Latest releases
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3,366 releases
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Minister outlines vision for housing ahead of opening new £100m…
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons sets out housing priorities at the Northern Ireland Housing Conference, including more social and affordable homes, and opens the 653-home Black Ridge development in west Belfast.
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Audit Office report must act as stimulus for change: Dodds
DUP Health spokesperson Diane Dodds says the Audit Office report on access to general practice must drive change, calling for technology to be used better, GP Federations to play a greater role, and multidisciplinary team funding to be rolled out across the province.
Health Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice Original release: Audit Office report must act as stimulus for change: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Patient safety must be a priority – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, speaking after a Public Services Ombudsman event on health service complaints, says patient safety must be a top priority and urges the Department of Health to act urgently on concerns raised by patients, families and staff.
Health Original release: Patient safety must be a priority – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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GP practices need supported to deliver vital services – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Health Minister to produce a plan addressing GP staffing, covering both recruitment and retention, after a Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice. She says GPs must be paid fairly and that reliance on temporary doctors must end.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice Original release: GP practices need supported to deliver vital services – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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GP surgeries are at breaking point, warns Donnelly, in response to Audit Office report
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA responds to an NI Audit Office report finding almost a third of GP practices have sought crisis support, and 39 assessed as at risk, urging the Health Minister to act on workforce, funding and transformation.
Health Issue: NI Audit Office report on GP services crisis Original release: GP surgeries are at breaking point, warns Donnelly, in response to Audit Office report (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges Minister to give A5 update
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to give the Assembly an update on next steps for the A5 upgrade. He says the public inquiry findings are still awaited and that work must begin before year end, after meeting the Enough is Enough campaign at Stormont.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 upgrade Enough is Enough campaign meeting at Stormont Original release: McCrossan urges Minister to give A5 update (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes discussions on junior doctors pay
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes discussions between the health minister and trade unions aimed at agreeing a fair pay increase for junior doctors. She calls for the talks to continue and for a pay settlement to be reached quickly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health minister and trade unions junior doctors pay discussions Original release: Kimmins welcomes discussions on junior doctors pay (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly must work together to support Victoria Square homeowners – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane urges Assembly parties to cooperate on legislation closing a legal gap that stops Victoria Square apartment owners claiming compensation for defects found after the six-year limit. He says owners remain saddled with mortgages and maintenance costs five years after…
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: Assembly must work together to support Victoria Square homeowners – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken calls for Northern Ireland legislation change to help protect homeowners from defective buildings
UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA calls for Northern Ireland legislation to be amended to give homeowners the same protections against defective buildings as the rest of the UK, after a High Court ruling left Victoria Square apartment residents unable to claim.
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: Aiken calls for Northern Ireland legislation change to help protect homeowners from defective buildings (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson calls for NI to replicate Building Safety Act
DUP MP Gavin Robinson calls for Northern Ireland to pass legislation matching England and Wales' Building Safety Act, extending the limitation period to 30 years, to help Victoria Square apartment residents in Belfast who are barred from seeking redress over structural defects.
Housing Original release: Robinson calls for NI to replicate Building Safety Act (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing
UUP agriculture spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says farming's role in climate change needs addressing, arguing farmers are partners rather than scapegoats. He points to carbon sequestration, renewable energy on farms and the sector's economic importance, and calls for incentives and collaboration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole presses Executive to help Victoria Square apartment owners
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says he raised Victoria Square apartment owners' plight with Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald after a court ruled them ineligible for compensation. He urges the Executive to introduce legislation extending the time limit for claims.
Housing Issue: Victoria Square apartment owners court ruling on compensation Original release: O’Toole presses Executive to help Victoria Square apartment owners (opens in a new tab)
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School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston says the Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme excludes Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, which bans trees from Great Britain entering the region. He argues this shows the Windsor Framework has not removed such bans and accuses the DUP…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Woodland Trust Free Trees scheme unavailable in Northern Ireland Original release: School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes a 12-week DAERA consultation on recycling and waste, saying its 26 proposals could raise household recycling from 51 to 74 per cent. He urges the public to respond.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: New recycling and waste management proposals are fantastic news for the environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Opposition welcomes Speaker’s ruling on accountability
SDLP MLAs Mark H Durkan and Cara Hunter welcome Speaker Edwin Poots’ ruling that Ministers must answer Assembly questions, and call on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to stop referring queries to generic email addresses and answer the 78 housing‑related questions he has avoided.
Housing Issue: Speaker’s ruling that Ministers must answer Assembly questions Original release: Opposition welcomes Speaker’s ruling on accountability (opens in a new tab)
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Recycling should be an integral part of our everyday lives, says Muir
Alliance Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA calls for recycling to become an everyday activity in homes, workplaces and public settings, as he launches a 12-week consultation on 26 proposals to improve recycling and waste management.
Environment and climate Issue: Department 12-week recycling and waste management consultation launch Original release: Recycling should be an integral part of our everyday lives, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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1200 primary school children get set to celebrate sport
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons attended the first of two Celebration of Sport activity days in Ballymoney, where almost 500 primary pupils tried sports including canoeing, cricket and wheelchair basketball. He says the event, now in its 10th year, promotes physical activity and inclusion.
Health Original release: 1200 primary school children get set to celebrate sport (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces raise in value limit for Co-Ownership
The DUP highlights Communities Minister Gordon Lyons raising Co-Ownership's upper property value limit from £190,000 to £195,000, which it says will help more people into home ownership and support construction.
Housing Issue: Co-Ownership upper property value limit increase to £195,000 Original release: Minister announces raise in value limit for Co-Ownership (opens in a new tab)
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Level of assaults on police officers “entirely unacceptable”: Buchanan
DUP MLA Keith Buchanan says it is entirely unacceptable that around eight PSNI officers are assaulted daily and calls for action beyond aspiration on officer welfare. He welcomes the Chief Constable's willingness to make personal impact statements to courts in assault cases.
Justice and policing Health Original release: Level of assaults on police officers “entirely unacceptable”: Buchanan (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces a further £3million for Supporting People programme
The DUP announces that Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has secured an additional £3million for the Supporting People programme, distributed by the Housing Executive to accredited providers for supported accommodation for vulnerable people, including young people and older adults.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Additional £3million funding for Supporting People programme Original release: Minister announces a further £3million for Supporting People programme (opens in a new tab)