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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.

Rating

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

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.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

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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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

Articles

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Economy

Are Treasury contributions to NI going down? Is local spending rising by only 3.6% while it rises by 6% in England?
1 June 2023

CLAIM: Treasury contributions to NI public services are going down. At the same time, by 2025 spending in England is set to rise by 6% while spending here will go up by 3.6%.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

DUP MPs Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Gavin Robinson both recently claimed in press releases issued at the end of April that: “The Treasury contribution to

Articles

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Economy

Does NI have the lowest wages, slowest economy, lowest productivity and highest economic inactivity in the UK and Ireland?
23 May 2023

CLAIM: Northern Ireland has the lowest wages, lowest economic growth, lowest productivity, and highest economic inactivity in the UK and Ireland.

Rating

Mixed

In its manifesto published ahead of the 2023 local government elections, Sinn Fein claimed: “The north has the lowest wages, lowest economic growth, lowest productivity,

Articles

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Economy

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Elections

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Peace

Do divisions in society cost Northern Ireland between £400m and £830m every year?
16 May 2023

CLAIM: The cost of social division to the public purse in NI ranges between £400m and £830m every year.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

In its manifesto issued ahead of the 2023 local government elections, the Alliance Party claimed: “The current estimates of the cost of division range between

Articles

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Economy

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Health

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Peace

Does Northern Ireland have the highest rate of child poverty in the UK?
2 May 2023

CLAIM: Northern Ireland has the highest levels of child poverty in the UK.

Rating

INACCURATE

On 3 April, in a column for the Irish Times, campaigner Emma de Souza claimed: “Northern Ireland has the highest levels of child poverty in

Articles

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Economy

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Education

Is Northern Ireland one of the cheapest parts of the UK for childcare?
25 April 2023

CLAIM: Northern Ireland is one of the least expensive places in the UK for childcare.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On 11 March, Belfast Live posted on its Facebook page that: “Northern Ireland has been named as one of the cheapest regions in the UK

Articles

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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

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

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.”

Articles

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Economy

Do the two richest people in Ireland have more wealth than half the population?
1 March 2023

CLAIM: Ireland’s two wealthiest people are worth more financially than the poorest 50% of the population

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On January 16, Oxfam International published a new report – Survival of the Richest – which looks at the changing distribution patterns of wealth around

Articles

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Economy

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Health

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Topics

Would it cost the Irish government £880m to provide free GP care?
31 January 2023

CLAIM: Provision of GP appointments that are free at the point of delivery would cost the Dublin Exchequer an extra £880m per year.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On 17 January, crossbench peer Lord Kilclooney claimed: “To provide free GP care in the Republic of Ireland, which already exists in NI as it

Articles

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Economy

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Topics

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Uncategorized

Are driving examiners striking across the UK?
13 December 2022

CLAIM: A BBC report said that driving examiners and rural payment officers at sites across the UK are planning to strike.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On 29 November, the BBC reported that driving examiners and rural payments officers represented by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are planning to