomes Taoiseach Micheál Martin's acknowledgement that the triggering of an Irish unity referendum needs greater clarity, and calls on the Irish Government to press London for structured talks on the criteria and process. She also urges it to establish a…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's comments on criteria for triggering an Irish unity referendum Original release: Taoiseach must now match words with action on Irish unity – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Taoiseach’s border poll comments underline need for New Ireland planning
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Taoiseach Micheál Martin's remarks seeking more clarity on what would trigger a Irish unity referendum, and urges both governments to intensify constitutional preparation. She says institutional reform in the North is an immediate test for the Taoiseach.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's comments on criteria for triggering an Irish unity referendum Original release: Hanna: Taoiseach’s border poll comments underline need for New Ireland planning (opens in a new tab)
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Consent is not the Irish Government's to rewrite
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says the Irish Government accepted the consent principle in the Belfast Agreement and that only the UK Secretary of State can set the border‑poll threshold, urging the Taoiseach to focus on practical cooperation and domestic services.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach's comments on criteria for triggering an Irish unity referendum Original release: Consent is not the Irish Government's to rewrite (opens in a new tab)
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Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says Budget 2027 must put workers and families first, setting out proposals to abolish USC on the first €40,000 and provide a €400 energy credit. She also calls on the Irish government to prepare for Irish unity and to put the Triple Lock dismantling plan to a…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Original release: Budget must put workers and families first – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Yet another Creswell victim let down by incompetence in investigation, says McAllister
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes a Police Ombudsman report finding the PSNI failed a 2016 complainant over an indecent exposure allegation against Jonathan Creswell. She calls for full transparency, an explanation of why misconduct recommendations are not being followed, and a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman findings on PSNI handling of 2016 Creswell complaint Original release: Yet another Creswell victim let down by incompetence in investigation, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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GAA lack of commitment to equality to blame for McAleese departure – Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Joanna Byrne TD blames the GAA for Dr Mary McAleese's resignation as chair of the Integration Committee, claiming the association has backed away from a workable deadline and from equality. She calls for the GAA to appear before the committee and urges it to restore the…
Disability and equality Issue: Mary McAleese resignation as Integration Committee chair Original release: GAA lack of commitment to equality to blame for McAleese departure – Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Dying days of Stormont unless it is reformed
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP warns that Stormont's institutions need reform now, telling a Assembly committee that targeted changes could stabilise government and prevent another collapse, and says the SDLP will engage with the Secretary of State's proposals.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State proposals for targeted Stormont institutional reform Original release: Hanna: Dying days of Stormont unless it is reformed (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence
UUP Agriculture and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA, during Rural Crime Week, highlights barriers facing rural domestic abuse victims, including distance from refuges and farm ownership issues, and asks the Justice Minister to check whether rural victims get equal refuge and…
Justice and policing Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood welcomes trust purchase of St Columb’s Hall
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood welcomes National Lottery funding that will bring St Columb's Hall in Derry into the ownership of the St Columb's Hall Trust, allowing a substantial redevelopment to begin. He says the restored venue will return the whole building to public use.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: National Lottery funding for St Columb's Hall trust ownership Original release: Eastwood welcomes trust purchase of St Columb’s Hall (opens in a new tab)
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Stewart: It's not the flag on the lamppost, it's whether the lamppost works
UUP Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA says the party will vote against the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill at Second Stage, arguing it forces the Department for Infrastructure to judge cultural symbols instead of fixing roads, street lighting and drainage.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Issue: Display of Flags and Emblems Bill Second Stage Original release: Stewart: It's not the flag on the lamppost, it's whether the lamppost works (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to discuss Stormont reform with British Secretary of State
Sinn Féin Chief Whip Sineád Ennis, South Down MLA, says no party should be able to block Executive formation, ahead of talks with Secretary of State Chris Bryant on Stormont reform when the Assembly returns from recess.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin and Secretary of State Chris Bryant talks on Stormont reform Original release: Sinn Féin to discuss Stormont reform with British Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows: More money must come with greater responsibility
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Assembly's final session of this mandate to focus on quality over volume, passing fewer, better Bills with proper committee scrutiny, and calls for any extra budget funding to come with wiser spending and waste reduction.
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Original release: Burrows: More money must come with greater responsibility (opens in a new tab)
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Richmond should end his reckless agitation – Robinson
DUP Leader Rt Hon. Gavin Robinson MP condemns Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond’s demand to publish border‑poll criteria, saying Richmond should focus on Irish Government duties and that any poll decision rests with the UK Secretary of State.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Neale Richmond calls for border poll criteria publication Original release: Richmond should end his reckless agitation – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Long-overdue NI Water audit must deliver answers and accountability
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone welcomes the long-overdue audit of NI Water governance but says its terms of reference must establish accountability over public money and the handling of whistleblower concerns. He warns against a toothless investigation and says the Executive cannot shift blame…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins forensic governance audit of NI Water Original release: McGlone: Long-overdue NI Water audit must deliver answers and accountability (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP challenges Tánaiste to set out plans to advance Irish unity
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the party met Tánaiste Simon Harris before Fine Gael's Irish unity blueprint is published, urging a shift from aspiration to concrete preparation for constitutional change and calling for an inclusive, all-island process.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Fine Gael Irish unity blueprint publication Original release: SDLP challenges Tánaiste to set out plans to advance Irish unity (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott: Windsor Framework Now Forcing Great Britain to Accept EU Rules Too
UUP peer Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard says the Windsor Framework now appears to require Great Britain to accept some EU regulations, not only Northern Ireland, during Lords debate on plant health retail movement rules. He cites a growing list of EU regulations and says businesses and the public…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework Retail Movement Scheme plant health amendment regulations Original release: Elliott: Windsor Framework Now Forcing Great Britain to Accept EU Rules Too (opens in a new tab)
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NI Water's infrastructure is at capacity and holding Northern Ireland back
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA says NI Water's real crisis is wastewater capacity, not governance, blocking housing developments. He urges DfI to bring forward a funding plan now, alongside Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's forensic governance audit rather than after it.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins forensic governance audit of NI Water Original release: NI Water's infrastructure is at capacity and holding Northern Ireland back (opens in a new tab)
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Border poll harassment of the Secretary of State has to stop
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA defends the Good Friday Agreement's legal test for calling a border poll after the Prime Minister said a referendum is "not on the table". He says the test is clear, calls Sinn Féin's border poll focus a distraction from its record in government, and criticises media…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's statement that a border poll is not on the table Original release: Border poll harassment of the Secretary of State has to stop (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA responds to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Croke Park climate speech, calling for Northern Ireland's climate targets to be reviewed and revised, citing Climate Change Committee advice on an 82% reduction and Scotland's move to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir Environment Ireland Conference climate action speech Original release: Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets (opens in a new tab)
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Geo-blocking of Katie Taylor fight by RTÉ unacceptable – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy says it is unacceptable that RTÉ is geo-blocking Katie Taylor's fight, locking out viewers in the North. She calls on RTÉ to immediately reverse the decision.
Disability and equality Issue: RTÉ geo-blocking of Katie Taylor fight in Northern Ireland Original release: Geo-blocking of Katie Taylor fight by RTÉ unacceptable – Murphy (opens in a new tab)