Latest releases
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3,929 releases
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Swann and Chambers welcome the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on tackling the Public Health impacts of smoking and vaping
UUP MLAs Robin Swann and health spokesperson Alan Chambers welcome the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on smoking and vaping, citing rising youth vaping and calling for a licensing regime, tougher enforcement and a ban on single-use vapes.
Health Issue: NI Audit Office report on smoking and public health Original release: Swann and Chambers welcome the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on tackling the Public Health impacts of smoking and vaping (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland must catch up on bowel cancer surveillance, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw warns that Northern Ireland lags behind England on surveillance for Lynch Syndrome, a genetic condition raising bowel cancer risk, citing Bowel Cancer UK analysis showing only about half of NI patients receive recommended checks.
Health Issue: Bowel Cancer UK analysis on Lynch Syndrome surveillance Original release: Northern Ireland must catch up on bowel cancer surveillance, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Party backs dentists' call for urgent action on Health Service dentistry
Alliance backs a letter from 720 dentists urging action to save NHS-funded dentistry, with South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw saying the party will meet dentists next month and watch Department proposals on contract reform. East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly welcomes the dentists' concerns about…
Health Issue: Dental Practice Committee open letter on NHS dentistry sustainability Original release: Alliance Party backs dentists' call for urgent action on Health Service dentistry (opens in a new tab)
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Still much more to do on reducing smoking and vaping, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says a NI Audit Office report on smoking shows significant progress but a widening gap in deprived areas, and calls for targeted programmes, further interventions and effective enforcement, including on vaping.
Health Issue: NI Audit Office report on smoking and public health Original release: Still much more to do on reducing smoking and vaping, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland must act quickly to match England on disposable vape ban, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA urges Northern Ireland to quickly enact its already drafted disposable vape ban so it does not lag behind the UK Government's planned sales ban in England, and calls for an Assembly to be restored to progress the legislation.
Health Issue: UK Government announcement of disposable vape ban in England Original release: Northern Ireland must act quickly to match England on disposable vape ban, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure investment reduction could jeopardise housing supply targets, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong raises concern that a reduced NI Water budget from the Department for Infrastructure could stop new builds connecting, threatening social housing supply. She urges the Civil Service head to require departments to publish impact reports on cross-departmental effects of…
Housing Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure NI Water budget reduction and housing connections Original release: Infrastructure investment reduction could jeopardise housing supply targets, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Viberoptix must retain as many staff as possible – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges Coalisland fibre firm Viberoptix to engage constructively with staff over possible job cuts, and to retain as many workers as possible as Project Stratum funding ends.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Viberoptix possible redundancies following Project Stratum contract end Original release: Viberoptix must retain as many staff as possible – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Trust must ensure women are kept updated during smear test review
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the Southern Trust to keep women informed about delays in the cervical smear test review, noting over 16,000 are still awaiting results. She calls women's health services unfit for purpose and demands a restored Executive and health minister to deliver a women's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Southern Trust cervical smear test review delays and notification backlog Original release: Trust must ensure women are kept updated during smear test review (opens in a new tab)
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Rise in childhood obesity caused by pandemic reinforces need for preventative action - Bradshaw
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Alliance committed to safeguarding our natural environment, says Blair, responding to People’s Plan for Nature
Alliance environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says the party has submitted its response to the People's Plan for Nature, a set of 26 calls to action from a citizens' assembly, and points to its Lough Neagh five-point plan and Green New Deal as aligned. He blames the lack of a functioning…
Environment and climate Issue: People's Plan for Nature submission by Alliance Original release: Alliance committed to safeguarding our natural environment, says Blair, responding to People’s Plan for Nature (opens in a new tab)
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Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight
People Before Profit says the Thursday public sector strike was the largest and best-coordinated since at least 2015 and calls for longer, more sustained strikes, with unions and communities preparing for further coordinated action such as a week or two of strikes. It urges the DUP to end the…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight (opens in a new tab)
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Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Alliance Chief Whip Andrew Muir MLA says the Holocaust should warn against allowing antisemitism and prejudice to go unchecked, speaking after an exhibition he sponsored at the Assembly to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. He warns that refugees are increasingly met with hostility and pledges Alliance…
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition at the Assembly sponsored by Andrew Muir Original release: Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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Dementia services must be urgently updated to capture new breakthroughs in treatment, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for dementia treatment pathways in Northern Ireland to be urgently reformed to reflect new drugs and blood tests enabling earlier intervention, warning the region risks falling behind.
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Shift to renewable energy showing clear environmental benefits – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the shift to wind energy is showing clear environmental benefits, citing a Wind Energy Ireland report on record renewable output and reduced emissions. He calls for the immediate restoration of the Assembly to meet emissions targets under the Climate Change Act.
Environment and climate Issue: Wind Energy Ireland report on record renewable electricity output Original release: Shift to renewable energy showing clear environmental benefits – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Addressing the Challenges Facing Our Public Sector Workers: A Call for Devolved Action - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says public sector workers' pay concerns, including the recent day of action, are damaging health, education and the economy, and urges devolved politicians to act now rather than blame the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Addressing the Challenges Facing Our Public Sector Workers: A Call for Devolved Action - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance secures first step in plans for Belfast Covid memorial
Alliance councillors in Belfast call for a special Covid memorial in the city to honour those who died in the pandemic and those living with long Covid. Councillor Christine Bower says a dedicated shared space would help the community recover from the trauma and grief.
Local government Health Issue: Belfast Covid memorial proposal receives cross-party support Original release: Alliance secures first step in plans for Belfast Covid memorial (opens in a new tab)
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Now EU dictating to NI on tooth fillings
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol will force Northern Ireland to follow an EU ban on dental amalgam from January 2025, warning the British Dental Association has flagged a disproportionate impact on local oral health services.
Health International affairs Issue: EU dental amalgam ban applying in Northern Ireland under the Protocol Original release: Now EU dictating to NI on tooth fillings (opens in a new tab)
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Health staff and patients need an Executive now – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, after visiting Craigavon Emergency Department, says staff and patients face extreme pressure from delayed discharges. She calls for a new Executive to deliver a health plan, criticises the DUP's boycott, and urges the British Secretary of State to award health workers a…
Health Issue: Craigavon Emergency Department pressures after RQIA delayed discharges report Original release: Health staff and patients need an Executive now – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill MLA says the DUP's boycott is jeopardising public services and a 170,000-worker strike, and calls on the DUP to join Executive formation, warning the Assembly may be near its final sitting.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly sitting to elect Speaker and form Executive, 17 January 2024 Original release: REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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Championing Pay Parity and Defending Our Health Service: A Pledge from the Ulster Unionist Party - Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA backs Robin Swann's pay parity pledge ahead of Thursday's public sector strike, calling DUP and UK Government positions on Stormont funding and pay settlements heartless and shameful.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Planned public sector strike next Thursday Original release: Championing Pay Parity and Defending Our Health Service: A Pledge from the Ulster Unionist Party - Chambers (opens in a new tab)