Latest releases
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3,053 releases
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Financial burden for keeping people healthy should not fall on individual pharmacists, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA backs Community Pharmacy NI's call for work on a drugs tariff for dispensing medicines, warning that pharmacists should not bear the financial burden and urging the Department of Health to act urgently.
Health Issue: Community Pharmacy NI warning on medicine shortages from rising costs Original release: Financial burden for keeping people healthy should not fall on individual pharmacists, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader announces changes to Front Bench Team
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP announces a new Opposition front bench team of MPs, MLAs and councillors, saying it will hold Ministers to account over the cost of living crisis and health service pressures while Stormont remains down.
Economy and employment Health Original release: SDLP Leader announces changes to Front Bench Team (opens in a new tab)
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Amendment to Criminalise Care and Support Around Abortion Clinics Must be defeated - Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly urges defeat of a proposed amendment by British MP Rupa Huq that would establish buffer zones restricting volunteers outside abortion clinics, arguing it threatens free assembly and support for pregnant women.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Rupa Huq amendment on buffer zones around abortion clinics Original release: Amendment to Criminalise Care and Support Around Abortion Clinics Must be defeated - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes national report on police-perpetrated violence against women and girls
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the NPCC and College of Policing review of police-perpetrated violence against women, and says he wants the PSNI to set out reforms targeting lower-level sexual offending. He cites the Sarah Everard and Libby Squires cases to argue the police must prevent officers…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: NPCC and College of Policing review of police-perpetrated VAWG Original release: Blair welcomes national report on police-perpetrated violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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‘Need for greater awareness of challenges facing women during menopause’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for greater awareness of the challenges women face during menopause, particularly in the workplace, after attending a Menopause Conference. She urges the DUP to end its boycott and restore the Executive so women can get support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: ‘Need for greater awareness of challenges facing women during menopause’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland under more liberal regulations
TUV leader Jim Allister publishes Department of Health figures showing 4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland since the March 2020 change in the law, broken down by Health Trust. He says the reasons for abortions are not recorded, unlike in Great Britain, and calls for regular publication of figures…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion figures released since March 2020 law change Original release: 4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland under more liberal regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe - menace to women should be in jail for longer
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the Lady Chief Justice's response to her complaint about Judge Sherrard's comments in Dungannon, which led to further judicial guidance and training. She says the comments were ill-judged and will write to Justice Minister Naomi Long on whether…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Judge Sherrard's comments in Dungannon court case Original release: Forsythe - menace to women should be in jail for longer (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time to break the stigma surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, says Kelly
Alliance Councillor Michelle Kelly, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, calls for an end to the stigma around baby and pregnancy loss and more awareness of available support, marking the close of Baby Loss Awareness Week. She announces a Remembrance Tree at Belfast City Hall, created with Aching Arms…
Health Local government Original release: It’s time to break the stigma surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, says Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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£330,000 budget to pander to 10 English-speaking MLAs who might occasionally wish to speak in Irish
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises a £330,000 translation and interpretation service for Irish use in the Assembly, noting only 10 MLAs want to use it, and warns of further costs from Irish language legislation and an Irish Language Commissioner.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Irish language translation and interpretation service costs Original release: £330,000 budget to pander to 10 English-speaking MLAs who might occasionally wish to speak in Irish (opens in a new tab)
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Language and Identity Bill another example of contempt for devolution…
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says the Government's decision to proceed with the Language and Identity Bill is another case of disregarding devolution to push through legislation lacking cross-community support. The DUP says it will oppose the bill unless Unionist concerns are addressed.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill second reading at Westminster Original release: Language and Identity Bill another example of contempt for devolution… (opens in a new tab)
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Adult and social care services under huge pressure – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says adult and social care services are under huge pressure and near collapse, leaving patients stuck in hospital beds, and calls on the DUP to stop blocking an Executive so Sinn Féin can invest an extra £1 billion in health.
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Dillon writes to Lady Chief Justice about remarks in Tyrone sexual assault case
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has lodged a formal complaint with the Lady Chief Justice over a judge's remarks in a Tyrone sexual assault hearing, including encouraging the defendant to settle down and refusing to bar him from contacting women online. She calls for judges to be trained on…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Tyrone sexual assault hearing judge's remarks complaint to Lady Chief Justice Original release: Dillon writes to Lady Chief Justice about remarks in Tyrone sexual assault case (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr McKee welcomes support for workers undergoing fertility treatment
Green Party councillor Barry McKee welcomes unanimous backing from Ards and North Down Council's Corporate Committee for a motion to expand support for staff undergoing fertility treatment. He hopes officers' forthcoming report leads to a swift introduction of the measures.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council motion on fertility treatment support for staff Original release: Cllr McKee welcomes support for workers undergoing fertility treatment (opens in a new tab)
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Agency spend issue should long ago have been dealt with, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says the Department of Health's order to cut £15 million from agency staff spending shows the issue was known for years and Northern Ireland has not addressed it, unlike other parts of the UK that regulated agency pay or introduced safe staffing…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health £15 million agency staff spending cut instruction Original release: Agency spend issue should long ago have been dealt with, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes progress on Irish language legislation
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna welcomes progress on the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill ahead of its Westminster second reading, calling for the protections to be enacted promptly and criticising that the legislation is not being progressed locally at Stormont.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill second reading at Westminster Original release: Hanna welcomes progress on Irish language legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew requests urgent meeting over emergency surgical services at Enniskillen Hospital
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says she has written to the Western Trust's chief executive seeking an urgent meeting over worries about emergency surgery provision at Enniskillen Hospital, after raising the issue with Health Minister Robin Swann last month.
Health Issue: Enniskillen Hospital emergency surgery concerns raised with Western Trust Original release: Gildernew requests urgent meeting over emergency surgical services at Enniskillen Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson encourages victims of hate crime to come forward and report incidents
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson urges victims and witnesses of hate crime to come forward to support services and police, citing recent PSNI figures showing rises in five motivation categories, with disability-motivated incidents at their highest since records began.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI hate crime statistics showing rises across five motivation categories Original release: Dickson encourages victims of hate crime to come forward and report incidents (opens in a new tab)
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‘Executive needed now to support mother and babies’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for an Executive to be formed immediately to fund a specialised mother and baby unit for women facing severe mental illness during or after pregnancy. She says the party is ready to form one now and back a three-year health budget.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Campaign for specialised mother and baby mental health unit Original release: ‘Executive needed now to support mother and babies’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Leaders Key Note Speech Aontú Ard Fheis 2022
Aontú expresses solidarity with the people of Cresslough after a tragic weekend, thanks volunteers for organising the Ard Fheis, highlights 55,000 votes and 1,300 new members, condemns the abortion law and cost‑of‑living crisis, and calls for a compassionate society that protects vulnerable children
Economy and employment Health Issue: Creeslough, Co Donegal tragedy with ten deaths Original release: Leaders Key Note Speech Aontú Ard Fheis 2022 (opens in a new tab)
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Regional Mental Health Service welcome, but long-term funding guarantees still essential, says Bradshaw
Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the launch of a Regional Mental Health Service but says the absence of an Executive leaves long‑term funding for the wider Mental Health Strategy uncertain and urges swift action.
Health Issue: Regional Mental Health Service announcement Original release: Regional Mental Health Service welcome, but long-term funding guarantees still essential, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)