Latest releases
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26 releases
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Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement but says it does not cover customs or tariffs. He criticises Whitehall's handling of the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and EU AI Act provisions in Northern Ireland, and calls for the Stormont Brake to be used.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland
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Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong calls for investment in rural fire services after farm fire costs rose 73% in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025 statistics release Original release: Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UKArchived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026
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Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken welcomes the draft UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement on food checks, but warns that Northern Ireland will stay split from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade divergence.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK food and plant products agreement Original release: Aiken: Food checks deal welcome, but Irish Sea border is far from gone
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Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
UUP statement reports Health Minister Robbie Butler announcing £1.95 million for endometriosis services, including £700,000 for the Belfast and Western Trusts' Regional Endometriosis Centres and £1.25 million across the five Trusts for a new regional pathway.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
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Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong criticises Labour's Family Farm Tax and red diesel changes. She says these policies are causing stress and financial difficulties for farmers.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Labour's Family Farm Tax implementation and red diesel duty changes Original release: Armstrong: Labour’s red hand strikes farmers again
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Swann responds to Budget
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes £7.5 million for cyber and AI research in Belfast and £1 million for a Northern Ireland Investment Summit, but says the Budget's £270 million Barnett consequentials are spread over four years and fall short. He calls for clarity on allocation this financial year and…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Budget announcement Original release: Swann responds to Budget
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Harkin: Stormont Failing Statutory Responsibility Of ‘Ensuring Availability Of Good Quality And Affordable Housing’
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Stormont is failing its statutory duty to ensure good quality, affordable housing, and urges a response to the Department for Communities consultation on the EQIA of its 2024/25 budget. He calls for a mass social and affordable housing build and an end…
Housing Public finance and taxation Original release: Harkin: Stormont Failing Statutory Responsibility Of ‘Ensuring Availability Of Good Quality And Affordable Housing’
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The French Left Beats Back The Far-Right!
People Before Profit says the French left’s win in the second round of the legislative election, where the Nouveau Front Populaire became the largest party and pushed Marine Le Pen’s far‑right into third, proves Irish parties must rule out any coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and follow its
Economy and employment International affairs Original release: The French Left Beats Back The Far-Right!
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No Congestion Charges – Free Public Transport
People Before Profit says congestion charges would create class barriers and urges the government to scrap the plan and introduce free, frequent public transport in city centres, estimating a €550 million‑€1 billion cost to fund the scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Original release: No Congestion Charges – Free Public Transport
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People Before Profit Support The Translink Strikers
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin backs Translink workers on strike and their escalated industrial action, criticising a 0 per cent pay offer and saying promises from the Secretary of State, the DUP and a restored Stormont Executive count for nothing.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: People Before Profit Support The Translink Strikers
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Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight
People Before Profit says the Thursday public‑sector strike was the biggest since 2015, congratulates unions and calls for longer, coordinated action, urging workers and communities to prepare for further strikes while demanding the DUP and the Secretary of State release funding and end austerity‑dr
Economy and employment Education Original release: Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight
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We Need An All-Ireland Push For Better Wages
People Before Profit calls for a coordinated public‑sector ballot for action in the Republic, urging a full‑scale wage fight after the upcoming January 18 strike in Northern Ireland and demanding a minimum 7.5% pay rise.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: We Need An All-Ireland Push For Better Wages
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Public Sector Strike 18 Jan 2024
People Before profit expresses solidarity with public sector workers striking on January 18, calling for coordinated action to achieve fair pay and conditions and urging Stormont to guarantee workers' demands in any deal.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: Public Sector Strike 18 Jan 2024
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Carroll: Take To The Streets To Oppose Tory Budget
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says communities must ready themselves to resist the £30bn public spending cuts and new taxes announced in the autumn budget, urging street protests and a richer‑pay‑their‑way approach to protect services.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Carroll: Take To The Streets To Oppose Tory Budget
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Housing Executive Surplus Can Fund Workers’ Pay Rise – Gerry Carroll MLA
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the Housing Executive’s £300 million surplus should be used to fund a proper pay rise for striking maintenance workers, urging urgent intervention and accountability for the unspent cash.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Housing Executive £300m surplus Original release: Housing Executive Surplus Can Fund Workers’ Pay Rise – Gerry Carroll MLA
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Council Hardship Fund A Response To Westminster & Stormont Criminal Negligence
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says he is frustrated by a further delay to the Council Emergency Hardship Fund in Derry, with officers re-inviting bids for a Fuel Payment Partner to run it. He blames Westminster and Stormont for failing to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Council Emergency Hardship Fund roll-out delay Original release: Council Hardship Fund A Response To Westminster & Stormont Criminal Negligence
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DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the DfC Minister to suspend punitive debt deductions from Universal Credit and other benefits, citing a unanimous Derry and Strabane District Council motion and DfC correspondence showing no plans to act.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Derry and Strabane Council motion on suspending benefit debt deductions Original release: DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions
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Kwarteng Gone, Truss Should Be Next!
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll calls for the Tory mini budget to be scrapped after Chancellor Kwarteng's resignation, and says Prime Minister Truss should resign and take her tax proposals with her.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Kwarteng resignation and Tory mini budget Original release: Kwarteng Gone, Truss Should Be Next!
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Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Council Hardship Fund is a drop in the ocean and condemns the SDLP, Sinn Féin and DUP for blocking or cutting it, calling their actions hypocritical and urging additional funding to tackle the cost‑of‑living crisis.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Council Hardship Fund Original release: Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites
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Donaldson & DUP Are A Waste Of Space In Westminster If They Can’t Challenge Tory Economic Vandalism
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin attacks the DUP and Jeffrey Donaldson for failing to challenge the Truss government's budget, which he says will deepen inequality and harm public services. He calls for escalating protests and industrial action.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Liz Truss 2022 budget announcement Original release: Donaldson & DUP Are A Waste Of Space In Westminster If They Can’t Challenge Tory Economic Vandalism