Latest releases
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2,486 releases
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Lockhart leads Westminster delegation in push for life-saving MLD…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she will lead a delegation to Westminster to press for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) to be added to the UK newborn heel-prick screening programme. She will meet Health Minister Sharon Hodgson and Conservative and Reform health spokespeople, and cites the Prime…
Health Issue: MLD inclusion in newborn heel-prick screening programme review Original release: Lockhart leads Westminster delegation in push for life-saving MLD… (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Thousands waiting for homes while social housing fraud goes unchecked
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan urges Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to act against social housing fraud after a Northern Ireland Audit Office report estimated losses of at least £8 million last year. He warns the true cost is unknown without a baseline and asks the Housing Executive and housing…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on social housing tenancy fraud Original release: Durkan: Thousands waiting for homes while social housing fraud goes unchecked (opens in a new tab)
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Bower welcomes motion passing on environmentally conscious public acts of remembrance
Alliance Belfast Councillor Christine Bower welcomes council's passing of her motion urging support for public remembrance acts that are safe and environmentally mindful, including designated memorial spaces in parks and greener events. Officers will research feasibility.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on environmentally mindful public remembrance acts Original release: Bower welcomes motion passing on environmentally conscious public acts of remembrance (opens in a new tab)
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SF Tying Itself in Knots on Climate Laws
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says Sinn Fein is struggling with contradictions over amending the Climate Change Act to allow major infrastructure, arguing Michelle O'Neill's remarks on road projects were a kite-flying exercise. She says the Infrastructure Minister gave no answer on the A5 Court of…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Sinn Fein stance on amending climate change legislation for infrastructure Original release: SF Tying Itself in Knots on Climate Laws (opens in a new tab)
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Health checks are for more than just the GAA – Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls for free health checks offered through Kingsbridge Private Hospital's GAA-focused Health Check Roadshow to be extended to football, rugby, cricket and other sports clubs. He says he wrote to the hospital in April and again last week without a reply.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Kingsbridge Private Hospital GAA Health Check Roadshow Original release: Health checks are for more than just the GAA – Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart calls for PHA drugs post to be withdrawn
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Health Minister to have the Public Health Agency withdraw a social media post on illegal drug use at music festivals, which she says sends the wrong message. She has asked the Department of Health who approved the campaign and what approval process was followed.
Health Issue: PHA social media post on drug use at music festivals Original release: Lockhart calls for PHA drugs post to be withdrawn (opens in a new tab)
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Milestone of Shame: 50,000 on Housing Waiting List
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says 50,000 families on the social housing waiting list, over 33,000 of them officially homeless, should shame Stormont ministers. He calls for rent controls, a ban on no-fault evictions, a funded social house-building programme and empty homes brought back…
Housing Issue: Social housing waiting list passes 50,000 households figures Original release: Milestone of Shame: 50,000 on Housing Waiting List (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes Finance Minister’s investment in pharmacy services
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes a £42 million investment in pharmacies, part of a wider £70 million health package announced by Finance Minister John O'Dowd, to fund digital prescriptions and expanded pharmacy services. He says it will ease pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals and calls…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £70 million health service investment announced by Finance Minister O'Dowd Original release: Kearney welcomes Finance Minister’s investment in pharmacy services (opens in a new tab)
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Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges DAERA to fill the three agriculture seats on the new Just Transition Commission with people who understand farming and food production, not just academics and advocates. He says food and energy security must shape its terms of reference.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA appointments to the Just Transition Commission Original release: Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Minister must get to grips with housing and homelessness crisis – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Communities Committee, calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urgently address the housing crisis after figures showed over 50,000 households waiting for social housing. He says a scheme to buy 600 homes for temporary accommodation has yet to…
Housing Issue: Social housing waiting list passes 50,000 households figures Original release: DUP Minister must get to grips with housing and homelessness crisis – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Progress needed to address homelessness crisis
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA urges the Communities Minister to make progress on homelessness plans, citing a 5% rise in homelessness households and 50,381 households on social housing waiting lists. He says the Executive has fallen short and that the Minister is set…
Housing Issue: Social housing waiting list passes 50,000 households figures Original release: Durkan: Progress needed to address homelessness crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionists welcome £80m ringfenced for NI elective care and waiting lists
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's plan to set aside £80 million this year for elective care and cutting waiting lists, and says the funding shows the Executive's priority on shorter waits. He points to the removal of four-year waits in several…
Health Issue: Health Minister ringfences £80m for elective care and waiting lists Original release: Ulster Unionists welcome £80m ringfenced for NI elective care and waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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‘Progress has been made by Executive, but much more work remains’ – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes progress in the Programme for Government Annual Report, citing 237,000 extra health procedures and childcare support, but says much more work is needed. She calls on the British government to provide proper funding for the Executive.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Programme for Government Annual Report publication Original release: ‘Progress has been made by Executive, but much more work remains’ – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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Agency costs expose years of workforce planning failures - Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, a Health Committee member, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report on agency staffing exposes years of failed workforce planning and calls on the Health Minister to set a timetable for the long-delayed Safer Staffing Bill.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on agency nursing costs Original release: Agency costs expose years of workforce planning failures - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Agency spending illustrates need for safe staffing legislation
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health Minister to introduce safe staffing legislation after a Northern Ireland Audit Office report found health trusts spent over £160 million on agency nurses in a year. He also cites a 2,100-plus nursing shortfall and £186 million in…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on agency nursing costs Original release: McGrath: Agency spending illustrates need for safe staffing legislation (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan praises vital role played by cancer charities across north
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan praises cancer charities across the North after attending a Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition gathering at Parliament Buildings. He calls for renewed focus on Cancer Strategy targets, tackling outcome inequalities and long-term funding for charities.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition event at Parliament Buildings Original release: McGuigan praises vital role played by cancer charities across north (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein Net Zero U-Turn must be matched by action - Erskine
Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says Sinn Fein's apparent U-turn on net zero must be backed by action from the First Minister. She says the DUP repeatedly sought economic cost analysis of climate targets, which Sinn Fein, Alliance, the SDLP and UUP opposed.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Fein apparent U-turn on net zero policies Original release: Sinn Fein Net Zero U-Turn must be matched by action - Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation Funding Must Deliver Real Change - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes Transformation Fund allocations, including £42 million for ePharmacy and digital reform and funding for Together for Families, while calling for measurable outcomes, shorter waiting times and accountable delivery.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Transformation Fund allocations announcement Original release: Transformation Funding Must Deliver Real Change - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving…
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the completion of the final legislative stage for baby loss certificates, which open for applications in June, giving formal recognition to parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving… (opens in a new tab)
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Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says the baby loss certificate regulations, coming into effect in June, will let parents and families have their loss formally acknowledged. She commends the Finance Minister and department for bringing the scheme forward.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan (opens in a new tab)