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Europe

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Law

Can both UK and Irish citizens cross the border without showing ID?
9 February 2024

CLAIM: Citizens of both the UK and of Ireland are not required to carry or produce ID when moving between the two territories, thanks to the legal provisions of the Common Travel Area.

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On 11 January in posts on social media, campaign group End Deportations Belfast criticised the approach of An Garda Síochána officers carrying out checks on

Articles

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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.

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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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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

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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

Economy

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Europe

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Peace

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Topics

Is the EU contributing €1 billion to the PEACE PLUS fund for Northern Ireland?
13 September 2023

CLAIM: The Irish News claimed that the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Belfast to announce €1 billion of EU funding for Northern Ireland.

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On September 11 2023 The Irish News tweeted:  “Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has joined EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Belfast to announce €1 billion of EU

Articles

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Europe

Would 35 million people live in Ireland if it was as densely populated as England?
5 April 2023

CLAIM: If Ireland’s population density was the same as England, its population would be 35 million people.

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On 25 March, Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey claimed on social media: “Had we English levels of density we’d have a population of 35 million.” Mr

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Economy

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Elections

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Europe

Did Unionism always oppose the Northern Ireland Protocol?
23 March 2023

CLAIM: Unionism was against the NI Protocol from day one

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On 15 March, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP told the National Press Club in Washington DC: “Unionism rejected the NI Protocol from day one.”

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Environment

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Europe

Does Dungiven have some of the worst nitrogen dioxide readings in Western Europe?
7 March 2023

CLAIM: Dungiven has some of the worst nitrogen dioxide (NO2) readings in Western Europe.

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On 27 January, community group Glenshane Community Development Ltd tweeted: “Why is Dungiven choked up this evening whilst the bypass lies unopened? The town has

Europe

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Explainer

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Law

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Peace

What did the Supreme Court say about the lawfulness of the Northern Ireland Protocol?
27 February 2023
On 8 February, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in a case challenging the legality of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The court unanimously rejected the

Articles

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Economy

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Europe

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Topics

Is NI subject to EU fuel VAT rates, which cannot be reduced below 5%? 
17 August 2022

CLAIM: Fuel VAT is currently 20% but, if Westminster reduced this to zero to help with the cost of living, this would not apply in NI. Local fuel VAT is set in Brussels, and EU rules stipulate this cannot be lower than 5%.

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UK VAT is 20% for petrol, diesel and commercial energy use, and 5% for domestic energy Current EU rules apply to NI but not the

Articles

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Economy

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Europe

Is the Belfast-Derry/Londonderry train no quicker than it was during Victorian times?
6 July 2022

CLAIM: The train between Derry/Londonderry and Belfast takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. The journey is 70 miles long, meaning this service travels at the same speed as Victorian-era trains.

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On BBC Radio Ulster’s show Talkback on June 9, during a discussion about the impact of Brexit and EU funding on Northern Ireland, Dr Ben

Articles

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Economy

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Europe

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Explainer

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Law

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Peace

How is the NI Protocol affecting the local cost of living?
21 June 2022
Several claims have been made about devastating effects of the Protocol on the cost of living in NI. Claims such as the Protocol “is adding

Europe

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Explainer

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Law

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Peace

The NI Protocol: what power do local MLAs have?
16 May 2022
The NI Protocol means that Northern Ireland remains in the EU’s single market for goods – unlike England, Scotland and Wales. It was agreed by