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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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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
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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
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Economy
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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
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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
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Economy
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Peace
How is the NI Protocol affecting the local cost of living?
21 June 2022
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
Europe
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Law
Is the UK ranked 14th in Europe for the number of asylum seekers it processes and accepts?
30 March 2022
Is the UK ranked 14th in Europe for the number of asylum seekers it processes and accepts?
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Figures for 2020 show that the UK was 20th among Euro nations for asylum applications received per head of population, and 19th for applications granted.
Economy
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Elections
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Europe
Do 20% of EU customs checks take place in the Irish Sea?
24 March 2022
CLAIM: 20% of EU customs checks take place in the Irish Sea.
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UNSUBSTANTIATED
It is unclear how this figure was calculated. Neither the DUP, DAERA nor the European Commission could confirm the figure. On 14 January 2022, the Economy
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Europe
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Explainer
Economic effects of the Northern Ireland Protocol
8 February 2022
The claim that the Northern Ireland Protocol “costs £900 million to Northern Ireland” annually is based on two articles by economist Dr Esmond Birnie.
While economic models are a recognised way of using simple frameworks to illustrate complex processes, they are often based on assumptions and are ultimately tested
Economy
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Europe
Is what Northern Ireland buys from Great Britain four times more valuable than from Ireland?
27 January 2022
CLAIM: Northern Ireland purchases from Great Britain are four times more valuable than those from Ireland.
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This claim is accurate. In 2019, the ratio of the estimated total value of Northern Ireland purchases from Great Britain (£13.4bn) to purchases from Ireland