Latest releases
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4,740 releases
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Allister backs reunification
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol is pushing Northern Ireland towards Irish unity by aligning its goods and agri-food rules with EU law, and criticises the DUP and UUP for implementing it and the DUP leader for dismissing the 'Red Lane' concerns.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Allister backs reunification (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Stormont's supposed oversight of two new EU laws imposed on Northern Ireland is absent, citing a DUP vice-chair who called MLAs "impotent" and a partly private Windsor Framework Committee meeting.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Two new EU laws and Stormont oversight under the Windsor Framework Committee Original release: Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind
Alliance MLA Connie Egan, Executive Office Committee Deputy Chair, says urgent action is needed so victims are not left behind, calling for a trauma-focused Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme process, a backdated payments deadline extension, and a bereavement payment scheme.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he is disturbed by surgeons' "SOS" warning on surgical waiting lists, raised at a Royal College of Surgeons briefing to the Health Committee. He calls for action from the Health Minister and department on waiting lists.
Health Issue: Royal College of Surgeons SOS warning on surgical waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning (opens in a new tab)
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Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says urgent action is needed after a Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report found children in Northern Ireland wait longer than anywhere else on these islands for speech and language therapy. He says he will work with parties and executive ministers on…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Legislation on British Citizenship rights reaches another milestone
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says his Private Members Bill, which passed a Committee stage today, would let Irish citizens with UK residency hold British citizenship and passports without naturalisation, and he calls for it to cover the whole UK. He cites 2021 Census figures for people born in the…
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: Private Members Bill on British citizenship for Irish citizens committee stage Original release: Legislation on British Citizenship rights reaches another milestone (opens in a new tab)
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Lagan Valley deserves better than absentee MP
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on Jeffrey Donaldson to resign as Lagan Valley MP and allow a by-election, arguing the constituency currently has no representation in the Commons. He also points to Donaldson's refusal to take up his Stormont seat as an MLA.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Jeffrey Donaldson absence from Commons and call for Lagan Valley by-election Original release: Lagan Valley deserves better than absentee MP (opens in a new tab)
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Early intervention with speech and language therapy for children crucial for development, says Donnelly, responding to report
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says more must be done on early intervention speech and language therapy for children, responding to an RCSLT report showing a 85% rise in children waiting for appointments in Northern Ireland since 2021. He calls for more speech and language…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Early intervention with speech and language therapy for children crucial for development, says Donnelly, responding to report (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath challenges Minister to commit to free parking for hospital staff
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath, a South Down MLA, urges Health Minister Robin Swann to set a guaranteed timescale and interim exemption for hospital staff parking charges. He says the delay to the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, pushed through by accelerated passage, leaves staff facing…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: McGrath challenges Minister to commit to free parking for hospital staff (opens in a new tab)
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Health minister must work to abolish hospital parking charges as soon as possible – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says the health minister must urgently work to abolish hospital parking charges after legislation moved in the Assembly delayed their abolition for up to two years. She calls for the department to quickly put the necessary infrastructure in place.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: Health minister must work to abolish hospital parking charges as soon as possible – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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GPs need urgent support – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls on the health minister to bring forward a plan to tackle problems facing GPs, including transforming general practice and prioritising recruitment and retention of staff, after a Royal College of GPs report.
Health Issue: Royal College of GPs report on general practice pressures Original release: GPs need urgent support – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds – “it’s essential that GP issues are resolved”
DUP Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds responds to the RCGPNI report 'A Workforce Fit for the Future', calling the morning phone rush for GP appointments unacceptable and urging expanded multidisciplinary teams, more GP incentives and faster indemnity for primary care.
Health Issue: RCGPNI 'A Workforce Fit for the Future' report on GP retention Original release: Dodds – “it’s essential that GP issues are resolved” (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland to host ‘Rights in a New Ireland’ Conference
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Original release: Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland to host ‘Rights in a New Ireland’ Conference (opens in a new tab)
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We’re developing a two-tier health system in NI, says McAllister, regarding children’s waiting lists report
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says children's health waiting lists are unacceptable and calls for appropriate funding and an expert-informed action plan with transparency over how money is spent. She cites an RCPCH report showing a record 22,272 children waiting and claims a…
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: We’re developing a two-tier health system in NI, says McAllister, regarding children’s waiting lists report (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must take action to avoid deepening GP workforce crisis, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to act on the Royal College of GPs' new strategy on GP workforce retention, citing low-cost options such as visa support for recruiting staff, a state-backed indemnity scheme and a review of uptake of the Attract…
Health Issue: Royal College of GPs report on general practice pressures Original release: Health Minister must take action to avoid deepening GP workforce crisis, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Simon Harris doesn’t speak for ‘his generation’ on Irish unity – Michelle Gildernew MP
Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew MP, a European election candidate for Midlands/North West, says Taoiseach Simon Harris does not represent young people's views on Irish unity. She calls on the Irish government to establish a Citizens' Assembly to plan for unity.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Simon Harris doesn’t speak for ‘his generation’ on Irish unity – Michelle Gildernew MP (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed to tackle children’s waiting lists – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for a plan to tackle children's waiting lists after a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report, noting over 22,000 children are waiting for various treatments. She urges the health minister to set out steps to reduce the backlog.
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: Action needed to tackle children’s waiting lists – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Legislation to protect homeowners with defective properties a ‘crucial step’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes the communities minister's intention to introduce legislation protecting homeowners who claim compensation for defective properties. He says it will close a legal loophole and cites residents of Victoria Square apartments facing large costs.
Housing Issue: Communities minister legislation on compensation for defective homes Original release: Legislation to protect homeowners with defective properties a ‘crucial step’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Children being failed by health system
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says children are being failed by long waits for healthcare, citing the RCPCH report on paediatric waiting times in Northern Ireland. He calls on the Health Minister to take forward its solutions and bring legislative changes to the Executive.
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Children being failed by health system (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Defective building legislation must help Victoria Square owners
SDLP MLA and Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole welcomes the Executive's commitment to extend the litigation limitation period for owners of defective property, but calls for the new law to be designed so Victoria Square owners can restart their legal action against developers.
Justice and policing Housing Issue: Communities minister legislation on compensation for defective homes Original release: O’Toole: Defective building legislation must help Victoria Square owners (opens in a new tab)