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Could the UUP and SDLP change their designations to prevent the DUP from nominating a deputy First Minister?
28 September 2023
CLAIM: If MLAs from the UUP and SDLP switched their Stormont community designations to ‘Other’, this would remove the DUP’s entitlement to nominate a deputy First Minister.
Rating
ACCURATE
A letter printed in the Irish News on 18 September claimed that the UUP and SDLP could have prevented the DUP from being entitled to
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Law
Do PSNI chief constables have the same average tenure as other top cops in the UK?
27 September 2023
CLAIM: PSNI chief constables tend to stay in post for the same amount of time as the top officers on forces in England and Wales.
Rating
ACCURATE
Following the resignation of Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne, University of Liverpool Professor Jon Tonge claimed on social media that:
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Health
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Law
Does easier access to abortion and contraception lead to an increase in domestic abuse and sexual violence?
22 September 2023
CLAIM: As abortions and contraceptives become more readily available, rates of domestic abuse and sexual violence go up.
Rating
INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 7 June on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown claimed: “The problem is that we find as abortion
Articles
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Economy
Has Northern Ireland been in fiscal deficit for most – or indeed all – of its existence?
20 September 2023
CLAIM: SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole claimed that, since it came into being a century ago, Northern Ireland has been a net recipient of UK Government funding - either in most years, or in every single year.
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ACCURATE/INACCURATE
During a speech at a New Ireland Commission event on August 23, SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said: “Northern Ireland has been in fiscal deficit for
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Environment
Will nearly 40% of NI properties be at risk from flooding by 2080?
5 September 2023
CLAIM: The Belfast Telegraph claimed that projections from the Department of Infrastructure indicate that 38% of all properties in Northern Ireland will be at risk of flooding by 2080.
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INACCURATE
On 4 September, the Belfast Telegraph published a story under the headline: “Flooding warning: Nearly 40% of properties in NI will be at risk of
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Law
Is there no such thing as a ‘hate crime’ under NI law?
25 August 2023
CLAIM: There is no such thing as a hate crime under NI law. Instead, there are only crimes aggravated by hatred.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
In a social media post on 1 August, commentator Newton Emerson claimed: “There’s no such thing as’’a hate crime’ under NI law, only crimes aggravated
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Education
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Health
Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Northern Ireland: What’s happening?
14 August 2023

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Explainer
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Law
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Peace
Was Ireland’s constitutional claim to Northern Ireland illegal?
24 July 2023

Articles
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Economy
Is arts funding per capita almost five times higher in Ireland than it is in Northern Ireland?
4 July 2023
CLAIM: Central arts funding per capita in Northern Ireland is £4.72 per year, compared with £22.50 per person, per year in Ireland.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 10 May, the Arts Council NI claimed on Twitter: “Our Director of Arts Development @Gcampbellini & Director of Strategic Development & Partnerships @karlygreene highlight
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Environment
Does this picture show all the publicly-available green space in Northern Ireland?
28 June 2023
CLAIM: A map shared on Twitter shows the amount of green space in Northern Ireland which is available to the public.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 25 May, Irish Mirror/Belfast Live Environment Correspondent Shauna Corr shared the following image on Twitter: In her tweet, she said: “This map of Northern
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Environment
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Health
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Topics
Is Lagan Valley one of the least wooded parts of NI?
22 June 2023
CLAIM: Lagan Valley is one of the least wooded areas in Northern Ireland, particularly with regards to ancient woodland.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 18 June, Alliance Party MLA Sorcha Eastwood claimed on Twitter: “Lagan Valley is one of the least wooded areas in NI, particularly re ancient
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Law
Is Nicola Sturgeon the first former or current political party leader to be arrested since the 1970s? Is she the only former First Minister or Prime Minister to be arrested in history?
14 June 2023
CLAIM: Nicola Sturgeon is the first former First Minister or Prime Minister in UK history to be arrested. She is the first former or current leader of a major party to be arrested since Jeremy Thorpe in the 1970s.
Rating
INACCURATE
The arrest of former Scottish National Party (SNP) Leader Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday triggered a number of claims about police dealings with UK political figures.