Latest releases
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2,485 releases
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TUV blasts Health Minister’s failure to call public inquiry
TUV Cusher Councillor Keith Ratcliffe criticises the Health Minister for not calling a full public inquiry into the ladies' letters scandal, saying only an inquiry under the 2005 Act can provide answers. He says the announcement avoided Assembly scrutiny and that his party colleague has asked the…
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: TUV blasts Health Minister’s failure to call public inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health service must address repeated patient recalls and reviews
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says repeated patient recalls – including the Belfast Trust’s recall of more than 160 heart patients possibly fitted with unnecessary CRT devices – raise serious questions about the health service, urges anyone affected to contact the Trust and呼s
Health Issue: Belfast Health Trust advanced heart conditions recall Original release: McGrath: Health service must address repeated patient recalls and reviews (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie MLA responds to publication of cervical screening report
UUP MLA Doug Beattie responds to the Atherton report on the Northern Ireland cervical screening programme, saying it exposed serious governance failings and damaged public trust. He is disappointed no statutory public inquiry will proceed, while backing the Health Minister's reasoning and urging…
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: Doug Beattie MLA responds to publication of cervical screening report (opens in a new tab)
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Palantir Unlimited Access to NHS - Stormont Must Halt Health Service Privatisation
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on Stormont to halt health service privatisation, citing Palantir's access to NHS England patient data and warning it could extend to Northern Ireland. He urges backing for the UNISON campaign ahead of a Health and Community Committee deputation.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Palantir access to NHS England patient data Original release: Palantir Unlimited Access to NHS - Stormont Must Halt Health Service Privatisation (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Cervical screening public inquiry decision will cause further hurt
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Health Minister's refusal to order a public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening failures will hurt affected women, despite findings from Professor Sir Frank Atherton's review.
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: McGrath: Cervical screening public inquiry decision will cause further hurt (opens in a new tab)
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Denial of public inquiry into cervical screening scandal fails those impacted, says McAllister
Alliance's Nuala McAllister MLA says refusing a full public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal fails those affected, after the Atherton Report was published. She has tabled an urgent oral question asking the Health Minister to explain his rationale to the Assembly.
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: Denial of public inquiry into cervical screening scandal fails those impacted, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Why We Are Marching For Lough Neagh
People Before Profit calls for a mass march for Lough Neagh on Sunday 17 May, starting at The Batter Bar and ending at Ardboe High Cross, citing toxic algae blooms, pollution from intensive farming and sewage, and unsafe drinking water. It is held 40 years after a 1980s march against lignite mining.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Why We Are Marching For Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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McIlveen welcomes £500,000 veterans boost
Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen welcomes £500,000 in funding secured by veterans' charity Beyond the Battlefield to house and support former service personnel facing homelessness. She commends the charity's work and pledges to keep working with it on veterans' care in Northern Ireland.
Housing Issue: Beyond the Battlefield £500,000 veterans funding award Original release: McIlveen welcomes £500,000 veterans boost (opens in a new tab)
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RHI scandal ‘a monument to arrogance in government’ – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the official closure of the RHI scheme, calling it a scandal that cost the public purse an estimated £500 million and damaged public trust. He accuses the DUP of arrogance and hypocrisy, citing its current conduct in the Assembly.
Environment and climate Public finance and taxation Issue: RHI scheme closure announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Original release: RHI scandal ‘a monument to arrogance in government’ – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister: Musgrave Park ‘Mega Clinic’ life changing for long-waiting patients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes a weekend 'Mega Clinic' at Musgrave Park Hospital for adult patients awaiting a first spinal appointment, saying it will review around 123 long-waiting patients and cut waiting times by 11 weeks. He calls for recurrent funding to sustain such projects.
Health Issue: Musgrave Park Mega Clinic for spinal patients weekend Original release: Health Minister: Musgrave Park ‘Mega Clinic’ life changing for long-waiting patients (opens in a new tab)
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Behind every figure is a person as NI drug-related deaths continue to rise
UUP Deputy Leader and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong responds to NISRA's annual drug-related death figures, which show 251 deaths registered in 2024, and says the rising trend reflects a collective failure, criticising the drugs taskforce for inaction.
Health Issue: NISRA annual drug-related deaths statistics 2024 Original release: Behind every figure is a person as NI drug-related deaths continue to rise (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes closure of botched RHI scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the closure of the RHI scheme announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald, saying it should be followed by learning from past failings. He blames the scheme's design under a DUP minister for incentivising burning of public money, and says future renewable…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: RHI scheme closure announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Original release: Delargy welcomes closure of botched RHI scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must recognise real issues facing homecare – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to fulfil his pledge for real Living Wage pay for care workers and to produce a comprehensive plan that improves and future‑proofs homecare services, ahead of a Sinn Féin motion in the Assembly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister real Living Wage for care workers Original release: Health Minister must recognise real issues facing homecare – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes RHI Closure as first step toward Northern Ireland's clean energy future
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the Assembly's final passage of the RHI non-domestic closure bill, calling it a first step. She urges a credible renewable energy framework covering grid capacity, offshore wind and long-term planning, and says the Renewable Energy Price…
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: RHI scheme closure announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Original release: Armstrong welcomes RHI Closure as first step toward Northern Ireland's clean energy future (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to act quickly on autism provision ahead of an Assembly motion tomorrow. She cites long assessment waits, a postcode lottery in respite services, and calls for a plan to cut waiting lists and deliver the Autism Strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on autism services and support Original release: Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Safe access zones law working as intended
The Green Party welcomes a judgment upholding Northern Ireland's Safe Access Zones legislation, saying the courts have confirmed the law is lawful and proportionate and protects people accessing abortion services. Cllr Groogan says the law is working as intended.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court judgment on Safe Access Zones law Original release: Safe access zones law working as intended (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 May 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Maternal Mental Health Week: Sorca Clarke TD welcomes progress in the North but slams continued delays in the South
Sinn Féin's mental health spokesperson Sorca Clarke TD welcomes progress on a Mother and Baby Unit in the North while criticising delays to a Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit in the South. She calls on the Health Minister to set a site selection deadline, a feasibility study timeline and an opening…
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Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes Health Minister confirmation that Keytruda is already available in three Health Trusts, and urges swift rollout to the remaining two areas. She says the immunotherapy could save lives.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Health Trusts Original release: Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI (opens in a new tab)
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New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard writes to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt demanding the immediate rollout of Keytruda, a new injectable cancer immunotherapy being introduced in England and Wales, and asks for a clear timeline for its use in Northern Ireland.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug rollout in England and Wales Original release: New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a 17% year-on-year rise in new social home starts in 2025/26, to 1,765, credited to a £210 million building programme and the largest-ever Social Housing Development Programme investment. He says more work remains and points to reviews of grant rates…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Social home starts rise 17% in 2025/26 Original release: Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building (opens in a new tab)