Latest releases
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2,609 releases
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McCusker calls for intervention to tackle homelessness and addiction
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker calls for an immediate intervention on homelessness, addiction and mental health in Belfast after a candlelit vigil at City Hall. He urges the Health, Communities and Justice Ministers to visit the city and calls for more high-risk beds, overdose prevention facilities…
Housing Health Issue: Belfast candlelit vigil on homelessness and addiction Original release: McCusker calls for intervention to tackle homelessness and addiction (opens in a new tab)
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Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for clarity on whether energy support payments will reach Northern Ireland households, after details of a £400 GB scheme were revealed without equivalent detail for Northern Ireland. She blames the lack of an Executive and urges the DUP to end its…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 GB energy support scheme details and Northern Ireland uncertainty Original release: Clarification needed on energy support payments for Northern Ireland, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls on Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to tackle the rise in benefit fraud and error, which the Northern Ireland Audit Office found had reached £209m. He says processes must be put in place to stop such losses and address the auditor's concerns.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office benefit fraud and error review Original release: Durkan: Minister must address rise in benefit fraud (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole calls on caretaker Executive Ministers to set out what they are doing on the cost of living crisis and to prepare plans ready for when the Executive is restored. He says he has written to all caretaker Ministers and permanent secretaries, and blames…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Original release: O'Toole letter urges Ministers and officials not to idly wait as cost of living crisis mounts (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Dire state of health service should focus minds of DUP
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls on the DUP to end its boycott and return to the Executive next week, citing the Department of Health's appeal for public support to discharge patients from hospital amid capacity pressures.
Health Issue: Department of Health appeal for public support on hospital discharges Original release: McGrath: Dire state of health service should focus minds of DUP (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín commends courage of neurology scandal victims
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín commends the courage and dignity of families affected by the neurology scandal after meeting them with First Minister Elect Michelle O'Neill. She says Sinn Féin will keep supporting their campaign for accountability and redress.
Health Issue: Neurology scandal families meeting with Michelle O'Neill Original release: Ní Chuilín commends courage of neurology scandal victims (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says Northern Ireland is lagging behind on electric vehicle charging after the Department for Infrastructure confirmed it is still only in discussions with other departments. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to set out how DFI will meet impending EU-derived minimum…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: DFI response on electric vehicle charging provision discussions Original release: Northern Ireland still lagging behind on electric vehicle charging provision, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Veronica reacts to new UK Gov White Paper on Drug Possession
Green Party Rep Lesley Veronica, Oldpark, criticises the UK Government's White Paper "Swift, Certain, Tough" on drug possession as authoritarian and too rooted in a failed war-on-drugs approach. She calls instead for long-term, supportive, harm-reduction strategies and faster action on rehab places.
Justice and policing Health Issue: UK Government White Paper on drug possession consequences Original release: Veronica reacts to new UK Gov White Paper on Drug Possession (opens in a new tab)
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Families Struggling To Cope With Private Care Home Top-Up Fees
People Before Profit's Cllr Shaun Harkin says families are struggling to pay third party top-up fees at private care homes, and calls on the Western Trust to investigate the fees and report its findings to Derry and Strabane Council.
Health Local government Issue: Derry and Strabane Council committee backing for report on care home top-up fees Original release: Families Struggling To Cope With Private Care Home Top-Up Fees (opens in a new tab)
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Reject Tory Pay Insult For Above Inflation Pay Rise
People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin condemns the Westminster pay proposal for public sector workers as a pay cut given 11.9% RPI inflation, and says Health Minister Robin Swann's plan to impose it on HSC workers in Northern Ireland should be opposed. He backs unions balloting for…
Economy and employment Health Issue: Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann accepts Tory pay cut for HSC workers Original release: Reject Tory Pay Insult For Above Inflation Pay Rise (opens in a new tab)
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Health workers deserve fair pay and conditions- Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls for urgent action to remove barriers to fair pay for health and social care staff after the Pay Review Body published its recommendations. He urges the British government to take decisive steps on public sector pay, and says a one-off recognition payment for…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health pay review body recommendations and Northern Ireland budget delay Original release: Health workers deserve fair pay and conditions- Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Little to attract anyone to McDonald’s all-Ireland
TUV councillor Harold McKee says Mary Lou McDonald's Australian remarks on a united Ireland highlight Republic issues such as living costs, unemployment and emigration, and questions why people would give up the NHS, tax allowance and Westminster subvention.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Mary Lou McDonald's remarks on a united Ireland in Australia Original release: Little to attract anyone to McDonald’s all-Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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“Sending Money To London During Cost Of Living Crisis Is a Disgrace” – Emmet Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle criticises the Executive over a £83.9m resource and £35.9m capital underspend, with £10m returned to the treasury, and calls for MLA wages to be suspended until the Executive is restored.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2021-22 provisional outturn figures showing Executive Departments underspends Original release: “Sending Money To London During Cost Of Living Crisis Is a Disgrace” – Emmet Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for pregnancy loss scheme to be extended here
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong urges Northern Ireland to adopt a UK Government scheme in England that issues official certificates for pregnancy losses before 24 weeks. She asks the Communities and Health Ministers to review it with a view to introducing it locally.
Health Issue: UK Government pregnancy loss certificate scheme in England Original release: Armstrong calls for pregnancy loss scheme to be extended here (opens in a new tab)
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Additional resources will be required for our health system: Cameron
DUP MLA Pam Cameron says the party supports the independent pay review body's recommendations for health staff and that the Health Minister will need additional funding to implement them. She calls on the UK Government to move quickly to allocate resources and welcomes the NI Protocol Bill's…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health pay review body recommendations and Northern Ireland budget delay Original release: Additional resources will be required for our health system: Cameron (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD speech to the National Press Club of Australia
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers an address at the National Press Club of Australia, reflecting on Irish emigration to Australia, the historic bond between the two countries and Australia's role in welcoming Irish people.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD speech to the National Press Club of Australia (opens in a new tab)
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Swann updates on pay award
Health Minister Robin Swann says he would accept the pay review bodies' recommendations for Agenda for Change and medical and dental staff, but cannot implement the awards locally without an agreed 2022/23 Executive budget. He backs a joint letter from the devolved Finance Ministers asking the…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health pay review body recommendations and Northern Ireland budget delay Original release: Swann updates on pay award (opens in a new tab)
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Recognition payments and pay awards absolutely urgent, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA gives a guarded welcome to a planned August one-off recognition payment for health workers, but calls for urgent action on payments for carers and implementation of the pay award for the lowest paid staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health worker one-off recognition payment and pay award announcement Original release: Recognition payments and pay awards absolutely urgent, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is shocked after writing to the Minister for Communities and finding rents exceed housing benefit allowances by upwards of £100. She calls for urgent action on the gap, which she links to a shrinking private rental market.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: Armstrong expresses shock over soaring rental statistics (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Service pay offer ‘derisory’
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls the recommended health service pay increase derisory, saying it will not address workforce retention and will not keep pace with inflation. He has written to Health Minister Robin Swann seeking an urgent statement on how the pay award will be funded.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health pay review body recommendations and Northern Ireland budget delay Original release: McGrath: Health Service pay offer ‘derisory’ (opens in a new tab)