Latest releases
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2,485 releases
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‘Block on life-saving organ donation law unacceptable’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the blocking of the organ donation law is unacceptable, and calls on the DUP to return to the Executive so the legislation can be implemented without delay.
Health Issue: Organ donation law implementation blocked by Executive deadlock Original release: ‘Block on life-saving organ donation law unacceptable’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Private care home profits ‘outrageous’ – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín condemns reports that the head of private care home operator Runwood took over £21m in pay over five years. She says profits are being made at the expense of vulnerable residents, citing safety concerns at homes in her North Belfast constituency.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Runwood care home operator executive pay reports Original release: Private care home profits ‘outrageous’ – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Gerard Herdman Selected To Contest the Black Mountain DEA in West Belfast for Aontú
Aontú has selected Gerard Herdman, a West Belfast plumbing tutor, as its candidate for the Black Mountain district electoral area ahead of the upcoming local elections. Herdman says the Stormont parties have left West Belfast behind and calls for MLAs to lose salaries if they fail to work, and for…
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Aontú selects Gerard Herdman as Black Mountain local election candidate Original release: Gerard Herdman Selected To Contest the Black Mountain DEA in West Belfast for Aontú (opens in a new tab)
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Sabotage of organ donation law change could cost lives – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers warns that the stalled organ donation law change, the soft opt-out Organ Donation Bill, could cost lives while Northern Ireland lacks ministers and a working Executive. He says the changes are now mothballed and that the delay will worsen the region's outdated…
Health Issue: Organ donation law implementation blocked by Executive deadlock Original release: Sabotage of organ donation law change could cost lives – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Delay to Dáithí’s law disgraceful
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath condemns the delay to Dáithí's law on automatic opt-out organ donation, caused by the lack of an Executive and Assembly, and urges the Northern Ireland Secretary to step in and remove the hold-up.
Health Issue: Organ donation law implementation blocked by Executive deadlock Original release: McGrath: Delay to Dáithí’s law disgraceful (opens in a new tab)
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Hospital Campaigns Commit to National Day of Action on A&E Overcrowding on January 21st.
Aontú's Peadar Tóibín, chair of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign, says a National Hospitals Campaign meeting has organised a national day of action on 21 January against A&E overcrowding and capacity cuts. He says the HSE's Navan ambulance bypass is causing chaos, and calls for a review of the HSE…
Health Issue: National Hospitals Campaign day of action on 21 January Original release: Hospital Campaigns Commit to National Day of Action on A&E Overcrowding on January 21st. (opens in a new tab)
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Transforming local health services is our priority – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes a £9 million investment to upgrade the power supply at Daisy Hill Hospital, part of a wider £20 million plan including a new MRI/CT suite. He calls for an Executive and health minister to be restored now and urges the DUP to end its blockade.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital £9 million power supply upgrade announcement Original release: Transforming local health services is our priority – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast is the 50th most congested city in the world - Cllr Mal O'Hara
Green Party councillor Malachi O'Hara responds to a report ranking Belfast 50th most congested city worldwide, blaming successive Executives for failing to invest in public transport and cut car dependence. He says the Assembly's 2020 climate emergency declaration has produced little action, and…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast ranked 50th most congested city worldwide report Original release: Belfast is the 50th most congested city in the world - Cllr Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Executive need to invest in health services – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls for a functioning Executive and a health minister to fund GP services and recruit more doctors and nurses, after meeting GP organisations about closures and staff shortages. He urges the DUP to stop obstructing the Executive.
Health Original release: Executive need to invest in health services – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty welcomes major investment for Daisy Hill
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty welcomes a £9.2 million Department of Health investment in Daisy Hill Hospital, which will fund an MRI suite and wider service upgrades. He calls for these upgrades to be progressed at pace and kept on track.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital £9.2 million Department of Health investment Original release: McNulty welcomes major investment for Daisy Hill (opens in a new tab)
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More public awareness is key to saving lives, says Dickson, marking Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson, marking Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day, shares his experience of surviving oesophageal cancer and urges wider public awareness of symptoms so that people can be diagnosed and treated earlier.
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Fair pay key to safe staffing our health service – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the UK Government to prioritise safe staffing in healthcare at all times, not only during industrial action, and to agree enhanced pay awards for NHS staff. She claims the Independent Pay Review Body recommendation lags behind inflation.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Government legislation on safe staffing during industrial action in healthcare Original release: Fair pay key to safe staffing our health service – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposes Tory ‘Anti Trade Union’ Bill
SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood opposes the British Government's Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which would let employers in critical public services sack and sue striking staff. He says nurses are using food banks and calls for essential workers to be paid properly.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill in the House of Commons Original release: SDLP Opposes Tory ‘Anti Trade Union’ Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent investigation needed into year-long waits for red flag referrals, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw calls for an urgent investigation into red flag referral waits that are now taking months, with some cancer referrals exceeding a year. She says MLAs should return to Stormont to scrutinise health reform.
Health Issue: Red flag referral waiting times for cancer patients in Northern Ireland Original release: Urgent investigation needed into year-long waits for red flag referrals, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Kate Nicholl say they met DAERA's Permanent Secretary and senior team about pressures from having no Minister, including climate and environmental protection and budgets. Blair calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and reform the institutions.
Environment and climate Issue: Alliance meeting with DAERA Permanent Secretary on Ministerial vacancy Original release: Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan urges the North to move forward with a ban on single-use plastics after England announced one would proceed before year's end. He points to Scotland's ban, Wales' plans and the New Decade, New Approach pledge on plastic pollution.
Environment and climate Issue: England single-use plastics ban announcement January 2023 Original release: Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew concerned at the rising crisis in our health service
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says it is deeply concerning that non-urgent operations are being cancelled because of health service pressures. He blames years of Tory cuts and calls for substantial health investment, fair pay for workers, and the DUP to return to the Executive.
Health Issue: Cancellation of non-urgent surgeries due to health service pressures Original release: Gildernew concerned at the rising crisis in our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Problems being caused to medicines supply by Protocol “indefensible” – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says a Nuffield Trust report confirms Protocol effects on medicine availability in Northern Ireland, calls for medicines to be removed from the Protocol's scope, and urges the UK Government to track divergence and defend equal access.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Nuffield Trust report on medicine availability under the NI Protocol Original release: Problems being caused to medicines supply by Protocol “indefensible” – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Health crisis will continue to deepen without political leadership – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns that the health service crisis will worsen while the Executive remains unrestored, saying winter pressures are costing lives and staff are being let down. He says the delay is leaving the health system without the leadership needed to implement…
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Lack of Executive causing more stress for cancer patients – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the lack of an Executive is adding stress for cancer patients, citing Department of Health figures showing under 40 percent start treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral. He urges the DUP to end its blockade and form an Executive to invest £1 billion in…
Health Issue: Department of Health cancer waiting times figures January 2023 Original release: Lack of Executive causing more stress for cancer patients – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)