Latest releases
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4,042 releases
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Urgent action needed to ensure safe staffing levels for social work teams working with children – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the health minister to present a plan tackling children's social work staff shortages as social workers begin industrial action. She says the plan should boost recruitment, keep experienced staff and protect support for vulnerable families.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Children's social workers industrial action begins over staffing shortages Original release: Urgent action needed to ensure safe staffing levels for social work teams working with children – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Beattie challenges Executive partners U-turn on Health commitment
UUP MLA Mr Beattie challenges Executive partners over a £184 million health cut, saying the party rejects the budget as presented over losses of almost 150 acute hospital beds, 1.1 million hours of domiciliary care and 500 care home beds. He calls for an urgent meeting of party leaders to resolve…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Executive budget allocations 2024 Original release: Beattie challenges Executive partners U-turn on Health commitment (opens in a new tab)
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Collins calls on Alliance to respect war veterans
UUP candidate Tim Collins calls on Alliance to reverse a council decision, taken in a call-in vote, against flying the Union flag over war memorials in Ards and North Down. He says the flag honours those who gave their lives in service and urges the Alliance MP to intervene.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council vote on Union flag at war memorials Original release: Collins calls on Alliance to respect war veterans (opens in a new tab)
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SEN children must be placed suitably and on time – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure pupils with special educational needs are placed in suitable schools on time this September, after the Department warned schools of a shortfall in SEN places.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education warning on SEN places for September Original release: SEN children must be placed suitably and on time – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein’s IRA “apology” exposed
DUP MP Carla Lockhart challenges Sinn Féin's leadership to give a full, direct and unequivocal apology to the families of victims of the IRA's internal security unit, following the Operation Kenova Interim Report. She says O'Neill's expression of sorrow for lives lost falls short.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Kenova interim report on Stakeknife recommendations Original release: Sinn Fein’s IRA “apology” exposed (opens in a new tab)
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Support for NI foster carers lagging behind: Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on Health Minister Robin Swann to urgently increase foster carer allowances, ahead of an Assembly debate on a DUP motion on recruiting more foster carers. She says allowances lag behind other UK regions and the Republic, and do not cover the full cost of caring for a child.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly debate on DUP motion on foster carer recruitment Original release: Support for NI foster carers lagging behind: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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First and Deputy First Minister must act to show they want to right wrongs of the past on Historical Clerical Abuse of children without further delay, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw urges the First Minister and deputy First Minister to approve the scope for overdue research into abuse of children by clergy in the past, saying the Executive Office has fallen far behind schedule. She raised the matter in a Member's Statement…
Community relations and legacy Original release: First and Deputy First Minister must act to show they want to right wrongs of the past on Historical Clerical Abuse of children without further delay, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Disappointment for health staff and patients as Assembly backs free parking delay
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says health staff and patients will be very disappointed after the Assembly approved a two‑year delay to free hospital parking, and urges the Health Minister to introduce the scheme as soon as possible.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: McGrath: Disappointment for health staff and patients as Assembly backs free parking delay (opens in a new tab)
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Allister highlights disgusting IRA video and demands action
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes the PSNI investigation into a video showing Republicans glorifying IRA murders, urges those who know where it was filmed and who took part to come forward, and calls for the case to be treated seriously.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: PSNI investigation into IRA glorification video Original release: Allister highlights disgusting IRA video and demands action (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition proposes amendment to expedite free hospital car parking
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has tabled an amendment to cut the Executive's proposed two-year delay to free hospital car parking to one year. He says the system could be in place by autumn and urges the Health Minister to commit to free staff parking without delay.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: SDLP Opposition proposes amendment to expedite free hospital car parking (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Pps Decision Not To Prosecute Soldiers For Perjury A Travesty Of Justice
People Before Profit Derry councillor Shaun Harkin says the PPS decision not to prosecute soldiers for perjury over Bloody Sunday evidence is a travesty of justice. He calls the Legacy legislation shameful and demands it be scrapped.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: PPS decision not to prosecute British soldiers for perjury Original release: Harkin: Pps Decision Not To Prosecute Soldiers For Perjury A Travesty Of Justice (opens in a new tab)
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This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie says the Executive must make decisions this week on a new 2024/25 Budget, warning that continued delay is destabilising and damaging core services such as health. He urges the Finance Minister's paper to move to the Executive table and money to be allocated urgently.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive 2024/25 Budget agreement delay Original release: This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on parties to state their position on gender-affirming healthcare and asks the Health Minister to clarify the Department of Health's approach following the Cass Report. She accuses Alliance and Sinn Féin of silence since its publication.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Cass Report publication on gender-affirming healthcare Original release: Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare” (opens in a new tab)
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People of Derry will continue to stand with Bloody Sunday families – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy says a Public Prosecution Service decision has dismayed the Bloody Sunday families, pledging that Derry's people will back them in their fight for justice over their 52-year campaign.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: PPS decision not to prosecute British soldiers for perjury Original release: People of Derry will continue to stand with Bloody Sunday families – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers
TUV councillors Allister Kyle and Jonathan McCauley welcome Causeway Coast and Glens Council's decision to award its Freedom to the NHS and health and care workers in recognition of their work during the COVID pandemic.
Health Local government Issue: Causeway Coast and Glens Council Freedom award to NHS health and care workers Original release: TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers (opens in a new tab)
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Prosecution decision ‘no surprise’: Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says the PPS decision not to prosecute soldiers for perjury over Bloody Sunday should come as no surprise, given the passage of time. He argues the decision shows the Government's legacy bill, due to take effect in weeks, is unnecessary.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: PPS decision not to prosecute British soldiers for perjury Original release: Prosecution decision ‘no surprise’: Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Decision not to prosecute soldiers further blow to Bloody Sunday families
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says a decision not to prosecute soldiers and an IRA member for perjury over Saville Inquiry evidence is another blow to Bloody Sunday families. He cites Lord Saville's finding that some soldiers knowingly gave false accounts and pledges continued support for the…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: PPS decision not to prosecute British soldiers for perjury Original release: Eastwood: Decision not to prosecute soldiers further blow to Bloody Sunday families (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind
Alliance MLA Connie Egan, Executive Office Committee Deputy Chair, says urgent action is needed so victims are not left behind, calling for a trauma-focused Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme process, a backdated payments deadline extension, and a bereavement payment scheme.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls for timeline on compensation from religious institutions
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the Executive Office to set a timeline for religious organisations to contribute to redress for victims of historical institutional abuse, following two institutions' commitment to an interim payment. She says the other organisations in negotiations are…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Religious organisations' interim redress payment for historical institutional abuse victims Original release: McLaughlin calls for timeline on compensation from religious institutions (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he is disturbed by surgeons' "SOS" warning on surgical waiting lists, raised at a Royal College of Surgeons briefing to the Health Committee. He calls for action from the Health Minister and department on waiting lists.
Health Issue: Royal College of Surgeons SOS warning on surgical waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning (opens in a new tab)