Latest releases
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2,485 releases
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Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA warns that reconfiguring maternity and other services during a crisis, without a Health Minister or Committee able to scrutinise, will see services crumble, as the Northern Trust begins consulting on maternity reconfiguration.
Health Issue: Northern Trust maternity services reconfiguration consultation Original release: Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the recent withdrawal of emergency surgery at South West Acute Hospital is a service collapse, not reform, and urges the Western Trust to publish its plans for recruiting surgeons. He also calls on the DUP to end its boycott and allow an Executive to be formed.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the Stormont deadlock is worsening pressures on GPs after the Maple Healthcare practice in Lisnaskea signalled it may hand back its contract. She calls for MLAs to restore the Executive and pursue health reform, and accuses the DUP of using health services as…
Health Issue: Maple Healthcare Lisnaskea GP practice contract hand-back Original release: Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes the COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance for poorer countries but says it does not go far enough. He calls for radical action on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and urges restoration of the Executive so Northern…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he is deeply concerned that ambulance cover in some areas is being held up for hours outside hospitals, calling the pressures on staff and patients a crisis. He urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive and health minister can be restored.
Health Issue: Ambulance crews delayed outside hospitals reports Original release: Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals (opens in a new tab)
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Housing Executive staff entitled to fair pay award – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges Housing Executive management and Board to engage with trade unions and reach a fair pay settlement for striking staff, citing cost of living pressures and concern over repairs and tenants.
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Housing Executive staff industrial dispute and pay settlement Original release: Housing Executive staff entitled to fair pay award – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair says the outcome of COP27 will be crucial for securing nature's future, arguing climate change and biodiversity loss are linked. He warns that without concrete targets at the climate summit and success at the UN Biodiversity Conference, halting biodiversity…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 climate summit outcome and UN Biodiversity Conference targets Original release: Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says the announced suspension of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen from 18 December is deeply disappointing. She calls on the Western Trust to publish a concrete plan to recruit emergency general surgeons and restore the service.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the Tory budget will push the economy deeper into a needless downturn, citing an OBR forecast of a 2% contraction and a 7% drop in living standards, and calls for a credible plan to rebuild public services.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara criticises the Chancellor's Autumn Statement as austerity that will deepen recession, and says it fails to protect vulnerable people, tackle tax avoidance or deliver adequate climate action. He also says the DUP blockade of the Assembly stops the £650 million Barnett…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK (opens in a new tab)
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Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the Chancellor's Autumn Statement is painful for the economy and public services, warning of "Austerity 2.0" and calling for investment in a Green New Deal, insulation and renewables instead, plus wealth and windfall taxes.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Department of Health confirmation of a meeting with party health spokespeople next week on health priorities and reform. He calls for urgent political and health leadership action on the emergency care crisis and urges the DUP to end its…
Health Issue: Department of Health cross-party meeting on health priorities and reform Original release: McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron says the Protocol threatens future medicine supply to Northern Ireland, citing Teva UK evidence on product licensing burdens and NHS Confederation and PAGB concerns about EU legislation expiry and food supplement certification.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Teva UK evidence on Protocol medicine licensing challenges Original release: Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron (opens in a new tab)
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Medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says medicines should be taken out of the Northern Ireland Protocol, warning that patients could lose equitable access to new and innovative drugs and cancer treatments. He calls on the EU to recognise the problems, urges a parallel MHRA and EMA system for centrally…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Medicines divergence under the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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“MLA Pay Cut Isn’t Enough” – Gemma Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for MLA wages to be cut to minimum wage, saying a reported 27% salary cut is not enough amid the cost-of-living and fuel crisis. She also blames the Stormont stalemate for health service delays and calls for Stormont institutions to be reformed.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Secretary of State legislation extending Executive formation period and cutting MLA pay Original release: “MLA Pay Cut Isn’t Enough” – Gemma Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson gravely concerned for right-to-buy homeowners
East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson says he is gravely concerned for right-to-buy homeowners facing huge repair bills from NIHE for neglected flats, and has written to the Minister for Communities seeking urgent meetings.
Housing Original release: Dickson gravely concerned for right-to-buy homeowners (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP seeks urgent health service talks
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he has asked the Department of Health's senior officials to convene urgent talks between political leaders, health chiefs and civil servants on the emergency care crisis. He argues devolved government must resume with a full-time Health Minister, and…
Health Issue: Emergency care crisis and proposed urgent health talks Original release: SDLP seeks urgent health service talks (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for joined-up approach to help health pressures
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone calls on the Department of Health to improve cooperation between health trusts to tackle current pressures, after visiting Antrim Area Hospital following a major incident there. He blames the DUP's boycott of the institutions for letting health services down.
Health Issue: Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department temporary closure Original release: McGlone calls for joined-up approach to help health pressures (opens in a new tab)
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Executive support needed for hospitals which are at breaking point – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA and party chair Declan Kearney says he is deeply concerned about the night‑time temporary shutdown of the Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital, urges the public to still use the ED for urgent cases and calls for the Executive to release an extra £1 billion for health to relieve
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department temporary closure Original release: Executive support needed for hospitals which are at breaking point – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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‘Suffering cancer patients need Executive formed’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says rising numbers waiting longer than 62 days for cancer treatment are a matter of life and death, and urges the DUP to stop blocking an Executive so it can address health service pressures.
Health Issue: Rising cancer treatment waiting times beyond 62-day target Original release: ‘Suffering cancer patients need Executive formed’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)