Latest releases
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3,123 releases
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Carers in crisis could be helped if there was a local Executive
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls on the DUP to consider the stress its position is placing on carers across Northern Ireland, citing a Carers NI report finding fewer than one in three could afford their bills. She urges a return to the Executive to agree a budget.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Carers NI State of Caring Northern Ireland 2022 report Original release: Carers in crisis could be helped if there was a local Executive (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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‘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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Campbell welcomes rollout of Full-Fibre broadband in Claudy area
DUP MP Gregory Campbell welcomes the rollout of full-fibre broadband in the Claudy area under the Project Stratum scheme, which he says will connect up to 571 premises this winter. He credits £150million secured through the 2017 DUP Confidence and Supply Agreement and cites NI's 82% full-fibre…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Project Stratum full-fibre broadband rollout in Claudy Original release: Campbell welcomes rollout of Full-Fibre broadband in Claudy area (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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DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the DfC Minister to suspend punitive debt deductions for Universal Credit and other benefit recipients, citing a Derry and Strabane Council motion and Department correspondence showing no plans to act.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Derry and Strabane Council motion on suspending benefit debt deductions Original release: DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Tory benefits plan will plunge thousands into poverty
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan condemns a reported British Government plan to link benefit uprating to earnings rather than inflation, calling it a betrayal. He has requested that Minister Deirdre Hargey produce figures on how the change would affect Northern Ireland households, citing Resolution…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: British Government plan to link benefit uprating to earnings growth Original release: McCrossan: Tory benefits plan will plunge thousands into poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Council Hardship Fund is a tiny drop compared with the need, condemns the SDLP, Sinn Féin, and DUP for blocking or diluting it, and pledges to push for extra funding and stronger action on the cost‑of‑living emergency.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Council Hardship Fund Original release: Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites (opens in a new tab)
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Support for households relying on oil totally inadequate – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the British Government's £100 payment for households relying on home heating oil is totally inadequate and an afterthought, and warns the switch to paying it via electricity providers may push people towards costlier electric heating. She also calls on the DUP…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £100 home heating oil payment announcement by British Government Original release: Support for households relying on oil totally inadequate – Archibald (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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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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Assembly group on universal basic income important step towards potential introduction here, says Brown
Alliance MLA Patrick Brown welcomes the first meeting of a cross-party Assembly working group on universal basic income, which discussed developing a UBI pilot for Northern Ireland. He says the economic pressures of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis make new support measures necessary.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Assembly All-Party Working Group on universal basic income first meeting Original release: Assembly group on universal basic income important step towards potential introduction here, says Brown (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan criticises refusal to show parking fine leniency
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says he is disappointed Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has declined to lengthen the 50% discount window for parking Penalty Charge Notices. Durkan had proposed extending it from 14 days to six weeks to ease cost-of-living pressures, and urges caretaker ministers…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Infrastructure Minister rejects extended parking fine discount period proposal Original release: Durkan criticises refusal to show parking fine leniency (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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O’Dowd slashes road maintenance budget but increases cycle path spend
TUV leader Jim Allister says Infrastructure Minister O'Dowd has halved the 2022/23 road maintenance budget in Northern Division to £15m while raising cycle path spending, including £1.9m for a Coleraine Ring Road cycle path. He calls for the priorities to be reviewed.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Division road maintenance budget cut and cycle path spending Original release: O’Dowd slashes road maintenance budget but increases cycle path spend (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)