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Economy
Can Northern Ireland landlords get larger rates reductions than renters and owner-occupiers?
11 January 2024
CLAIM: Renters and owner-occupiers may have to pay their rates in full, while landlords can get a 10% allowance off their own rates bills. Since 1996, the private rental sector has grown significantly – from negligible size to around 13% of homes today, a similar proportion to the Housing Executive and all housing associations combined.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 25 October in an article for the Belfast Telegraph, journalist and policy expert Paul Gosling claimed that: “As landlords, we are given a discount
Articles
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS INVESTIGATION
14 December 2023
Articles
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Economy
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Peace
Did the Executive promise equal cash to rebuild Windsor Park, Casement Park and Ravenhill?
11 December 2023
CLAIM: The NI Executive’s commitment to provide financial support for new football, GAA and rugby stadiums involved an equal split between sports.
Rating
INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 10 November in a post on social media, Loyalist campaigner Jamie Bryson claimed: “[The construction of the three stadiums – at Ravenhill, Windsor and
Environment
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Explainer
Agri-food policy, environmental protections and plans within plans within plans
1 December 2023
Articles
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Health
Do early medical abortions fail 6% of the time?
22 November 2023
CLAIM: There is a one-in-17 risk that early medical abortions will fail, a fact that is openly acknowledged by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
Rating
INACCURATE
On 19 October, Pro-Life campaigner Kevin Duffy claimed on social media: “[The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists] wants women to know there’s a 1-in-17
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Europe
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Health
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Law
Do child refugees living in NI need a visa to access urgent care if they have heart problems?
16 November 2023
CLAIM: Refugee children living in Northern Ireland who require urgent paediatric cardiological services need a visa in order to travel for specialist care in Dublin.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 21 September, Member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Dr Lucy Michael said in a social media post: “A refugee child in Articles
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Topics
Does Northern Ireland have a majority Catholic population?
10 November 2023
CLAIM: Findings from the latest UK Census show that a majority of Northern Ireland’s population is now Catholic.
Rating
INACCURATE
The National Catholic Reporter published an article with the headline: “Northern Ireland has majority Catholic population for first time, UK census shows.” Is this right?
Articles
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Law
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Peace
Did the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement lead to comfort letters for the ‘On The Runs’?
8 November 2023
CLAIM: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (GFA) ultimately led to the “On The Runs” (OTRs) receiving so-called “comfort letters” covering the same types of criminal allegations addressed in Westminster’s recent Legacy Act.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
In a post on social media on 6 September, DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly claimed: “Remember that because of Good Friday Agreement, the offences covered by
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Topics
Does Rev Bill Shaw have no connection with the Presbyterian Church?
1 November 2023
CLAIM: Bill Shaw is not a Presbyterian Minister. He is not a Minister in any Presbyterian Church and is not employed by the Presbyterian Church.
Rating
INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On Monday 30 October 2023, a social media account called Unionist Truth Forum suggested that Rev Bill Shaw is not a Presbyterian minister. The reply
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Economy
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Topics
Have social housing waiting lists almost doubled in 20 years?
26 October 2023
CLAIM: Two decades ago, around 26,000 people were waiting for social housing. Now that figure is over 45,000.
Rating
ACCURATE
On 7 October, an article in the Belfast Telegraph claimed: “Two decades ago, 26,248 people were waiting for social housing. Now more than 45,000 are
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Elections
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Europe
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Law
Do the TUV’s seven reasons why Stormont can’t return stand up to scrutiny?
24 October 2023
TUV Leader Jim Allister MLA has laid out seven reasons why Stormont cannot and must not return, so long as the Protocol remains in place
Rating
MIXED
Speaking on 13 September to the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) Central Council, party leader Jim Allister MLA said there are seven reasons why Stormont “must Articles
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Health
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Topics
Are NI’s hospital waiting lists over twice as long as they are in Ireland?
19 October 2023
CLAIM: Overall hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland are twice as long, per capita, as those south of the border – while lists of people waiting over a year are over four times as long.
Rating
ACCURATE
An Irish Times article from 25 September claimed: “Hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland are twice as long as those in the Republic of Ireland,