Latest releases
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2,622 releases
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De Faoite: Belfast can do better on street waste
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite calls for the council to set a date for phasing out refuse bags left on city centre, university area and arterial street routes. He will ask the People and Communities Committee to agree a timeline, working with residents, businesses and…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: De Faoite: Belfast can do better on street waste (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Doctors should not pay the price for Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says doctors and patients should not bear the cost of the Executive's failure to fund healthcare, after hospital doctors announced planned strike action later this month. He calls for urgent engagement to avoid escalation and deliver certainty…
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: McGrath: Doctors should not pay the price for Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh fishermen must be properly supported by DAERA – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for appropriate financial support for Lough Neagh fishermen after DAERA announced further measures, including closing the yellow eel fishery for up to three years. He says fishermen should not bear the cost of the lough's ecological crisis.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA Lough Neagh yellow eel fishery closure measures Original release: Lough Neagh fishermen must be properly supported by DAERA – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon writes to Health Minister seeking clarity on availability of mirvetuximab soravtansine in north
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon writes to the Health Minister seeking clarity on whether mirvetuximab soravtansine, a drug that reduces side effects and extends life for terminal ovarian cancer, is available in the north, and urges a delivery timetable for women’s health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Availability of mirvetuximab soravtansine for ovarian cancer in the north Original release: Dillon writes to Health Minister seeking clarity on availability of mirvetuximab soravtansine in north (opens in a new tab)
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Refusal to fund respite care despite left over budget diabolical, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA criticises the Department of Health for refusing to fund extra respite beds at the NI Children's Hospice while over a quarter of the £13.1m children's respite budget went unspent. She calls on the Health Minister to work with the hospice to secure…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health refusal to fund NI Children's Hospice respite care Original release: Refusal to fund respite care despite left over budget diabolical, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Waiting time progress welcome but long-term planning essential – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes progress on cutting patient waiting times in the year-end Elective Care Framework update, but says long-term planning, extra capacity and investment are needed. He wants quicker action on urgent cancer and other time-critical waiting lists.
Health Issue: Elective Care Framework year-end waiting times update Original release: Waiting time progress welcome but long-term planning essential – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Growing pressures shows safe staffing legislation cannot wait
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes new figures showing a record HSC workforce of 68,341 whole-time equivalent staff, but calls on the Health Minister to set a clear timetable for safe staffing legislation, citing rising agency nurse spending and ongoing pressures.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care workforce statistics on recruitment and vacancies Original release: McGrath: Growing pressures shows safe staffing legislation cannot wait (opens in a new tab)
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Health and Social Care Statistics highlight scale of challenge facing our health service
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the latest health workforce statistics show the scale of pressure on the health service, with over 6,000 vacancies. He urges the Health Minister to introduce a properly financed workforce plan covering future need, more training posts, overseas recruitment where…
Health Issue: Health and Social Care workforce statistics on recruitment and vacancies Original release: Health and Social Care Statistics highlight scale of challenge facing our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart leads Westminster delegation in push for life-saving MLD…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she will lead a delegation to Westminster to press for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) to be added to the UK newborn heel-prick screening programme. She will meet Health Minister Sharon Hodgson and Conservative and Reform health spokespeople, and cites the Prime…
Health Issue: MLD inclusion in newborn heel-prick screening programme review Original release: Lockhart leads Westminster delegation in push for life-saving MLD… (opens in a new tab)
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Bower welcomes motion passing on environmentally conscious public acts of remembrance
Alliance Belfast Councillor Christine Bower welcomes council's passing of her motion urging support for public remembrance acts that are safe and environmentally mindful, including designated memorial spaces in parks and greener events. Officers will research feasibility.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on environmentally mindful public remembrance acts Original release: Bower welcomes motion passing on environmentally conscious public acts of remembrance (opens in a new tab)
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SF Tying Itself in Knots on Climate Laws
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says Sinn Fein is struggling with contradictions over amending the Climate Change Act to allow major infrastructure, arguing Michelle O'Neill's remarks on road projects were a kite-flying exercise. She says the Infrastructure Minister gave no answer on the A5 Court of…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Sinn Fein stance on amending climate change legislation for infrastructure Original release: SF Tying Itself in Knots on Climate Laws (opens in a new tab)
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Health checks are for more than just the GAA – Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls for free health checks offered through Kingsbridge Private Hospital's GAA-focused Health Check Roadshow to be extended to football, rugby, cricket and other sports clubs. He says he wrote to the hospital in April and again last week without a reply.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Kingsbridge Private Hospital GAA Health Check Roadshow Original release: Health checks are for more than just the GAA – Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart calls for PHA drugs post to be withdrawn
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Health Minister to have the Public Health Agency withdraw a social media post on illegal drug use at music festivals, which she says sends the wrong message. She has asked the Department of Health who approved the campaign and what approval process was followed.
Health Issue: PHA social media post on drug use at music festivals Original release: Lockhart calls for PHA drugs post to be withdrawn (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes Finance Minister’s investment in pharmacy services
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes a £42 million investment in pharmacies, part of a wider £70 million health package announced by Finance Minister John O'Dowd, to fund digital prescriptions and expanded pharmacy services. He says it will ease pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals and calls…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £70 million health service investment announced by Finance Minister O'Dowd Original release: Kearney welcomes Finance Minister’s investment in pharmacy services (opens in a new tab)
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Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges DAERA to fill the three agriculture seats on the new Just Transition Commission with people who understand farming and food production, not just academics and advocates. He says food and energy security must shape its terms of reference.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA appointments to the Just Transition Commission Original release: Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionists welcome £80m ringfenced for NI elective care and waiting lists
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's plan to set aside £80 million this year for elective care and cutting waiting lists, and says the funding shows the Executive's priority on shorter waits. He points to the removal of four-year waits in several…
Health Issue: Health Minister ringfences £80m for elective care and waiting lists Original release: Ulster Unionists welcome £80m ringfenced for NI elective care and waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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‘Progress has been made by Executive, but much more work remains’ – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes progress in the Programme for Government Annual Report, citing 237,000 extra health procedures and childcare support, but says much more work is needed. She calls on the British government to provide proper funding for the Executive.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Programme for Government Annual Report publication Original release: ‘Progress has been made by Executive, but much more work remains’ – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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Agency costs expose years of workforce planning failures - Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, a Health Committee member, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report on agency staffing exposes years of failed workforce planning and calls on the Health Minister to set a timetable for the long-delayed Safer Staffing Bill.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on agency nursing costs Original release: Agency costs expose years of workforce planning failures - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Agency spending illustrates need for safe staffing legislation
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health Minister to introduce safe staffing legislation after a Northern Ireland Audit Office report found health trusts spent over £160 million on agency nurses in a year. He also cites a 2,100-plus nursing shortfall and £186 million in…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on agency nursing costs Original release: McGrath: Agency spending illustrates need for safe staffing legislation (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan praises vital role played by cancer charities across north
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan praises cancer charities across the North after attending a Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition gathering at Parliament Buildings. He calls for renewed focus on Cancer Strategy targets, tackling outcome inequalities and long-term funding for charities.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition event at Parliament Buildings Original release: McGuigan praises vital role played by cancer charities across north (opens in a new tab)