Latest releases
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4,116 releases
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Sinn Féin leaders travel to Australia with message of hope and optimism
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy TD and Pearse Doherty TD announce a trip to Australia covering Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. They will meet ministers including Penny Wong, discuss the Northern Ireland institutions, and raise housing, health and climate policy.
Constitutional affairs Housing Original release: Sinn Féin leaders travel to Australia with message of hope and optimism (opens in a new tab)
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North Down beaches water quality testing failure incredibly concerning, says Egan
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan says it is very worrying that several bathing sites across North Down have failed water quality tests, prompting warning signs and advice to stay out of the water. She welcomes a DAERA water pollution investigation and says she will press DAERA and the NI…
Environment and climate Issue: North Down bathing water quality test failures and swimming warnings Original release: North Down beaches water quality testing failure incredibly concerning, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Concerning increases in people presenting for alcohol treatment – Thomas Gould TD
Sinn Féin's addiction and wellbeing spokesperson Thomas Gould TD urges the government to fund a response to an 8% rise in problem alcohol use reported by the Health Research Board, noting services are at capacity, a postcode lottery exists, and key parts of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act remain un‑
Health Issue: Health Research Board data on rising problem alcohol use Original release: Concerning increases in people presenting for alcohol treatment – Thomas Gould TD (opens in a new tab)
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Rise in sale of illegal vapes to underage children deeply concerning, says McReynolds
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds says he is deeply concerned about illegal sales of disposable vapes to under-18s after meeting Belfast City Council's Tobacco Control Team. He calls for the Public Health Agency to fund Cancer Focus NI's youth awareness work and says vapes sold in…
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Council test purchases showing illegal vape sales to under-18s Original release: Rise in sale of illegal vapes to underage children deeply concerning, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: UK climbdown on goods quality marks underlines indefensibility and futility of DUP boycott
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole welcomes the UK Government's indefinite postponement of a separate UK product quality mark, saying it lowers the risk of NI-GB divergence and makes the DUP's boycott of Stormont harder to justify.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK Government postpones separate UK product quality mark regime Original release: O’Toole: UK climbdown on goods quality marks underlines indefensibility and futility of DUP boycott (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson - "the ball rests at the foot of the UKG"
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP says the UK Government must deliver on commitments made during the Prime Minister's Northern Ireland visit, arguing that broken promises have eroded trust and that the ball is in its court over restoring Stormont.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Northern Ireland visit commitments and Stormont restoration Original release: Robinson - "the ball rests at the foot of the UKG" (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to start fixing problems in health service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon voices concern that roughly one in five GP training places remain unfilled, warning of staff shortages and GP losses through retirement and stress. She calls for all parties to work together at the Executive to address pressures in health services.
Health Issue: Unfilled GP training places in Northern Ireland Original release: Executive needed to start fixing problems in health service – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe marks World Breastfeeding Week
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says she has helped launch a Stormont event marking World Breastfeeding Week, co-sponsored with Breastival, and cites a rise in Northern Ireland's breastfeeding rate at discharge over 2013 to 2020. She encourages the public to attend and support breastfeeding…
Health Original release: Forsythe marks World Breastfeeding Week (opens in a new tab)
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TUV reiterates dangers of Windsor Whitewash and warns against the folly of restoring Stormont
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Windsor Framework has left the Irish Sea border, EU single market rules and Customs Code in place, and warns that restoring Stormont would implement the Protocol and make Union-dismantling suspension permanent.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Recently published government guidance on Irish Sea border functioning Original release: TUV reiterates dangers of Windsor Whitewash and warns against the folly of restoring Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Brian Smyth has condemned today's announcement by the Prime Minister
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth for Lisnasharragh condemns the Prime Minister's plan to allow 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences, saying it undermines Net Zero by 2050 and will not lower fuel bills. He calls for a renewable energy revolution with green jobs instead.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Prime Minister's approval of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences Original release: Cllr Brian Smyth has condemned today's announcement by the Prime Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Sunak’s expansion of oil and gas ‘economically and environmentally illiterate’ says Tennyson
Alliance climate and energy spokesperson MLA Eóin Tennyson says the UK Government’s decision to issue more than 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences is economically and environmentally illiterate, calls for a ban on fossil fuel exploration in Northern Ireland and a Green New Deal.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Prime Minister's approval of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences Original release: Sunak’s expansion of oil and gas ‘economically and environmentally illiterate’ says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Visibility and support crucial for increasing breastfeeding rates, says Nicholl, marking World Breastfeeding Week
Alliance South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl says visibility is key to raising breastfeeding rates, after sponsoring Breastival's #MoreThanMilk photo exhibition at Stormont for World Breastfeeding Week. She calls for the Assembly to be restored and a new breastfeeding strategy and legislation developed.
Health Issue: Breastival #MoreThanMilk photo exhibition at Stormont Original release: Visibility and support crucial for increasing breastfeeding rates, says Nicholl, marking World Breastfeeding Week (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to specialist GP services will pile more pressure on health service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says cuts to the GP Elective Care Service will add pressure to the health service and lengthen waiting lists for dermatology, gynaecology and minor surgery. She has written to the Department of Health about the impact on patients and urges the Executive to be restored.
Health Issue: GP Elective Care Service funding cut Original release: Cuts to specialist GP services will pile more pressure on health service – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart - SF over ‘self-indulgent’ border poll comments
DUP agri-food spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP says Sinn Fein should respect the political neutrality of farming organisations after MEP Chris MacManus urged them to engage in a border poll debate. She calls the proposal self-indulgent and irresponsible.
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Sinn Fein call for farming organisations to engage in border poll debate Original release: Lockhart - SF over ‘self-indulgent’ border poll comments (opens in a new tab)
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Environmental crisis in NI only being fuelled by lack of Executive, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says Northern Ireland has again failed on its environmental commitments after DAERA missed the deadline for its first Environment Improvement Plan. He blames the lack of a functioning Executive and calls for Assembly scrutiny and a Minister to lead.
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA misses deadline for first Environment Improvement Plan Original release: Environmental crisis in NI only being fuelled by lack of Executive, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to address biggest crisis in NI in last 25 years, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says Northern Ireland faces its most serious situation since the Good Friday Agreement, after a cross-party meeting with the Head of the Civil Service. He calls for a financial package and an Executive to be formed, blaming the DUP for the governance vacuum.
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Cross-party meeting with Head of the Civil Service on NI budget crisis Original release: Executive needed to address biggest crisis in NI in last 25 years, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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Appropriate adult mental health services must be a priority for a restored Executive – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for an end to the differing approach to Adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment across health trusts, after meeting Northern Trust management. He says the stalled pilot for validating private diagnoses must be expedited and that a resolution is needed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Northern Trust Adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment provision meeting Original release: Appropriate adult mental health services must be a priority for a restored Executive – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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No reason why folic acid legislation cannot include NI
DUP peer Lord Dodds questions why Northern Ireland is excluded from folic acid fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour and calls on the UK Government to legislate to include it, to reduce neural tube defects in babies.
Health Original release: No reason why folic acid legislation cannot include NI (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Stark RVH report cannot be ignored
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says a stark RQIA inspection report into the Royal Victoria Hospital emergency department should be a catalyst for change. He calls for transformation of health services and restored Stormont institutions to implement it before winter pressures worsen.
Health Issue: RQIA inspection report on Royal Victoria Hospital emergency department Original release: McGrath: Stark RVH report cannot be ignored (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor whitewash exposed by House of Lords report
TUV party treasurer Councillor Timothy Gaston says a House of Lords committee report on the Windsor Framework undermines government claims, citing concerns on burdens for non-retail goods, green lane retail, medicines and the Stormont brake, and calls Windsor a whitewash.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: House of Lords committee report on the Windsor Framework Original release: Windsor whitewash exposed by House of Lords report (opens in a new tab)