Latest releases
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4,753 releases
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Time to pull public funding to body promoting illegal drug use and dangerous messages on consent
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says he is disappointed that neither the Justice nor Health Minister appears concerned about Rainbow Project website advice on illegal drug use and consent, and calls for public funding to the organisation to be withdrawn.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Rainbow Project website drug use and consent content Original release: Time to pull public funding to body promoting illegal drug use and dangerous messages on consent (opens in a new tab)
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‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes news that NI Water will have capacity to connect 2,300 new properties to wastewater infrastructure, following Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd’s £19.5 million allocation, and says Sinn Féin will press the British government for fairer funding.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: ‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Statement on the introduction of the EU General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister says he is deeply concerned about the EU General Product Safety Regulations taking effect in Northern Ireland, claiming they cut Northern Ireland off from GB suppliers, with eleven GB crafts firms reportedly ceasing service. He points to his EU (Withdrawal Arrangements)…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Statement on the introduction of the EU General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken Highlights Impact of New EU Regulations
UUP MLA Dr Steve Aiken OBE says the EU's General Product Safety Regulations, now in force, add cost and red tape for UK firms selling into Northern Ireland. He says Alliance and Sinn Féin voted down his party's request for the Windsor Framework scrutiny committee to examine the regulation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU General Product Safety Regulations introduced in Northern Ireland Original release: Aiken Highlights Impact of New EU Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andy McMurray MLA says a further £19.5m for NI Water from the October Monitoring round falls well short of its £266m capital shortfall. He calls for the Minister to explore alternative funding models, including mutualisation.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive news’ that new social homes to be built in west Belfast – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes Belfast City Council Planning Committee approval of a 62-unit social housing development on the Whiterock Road in west Belfast. She says it will house people on the waiting list and includes parking, greenery, a children's centre and open space.
Housing Local government Issue: Whiterock Road social housing development approved by Belfast City Council Original release: ‘Positive news’ that new social homes to be built in west Belfast – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Rise in patient deaths while waiting for an ambulance ‘deeply worrying and totally unacceptable’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls increased patient deaths while waiting for an ambulance worrying and unacceptable, pointing to rising demand and handover delays caused by staff shortages and A&E pressures. She urges the Health Minister and department to take urgent action.
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Rising levels of child homelessness ‘deeply concerning’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson says rising child homelessness is deeply concerning after new figures showed over 5,300 children in temporary accommodation. She welcomes the new housing supply strategy and says she will bring legislation to curb unfair letting agent fees for private renters.
Housing Issue: New NI child homelessness figures showing over 5,300 children in temporary accommodation Original release: Rising levels of child homelessness ‘deeply concerning’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Time for statutory public inquiry following cervical screening reports, says Guy, speaking alongside Ladies with Letters.
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy calls on the Health Minister to order a statutory public inquiry after reports on the Southern Trust cervical screening failings, saying serious questions remain unanswered and accountability is needed. She also backs the Ladies with Letters campaign group's call for an…
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Time for statutory public inquiry following cervical screening reports, says Guy, speaking alongside Ladies with Letters. (opens in a new tab)
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Latest figures on attitudes to refugees and asylum seekers reinforce need for relevant strategies, says Bradshaw.
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says newly released statistics showing reduced public support in Northern Ireland for welcoming refugees and for letting asylum seekers stay reinforce the need for a Refugee Integration Strategy and wider race relations work.
Immigration Disability and equality Issue: Latest NI attitudes to refugees and asylum seekers statistics release Original release: Latest figures on attitudes to refugees and asylum seekers reinforce need for relevant strategies, says Bradshaw. (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú: Brennan ‘exclusion zone’ case may be pivotal in balancing rights
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly backs pro-life campaigner Claire Brennan, fined £750 for praying near Coleraine Area Hospital in a buffer zone, and says the case could help overturn the zones Aontú opposed in the Assembly.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Claire Brennan fined over Coleraine hospital buffer zone prayer Original release: Aontú: Brennan ‘exclusion zone’ case may be pivotal in balancing rights (opens in a new tab)
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Public inquiry call repeated after findings of cervical screening review
TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe says the party was first to call for a public inquiry into the cervical screening scandal and that MLA Timothy Gaston will press Health Minister Nesbitt before the Christmas break to answer outstanding questions and explain how long he has held draft answers from…
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Public inquiry call repeated after findings of cervical screening review (opens in a new tab)
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Trade Figures – “highly indicative of trade diversion” – Jim Allister KC MP Responds
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP responds to NISRA 2023 trade statistics, citing economist Dr Esmond Birnie's view that Northern Ireland's purchases from the Republic grew at twice the rate of those from GB, indicating trade diversion. He calls for the Government to adopt his EU (Withdrawal…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: NISRA Trade Statistics 2023 publication on Windsor Framework trade impact Original release: Trade Figures – “highly indicative of trade diversion” – Jim Allister KC MP Responds (opens in a new tab)
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Will anyone be held accountable for cervical screening failings? –…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, Party Health Spokesperson, says the review into cervical screening misreads at the Southern Trust raises accountability questions and calls for a public inquiry to establish the full truth and restore confidence.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Will anyone be held accountable for cervical screening failings? –… (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey encourages public to join organ donor register
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey urges people not yet on the organ donor register to sign up, citing the 18 months since Dáithí's law took effect and the MacGabhann family's awareness work. He says joining takes two minutes and can help those waiting for transplants.
Health Original release: Maskey encourages public to join organ donor register (opens in a new tab)
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Conclusion of Southern Trust smear test review ‘important step’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the end of the Southern Trust’s review of about 17,500 smear tests marks a key progress point, and she will meet the trust, push for a swift independent expert assessment, request a health‑minister update on HPV testing and urge women to attend cervical screening.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Conclusion of Southern Trust smear test review ‘important step’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Democratic Consent motion outcome offers opportunities if Unionism provide strategic solutions – Beattie.
UUP Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie says the Democratic Consent motion outcome on Windsor Framework articles 5-10 could offer opportunities if unionism adopts strategic thinking. He points to an independent review of those articles and calls for unionists to work together to influence it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: Democratic Consent motion outcome offers opportunities if Unionism provide strategic solutions – Beattie. (opens in a new tab)
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Political reform essential to grasp economic opportunities, says Nicholl.
Alliance Economy spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA calls on political parties to provide certainty for businesses and work together to exploit post-Brexit trading arrangements, following the Democratic Consent Motion vote on the Windsor Framework. She also calls for institutional reform to secure…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Democratic Consent vote on the Windsor Framework continuation Original release: Political reform essential to grasp economic opportunities, says Nicholl. (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Unionism to stand up, not lie down under EU rule
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Assembly vote on EU-related law, passed without cross-community support, leaves unionists choosing between staying in the Executive or refusing to take part. He cites a High Court ruling on the 'Safeguarding the Union' assurances and says unionists should not stay…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: Time for Unionism to stand up, not lie down under EU rule (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLAs oppose continued imposition of Protocol on Northern Ireland
The DUP says its MLAs set out a clear objection during the Assembly debate on the consent motion for Articles 5 to 10 of the NI Protocol. It claims the vote was rigged because cross-community consent was removed for the first time in Assembly history. Jonathan Buckley MLA led for the party.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly democratic consent vote on Windsor Framework Articles 5-10 Original release: DUP MLAs oppose continued imposition of Protocol on Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)