Latest releases
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3,061 releases
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Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says newly published Rivers Trust data showing no Northern Ireland river stretches at good overall status is disappointing but not surprising. He links the decline to agricultural run-off, sewage, invasive species and underinvestment, and calls for…
Environment and climate Issue: Rivers Trust State of Our Rivers 2024 report on Northern Ireland waters Original release: Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Life should be valued: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, Chair of the All Party Pro-Life Group, says society should focus on protecting life and improving palliative care rather than advancing assisted dying, following a Health and Social Care Committee report.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care Committee report on assisted dying Original release: Life should be valued: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people across the island deserve better access to mental services – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for better children's mental health access across the island, citing a Dáil bill by Mark Ward TD on youth mental health services in the south. She urges north-south ministerial cooperation and calls on the Health Minister to bring forward a plan to increase…
Health Issue: Mark Ward TD youth mental health legislation in the Dáil Original release: Children and young people across the island deserve better access to mental services – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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More help needed to support carers – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says more help is needed for carers, especially women forced to cut hours or leave jobs, reacting to a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report. She calls for investment in social care, stronger workers' rights and better childcare, and welcomes the Economy Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: More help needed to support carers – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA expresses concern over a Translink-commissioned report on projected sea level rise threatening rail locations, saying 7 are at high risk by 2040. He calls for urgent consultation with the Department for Infrastructure on moving and re-routing the…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Translink report on sea level rise impacts to rail infrastructure Original release: Stewart expresses concerns on the impact of projected sea level rises on rail infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
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Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood
Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood MLA says carers need far more support, citing a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report finding nearly 60% of unpaid carers are women. She backs its recommendations, including paid carer's leave, and says she has asked the Economy Minister to include it in a…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must outline transformation plans, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister says the Health Minister must set out his plans for reforming local health services after a speech that listed problems without follow-up proposals. She urges him to implement the Bengoa reforms and bring constructive proposals to…
Health Issue: Health Minister speech on current health service problems Original release: Health Minister must outline transformation plans, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes progress towards agreed pay settlement for health workers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes progress towards 2023/24 pay settlements for health workers, noting a proposal restoring pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff. He hopes further announcements on doctors' and dentists' pay will follow soon.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care 2023/24 pay settlement proposal Original release: Chambers welcomes progress towards agreed pay settlement for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance's Nick Mathison MLA, Chair of the Assembly's Education Committee, urges the Education Minister to direct any extra SEND funding to pupils and the workforce ahead of a Monday Assembly debate. He says the current support system has failed pupils, parents and schools and warns against a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on special educational needs and disabilities provision Original release: Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors, through South Belfast Councillor Tara Brooks, call for Belfast City Council to lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and reporting the gender pay gap, noting Northern Ireland has no legal obligation to do so.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Brett launches Children’s Hospice petition
DUP MLA Phillip Brett has opened a petition urging the Department of Health to close the funding gap facing the NI Children's Hospice, which he says has already reduced bed numbers and threatens respite care at Horizon House.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Children's Hospice funding shortfall petition Original release: Brett launches Children’s Hospice petition (opens in a new tab)
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New DAERA Minister Andrew Muir visits Portavogie
Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir visits Portavogie Harbour and congratulates NIFHA on a UK Seafood Fund offer of 75% of a £3.6million slipway upgrade. He says his Department will provide the remaining 25% match funding and will shortly consider a five-year fisheries strategic plan.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Minister Andrew Muir visit to Portavogie Harbour Original release: New DAERA Minister Andrew Muir visits Portavogie (opens in a new tab)
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Call for updated plan to tackle waiting list crisis
DUP MLA Diane Dodds proposes an Assembly motion urging an updated plan to cut NHS waiting lists, citing an NI Audit Office report showing waiting time targets have not been met for about a decade. She calls for regional, Northern Ireland-wide service planning and partners beyond local providers…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on NHS waiting lists, October 2023 Original release: Call for updated plan to tackle waiting list crisis (opens in a new tab)
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New NI measles case greatly worrying, says Donnelly, encouraging public to make sure they’re up to date on vaccinations
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says a newly confirmed measles case in Northern Ireland, the first in seven years, is deeply concerning and urges people behind on MMR jabs to take up catch-up clinics. He notes only 85% of children are fully vaccinated by age five, well short of the…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland's first measles case in seven years Original release: New NI measles case greatly worrying, says Donnelly, encouraging public to make sure they’re up to date on vaccinations (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs welcome commitment to sign language legislation
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Kellie Armstrong welcome the Communities Minister's pledge to bring forward sign language legislation as a priority, with Bradshaw criticising the 21-year wait for it.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister commitment on sign language legislation at Assembly Question Time Original release: Alliance MLAs welcome commitment to sign language legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Get Organised Against Racism – Stand Together
People Before Profit says racism and fascist violence are rising in Ireland and calls for them to be stopped. It accuses groups including the National Party and Irish Freedom Party of redirecting anger over housing and living costs onto migrants and other minorities, and urges students to stand…
Disability and equality Immigration Original release: Get Organised Against Racism – Stand Together (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly encourages Health Minister to urgently engage with BMA to resolve ongoing dispute after strike announcement
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA urges the Health Minister to quickly open talks with the BMA over junior doctors' pay and conditions before the planned 6 March strike, after a ballot backed industrial action.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA junior doctors strike ballot result and 6 March action Original release: Donnelly encourages Health Minister to urgently engage with BMA to resolve ongoing dispute after strike announcement (opens in a new tab)
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No ‘united Ireland’ clarification from RCN after 6 months
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says the Royal College of Nursing has not responded, after six months, to his letter asking whether General Secretary Pat Cullen's reunification remarks at a West Belfast Festival event reflected the College's position. He says the question should now be aired publicly.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Pat Cullen reunification remarks at West Belfast Festival event Original release: No ‘united Ireland’ clarification from RCN after 6 months (opens in a new tab)
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QUB must challenge antisemitism: Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett condemns the projection of an antisemitic slogan onto Queen's University's Lanyon Building and calls for a full investigation into the incident, including whether staff were involved. He also calls for a clear condemnation statement from the University and for…
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Antisemitic projection onto Queen's University Lanyon Building Original release: QUB must challenge antisemitism: Brett (opens in a new tab)