Latest releases
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3,215 releases
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British government should bin its cruel and callous Legacy Bill – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane calls on the British government to scrap its Legacy Bill, which he says would block families' access to truth and justice, after protests in Belfast, Derry and London. He welcomes church leaders' view that the Bill will not meet its objectives and urges implementation of…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Westminster Legacy Bill protests and church leaders' criticism Original release: British government should bin its cruel and callous Legacy Bill – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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It is vital a maternity unit is kept at Causeway
The DUP's representatives for East Londonderry and North Antrim, including MPs Ian Paisley and Gregory Campbell and MLAs Alan Robinson, Paul Frew and Maurice Bradley, say a maternity unit must be kept at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. They oppose a Trust option to move maternity services to a new…
Health Issue: Northern Trust maternity services reconfiguration consultation Original release: It is vital a maternity unit is kept at Causeway (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds challenges O’Neill to condemn IRA attack
DUP MLA Diane Dodds challenges Sinn Féin leader Michelle O'Neill to condemn IRA gunmen who attacked the Royal Victoria Hospital for Children in 1996, and to denounce the Shankill, Enniskillen and La Mon bombings. She accuses O'Neill of celebrating the IRA.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Dodds challenges O’Neill to condemn IRA attack (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson welcomes announcement of Kincora demolition
DUP MP Gavin Robinson welcomes the start of demolition at the former Kincora Boys Home in East Belfast, which he says has stained the local community for decades. He says he pressed for the site's demolition over many years and challenged the Council when it sought to retain the building.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Kincora Boys Home demolition start in East Belfast Original release: Robinson welcomes announcement of Kincora demolition (opens in a new tab)
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"Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers."
Aontú's Kieran Mc Causland, Upper Bann representative, calls for urgent funding and reliable respite breaks for unpaid carers, citing the £69.70 weekly carer's allowance and the loss of entitlement for those earning above £132.
Social security and welfare Health Original release: "Aontú calls for urgent help for unpaid carers." (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA warns that reconfiguring maternity and other services during a crisis, without a Health Minister or Committee able to scrutinise, will see services crumble, as the Northern Trust begins consulting on maternity reconfiguration.
Health Issue: Northern Trust maternity services reconfiguration consultation Original release: Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the recent withdrawal of emergency surgery at South West Acute Hospital is a service collapse, not reform, and urges the Western Trust to publish its plans for recruiting surgeons. He also calls on the DUP to end its boycott and allow an Executive to be formed.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Brett – glorifying the IRA is misleading young people
DUP MLA Phillip Brett says Sinn Fein's glorification of the IRA, including Michelle O'Neill's honouring of an IRA gunrunner, is misleading young people and linked to recent chanting incidents and attacks on police. He calls for a proper conversation within nationalism.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Chanting of "up the Ra" incidents and attacks on police officers Original release: Brett – glorifying the IRA is misleading young people (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton - "terrorism was wrong in 1990 and it is wrong in 2022"
DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton condemns the hijacking of a van and the forced driving of a civilian to a Derry police station, linking it to the 1990 IRA attack at Coshquin. He calls for political leaders to state plainly that terrorism was wrong, and criticises those who justify past violence.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Derry Waterside delivery driver hijacking and police station incident Original release: Middleton - "terrorism was wrong in 1990 and it is wrong in 2022" (opens in a new tab)
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Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the Stormont deadlock is worsening pressures on GPs after the Maple Healthcare practice in Lisnaskea signalled it may hand back its contract. She calls for MLAs to restore the Executive and pursue health reform, and accuses the DUP of using health services as…
Health Issue: Maple Healthcare Lisnaskea GP practice contract hand-back Original release: Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Hijacking attack on community
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP condemns a Sunday night hijacking in Derry in which a delivery driver was forced at gunpoint to drive to a Waterside police station, calling it an attack on the whole community and urging police to hold those responsible to account.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Derry Waterside delivery driver hijacking and police station incident Original release: Eastwood: Hijacking attack on community (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he has written to members of the House of Lords to reiterate opposition to the British government's Legacy Bill, which he claims will block families seeking truth and justice. He calls on peers to urge the government to implement the Stormont House Agreement legacy…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government Legacy Bill House of Lords Original release: Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he is deeply concerned that ambulance cover in some areas is being held up for hours outside hospitals, calling the pressures on staff and patients a crisis. He urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive and health minister can be restored.
Health Issue: Ambulance crews delayed outside hospitals reports Original release: Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals (opens in a new tab)
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Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says the announced suspension of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen from 18 December is deeply disappointing. She calls on the Western Trust to publish a concrete plan to recruit emergency general surgeons and restore the service.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the Tory budget will push the economy deeper into a needless downturn, citing an OBR forecast of a 2% contraction and a 7% drop in living standards, and calls for a credible plan to rebuild public services.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Department of Health confirmation of a meeting with party health spokespeople next week on health priorities and reform. He calls for urgent political and health leadership action on the emergency care crisis and urges the DUP to end its…
Health Issue: Department of Health cross-party meeting on health priorities and reform Original release: McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron says the Protocol threatens future medicine supply to Northern Ireland, citing Teva UK evidence on product licensing burdens and NHS Confederation and PAGB concerns about EU legislation expiry and food supplement certification.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Teva UK evidence on Protocol medicine licensing challenges Original release: Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron (opens in a new tab)
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Medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says medicines should be taken out of the Northern Ireland Protocol, warning that patients could lose equitable access to new and innovative drugs and cancer treatments. He calls on the EU to recognise the problems, urges a parallel MHRA and EMA system for centrally…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Medicines divergence under the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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“MLA Pay Cut Isn’t Enough” – Gemma Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for MLA wages to be cut to minimum wage, saying a reported 27% salary cut is not enough amid the cost-of-living and fuel crisis. She also blames the Stormont stalemate for health service delays and calls for Stormont institutions to be reformed.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Secretary of State legislation extending Executive formation period and cutting MLA pay Original release: “MLA Pay Cut Isn’t Enough” – Gemma Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP seeks urgent health service talks
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he has asked the Department of Health's senior officials to convene urgent talks between political leaders, health chiefs and civil servants on the emergency care crisis. He argues devolved government must resume with a full-time Health Minister, and…
Health Issue: Emergency care crisis and proposed urgent health talks Original release: SDLP seeks urgent health service talks (opens in a new tab)