Latest releases
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3,450 releases
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Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight
People Before Profit says the Thursday public sector strike was the largest and best-coordinated since at least 2015 and calls for longer, more sustained strikes, with unions and communities preparing for further coordinated action such as a week or two of strikes. It urges the DUP to end the…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight (opens in a new tab)
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Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Alliance Chief Whip Andrew Muir MLA says the Holocaust should warn against allowing antisemitism and prejudice to go unchecked, speaking after an exhibition he sponsored at the Assembly to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. He warns that refugees are increasingly met with hostility and pledges Alliance…
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition at the Assembly sponsored by Andrew Muir Original release: Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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Dementia services must be urgently updated to capture new breakthroughs in treatment, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for dementia treatment pathways in Northern Ireland to be urgently reformed to reflect new drugs and blood tests enabling earlier intervention, warning the region risks falling behind.
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Non-teaching staff cannot be overlooked, says Mathison as pay dispute continues
Alliance spokesperson Nick Mathison says non-teaching school staff cannot be overlooked and urges delivery of their delayed pay and grading review. He says Alliance has sought an urgent update from the Finance Department on the business case and wants strike action avoided in 2024.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Non-teaching school staff pay and grading review industrial action Original release: Non-teaching staff cannot be overlooked, says Mathison as pay dispute continues (opens in a new tab)
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Addressing the Challenges Facing Our Public Sector Workers: A Call for Devolved Action - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says public sector workers' pay concerns, including the recent day of action, are damaging health, education and the economy, and urges devolved politicians to act now rather than blame the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Addressing the Challenges Facing Our Public Sector Workers: A Call for Devolved Action - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance secures first step in plans for Belfast Covid memorial
Alliance councillors in Belfast call for a special Covid memorial in the city to honour those who died in the pandemic and those living with long Covid. Councillor Christine Bower says a dedicated shared space would help the community recover from the trauma and grief.
Local government Health Issue: Belfast Covid memorial proposal receives cross-party support Original release: Alliance secures first step in plans for Belfast Covid memorial (opens in a new tab)
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Now EU dictating to NI on tooth fillings
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol will force Northern Ireland to follow an EU ban on dental amalgam from January 2025, warning the British Dental Association has flagged a disproportionate impact on local oral health services.
Health International affairs Issue: EU dental amalgam ban applying in Northern Ireland under the Protocol Original release: Now EU dictating to NI on tooth fillings (opens in a new tab)
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Health staff and patients need an Executive now – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, after visiting Craigavon Emergency Department, says staff and patients face extreme pressure from delayed discharges. She calls for a new Executive to deliver a health plan, criticises the DUP's boycott, and urges the British Secretary of State to award health workers a…
Health Issue: Craigavon Emergency Department pressures after RQIA delayed discharges report Original release: Health staff and patients need an Executive now – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill MLA says the DUP's boycott is jeopardising public services and a 170,000-worker strike, and calls on the DUP to join Executive formation, warning the Assembly may be near its final sitting.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly sitting to elect Speaker and form Executive, 17 January 2024 Original release: REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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Standing in Solidarity: Addressing the Impact of Political Stalemate on Public Sector Workers - Butler
Robbie Butler MLA, UUP deputy leader and education spokesperson, says public‑sector staff will strike this Thursday and the UUP will join picket lines, blaming the two‑year absence of an Executive and the DUP’s Stormont boycott for the stalemate that threatens children’s education and welfare.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Standing in Solidarity: Addressing the Impact of Political Stalemate on Public Sector Workers - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Championing Pay Parity and Defending Our Health Service: A Pledge from the Ulster Unionist Party - Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA backs Robin Swann's pay parity pledge ahead of Thursday's public sector strike, calling DUP and UK Government positions on Stormont funding and pay settlements heartless and shameful.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Planned public sector strike next Thursday Original release: Championing Pay Parity and Defending Our Health Service: A Pledge from the Ulster Unionist Party - Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Low vaccination rates were another demonstration of Health Service crisis - Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw warns that a Lancet study finding nearly half of Northern Ireland was not fully vaccinated against Covid in mid-2022 reflects and worsens the region's health service crisis. She says it led to avoidable hospital admissions and calls for a shift toward…
Health Issue: Lancet study on Covid vaccination rates in Northern Ireland Original release: Low vaccination rates were another demonstration of Health Service crisis - Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes equity of access to treatment for PKU patients in Northern Ireland
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Health’s use of its powers to allow Kuvan (Sapropterin) for treating hyperphenylalaninaemia in PKU patients over 21, bringing Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales.
Health Issue: Kuvan approval for PKU patients over 21 in NI Original release: Bradshaw welcomes equity of access to treatment for PKU patients in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Impact on health services can still be prevented – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and allow a pay rise for health and social care workers, ahead of Thursday's strike action. She urges a Speaker be elected at Wednesday's Assembly recall and an Executive formed.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care strike action over pay in January 2024 Original release: Impact on health services can still be prevented – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Department must work to replace Education chief as soon as possible – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the Department of Education must work quickly to fill the Education Authority Chief Executive post after its resignation. He cites staffing gaps and the absence of a minister, which he blames on the DUP's blockade of the Executive.
Education Issue: Education Authority Chief Executive resignation and vacancy Original release: Department must work to replace Education chief as soon as possible – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood backs ‘Head Start’ campaign encouraging more apprenticeship opportunities
Alliance Economy spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood MLA encourages young people and career changers to consider apprenticeships, welcoming Workplus's 100 apprenticeship opportunities in this year's campaign. She calls on employers to offer apprenticeships, citing nearly 40,000 vacancies, 13,700 of them…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Workplus 'Get a Head Start' apprenticeship campaign launch Original release: Eastwood backs ‘Head Start’ campaign encouraging more apprenticeship opportunities (opens in a new tab)
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Health Trusts left in impossible position by political inaction on pay and transformation, says Alliance Health representatives ahead of strike action.
Alliance Health spokespeople say Health and Social Care Trusts are left in an almost impossible position by political inaction on restoring the Assembly and healthcare reform, ahead of Thursday's strike. East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly, a nurse, calls for an Assembly to deliver fair pay and safe…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care strike action over pay in January 2024 Original release: Health Trusts left in impossible position by political inaction on pay and transformation, says Alliance Health representatives ahead of strike action. (opens in a new tab)
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Public sector workers deserve fair pay now – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls for no further delay in restoring the Assembly and for public sector pay rises, saying school staff joining planned Unite industrial action next week could be avoided. He urges the DUP to end its blockade of the Executive and asks the British Secretary of State to…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Planned public sector strike next Thursday Original release: Public sector workers deserve fair pay now – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Brian Smyth welcomes new QUB report on Overdose Prevention Sites
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth for Lisnasharragh welcomes a new QUB report by Dr Gillian Shorter on Overdose Prevention Sites, which he says shows such facilities save lives and reduce pressure on health services. He calls for one in Belfast city centre and says current drug policy is failing.
Health Local government Issue: Queen's University Belfast report on Overdose Prevention Sites Original release: Cllr Brian Smyth welcomes new QUB report on Overdose Prevention Sites (opens in a new tab)
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EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Authority to engage urgently with Unite and agree a special derogation so Special Schools keep services running during eight days of planned industrial action by EA staff. He also says the DUP's collapse of the Executive is…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Unite eight days of industrial action at Education Authority Original release: EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit (opens in a new tab)