Closest matches to “Overriding local decision-making undermines devolution”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include DUP · Back to the release
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Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's abortion announcement shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster is willing to act on abortion but reluctant to act on Protocol concerns. He questions whether London expects Unionists to return to devolution regardless of…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Secretary of State’s abortion announcement trashes devolution (opens in a new tab)
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Announcement concerning the commissioning of abortion services welcome, says Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's confirmation that the UK Government will commission abortion services in Northern Ireland, but Bradshaw says no funding plan has yet been provided and calls for a clear roadmap.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland announced by Secretary of State Original release: Announcement concerning the commissioning of abortion services welcome, says Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Abortion decision will leave many questioning value of devolution
TUV East Antrim spokesperson Norman Boyd says the Secretary of State's decision to commission abortion services shows devolution is a sham, arguing Westminster acts on abortion while Unionist concerns about the Protocol go unaddressed.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Abortion decision will leave many questioning value of devolution (opens in a new tab)
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Border poll harassment of the Secretary of State has to stop
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA defends the Good Friday Agreement's legal test for calling a border poll after the Prime Minister said a referendum is "not on the table". He says the test is clear, calls Sinn Féin's border poll focus a distraction from its record in government, and criticises media…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's statement that a border poll is not on the table Original release: Border poll harassment of the Secretary of State has to stop (opens in a new tab)
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Tories’ Abortion Push deletes the Human Right to Life and Undermines the GFA
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín criticises Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis's new powers to direct the Northern Ireland Health Department to expand abortion services, saying they bypass Stormont and the Good Friday Agreement. He says Aontú is seeking legal advice on protecting…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: Tories’ Abortion Push deletes the Human Right to Life and Undermines the GFA (opens in a new tab)
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Women have waited too long for modern and compassionate health services – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls on the Department of Health to start commissioning abortion services for women in the north now, after the British Secretary of State instructed it to do so. She says women have waited long enough and have had to travel to England, often alone.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Women have waited too long for modern and compassionate health services – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Onus still on Secretary of State to act on organ donation – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says the Assembly sitting will achieve little because the DUP will block election of a Speaker, so he urges the Secretary of State to take action to stop further delay to organ donation legislation. He also calls for devolution to be restored urgently.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Stormont Assembly sitting without a Speaker and organ donation legislation delay Original release: Onus still on Secretary of State to act on organ donation – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Allister comments on Secretary of State’s upcoming decision on the Stormont Brake
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP sets out limits of the Stormont Brake and Applicability Motion ahead of the Secretary of State's decision, arguing they offer only restricted rights against EU law and urging unionists to oppose the arrangement while backing his Mutual Enforcement Bill.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Secretary of State's Stormont Brake decision on EU Regulation 2024/2865 Original release: Allister comments on Secretary of State’s upcoming decision on the Stormont Brake (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says a Westminster-set budget forcing cuts to the Department of Education stems from political failure and financial mismanagement. He blames the DUP for enabling Chris Heaton Harris to set spending and calls for an Executive to be formed.
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Westminster budget allocations and Department of Education cuts Original release: Eastwood: Budget cuts a consequence of political failure (opens in a new tab)
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Abortion statists reveal horrific rise
TUV leader Jim Allister says Department of Health abortion statistics show a 28.8% rise in 2023/24 to 2,792 terminations and calls on the Health Minister to explain why Northern Ireland still lacks socioeconomic and repeat-abortion data available in Great Britain, despite a 2024 assurance. TUV MLA…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion statistics for 2023/24 published Original release: Abortion statists reveal horrific rise (opens in a new tab)
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Secretary of State must act following historic Assembly vote for reform, says Long
Alliance leader Naomi Long urges the Secretary of State to start an institutional reform process at Stormont after the Assembly backed Alliance's call following the Covid Inquiry's latest report. She says she will write to request talks with the co-guarantors and local parties.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly vote backing Stormont institutional reform after Covid Inquiry report Original release: Secretary of State must act following historic Assembly vote for reform, says Long (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE
UUP Education Spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says he has been contacted with concerns about compulsory Relationships and Sex Education, which the Secretary of State wants introduced, and calls for any new curriculum to be created by Northern Ireland parents, children and teachers rather than…
Education Issue: Secretary of State's plans to introduce compulsory RSE in Northern Ireland Original release: Butler Responds to Concerns Surrounding the Introduction of RSE (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Election will only cause further harm to North
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP says an Assembly election would waste millions without solving issues such as heating costs, health waiting lists and housing, after meeting the Northern Ireland Secretary in London. He blames the DUP's blocking of the institutions and calls for the Irish government's…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris threat of December Stormont election Original release: Eastwood: Election will only cause further harm to North (opens in a new tab)
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There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says there should be no further impediments to fully commissioning abortion services in Northern Ireland. She urges Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to take immediate steps ahead of his expected plans to speed up delivery.
Health Issue: Secretary of State plans to accelerate abortion services commissioning Original release: There should be no further impediments in commissioning abortion services, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell criticises the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for advocating gender self-identification after the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex. He calls for the Executive Office to hold the Commission to account and says the Health Minister will be held…
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission gender self-identification advocacy Original release: Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure budget paints grim picture, says Muir
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says the finalised Department for Infrastructure budget paints a grim picture, citing cuts to road safety, cycling proficiency, Translink and NI Water, and calls on the Secretary of State to act to restore Stormont with a financial package.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Department for Infrastructure finalised budget allocation 2023 Original release: Infrastructure budget paints grim picture, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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British government must end do-nothing approach and work to restore Executive – O’Neill
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill challenges the British Government to explain its actions to restore the Northern Ireland Executive and end the DUP’s blockade, criticising the Secretary of State’s inaction and urging swift progress.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP blockade preventing formation of Northern Ireland Executive Original release: British government must end do-nothing approach and work to restore Executive – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent need for commissioning of abortion services, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan call for urgent commissioning of abortion services on the third anniversary of decriminalisation in Northern Ireland, saying women face a postcode lottery in access. Egan urges the Secretary of State to step in and commission full services under UN…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Third anniversary of abortion decriminalisation in Northern Ireland Original release: Urgent need for commissioning of abortion services, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Anniversary of ending of Ministers' terms should make us all reflect and increases need for reform, says Muir
Alliance's Andrew Muir MLA says the first anniversary of the Executive's collapse should prompt reflection on the hardship caused by no Ministers, and calls for reform of the Executive, including weighted majority voting, to stop parties blocking government.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: One year anniversary of Northern Ireland Executive collapse Original release: Anniversary of ending of Ministers' terms should make us all reflect and increases need for reform, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes NIAC support for SDLP reform proposals
SDLP MP Claire Hanna welcomes the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee's report endorsing SDLP proposals to reform Stormont's devolved institutions, including changes to how the Assembly elects its speaker and how First Ministers are titled and elected. She says the DUP is blocking progress.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Westminster NI Affairs Committee report on the institutions Original release: Hanna welcomes NIAC support for SDLP reform proposals (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP statement on Secretary of State meeting
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna says her delegation told the Secretary of State the Executive and UK Government must show leadership, support migrant communities and put plans in place to prevent a repeat of recent disorder. She also urges rejection of DUP attempts to link a north Belfast incident to the…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: SDLP statement on Secretary of State meeting (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes move by Irish Government to fund student places
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Irish Government's one-year funding for student nursing and midwifery places at Northern Ireland universities, following a cut of 300 places. She criticises the DUP's refusal to take up government roles and calls for institutional reform…
Health Education Issue: Irish Government funding for 250 nursing student places Original release: Bradshaw welcomes move by Irish Government to fund student places (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Flawed welfare cuts should not proceed
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the UK Government not to proceed with planned welfare support cuts announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, arguing reforms should be planned and targeted rather than front-loaded for savings. She also urges the Executive to show leadership and…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Hanna: Flawed welfare cuts should not proceed (opens in a new tab)
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4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland under more liberal regulations
TUV leader Jim Allister publishes Department of Health figures showing 4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland since the March 2020 change in the law, broken down by Health Trust. He says the reasons for abortions are not recorded, unlike in Great Britain, and calls for regular publication of figures…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion figures released since March 2020 law change Original release: 4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland under more liberal regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Honeyford expresses dismay at cuts to grassroots sports funding
Alliance Sports spokesperson David Honeyford MLA says cuts ending funding for grassroots sports projects under the Central Good Relations Fund will harm health and push costs onto the NHS. He opposes the cuts, which he says were made without ministers, blaming DUP boycott of devolved institutions.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Central Good Relations Fund ending of grassroots sports funding Original release: Honeyford expresses dismay at cuts to grassroots sports funding (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Prime Minister’s commitment to devolution will be put to the test
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna says the Prime Minister's devolution commitment will be tested by whether he acts on Stormont institutional reform, urging him to start that process now, ahead of a meeting with him, amid the unset Budget and collapse threats.
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Hanna: Prime Minister’s commitment to devolution will be put to the test (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Heaton-Harris threats show idiocy of DUP handing power to Tories
SDLP Stormont Leader Matthew O'Toole says Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris's threats to direct permanent secretaries on revenue-raising options show the idiocy of the DUP handing power to the Tories. He calls for the SDLP's Triple Lock proposals as an alternative that avoids harsh cuts and…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Heaton-Harris directs permanent secretaries on revenue-raising options Original release: O’Toole: Heaton-Harris threats show idiocy of DUP handing power to Tories (opens in a new tab)