Latest releases
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3,926 releases
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‘Time for action to cut vaping in schools’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes an Assembly motion urging the education and health ministers to draw up a plan against vaping among pupils, citing principals asking for help and harm to young people.
Education Health Issue: Assembly motion on tackling vaping in schools Original release: ‘Time for action to cut vaping in schools’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell welcomes confirmation on Veterans Commissioner appointment
The DUP's Gregory Campbell welcomes written confirmation from Secretary of State Hilary Benn that a new Veterans Commissioner could be named by year-end, saying the post has been vacant for almost two months.
Social security and welfare Issue: Veterans Commissioner appointment timetable confirmed by Secretary of State Original release: Campbell welcomes confirmation on Veterans Commissioner appointment (opens in a new tab)
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Action must be taken on Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units:…
DUP Health Spokesperson and Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds welcomes the Department of Health's independent review of midwifery services, but presses the Health Minister to ensure Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units are fully staffed and can operate effectively, and questions Southern Trust…
Health Issue: Independent review of midwifery services and Daisy Hill maternity staffing Original release: Action must be taken on Daisy Hill and Craigavon maternity units:… (opens in a new tab)
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Budget must reward hard work and endeavour – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says the party has sent the Treasury a letter setting out its asks ahead of the 30 October Budget, calling for fairness on NI public service funding, working family taxation and childcare, fuel duty, and farming inheritance tax relief.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: DUP letter to Treasury ahead of October 2024 Budget Original release: Budget must reward hard work and endeavour – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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Interim report on drugs "positive to see progress on saving lives and reducing harm" - Senator O'Hara
Green Party Senator Mal O'Hara welcomes an Oireachtas joint committee interim report on drugs, which recommends a health-led approach, repealing Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997 and decriminalising possession of all substances for personal use. He urges the Executive parties in Northern…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Oireachtas joint committee interim report on drugs policy Original release: Interim report on drugs "positive to see progress on saving lives and reducing harm" - Senator O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Those with broadest shoulders must bear most burden, says Eastwood, calling for tax on super-wealthy.
Alliance Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood urges Chancellor Rachel Reeves, in a cross‑party letter ahead of the Autumn Budget, to introduce a tax on extreme wealth and consider carbon taxes on fossil‑fuel firms to fund public services.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: UK Autumn Budget wealth tax proposal Original release: Those with broadest shoulders must bear most burden, says Eastwood, calling for tax on super-wealthy. (opens in a new tab)
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Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy welcome the Education Minister’s response to the Independent Review of Education but say essential recommendations lack ambition, urging immediate action on raising participation age, SEN, academic selection, integrated schooling and an Early Childhood
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education recommendations response Original release: Vital that work starts now towards meaningful action, says Alliance Education representatives, following IRE report. (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed in terms of approach to HIV and ending stigma, says Harpur, proposing motion.
Alliance Castlereagh South Councillor Jamie Harpur calls on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to back a motion recognising the urgent need to end HIV and its stigma, including joining the HIV Fast Track Cities initiative to end the epidemic by 2030.
Health Local government Issue: Lisburn and Castlereagh council HIV motion on ending stigma and epidemic Original release: Urgent action needed in terms of approach to HIV and ending stigma, says Harpur, proposing motion. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath welcomes the Assembly's backing for more respite care for children and adults with complex needs and severe behavioural challenges. He says the SDLP amended a motion on adult provision to cover children, and he calls on the Health Minister…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: McGrath welcomes recognition of need for increased respite provision (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Workforce key to addressing maternity issues
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says workforce shortages must be tackled now, urging more midwife training places and recruitment before next September. He responds to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's Assembly statement on the independent maternity and neonatal review, calling for regional…
Health Issue: Independent review of midwifery services and Daisy Hill maternity staffing Original release: McGrath: Workforce key to addressing maternity issues (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Health Minister to rethink his decision not to develop a dedicated Women's Health Strategy, after he cited budget constraints in an Assembly answer. She calls the refusal a backwards step for women's health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister decision not to develop Women's Health Strategy Original release: McLaughlin: Minister of Health must rethink refusal of Women's Health Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Assembly's passage of a party motion urging the health minister to swiftly produce a plan to expand respite care for adults and children with learning disabilities and their carers.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on respite services for learning disability carers Original release: Sinn Féin motion supporting improved respite services passes in Assembly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces the launch of Language Launchpad, a project funded under the £25m Early Learning and Childcare package to support speech, language and communication development in early years, running until March 2025.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Language Launchpad early years speech and language project launch Original release: Education Minister welcomes Language Launchpad (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Councillor welcomes the first step at Westminster to introduce Assisted Dying in England & Wales
Green Party councillor Barry McKee welcomes the first reading of the Choice at the End of Life Bill at Westminster and urges Northern Ireland MPs to back legal change on assisted dying. He says the Stormont Executive should ensure residents are not left without choice.
Health Issue: Choice at the End of Life Bill first reading at Westminster Original release: Green Party Councillor welcomes the first step at Westminster to introduce Assisted Dying in England & Wales (opens in a new tab)
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Road maintenance funding cliff-edge threat could put lives at risk – Stewart
UUP MLA John Stewart, Deputy Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, warns road maintenance funding could be exhausted by November, putting lives at risk through dangerous surfaces. He calls on the Executive to direct available money in the next monitoring round to essential road maintenance.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Road maintenance funding exhaustion warning from Northern Ireland Mineral Products Association briefing Original release: Road maintenance funding cliff-edge threat could put lives at risk – Stewart (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins raises concerns for Southern Trust maternity services with health minister
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says she has contacted Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and senior Department of Health officials over staffing shortages and patient safety in Southern Trust maternity services. She cites reported difficulties recruiting obstetrics and gynaecology consultants and a recent…
Health Issue: Southern Trust maternity services consultant recruitment concerns Original release: Kimmins raises concerns for Southern Trust maternity services with health minister (opens in a new tab)
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‘Fairhill Health Centre patients must have access to GP’ – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin urges the Department of Health to help patients of Fairhill Health Centre in Magherafelt keep access to a GP as the centre closes in two weeks, including support for GPs taking on extra patients.
Health Issue: Fairhill Health Centre Magherafelt closure Original release: ‘Fairhill Health Centre patients must have access to GP’ – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston highlights lack of Unionist support to put the brakes on Irish signage
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says only his own signature is on a petition, lodged days earlier, to refer Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's decision on bilingual road signs in west Belfast to the Executive. He criticises unionist MLAs for not backing it and calls for others to sign.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister O'Dowd bilingual road signs decision in west Belfast Original release: Gaston highlights lack of Unionist support to put the brakes on Irish signage (opens in a new tab)
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Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation
Ógra Aontú condemns new Taliban "vice and virtue" laws requiring women to veil fully in public and banning women's voices outside the home. President John Bryan calls on the UN and EU to stop normalising relations with the Taliban and to hold it accountable.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Taliban vice and virtue laws restricting women's public voices and faces Original release: Ógra Aontú condemns recent Taliban human rights violation (opens in a new tab)
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Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women.
Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland urges wider recognition of the difficulties rural women encounter, pointing to job insecurity, limited childcare, and poor access to healthcare and transport in North Antrim, on International Day of Rural Women.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Original release: Mulholland commends strength and resilience of rural women on International Day of Rural Women. (opens in a new tab)