Does the EU send NI €500m annually?

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CLAIM: The EU sends Northern Ireland €500 million a year

CONCLUSION: ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION. The €500 million figure quoted by the SDLP is substantiated by European Commission figures for EU regional funding of Northern Ireland. However, this is not a ‘net’ figure and does not take into account Northern Ireland’s proportion of the UK’s contribution to the EU. A more complete statement would be to say that Northern Ireland receives €55/£45 million more than we pay to the EU. Continue reading Does the EU send NI €500m annually?

PRESS STATEMENT: FactCheckNI joins Facebook Fact-Checking Programme

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PRESS STATEMENT
FactCheckNI
25 April 2019

FactCheckNI joins Facebook Fact-Checking Programme

Today FactCheckNI, Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated fact-checking service, has joined Facebook’s third-party fact-checking programme, as part of the social media company’s efforts to minimise the spread of misinformation on its platform. Continue reading PRESS STATEMENT: FactCheckNI joins Facebook Fact-Checking Programme

FactCheckNI partners with FactCheckEU for European-wide coverage

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FactCheckNI partners with FactCheckEU for European-wide coverage
PRESS STATEMENT by FactCheckNI
19 March 2019

Hoaxes know no borders, especially in Europe. That’s why FactCheckNI is proud to announce the launch of FactCheckEU, a collaborative effort from 19 European fact-checking outlets to tackle disinformation and hoaxes, ahead of the 2019 European parliamentary elections in May. FactCheckNI will contribute relevant material, such as the UK’s departure from the EU. Continue reading FactCheckNI partners with FactCheckEU for European-wide coverage

How much do MLAs earn (or not)?

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CLAIM: Progressive Politics NI claimed that MLAs were paid “nearly £2.2 million” in salaries up to 3rd September 2017.

CONCLUSION: ACCURATE. The annual salary of an MLA is £49,500. For the period covered by the claim (13/3-13/9/2017), MLAs received a combined estimate of £2,333,188. Continue reading How much do MLAs earn (or not)?

Was funding cut for youth work?

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CLAIM: The Irish News wrote that a funding cut places hundreds of youth work posts at risk.

CONCLUSION: UNSUBSTANTIATED. There is no evidence of any cut, nor any proposed cut. Yet there is uncertainty about continued funding, for this and other programmes, in light of the composition of a new Northern Ireland Executive (or direct rule governance) after elections in March 2017. Continue reading Was funding cut for youth work?

TheJournal.ie: Are there really more Polish speakers than Irish speakers in Northern Ireland?

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CLAIM: In Northern Ireland, more people speak Polish than speak Irish.

CONCLUSION: INACCURATE. While the 2011 Census data show more people in Northern Ireland speaking Polish than Irish as their main language, based on other available data it is implausible that there are more who speak Polish than Irish. Continue reading TheJournal.ie: Are there really more Polish speakers than Irish speakers in Northern Ireland?