Latest releases
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3,937 releases
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Kimmins remains hopeful of successful outcome on nursing pay talks
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says she is hopeful of a positive result from fresh pay negotiations between the health department and the Royal College of Nursing, after other health unions accepted a recent pay offer. She welcomes that agreement and urges talks to begin quickly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health unions accept Department of Health pay offer; RCN talks Original release: Kimmins remains hopeful of successful outcome on nursing pay talks (opens in a new tab)
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Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production
Green Party councillors in Ards and North Down say the council backed Cllr Kendall's proposal that its response to a Department consultation on onshore petroleum should back a moratorium and legislative ban. Cllr Kendall says the Executive has not acted on the ban despite the previous mandate's…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Ards and North Down Council backs onshore petroleum moratorium and ban Original release: Greens in Ards and North Down reiterate support for a Moratorium against petroleum exploration and production (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie wishes Catherine, the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MLA wishes Catherine, the Princess of Wales, a speedy recovery after her cancer diagnosis. He says she and her family should be given space to deal with the illness in private despite media speculation.
Other Health Issue: Princess of Wales cancer diagnosis announcement Original release: Doug Beattie wishes Catherine, the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister calls for increased transparency and communication around waiting lists
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister calls for the Department of Health to be more open with patients about wait times, following a committee briefing on waiting lists. She also urges continued surgical hubs, more physical support and clearer communication for those awaiting treatment.
Health Issue: Health committee briefing on Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: McAllister calls for increased transparency and communication around waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery
Alliance South Down MLA Patrick Brown raises alarm over a reported cut of more than 60% to flood management funding in 2023/24 and questions why it was cut so deeply. He also queries how a £100k flood recovery grant scheme for businesses will be rolled out.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI flood management funding cut figures for 2023/24 Original release: Brown raises concerns about flood management cuts and business grant delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors welcome the passing of their motion at Belfast City Council calling for gender pay gap reporting, noting no legal obligation exists in Northern Ireland. Councillor Tara Brooks, who proposed it, says the council should lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council gender pay gap reporting motion passes Original release: Alliance gender pay gap reporting motion passes at Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council
Alliance Newry Mourne and Down councillors welcome the council's plans for photovoltaic solar farms on two redundant landfill sites at Aughnagun and Drumnakelly, which they say could bring in about £250,000 a year net. They also claim further Alliance-identified sites could help ease rates pressure.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Newry Mourne and Down council PV farms on Aughnagun and Drumnakelly landfill sites Original release: Alliance celebrate 'Green Economy' breakthrough at NMD Council (opens in a new tab)
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Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to make children with special educational needs a priority, after figures showed over 1,000 such children will need a school place in September. He urges the minister to work with the Health Minister and other parties to overhaul the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Over 1,000 children with SEN needing school places in September Original release: Children with SEN must be a priority – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna calls on the Work and Pensions Secretary to make an urgent statement to Parliament on correcting the WASPI women's pension age situation after the Ombudsman found they were owed compensation.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman WASPI compensation finding Original release: Hanna: UK Government must address plight of WASPI women (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition welcomes funding for Strule Campus, raises questions about integrated capital builds
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter welcomes Executive funding of £150m over three years for the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh, which will serve six schools. She calls on Ministers to restore capital money for ten shared and integrated school builds hit by the Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive £150 million funding for Strule shared education campus Original release: SDLP Opposition welcomes funding for Strule Campus, raises questions about integrated capital builds (opens in a new tab)
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Audit Office report must act as stimulus for change: Dodds
DUP Health spokesperson Diane Dodds says the Audit Office report on access to general practice must drive change, calling for technology to be used better, GP Federations to play a greater role, and multidisciplinary team funding to be rolled out across the province.
Health Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice Original release: Audit Office report must act as stimulus for change: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Patient safety must be a priority – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, speaking after a Public Services Ombudsman event on health service complaints, says patient safety must be a top priority and urges the Department of Health to act urgently on concerns raised by patients, families and staff.
Health Original release: Patient safety must be a priority – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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GP practices need supported to deliver vital services – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Health Minister to produce a plan addressing GP staffing, covering both recruitment and retention, after a Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice. She says GPs must be paid fairly and that reliance on temporary doctors must end.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on access to general practice Original release: GP practices need supported to deliver vital services – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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GP surgeries are at breaking point, warns Donnelly, in response to Audit Office report
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA responds to an NI Audit Office report finding almost a third of GP practices have sought crisis support, and 39 assessed as at risk, urging the Health Minister to act on workforce, funding and transformation.
Health Issue: NI Audit Office report on GP services crisis Original release: GP surgeries are at breaking point, warns Donnelly, in response to Audit Office report (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter challenges Education Minister Paul Givan over whether all schools should be required to teach violence against women and girls, after he said school autonomy should be respected. She calls for uniform mandatory education on the subject across…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Education Minister Givan's answer on schools teaching violence against women and girls Original release: Hunter challenges Education Minister on violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges Minister to give A5 update
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to give the Assembly an update on next steps for the A5 upgrade. He says the public inquiry findings are still awaited and that work must begin before year end, after meeting the Enough is Enough campaign at Stormont.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 upgrade Enough is Enough campaign meeting at Stormont Original release: McCrossan urges Minister to give A5 update (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes discussions on junior doctors pay
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes discussions between the health minister and trade unions aimed at agreeing a fair pay increase for junior doctors. She calls for the talks to continue and for a pay settlement to be reached quickly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health minister and trade unions junior doctors pay discussions Original release: Kimmins welcomes discussions on junior doctors pay (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister and Department to invest properly in accommodation, specialist teacher training and resources for Irish-Medium schools, some of which have been in temporary accommodation for over twenty-five years.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing
UUP agriculture spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says farming's role in climate change needs addressing, arguing farmers are partners rather than scapegoats. He points to carbon sequestration, renewable energy on farms and the sector's economic importance, and calls for incentives and collaboration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing (opens in a new tab)
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School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston says the Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme excludes Northern Ireland because of the Protocol, which bans trees from Great Britain entering the region. He argues this shows the Windsor Framework has not removed such bans and accuses the DUP…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Woodland Trust Free Trees scheme unavailable in Northern Ireland Original release: School children denied engagement with natural world by Sea Border (opens in a new tab)