Latest releases
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3,068 releases
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NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE LEADER OF THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
UUP leader Doug Beattie offers a New Year message urging the DUP to decide yes or no on the UK Government's final offer to restore devolved government, arguing a yes would release £3.3 billion for public services. He warns a no would deepen the Stormont boycott's impact.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE LEADER OF THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY (opens in a new tab)
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Christmas Message from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson issues a Christmas message thanking those working over the holiday, reflecting on loneliness and loss, and saying the party continues negotiating with the Government to secure new arrangements on the Protocol and restore the Assembly and Executive.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Christmas Message from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (opens in a new tab)
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The imperative of standing firm
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol remains damaging to the Union and urges unionists to keep opposing it in 2024. He rejects Stormont implementation and calls for full restoration of the Union with no Irish Sea border or foreign law.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: The imperative of standing firm (opens in a new tab)
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Increasing ‘safe access zones’ boundaries will serve little purpose – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says expanding the safe access zone around Causeway Hospital by 250 metres, which the Northern Trust is considering, will have no effect and further erodes the right to protest. She also criticises abortion providers promoting their work on social media.
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Trust considering extending Causeway Hospital safe access zone by 250 metres Original release: Increasing ‘safe access zones’ boundaries will serve little purpose – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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DUP reverse power-trip costing lives and needs to end – Tóibín
Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín accuses the DUP of blocking the restoration of Stormont powersharing, claiming its refusal to re-engage is costing lives and livelihoods, and calls for measures so no single party can collapse the Executive.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP refusal to re-engage with Stormont powersharing December 2023 Original release: DUP reverse power-trip costing lives and needs to end – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Time to face up to reality that Stormont has no future under the Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on the DUP and the UK Government to publish the proposed Protocol deal so it can be judged, arguing Stormont has no future if it requires implementing the Protocol and condemning a financial package tied to that.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government and DUP Protocol negotiations conclusion announcement Original release: Time to face up to reality that Stormont has no future under the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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Kyle welcomes timely Grand Lodge intervention
Traditional Unionist Voice vice‑chairman and Causeway councillor Allister Kyle welcomes the Grand Lodge’s December meeting summary, saying it reminds Unionist politicians to keep their pledges and to oppose a return to Stormont until the NI Protocol/Windsor Framework is fully reformed on trade andEU
Constitutional affairs Issue: Grand Lodge December meeting opposition to Stormont return Original release: Kyle welcomes timely Grand Lodge intervention (opens in a new tab)
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Close the deal, restore devolution urges SDLP
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP urges Northern Ireland's parties to finish a deal forming a power-sharing Executive before Christmas, after the Secretary of State announced the Hillsborough talks had effectively concluded. He ties this to wages, hospital waiting lists and public services.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Hillsborough talks conclusion announced by Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris Original release: Close the deal, restore devolution urges SDLP (opens in a new tab)
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TUV focus on undermining unionist negotiating team rather than…
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP accuses the TUV of undermining the unionist negotiating team with anonymous posters attacking the DUP over an unreached agreement. He asks Jim Allister whether the posters were party-directed and says ongoing talks with the UK Government continue.
Constitutional affairs Issue: TUV posters attacking DUP over Stormont negotiations Original release: TUV focus on undermining unionist negotiating team rather than… (opens in a new tab)
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The folly of being bought or persuaded to do the Protocol’s work
TUV leader Jim Allister launches a short video on the Protocol, arguing it sets up economic fusion with the Republic and a step-by-step transition out of the UK. He says restoring Stormont would have unionists implementing that process.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: TUV video on the Protocol and economic fusion with the Republic Original release: The folly of being bought or persuaded to do the Protocol’s work (opens in a new tab)
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Irish government must take interstate case against shameful Legacy Act – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges the Taoiseach to pursue an interstate case against the British government over the Legacy Act, which he says denies human rights and breaches international law. He notes an Oireachtas committee's unanimous call for action and says families were forced into…
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Taoiseach's decision on interstate case against Legacy Act Original release: Irish government must take interstate case against shameful Legacy Act – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Tweaking Internal Market Act won’t impact Sea Border
TUV leader Jim Allister says Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's suggestion that Internal Market Act changes could address Sea Border problems is wrong, arguing tweaks would be a fig leaf that leaves the Protocol and Sea Border intact. He says only removing Section 7A of the EU Withdrawal Act 2018 would do…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson's Internal Market Act comments at Prime Minister's Questions on Sea Border Original release: Tweaking Internal Market Act won’t impact Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Allen Congratulates Wheelchair Users on Awards
UUP Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA, a wheelchair user, congratulates this year's recipients of the fifth annual Jackie Magee memorial awards in Belfast. He praises the Northern Ireland Regional Wheelchair Service and says peer support and co-design are vital for inclusive services.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Jacqueline Magee Memorial Awards 2023 for wheelchair service recipients Original release: Allen Congratulates Wheelchair Users on Awards (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes education report but says change only possible if Minister in post
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the independent review of education and its emphasis on investment, integrated schooling, SEN support and transfer reform, but says change needs an Education Minister in post and blames the DUP for the delay.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education report launch Original release: Mathison welcomes education report but says change only possible if Minister in post (opens in a new tab)
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Bribe or blackmail, a price cannot be put on the Union
TUV chairman Keith Radcliffe, a Cusher councillor, urges Unionists to reject a Westminster offer, whether described as a bribe or blackmail, as the price for the Union. He warns against Unionist ministers returning to a Protocol-implementing Executive and opposes Michelle O'Neill as First Minister.
Constitutional affairs Issue: UK government £3 billion financial offer conditional on DUP Stormont return Original release: Bribe or blackmail, a price cannot be put on the Union (opens in a new tab)
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Government offer will not impact Unionism rooted in principle, not pounds
TUV leader Jim Allister says a UK government financial offer to Northern Ireland, conditional on the DUP acting as it wants, amounts to a bribe and that HMG should govern rather than play politics with need. He says money, including a £3 billion package, will not sway those whose unionism is based…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: UK government £3 billion financial offer conditional on DUP Stormont return Original release: Government offer will not impact Unionism rooted in principle, not pounds (opens in a new tab)
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DUP characterisation of talks concerning
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises the DUP's description, relayed through Gavin Robinson, of Monday's talks and separate Protocol talks with the UK government as a 'parallel process', warning it risks trading away constitutional issues for money. He says restoring UK sovereignty and ending the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DUP characterisation of Monday's talks as a parallel process Original release: DUP characterisation of talks concerning (opens in a new tab)
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Political stability just as important as financial stability, says Long
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA says the UK Government's financial package for the return of an Executive will not create financial sustainability in its current form. She calls for the amounts allocated to each element and their funding sources to be reviewed, and for institutional reform so no…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: UK government £3 billion financial offer conditional on DUP Stormont return Original release: Political stability just as important as financial stability, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader’s statement ahead of roundtable talks
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP calls for substantive dialogue at Monday's Hillsborough talks with the British Government, setting three priorities: restoring the Executive, a plan to rescue public services, and funding for public sector pay settlements.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Political roundtable meeting on restoring the Executive Original release: SDLP Leader’s statement ahead of roundtable talks (opens in a new tab)
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Dialogue must be concluded within days and Executive immediately restored – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the party will attend Monday's political roundtable but wants dialogue concluded within days and the Executive and Assembly immediately restored. She calls on Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to end prolonged talks with the DUP and…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Political roundtable meeting on restoring the Executive Original release: Dialogue must be concluded within days and Executive immediately restored – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)