Latest releases
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4,778 releases
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Butler cannot be yet another caretaker Health Minister, says McAllister
Alliance spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA congratulates Robbie Butler on becoming Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt's departure, but says he must not be a stopgap, urging him to prioritise health service reform and difficult decisions.
Health Issue: Robbie Butler appointed Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Butler cannot be yet another caretaker Health Minister, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Health service "fraying at the seams" while unionism turns in on itself
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says the UUP's turmoil over Mike Nesbitt's resignation reflects wider disarray in unionism while the health service is under strain. He criticises the Health Minister's reliance on for-profit healthcare and calls for a properly funded health service.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Carroll: Health service "fraying at the seams" while unionism turns in on itself (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan convenes urgent meeting of Health committee
Sinn Féin health spokesperson and Health committee Chair Philip McGuigan is convening an urgent Health committee meeting after the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. He says the committee will ask the Department of Health's Permanent Secretary to attend to understand the impact on health…
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: McGuigan convenes urgent meeting of Health committee (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows
UUP leader Jon Burrows thanks Mike Nesbitt for his service as Health Minister after his resignation, says the party will nominate a successor soon, and calls for reform to be engaged with communities, citing concerns around Causeway.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows (opens in a new tab)
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Allister urges Minister to reject Trust proposals for Causeway Hospital
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, has written to the health minister urging him to reject the Northern Trust's plan to move emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim Area Hospital. He calls for the Trust to publish the data behind its decision, citing claimed…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Allister urges Minister to reject Trust proposals for Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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UUP cannot maintain fiction that there is a separation of party and policy on future of Causeway Hospital
North Antrim MP Jim Allister calls on UUP leader Jon Burrows to clarify whether his party backs his stated position on the future of Causeway Hospital, and whether Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is committed to the Causeway. He says the UUP cannot separate party and policy on the issue.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital future and UUP party position Original release: UUP cannot maintain fiction that there is a separation of party and policy on future of Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says families affected by sodium valproate deserve recognition, support and redress. She calls on the British Government to clarify its response to the Cumberlege Review and Hughes Report, and on the Northern Ireland Department of Health to gather data on those harmed.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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New driver licensing changes will help make our roads safer – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes new driver licensing and testing reforms from 1 October 2026, which she says are the biggest change in over 70 years and aim to better prepare learners and newly qualified drivers for independent driving.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Driver licensing and testing reforms from 1 October 2026 Original release: New driver licensing changes will help make our roads safer – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt shows the Executive lacks a serious approach to government, and calls it an insult to healthcare workers and patients. He links it to the failure to agree a Budget and to internal party disputes.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive (opens in a new tab)
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Leadership means more than making speeches: Bradley
DUP East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley says the UUP must show its opposition to ending emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital is more than rhetoric. He challenges UUP leader Jon Burrows to use his leadership influence, and asks why the UUP health minister remains in post if Burrows lacks…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Leadership means more than making speeches: Bradley (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes HSC Chief Executives' plans to speed up cutting agency staffing in the health service. He calls on the Health Minister and Executive to sustain the progress and plan permanent workforce recruitment and retention to avoid a return to…
Health Economy and employment Issue: HSC Chief Executives plan to accelerate reduction of agency staffing Original release: McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Families need delivery, not warm words on childcare
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA says the Department of Education’s NICSS figures hide the failure to deliver the promised 20% contribution increase from April 2026, urging the Executive to fund affordable childcare and give families certainty.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: NICSS 20% contribution increase delay Original release: McLaughlin: Families need delivery, not warm words on childcare (opens in a new tab)
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Parker delighted to see progress on car removal from River Lagan
Alliance Lisburn Councillor Nicola Parker welcomes progress on removing a long-stranded car from the River Lagan, after she liaised between council and the Community Rescue Service, which carried out a partial removal operation today.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Parker delighted to see progress on car removal from River Lagan (opens in a new tab)
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Egan condemns racist graffiti in Holywood
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan condemns racist graffiti found in the Seapark area of Holywood, saying there is no place for hatred or racism in the community. She says Alliance will engage with police to have the graffiti removed and those responsible held to account.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti found in Seapark area of Holywood Original release: Egan condemns racist graffiti in Holywood (opens in a new tab)
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for the car dumped in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, such as a battery leaching heavy metals. They also demand written confirmation that the river will be clear next summer, and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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PBP raise alarm on Translink £47M Shortfall
People Before Profit's Marc Mac Seáin says board minutes show Translink projecting a £47m loss for 2026/27 while consulting on service and fare cuts. He urges people to respond to the consultation and sign an Act Now petition, and says the party will campaign with trade unions for public transport…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Translink board minutes projecting £47m loss for 2026/27 Original release: PBP raise alarm on Translink £47M Shortfall (opens in a new tab)
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Causeway Hospital needs words translated into action: Bradley
DUP MLA Maurice Bradley calls on the Health Minister to end uncertainty over Causeway Hospital and respond positively to the message from an open meeting in Coleraine Town Hall. He says the Trust has sought to remove services and that words must now become action.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital open meeting in Coleraine Town Hall Original release: Causeway Hospital needs words translated into action: Bradley (opens in a new tab)
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Blair denounces failure of leadership from UFU
Alliance AERA spokesperson John Blair MLA dismisses the Ulster Farmers' Union's no-confidence vote in Minister Muir and DAERA officials as a stunt, saying it pre-empts an independent review into the Fivemiletown operation.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: UFU no confidence vote in Andrew Muir and DAERA officials Original release: Blair denounces failure of leadership from UFU (opens in a new tab)
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Huge number of Translink journeys for Fleadh another sign of its success – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says over 1.7 million Translink journeys during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann show its success, with 620,000 more recorded than the same period last year. She commends Translink's planning and thanks its staff.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Translink journeys during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 Original release: Huge number of Translink journeys for Fleadh another sign of its success – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Executive must force universities to rebalance student numbers
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood calls on the Executive to step in and redistribute university places, citing Derry's roughly 6,500 students against nearly 60,000 in Belfast. He points to the review of a Derry medical school and the scrapping of a sports dome as evidence of commitments being rolled…
Education Issue: Ulster University review of Derry medical school plans Original release: Eastwood: Executive must force universities to rebalance student numbers (opens in a new tab)