Latest releases
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3,340 releases
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McAllister calls for increased transparency and communication around waiting lists
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister calls for the Department of Health to be more open with patients about wait times, following a committee briefing on waiting lists. She also urges continued surgical hubs, more physical support and clearer communication for those awaiting treatment.
Health Issue: Health committee briefing on Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: McAllister calls for increased transparency and communication around waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery
Alliance South Down MLA Patrick Brown raises alarm over a reported cut of more than 60% to flood management funding in 2023/24 and questions why it was cut so deeply. He also queries how a £100k flood recovery grant scheme for businesses will be rolled out.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI flood management funding cut figures for 2023/24 Original release: Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors welcome the passing of their motion at Belfast City Council calling for gender pay gap reporting, noting no legal obligation exists in Northern Ireland. Councillor Tara Brooks, who proposed it, says the council should lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council gender pay gap reporting motion passes Original release: Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council
Alliance Newry Mourne and Down councillors welcome the council's plans for photovoltaic solar farms on two redundant landfill sites at Aughnagun and Drumnakelly, which they say could bring in about £250,000 a year net. They also claim further Alliance-identified sites could help ease rates pressure.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Newry Mourne and Down council PV farms on Aughnagun and Drumnakelly landfill sites Original release: Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council (opens in a new tab)
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Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to make children with special educational needs a priority, after figures showed over 1,000 such children will need a school place in September. He urges the minister to work with the Health Minister and other parties to overhaul the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 1,000 children with SEN needing school places in September Original release: Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna calls on the Work and Pensions Secretary to make an urgent statement to Parliament on correcting the WASPI women's pension age situation after the Ombudsman found they were owed compensation.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI compensation finding Original release: Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women (opens in a new tab)
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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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Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter challenges Education Minister Paul Givan over whether all schools should be required to teach violence against women and girls, after he said school autonomy should be respected. She calls for uniform mandatory education on the subject across…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's answer on schools teaching violence against women and girls Original release: Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls (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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Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister and Department to invest properly in accommodation, specialist teacher training and resources for Irish-Medium schools, some of which have been in temporary accommodation for over twenty-five years.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan (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)