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347 releases
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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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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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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)
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Ulster Unionist Party launches campaign setting out why the Union is better
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA announces a six-day social media campaign until 29 October making the case for Northern Ireland within the UK, citing security, cost of living, peace, the NHS and economic security. He claims households here pay over £550 less a year for energy than in the Republic.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Ulster Unionist Party launches campaign setting out why the Union is better (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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Aiken: Scrutiny Committee rubber stamps biggest EU customs shake-up in decades
UUP's Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA criticises the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee for approving its report on the EU's new customs code, claiming Alliance and Sinn Féin members voted against action despite advice that the rules differ significantly.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Windsor Framework Scrutiny Committee report on new EU customs code Original release: Aiken: Scrutiny Committee rubber stamps biggest EU customs shake-up in decades (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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Minister Butler thanks ambulance staff ahead of busy winter period
Health Minister Robbie Butler thanks Northern Ireland Ambulance Service staff after visiting its Belfast Integrated Clinical Hub, praising telephone and on-scene treatment models that cut demand on emergency departments before winter. The release cites 2025-26 figures of 44,064 incidents resolved…
Health Original release: Minister Butler thanks ambulance staff ahead of busy winter period (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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Armstrong marks International Day of Rural Women with call for action on women in farming
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA asks DAERA what progress it has made since the Breaking the Grass Ceiling report on women in agriculture, four years on. She calls for recognition of women's farm work, support for women without legal stake in family farms, and rural service provision.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Armstrong marks International Day of Rural Women with call for action on women in farming (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Flexibility, not radio ultimatums, needed to end budget deadlock – Aiken
UUP finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA urges the Secretary of State and Executive to drop public sparring and agree a budget, warning that nurses and health workers face continued pay delays and an RCN ballot on industrial action.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Northern Ireland budget deadlock and health pay award delay Original release: Flexibility, not radio ultimatums, needed to end budget deadlock – Aiken (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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St Andrews ‘stitch-up’ handed Sinn Féin the First Minister’s office, says Empey
Former UUP leader Lord Empey says the DUP should accept responsibility for the 2006 St Andrews deal, which he claims let Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill become First Minister, calling it a strategic blunder that served party interests over wider unionism.
Constitutional affairs Issue: St Andrews Agreement 20th anniversary and First Minister selection mechanism Original release: St Andrews ‘stitch-up’ handed Sinn Féin the First Minister’s office, says Empey (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Matthew Robinson selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for East Londonderry
The UUP has picked Matthew Robinson, a Portstewart resident with legal qualifications and a think-tank directorship, to stand in East Londonderry at next May's Assembly election. Leader Jon Burrows praises his constitutional law background and pro-Union economic focus.
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Issue: Ulster Unionist East Londonderry Assembly candidate selection Original release: Matthew Robinson selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for East Londonderry (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Herron, to refer two rape sentences to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, arguing a three-year custodial term is inadequate. He also asks whether deportation notices have been issued against both men.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Unduly lenient rape sentences referral request to Director of Public Prosecutions Original release: Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler announces major expansion of bowel cancer screening programme
UUP Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a phased widening of bowel cancer screening invitations, starting with those aged 59 from 2 November 2026, 58-year-olds from April 2027, and full eligibility for ages 50 to 74 by 2031.
Health Issue: Bowel cancer screening expansion to younger age groups from November Original release: Butler announces major expansion of bowel cancer screening programme (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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Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme
UUP reports Health Minister Robbie Butler has announced £500,000 to extend the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for another year, funding voluntary groups to offer free support to people on HSCNI waiting lists. Applications open 25 September 2026 and close 6 November 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme extension announcement Original release: Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)