Latest releases
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3,341 releases
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Health Minister must take action to avoid deepening GP workforce crisis, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to act on the Royal College of GPs' new strategy on GP workforce retention, citing low-cost options such as visa support for recruiting staff, a state-backed indemnity scheme and a review of uptake of the Attract…
Health Issue: Royal College of GPs report on general practice pressures Original release: Health Minister must take action to avoid deepening GP workforce crisis, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed to tackle children’s waiting lists – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for a plan to tackle children's waiting lists after a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report, noting over 22,000 children are waiting for various treatments. She urges the health minister to set out steps to reduce the backlog.
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: Action needed to tackle children’s waiting lists – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Legislation to protect homeowners with defective properties a ‘crucial step’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes the communities minister's intention to introduce legislation protecting homeowners who claim compensation for defective properties. He says it will close a legal loophole and cites residents of Victoria Square apartments facing large costs.
Housing Issue: Communities minister legislation on compensation for defective homes Original release: Legislation to protect homeowners with defective properties a ‘crucial step’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Children being failed by health system
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says children are being failed by long waits for healthcare, citing the RCPCH report on paediatric waiting times in Northern Ireland. He calls on the Health Minister to take forward its solutions and bring legislative changes to the Executive.
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Children being failed by health system (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Defective building legislation must help Victoria Square owners
SDLP MLA and Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole welcomes the Executive's commitment to extend the litigation limitation period for owners of defective property, but calls for the new law to be designed so Victoria Square owners can restart their legal action against developers.
Justice and policing Housing Issue: Communities minister legislation on compensation for defective homes Original release: O’Toole: Defective building legislation must help Victoria Square owners (opens in a new tab)
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Introduction of baby loss certificate important for bereaved families – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says a certificate acknowledging pregnancy loss before 24 weeks would recognise bereaved families, and announces a motion at the Assembly on Monday backing a Baby Loss Certificate scheme. She welcomes the finance minister's commitment to review the scheme with the health…
Health Issue: Finance Minister review of early baby loss certificate scheme Original release: Introduction of baby loss certificate important for bereaved families – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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“Over 600 beds unavailable every day” – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says 628 patients were kept in hospital unnecessarily on 15 March despite being fit to leave, calls for a dedicated team to be put in charge of resolving the bed blockage immediately, and says the figure is likely higher.
Health Issue: Health Minister figures on patients medically fit for discharge remaining in hospital Original release: “Over 600 beds unavailable every day” – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Muir welcomes opening of opt-in Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme
Alliance Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir welcomes the launch of online sign-up for the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme, a payment support scheme that encourages beef farms to cut the slaughter age of finished cattle. He urges farmers to engage with his Department.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme online sign-up launch Original release: Muir welcomes opening of opt-in Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Unacceptable crisis management in special educational needs has become the norm, says Mathison
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, says emergency crisis management in special educational needs placements has become the norm, after officials said almost 7,000 children need new placements and only 80 of 291 schools agreed to specialist provisions.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee briefing on SEN placements and specialist provisions in mainstream schools Original release: Unacceptable crisis management in special educational needs has become the norm, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan urges Education Authority to prioritise children with SEN
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Authority's leadership to listen to parents and prioritise children with special educational needs, ensuring those placed in September are placed on time. He calls for the education department to work with the health minister to overhaul SEN services…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Sheehan urges Education Authority to prioritise children with SEN (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers’ visit marks start of work on £1.1m shared space project in…
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly visited the site of a £1.1m redevelopment on the Newtownards Road in East Belfast, marking the start of work on the Hosford Community Homes Inclusion Hub. The project will provide six apartments for people at risk of…
Housing Issue: Hosford Community Homes Inclusion Hub East Belfast redevelopment start of work Original release: Ministers’ visit marks start of work on £1.1m shared space project in… (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart calls on Minister to prioritise introduction of baby loss…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Health Minister to prioritise introducing baby loss certificates in Northern Ireland, pointing to the scheme already in England, and says she has launched an online petition backing the proposal.
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Kimmins welcomes transfer of vasectomy services to GP practices
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes the health minister's announcement that vasectomy procedures are to move into GP surgeries, saying treatment closer to home will give patients earlier and easier access. She calls for continued joint work to transform health services.
Health Issue: Health minister announcement moving vasectomy services to GP practices Original release: Kimmins welcomes transfer of vasectomy services to GP practices (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly welcomes restoration of GP vasectomy services
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA welcomes the return of vasectomy procedures to GP practices after funding was withdrawn in 2023. He calls on the minister to reinstate funding for the full range of GP Elective Care Services.
Health Issue: Health minister announcement moving vasectomy services to GP practices Original release: Donnelly welcomes restoration of GP vasectomy services (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood launches cross-party skills group
Alliance Economy spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood announces a cross-party All Party Group on Skills, supported by the Open University, to examine northern Ireland's worst skills shortages. Its first inquiry will focus on skills in social care for an ageing population.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Eastwood launches cross-party skills group (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes commitment to review early baby loss certificates
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Finance Minister's pledge to examine the scheme issuing baby loss certificates for losses before 24 weeks of pregnancy. She says parents and families need support during such distressing times and will keep working with the finance and health ministers.
Health Issue: Finance Minister review of early baby loss certificate scheme Original release: Dillon welcomes commitment to review early baby loss certificates (opens in a new tab)
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GB and NI face separate carbon tax because of Sea Border
TUV vice chairman Allister Kyle says a Politico report on separate UK and EU carbon taxes shows the Sea Border's consequences, warning Northern Ireland goods could face EU carbon paperwork and costs. He criticises the DUP's silence on the issue.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Politico report on separate UK and EU carbon taxes Original release: GB and NI face separate carbon tax because of Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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Senator Mal O'Hara welcomes cross-border rail funding
Green Party Senator Mal O'Hara welcomes a €165 million investment in Belfast-Dublin cross-border rail services, linked to the PEACEPLUS programme, and calls on a Northern Ireland Transport Minister to match Dublin's shift of spending towards public transport.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Dublin to Belfast rail services £140 million investment Original release: Senator Mal O'Hara welcomes cross-border rail funding (opens in a new tab)
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Stephen Dunne MLA sends best wishes to the Princess of Wales
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne uses a Matter of the Day in the Assembly to send best wishes to the Princess of Wales after her cancer diagnosis, and calls for her privacy to be respected during recovery.
Other Health Original release: Stephen Dunne MLA sends best wishes to the Princess of Wales (opens in a new tab)
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Almost 15,000 waiting for autism assessment
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, Upper Bann, says a Health Minister response shows almost 15,000 people are awaiting autism assessment, including over 11,000 children with waits up to four and a half years. She calls the waits unacceptable and urges the appointment of a Lead for Adult Autism and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister response on autism assessment waiting lists Original release: Almost 15,000 waiting for autism assessment (opens in a new tab)