Latest releases
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3,441 releases
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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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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Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA welcomes the return of vasectomy procedures to GP practices after funding was withdrawn in 2023.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)
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Hargey condemns ‘sickening’ racist graffiti
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns racist graffiti daubed on a home in Finaghy, South Belfast, calling it a despicable attempt to intimidate and stir up hate. She urges political representatives to stand together against it and asks anyone with information to come forward as PSNI investigates…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Finaghy graffiti on South Belfast home threatening resident who spoke out Original release: Hargey condemns ‘sickening’ racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl condemns those behind 'sinister' graffiti which appeared on South Belfast home
Alliance South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl condemns the 'sinister' graffiti on a home in Finaghy, calling it a threat to a local person who spoke out. She reports the graffiti to the PSNI, urges anyone with information to contact them, and calls on all parties to condemn racism together.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Finaghy graffiti on South Belfast home threatening resident who spoke out Original release: Nicholl condemns those behind 'sinister' graffiti which appeared on South Belfast home (opens in a new tab)
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Commissioning adult ADHD services in NI of vital important, says McReynolds, after launching petition
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds calls on the Department of Health to commission adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland and to develop a comprehensive ADHD strategy, after launching a public petition to be presented to the Assembly’s Speaker.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Petition to commission adult ADHD services in NI Original release: Commissioning adult ADHD services in NI of vital important, says McReynolds, after launching petition (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland fantasy meets cold, hard financial reality
TUV Carrick Castle Councillor David Clarke says an Institute of International and European Affairs report on the costs of a united Ireland shows Northern Ireland is better off in the UK, citing projected annual costs and lower living standards. He argues against Irish reunification, pointing to…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Institute of International and European Affairs report on costs of Irish unification Original release: All-Ireland fantasy meets cold, hard financial reality (opens in a new tab)
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No Congestion Charges – Free Public Transport
People Before Profit opposes congestion charges, which it says would create class barriers to city centres, and calls for free, frequent public transport in urban centres instead. It responds to a proposal by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan that councils prepare traffic plans by 2026 and consider…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Eamon Ryan congestion charges proposal Original release: No Congestion Charges – Free Public Transport (opens in a new tab)
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Department of Education publishes Healthy Happy Minds evaluation
The DUP reports that the Department of Education has released an external review of the Healthy Happy Minds pilot, which delivered counselling and therapeutic support in primary schools from November 2021 to March 2023. Education Minister Paul Givan says he will weigh its findings alongside wider…
Education Health Issue: Healthy Happy Minds pilot evaluation publication Original release: Department of Education publishes Healthy Happy Minds evaluation (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes investment in health service dentistry
Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers welcomes the £9 million targeted support package for health‑service dentistry, saying the three measures will aid general dental practitioners and improve patient access after pandemic‑related pressures.
Health Issue: £9m health service dentistry support package Original release: Chambers welcomes investment in health service dentistry (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to improve water quality – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan calls for an urgent review of how water quality is addressed across the north, following an Audit Office report finding no improvement in water quality over almost a decade. She urges full implementation of the report's recommendations by the Department of Agriculture…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on water quality in rivers and lakes Original release: Urgent action needed to improve water quality – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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7,681 abortions in Northern Ireland since law change
TUV leader Jim Allister says 7,681 abortions have been carried out in Northern Ireland since the abortion regulations took effect in March 2020, based on a Department of Health answer to his written question. He criticises the Sinn Fein-led return to government and cites a 79% opposition figure…
Health Issue: Department of Health figures on abortions since 2020 regulations Original release: 7,681 abortions in Northern Ireland since law change (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Lauren Kendall urges support for those struggling with addiction
Green Party NI councillor Lauren Kendall, representing Holywood and Clandeboye, backs Rory Sloan's ResoluteMinds peer-support launch on 15 May 2024 and calls on the NI Executive to make drug and addiction a priority in the Programme for Government.