Latest releases
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4,193 releases
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Dodds - winter pressures plan is woeful
DUP Stormont Health Committee member Diane Dodds says Christmas hospital waiting times reflect a woeful winter pressures plan, which she claims copies last year's failed plan. She cites A&E waits of over 13 hours at Craigavon and over 12 at Causeway, and calls for systemic reform.
Health Issue: Winter pressures plan and hospital A&E waiting times over Christmas Original release: Dodds - winter pressures plan is woeful (opens in a new tab)
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Let's make our roads safer
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who chairs the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, calls for more action on road safety in 2025 after the number of road deaths in Northern Ireland in 2024. She urges DfI to fund and implement the road safety strategy to 2030, asks PSNI to keep enforcing laws on speeding…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Let's make our roads safer (opens in a new tab)
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New Year Message from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, now Health Minister, uses his New Year message to call for change in health and social care and for every Executive party to commit to never collapsing the institutions again.
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Concerns about policy on transgender prisons raised in September – but ignored
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the Department of Justice has conceded a legal challenge by a transgender prisoner to be held in Hydebank Wood, which he claims shows the Executive lacks a policy on housing such prisoners. He argues the situation threatens female safety and questions the purpose of a…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Department of Justice concession on Hydebank Wood transfer challenge Original release: Concerns about policy on transgender prisons raised in September – but ignored (opens in a new tab)
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‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has asked to meet the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urge the immediate restoration of funding for the NI Rural Women’s Network, whose grant was suspended over a small HMRC matter, stressing the need to protect rural women’s services.
Disability and equality Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Funding suspension for NI Rural Women’s Network Original release: ‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Answers needed over cervical screening concerns – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to act urgently over cervical screening, citing resignation letters from two senior medics and questioning the Belfast Trust's continued bid for the regional HPV testing contract while its accreditation was suspended. She calls for full…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust cervical screening accreditation and HPV contract concerns Original release: Answers needed over cervical screening concerns – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she met Home Office Minister Jess Phillips to urge a comprehensive UK-wide strategy on violence against women and girls, citing the murders of Natalie McNally and Karen Cummings and calling for tougher sentencing and better victim support.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -… (opens in a new tab)
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Cervical screening resignations show need for a statutory public inquiry, say Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nuala McAllister call for a full statutory inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening failings, urging the Health Minister to act without delay after two senior medics resigned over concerns about the service.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening resignations of two senior medics Original release: Cervical screening resignations show need for a statutory public inquiry, say Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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Cautious Welcome to Draft Budget - Aiken
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the draft 2025/26 budget going to public consultation but says it fails to tackle Health waiting lists after a £34m allocation was removed. He also says Education, Policing, Agriculture and infrastructure lack sufficient funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive agreement on draft budget 2025-26 Original release: Cautious Welcome to Draft Budget - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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Suspension of border checks
TUV leader Jim Allister MP welcomes DAERA's temporary suspension of inspections on freight vehicles carrying goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, caused by Holyhead port disruption, but argues it shows the Irish Sea arrangements can be paused for EU and Republic interests.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Suspension of border checks (opens in a new tab)
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Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley welcomes DAERA's decision to temporarily suspend seal checks on lorries bound for Belfast, which followed the temporary closure of Holyhead port, and says it exposes EU and Irish claims about Irish Sea border checks as hypocritical.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Labour should deliver justice for WASPI women – DUP
DUP MPs Sammy Wilson and Jim Shannon call on the Labour Government to deliver redress for WASPI women after it announced it would not pay compensation, saying Labour campaigned for redress while in opposition.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Labour should deliver justice for WASPI women – DUP (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly.
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls for action on alcohol after new figures showed alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland rose 65 per cent over the past decade. He says intervention is needed to reduce harm and save lives.
Health Issue: Publication of alcohol-specific deaths statistics for Northern Ireland Original release: It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly. (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government has failed Waspi women
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the UK Government has let down Waspi women by refusing compensation over poor communication of state pension age changes. She says the decision ignores maladministration findings and will push campaigners back to court.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Hanna: UK Government has failed Waspi women (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls for urgent action following report on Violence Against Women and Girls
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Executive to act decisively after a Executive Office report found high rates of sexual, psychological and online abuse among adults and concerning attitudes towards harassment. She calls for faster delivery and proper funding of the Ending Violence…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office research on attitudes to gender-based violence and VAWG Original release: McLaughlin calls for urgent action following report on Violence Against Women and Girls (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes pay deal for health workers
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes a newly reached pay settlement for health workers agreed between the health minister and trade unions. She says health and social care staff are the backbone of the service and deserve decent pay and safe conditions, and pledges continued pressure for fair deals…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health minister and trade unions pay agreement for health workers Original release: Kimmins welcomes pay deal for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine
DUP Infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes, but asks why it came a week before Christmas. She says the interim measure could have been introduced earlier and calls for lessons to be learned…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Baker welcomes decision to allow taxis into some bus lanes in Belfast city centre
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes over the coming weeks, saying it will ease festive congestion and encourage shoppers to visit.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Baker welcomes decision to allow taxis into some bus lanes in Belfast city centre (opens in a new tab)
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Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth criticises DFI Minister John O'Dowd's decision to allow private taxis in Belfast bus lanes, calling it desperate and warning it puts cyclists at risk and confuses drivers. He calls for a walking, cycling and public transport-focused transport strategy.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood condemns Government decision to deny WASPI women compensation
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood condemns the UK Government's refusal to pay compensation to WASPI women after the Ombudsman recommended it, calling the decision a cruel betrayal and a blatant disregard for justice.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Eastwood condemns Government decision to deny WASPI women compensation (opens in a new tab)