Latest releases
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4,188 releases
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Cancer waiting times reinforce need for health service reform: Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds says latest cancer waiting time statistics underline the need for urgent health service reform, noting fewer than 30% of patients begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral. She calls on the Health Minister to bring forward long-promised reform…
Health Issue: Cancer waiting time statistics for July 2024 Original release: Cancer waiting times reinforce need for health service reform: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly has expressed concern at latest cancer figures
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly expresses concern at Department of Health figures showing only 34.1% of urgent suspected breast cancer referrals seen within 14 days in January to March 2023. He welcomes Minister Nesbitt's inclusion of cancer as a priority but calls for transformation…
Health Issue: Department of Health cancer waiting times statistics January to March 2023 Original release: Donnelly has expressed concern at latest cancer figures (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Executive failure to agree Lough Neagh Action Plan not sustainable
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone warns the Executive that its continued failure to agree the Lough Neagh Action Plan is not sustainable, saying it will condemn the Lough to further decline. He calls for a united Executive approach covering wastewater investment, enforcement review…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh Action Plan Executive agreement delay Original release: McGlone: Executive failure to agree Lough Neagh Action Plan not sustainable (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan comments on audit office waste report
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan says accurate waste data is crucial to cutting waste and meeting climate targets, citing councils' results in the Audit Office report on waste management. She says NIEA is not required to track landfill capacity and urges the DAERA Minister to set a firm timeline for…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Audit Office report on waste management Original release: Brogan comments on audit office waste report (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP meets Labour Secretary of State
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP says he and Claire Hanna MP held a constructive first meeting with new Secretary of State Hilary Benn, pressing for emergency health funding, repeal of the Legacy Act and questions on Casement Park investment.
Health Issue: SDLP meeting with new Labour Secretary of State Hilary Benn Original release: SDLP meets Labour Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)
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Robust police action needed to end racist and sectarian intimidation – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls for robust police operations and prosecutions to end racist and sectarian intimidation in Antrim Town, including targeting of ethnic minority families in Ballycraigy and flags placed across the town centre.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Racist and sectarian intimidation in Antrim Town Ballycraigy estate Original release: Robust police action needed to end racist and sectarian intimidation – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan welcomes Lough Neagh action plan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a report setting out plans to tackle blue-green algae in Lough Neagh, and the announced action plan and £1.5 million funding from the Finance Minister. She says she will keep engaging with other parties and local communities to protect the lough.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae action plan and £1.5 million funding Original release: Brogan welcomes Lough Neagh action plan (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes welcomes A1 safety upgrade progression
Sinn Féin’s Dáire Hughes welcomes the Infrastructure Minister’s plan to start safety upgrades on the A1 Newry Bypass, saying the work will save lives and boost all‑island business, retail and tourism, and pledges to keep working for Newry and Armagh.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister announces A1 Newry Bypass safety upgrades Original release: Hughes welcomes A1 safety upgrade progression (opens in a new tab)
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Begley welcomes positive A5 development
Sinn Féin MLA Órfhlaith Begley welcomes plans for Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to put a recommendation to the Executive on building the A5, saying the road would save lives, create jobs and cut journey times to Dublin.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister's A5 proposal to Executive Original release: Begley welcomes positive A5 development (opens in a new tab)
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UUP reaffirm position against ‘below needs’ budget
UUP leader Doug Beattie MLA says the party opposed the second stage of the Budget Bill because the budget is not fit for purpose and puts Health first. He says the party will call on the incoming UK Government for urgent extra funding to cover in-year deficits across all Executive departments.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Northern Ireland Budget Bill second stage vote 2024 Original release: UUP reaffirm position against ‘below needs’ budget (opens in a new tab)
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DAREA Minister worked at pace to deliver Lough Neagh actions despite obstacles, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Lough Neagh actions, including an enforcement taskforce of twenty officers, slurry measures and a sand dredging review. He criticises the Executive for not yet approving cross-departmental elements such as fines review and…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae action plan and £1.5 million funding Original release: DAREA Minister worked at pace to deliver Lough Neagh actions despite obstacles, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson welcomes decision to proceed with A1 improvements.
Alliance Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to lift the hold on the second phase of A1 road safety works between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland, which will proceed as a single package. He says the upgrades will include a continuous central safety barrier.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister lifts A1 Phase 2 road safety improvements hold Original release: Tennyson welcomes decision to proceed with A1 improvements. (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes publication of Sinn Féin Easy Read Manifesto
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin says the party has published an easy read version of its Westminster election manifesto, making it accessible to people with disabilities and learning difficulties. She says it was produced with disabled people.
Disability and equality Issue: Sinn Féin easy read Westminster election manifesto publication Original release: Sheerin welcomes publication of Sinn Féin Easy Read Manifesto (opens in a new tab)
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TUV challenges Tesco on exclusion of Northern Ireland from Armed Forces Day offer
TUV candidate for Lagan Valley Lorna Smyth, an RAF veteran, writes to Tesco's Chief Executive urging it to reverse its decision to exclude Northern Ireland from its free breakfast offer for armed forces members on Armed Forces Day. She questions the decision and asks Tesco to revisit it.
Disability and equality Issue: Tesco Armed Forces Day free breakfast excludes Northern Ireland Original release: TUV challenges Tesco on exclusion of Northern Ireland from Armed Forces Day offer (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party offer guarded welcome to additional Health funding.
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA welcomes the Executive's allocation of an extra £121.9 million to health from the June Monitoring round, but says it is not sufficient to avert catastrophic cuts. He says the party will keep challenging at Stormont and Westminster for full health funding.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Monitoring round funding announcement ahead of the 2024 general election Original release: Ulster Unionist Party offer guarded welcome to additional Health funding. (opens in a new tab)
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Additional £20 Million for Social Housing welcome but Insufficient - Allen
East Belfast UUP MLA and Housing spokesperson Andy Allen MBE welcomes an extra £20 million for social housing starts in the June monitoring round but says it is far from enough, estimating around 600 homes. He calls on the Executive to make a strong appeal to Westminster for a UK-wide strategy and…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Monitoring round funding announcement ahead of the 2024 general election Original release: Additional £20 Million for Social Housing welcome but Insufficient - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Contests Westminster Election
People Before Profit announces three Westminster candidates for the 4 July election: Shaun Harkin in Foyle, Gerry Carroll MLA in West Belfast and Fiona Ferguson in North Belfast. It says Labour would keep most Tory policies and calls for Palestine to be a key election issue.
International affairs Housing Issue: 2024 Westminster election Original release: People Before Profit Contests Westminster Election (opens in a new tab)
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Political Parties should end towering hypocrisy on waiting lists - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA calls on other parties and candidates to stop making what he calls baseless claims about tackling Northern Ireland's waiting lists. He says their votes against a £135m health budget bid, which included outpatient mega-clinics and a reimbursement scheme, show hypocrisy.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive rejection of UUP health budget bid on waiting lists Original release: Political Parties should end towering hypocrisy on waiting lists - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh action plan should be published as a matter of urgency – Brogan
Sinn Féin environment spokesperson Nicola Brogan calls for DAERA's Lough Neagh action plan to be finalised and made public urgently, warning that renewed algae blooms show the lough's problems persist a year after last summer's outbreak.
Environment and climate Issue: Lough Neagh algae blooms return and DAERA action plan delay Original release: Lough Neagh action plan should be published as a matter of urgency – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says many children with special educational needs still lack suitable school places for September and urges the Education Minister to adopt a ‘SEN first’ strategy that embeds SEN pupils in schools’ planned enrolments, giving families assurance and schools clarity.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Shortfall of SEN school places for September 2024 Original release: SEN school placements must be suitable and appropriate – Baker (opens in a new tab)