Claire Hanna Welcomes Queen’s and DkIT Cross-Border Partnership

SDLP Leader and South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna has welcomed the newly announced partnership between Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), which is set to begin next year. The collaboration will establish DkIT as a University College of Queen’s and aims to expand collaboration on research, innovation, and educational opportunities across the island. Ms Hanna described the link as a "very positive and exciting development" that will create meaningful opportunities for students on both sides of the border. She stressed that by working together, these two institutions will drive new research and innovation throughout the Belfast–Dundalk economic corridor. The MP emphasised the clear benefits of cross-border working, asserting that shared learning and the pooling of expertise makes sense. Ms Hanna looks forward to further developments of this kind as new ways of strengthening educational links and expanding opportunities across the island are explored. She concluded that the partnership is a commitment from both institutions to deliver significant gains for the benefit of young people in the years ahead, highlighting the strategic importance of the collaboration for regional growth and academic excellence.

Paula Bradshaw Demands Clarity on Clerical Child Abuse Research Recommendations Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has reiterated calls from victims and survivors of historic clerical child abuse for the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide immediate clarity on the implementation of recommendations from their department's commissioned research. Ms Bradshaw, who chairs the Committee for the Executive Office, stated that she shares the frustration of victims and survivors regarding the "lack of urgency in progressing the research's recommendations relating to safeguarding." She has raised the need for urgency continuously at committee, including securing agreement for a letter to be sent demanding clarity on the next steps. Ms Bradshaw stressed the imperative nature of publishing the long-awaited research to provide the general public with confidence that this issue is receiving the necessary pressing attention. The victims and survivors who bravely contributed to the reports stepped forward with the hope that significant improvements would be made in protecting and safeguarding young and vulnerable people. She warned that the government "cannot let them down" and sincerely hopes that departmental officials are working at pace to investigate the most expedient way to implement the necessary changes to the safeguarding system.

Gavin Robinson Condemns Legacy Bill, Demands Major Amendments

DUP Leader Rt. Hon. Gavin Robinson MP has delivered a stark warning that the Government’s Legacy Bill is "not fit for purpose" and requires substantial amendment if it is to gain the confidence of innocent victims. Speaking during the Bill's Second Reading on Tuesday, Mr Robinson stated that the DUP stands squarely on the side of innocent victims and survivors, but argued the Bill is built on flawed foundations laid in 1998, which saw convicted terrorists released and 'on-the-run' terrorists pardoned. The MP highlighted two serious flaws: the Bill contains no specific protections for veterans and the word 'veteran' does not even appear in the legislation. Furthermore, the remit of the Legacy Commission ends on 10 April 1998, meaning it cannot consider the Omagh Bomb atrocity, which occurred four months later. He asserted that this issue must be corrected, especially given the Irish government's repeated failure to play its part for the people of Omagh. Mr Robinson also slammed the clause which outlaws anyone serving in the police or military from being appointed as one of the Directors, calling it an insult to the RUC and PSNI and an "outrageous" sop to the Irish government. He confirmed he will table a substantial suite of amendments at the Committee Stage, guided by the voices of innocent victims.