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4,985 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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Durkan: Developer contributions won’t solve wastewater crisis
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Original release: Durkan: Developer contributions won’t solve wastewater crisis (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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‘Every day of delay risks another sad and avoidable death on the A5’ – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley attended a demonstration outside Belfast's High Court urging construction of the A5 road, as a legal challenge to the scheme was lodged. She says every day of delay risks another avoidable death and that the new road would save lives, create jobs and cut journey times…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road legal challenge at Belfast High Court Original release: ‘Every day of delay risks another sad and avoidable death on the A5’ – Begley (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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Progress on bilingual Gaeltacht Quarter road signage welcome – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes progress on a pilot scheme for bilingual road signs in west Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter, after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said work is advancing. She also praises the minister's engagement with Conradh na Gaeilge on the signage.
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Gaeltacht Quarter bilingual road signage pilot scheme progress Original release: Progress on bilingual Gaeltacht Quarter road signage welcome – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes major investment for completion of Staffordstown Road resurfacing
Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney welcomes an additional £365,000 from the Infrastructure Minister to complete resurfacing of Staffordstown Road in Randalstown, work due to start on 17 March with road closures and diversions planned.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Staffordstown Road Randalstown resurfacing completion funding Original release: Kearney welcomes major investment for completion of Staffordstown Road resurfacing (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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Durkan questions Infrastructure Minister on all-island rail progress
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins gave little detail on all-island rail when updating the Assembly on a recent North South Ministerial Council transport meeting. He calls for her to work with Irish Government counterparts so rail…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister's update on North South Ministerial Council transport meeting Original release: Durkan questions Infrastructure Minister on all-island rail progress (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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Long welcomes planned delivery of green bus stop roofs scheme
Alliance Lisnasharragh Councillor Michael Long welcomes plans to fit green roofs on bus stop shelters in East Belfast, following installations on the Shankill Road, with further stops on the Castlereagh, Cregagh and Holywood roads due next year.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Translink green bus stop roofs scheme East Belfast Original release: Long welcomes planned delivery of green bus stop roofs scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Harvey welcomes Ballynahinch bypass progress
DUP Strangford MLA Harry Harvey welcomes DfI's approval for the Ballynahinch Bypass to move to finalising its business case and procurement, with procurement expected in about two years. He says the timetable must be maintained and that Ballynahinch cannot afford further delays.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ballynahinch Bypass business case and procurement approval by DfI Original release: Harvey welcomes Ballynahinch bypass progress (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)