Latest releases
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884 releases
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Hunter: Irish Language Bill Veto Exposes Urgent Need for Stormont Reform
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA condemns the move to block the Irish‑medium Education Bill with a Petition of Concern, calling it a cynical power grab and urging Stormont reform to protect education for the 7,800+ children in Irish‑medium schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Petition of Concern blocks Irish-medium Education Bill Original release: Hunter: Irish Language Bill Veto Exposes Urgent Need for Stormont Reform (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Stormont Is Running Out of Road
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the Prime Minister to back urgent reform of Stormont ahead of Prime Minister's Questions, citing a Petition of Concern used to block children's education legislation and warning of collapse after the next election. She points to the SDLP's Politics for the Common…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Petition of Concern blocks Irish-medium Education Bill Original release: Hanna: Stormont Is Running Out of Road (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Fine Gael unity blueprint and calls for joint action
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Fine Gael's all-island proposals, including a North-South ministerial role, a constitutional planning unit and a fund for transition costs. She calls for Government parties to co-ordinate preparation for constitutional change and says the debate must also weigh…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Fine Gael Irish reunification proposals announcement at Ard Fheis Original release: Hanna welcomes Fine Gael unity blueprint and calls for joint action (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna urges Prime Minister and Taoiseach to deliver Stormont reforms before Assembly election
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin to enact a set of Stormont reforms – including automatic succession of First Minister, removal of the extra Executive agenda veto, a two‑thirds majority for electing the Assembly Speaker, equalising de
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont reforms before May Assembly election Original release: Hanna urges Prime Minister and Taoiseach to deliver Stormont reforms before Assembly election (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Working together for better health: Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’
Health Minister Robbie Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’, a partnership setting out four initial HSC commitments on appointments, waiting times and cancellations, plus actions the public can take, shaped by 11,000 responses.
Health Issue: ‘The Health Deal’ launch following ‘This is Our Health’ public engagement Original release: Working together for better health: Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’ (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows invites unionists to join a revitalised UUP
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA makes a "big, broad offer" inviting unionists across Northern Ireland, including elected representatives from other unionist parties, to join the Ulster Unionist Party as it builds a new leadership team. He says unionism needs change and cites Health Minister Robbie…
Other Health Original release: Burrows invites unionists to join a revitalised UUP (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler welcomes the conclusion of GP contract negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee, including £17.384million for 2026/27 and an extra £40m over two years to improve patient access. He says NIGPC has committed to easier access and to the Neighbourhood…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist Leaders and Inter-Trade UK Business Association urge the Secretary of State to stop EU Regulation 2026/2108 deepening the Irish Sea customs border
The UUP, alongside TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP and ITUKBA chair Peter Summerton, urges the Secretary of State to apply the Stormont Brake against the EU's new Union Customs Code, which they say deepens the Irish Sea customs border. UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA warns of more bureaucracy and EU…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Stormont Brake triggered over EU Union Customs Code Regulation 2026/2108 Original release: Unionist Leaders and Inter-Trade UK Business Association urge the Secretary of State to stop EU Regulation 2026/2108 deepening the Irish Sea customs border (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP launches three-stage reform plan to end Stormont paralysis
The SDLP has published a three-stage reform report, Politics for the Common Good, proposing immediate Stormont changes such as stopping one party collapsing the Executive, Joint First Ministers and relocating the Assembly to central Belfast. It urges the UK and Irish governments to help push…
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP launches Stormont reform plan Original release: SDLP launches three-stage reform plan to end Stormont paralysis (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Party Leader: Irish unity needs unified approach
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's moves towards structured preparation for Irish constitutional futures, and says she has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris proposing a New Ireland Forum-style process with civic society and parties.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Taoiseach recognition of constitutional change on Irish unity Original release: SDLP Party Leader: Irish unity needs unified approach (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Taoiseach’s New Ireland Commitment
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the Taoiseach’s New Ireland commitment, calling it a significant step forward and saying the SDLP will partner with the Irish Government to move from ambition to concrete preparation, including a call for a dedicated minister.
Constitutional affairs Issue: British Prime Minister and Taoiseach commitment on cross-border employment issues Original release: Hanna welcomes Taoiseach’s New Ireland Commitment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: People Deserve a Future Beyond Political Petulance
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls the DUP's latest stunt petulant and says health, schools and other public services are suffering while the parties remain without a budget deal at Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Original release: O’Toole: People Deserve a Future Beyond Political Petulance (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes confirmed arrangements exempting "not at risk" consumer parcels entering Northern Ireland under Windsor Framework schemes from new EU handling fees, ahead of the Joint Committee meeting. He flags unresolved questions over how EU artificial intelligence rules would…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU handling fees on Northern Ireland parcels Original release: Swann welcomes Joint UK-EU Agreement on parcel fees ahead of Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 leaves customs and tariffs in Northern Ireland. He criticises Whitehall for ignoring the Union Customs Code parcel handling fee and calls for the Stormont Brake to be applied, and says applying parts of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Proposed UK-EU SPS agreement and Union Customs Code parcel handling fee Original release: Whitehall asleep as EU parcel tax and AI rules hit Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Beyond constant crisis
SDLP calls for a continuing, staged programme of democratic reform, starting with immediate legislative changes, then a structured review of further reforms in the next mandate and a longer-term debate on power-sharing, citing the Budget impasse and falling trust.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Beyond constant crisis (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 separated from the rest of the UK on many regulations and that the new EU customs code will increase trade disruption.
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 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces £1.95 million for endometriosis care, with £700,000 for the regional centres in the Belfast and Western Trusts and £1.25 million across all five trusts to support a new regional pathway.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister: 'Let’s work together to protect our Health Service this winter'
Health Minister Robbie Butler urges the public to help protect Health Service capacity this winter, ahead of Winter Surge plans published by the six HSC Trusts and the Public Health Agency. He encourages vaccination, early care from GPs and pharmacists, and patience with staff.
Health Issue: Winter Surge plans publication Original release: Health Minister: 'Let’s work together to protect our Health Service this winter' (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty
UUP leader Jon Burrows says the DUP's refusal to send Northern Ireland to tomorrow's Glasgow economic forum harms the region rather than the deputy First Minister, and urges another Executive minister, such as Health Minister Robbie Butler, to attend.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP's decision to exclude Northern Ireland from Economic Forum in Glasgow Original release: You cannot champion the Union by leaving Northern Ireland's chair empty (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey says the Drumcree standoff has backfired on republicans, criticising Gerry Adams’s intervention and Sinn Féin’s involvement, and argues the dispute exposes threats to the Orange tradition and highlights demographic changes in a united Ireland.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Parades Commission Garvaghy Road ruling Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)