Latest releases
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4,753 releases
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‘Step-change’ needed to tackle homelessness – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson, chair of the All-Party Group on Homelessness, has brought a cross-party Assembly motion to mark Homeless Awareness Week, calling for a major expansion of social and affordable housing via the Housing Executive and more British government funding for the Executive.
Housing Issue: Assembly motion marking Homeless Awareness Week 2024 Original release: ‘Step-change’ needed to tackle homelessness – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes passing of motion calling for improved regulation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments
SDLP MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes Assembly passage of Sinn Féin's motion urging better regulation of aesthetic procedures like injectables and fillers. She wants the health minister to ensure safe storage and administration by qualified practitioners and to bring forward proposals.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on regulating non-surgical cosmetic treatments passed Original release: Kimmins welcomes passing of motion calling for improved regulation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments (opens in a new tab)
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Plan needed to address waiting times for PEG surgery - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds says she welcomed Parents4Pegs to Stormont and calls for a plan to cut waiting times for PEG insertion surgery at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, where a backlog of 55 children is reported. She also wants parents better informed about ongoing discussions…
Health Issue: Parents4Pegs visit to Stormont over PEG surgery waiting times Original release: Plan needed to address waiting times for PEG surgery - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer…
North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett calls for an urgent review of Ulster Boxing Council policies and procedures after the body agreed a settlement with boxer Daryl Clarke, who was excluded from the 2022 Commonwealth Games team. He also says he has contacted funders and wants Commonwealth Games NI to…
Disability and equality Community relations and legacy Issue: Daryl Clarke settlement with Ulster Boxing Council over 2022 Commonwealth Games selection Original release: Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer… (opens in a new tab)
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Vote a disappointing step towards monumental change: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Commons Second Reading vote on the assisted dying bill is disappointing, though she welcomes that most Northern Ireland MPs voted against it. She says the Bill's flaws will be highlighted at Committee Stage and before the final vote.
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: Vote a disappointing step towards monumental change: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says over £437,000 has been spent on Irish language interpretation in the Assembly, calling it a waste, and criticises the simultaneous translation system made permanent after a six-month review. His release also cites Assembly Commission answers on the Interpretation and…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Commission review of Irish language interpretation service Original release: Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a £1.2million pilot Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund for young children with special educational needs. Settings with a child undergoing statutory assessment will receive £750 per month per class, with payments in tranches.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund pilot announcement Original release: Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with… (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes planning approval from Derry City and Strabane Council for 674 homes in the Waterside, a development she says is worth over £100 million. She also urges London to provide fairer funding to the Executive so more social and affordable housing can be built.
Housing Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane Council approval of 674 Waterside homes Original release: Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry (opens in a new tab)
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We should protect life: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the NHS must focus on protecting life and the vulnerable ahead of Friday's Commons debate on assisted dying. She argues palliative care must be properly addressed, claims assisted suicide schemes widen over time, and says the bill's safeguards lack detail on preventing…
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: We should protect life: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive news’ medical students now able to access tuition fee loans for Magee – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes an announcement by Economy Minister Conor Murphy that graduate entry medical students at Magee can access tuition fee loans from September 2025. He says the change removes a barrier to study and supports staffing in health services.
Education Health Issue: Tuition fee loans for graduate entry medical students at Magee Original release: ‘Positive news’ medical students now able to access tuition fee loans for Magee – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Assisted dying bill "an act of humanity for those facing the end of life" - Lesley Veronica
Green Party deputy leader Lesley Veronica backs the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ahead of the Commons vote, rejecting claims it would undermine palliative care and citing other countries' figures on who requests assisted dying.
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: Assisted dying bill "an act of humanity for those facing the end of life" - Lesley Veronica (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit.
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes plans to extend free sight tests, dental treatment and hospital travel help to Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland, saying realignment with the UK should happen within six months, followed by a six-week consultation.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit eyecare and health cost entitlement realignment with UK Original release: Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit. (opens in a new tab)
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Record health waiting lists product of political dysfunction, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says record diagnostic waiting list figures, showing 506,612 people awaiting specialist diagnosis as of September, reflect political dysfunction at Stormont. She calls on all parties to back health reform.
Health Issue: Quarterly diagnostic waiting list statistics published November 2024 Original release: Record health waiting lists product of political dysfunction, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Relevant decision makers must be held accountable for hospital fiasco…
Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds, the DUP's health spokesperson, welcomes the Belfast Trust and Department of Health being called to brief the Health Committee on the new Royal Victoria maternity hospital. She calls for accountability over delays, rising costs and bacteria in water pipework.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Trust and Department of Health appearance before Health Committee on maternity hospital Original release: Relevant decision makers must be held accountable for hospital fiasco… (opens in a new tab)
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Website launched to build support for Mutual Enforcement Bill
TUV leader Jim Allister says a new website urges people across the UK to write to their MPs backing his Mutual Enforcement Bill ahead of its Second Reading on 6 December. He highlights support from Unionist MPs, several Conservative and Reform UK figures and Labour MP Graham Stringer.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Website launch to build support for Mutual Enforcement Bill Original release: Website launched to build support for Mutual Enforcement Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn welcomes plan to improve addiction services
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes the health minister's newly launched plan to strengthen substance misuse support for vulnerable people and their families. She says drug and alcohol deaths continue, often in working-class areas, and calls for a Belfast-based residential rehab service.
Health Issue: Health minister's substance use plan launch Original release: Flynn welcomes plan to improve addiction services (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson challenges Prime Minister
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says he challenged the Prime Minister over the Labour budget in a Westminster meeting, claiming it is taxing businesses to death. He calls on Labour to implement Safeguarding the Union commitments and says Intertrade UK and the Independent Monitoring Panel must be…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Labour budget and DUP meeting with Prime Minister Starmer Original release: Robinson challenges Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister calls for urgency in reforming children’s social care services.
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls for more urgency in reforming children's social care services, saying the lack of progress since the Ray Jones review's 53 recommendations is embarrassing and that the Health Minister and department must move faster.
Health Issue: Ray Jones children's social care review implementation conference Original release: McAllister calls for urgency in reforming children’s social care services. (opens in a new tab)
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McKeown urges public to support City Hall appeal for Palestinian medical aid and Children's Hospice
SDLP councillor Gary McKeown urges the public to donate at a charity box beside the Belfast City Hall Christmas tree, with this year's funds going to Palestinian medical aid and the children's hospice service.
International affairs Local government Original release: McKeown urges public to support City Hall appeal for Palestinian medical aid and Children's Hospice (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Executive must do more to support frontline services, after Women's Aid's annual report showed almost 11,000 referrals in 2023/24, up 600 on the previous year. She calls for greater investment across all departments.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Women's Aid annual report 2023/24 referrals increase Original release: McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls (opens in a new tab)