Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
4,952 releases
-
Brett thanks public for Hospice Petition support
DUP MLA Phillip Brett thanks those who signed his petition after handing it to the Speaker, which calls on the Department of Health for extra funding for the Children's Hospice to restore bed capacity. He urges the Health Minister to bring forward a funding bid.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Children's Hospice bed capacity reduction petition Original release: Brett thanks public for Hospice Petition support (opens in a new tab)
-
Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne presses the Infrastructure Minister for clarity on the future of the Concessionary Fares Scheme, noting no decision has followed the consultation that closed in August 2023. He welcomes the Minister's stated intention to keep the scheme in its current form and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Concessionary Fares Scheme consultation outcome and future of fare concessions Original release: Dunne presses for clarity on concessionary fares scheme (opens in a new tab)
-
Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn criticises the Communities Minister's decision to end remote council meetings from 6 March, calling it short-sighted and ideological. He says remote attendance improves accessibility for councillors with caring or health needs and urges the minister to extend…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister ending remote council meetings from 6 March Original release: Communities Minister decision more ideological than practical (opens in a new tab)
-
Beattie welcomes NI inclusion in ground-breaking smoking and vaping legislation
UUP leader Doug Beattie MC MLA welcomes Health Minister Robin Swann's confirmation that Northern Ireland will be covered by Westminster's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would ban tobacco sales to anyone born from 2009 onward. He encourages MLAs to back the measure when it reaches the Assembly.
Health Issue: Health Minister confirms Northern Ireland inclusion in Tobacco and Vapes Bill Original release: Beattie welcomes NI inclusion in ground-breaking smoking and vaping legislation (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Department of Health confirmation that Nexus NI's counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence will run for another year. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan for these services.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Dillon welcomes extension of Nexus contract (opens in a new tab)
-
Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border
TUV Braid Councillor Christopher Jamieson says the Department's planned change of livestock tag prefix in Northern Ireland from 'UK' to 'XI' is another example of the Sea Border. He says TUV raised the issue through a question to the Agriculture Minister, which was answered after the Department…
Constitutional affairs Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Northern Ireland livestock tag prefix change from UK to XI Original release: Change in livestock tags another manifestation of Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
-
We must be driven by making NI the best it can be
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson MP, speaking at East Antrim DUP Association, urges supporters to focus on making Northern Ireland work and warns against a border poll. He also criticises legacy measures from the 1998 Belfast Agreement as corrupting justice and calls for unionism to unite…
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Original release: We must be driven by making NI the best it can be (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunter welcomes decision to extend Nexus counselling contract
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter welcomes the Health Minister's decision to extend the Nexus counselling contract for sexual abuse victims by a year after the department ended it without a replacement. She calls for a long-term approach ensuring free counselling access.
Health Issue: Department of Health extension of Nexus NI counselling contract Original release: Hunter welcomes decision to extend Nexus counselling contract (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Sinn Féin, the DUP and TUV have blocked Assembly reform to end the petition of concern, criticising the First Minister for opposing it and for not responding to a debate.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Assembly reform motion to end petition of concern blocked Original release: O’Toole: Sinn Féin, DUP and TUV team up to block Assembly reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Grief must not become taboo as we mark our collective loss on Day of Reflection, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the Day of Reflection on Sunday should honour pandemic dead while focusing on better support for bereaved people still struggling. She urges practical help and memorials for those still grieving.
-
Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers a keynote at an Irish Unity Summit in New York, dedicating her words to the late Rita O'Hare and calling on US friends to walk with Ireland toward reunification.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Mary Lou McDonald TD delivers keynote address to Irish Unity Summit in New York (opens in a new tab)
-
Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says it is alarming that the Department of Health has ended Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for victims of sexual abuse and violence. She calls on the Health Minister to review the decision, arguing GP referrals are not an adequate substitute.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: Deeply concerning Department of Health has ended Nexus NI contract – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
“Irish Unity is the defining issue in today’s Ireland” Declan Kearney speaking in Barcelona
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA, speaking at a CIEMEN conference in Barcelona, says Irish unity is the defining issue and calls for planning for constitutional change to begin now, with the British government to accept partition has failed. He also calls for a permanent…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: “Irish Unity is the defining issue in today’s Ireland” Declan Kearney speaking in Barcelona (opens in a new tab)
-
McAllister calls for urgent review of decision to stop providing specialist counselling for sexual abuse victims
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister calls for an urgent review of the Department of Health's decision to end Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for sexual abuse victims, after the group confirmed no other provider had been contracted. She has asked the Health Minister to update MLAs.
Health Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: McAllister calls for urgent review of decision to stop providing specialist counselling for sexual abuse victims (opens in a new tab)
-
Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says newly published Rivers Trust data showing no Northern Ireland river stretches at good overall status is disappointing but not surprising. He links the decline to agricultural run-off, sewage, invasive species and underinvestment, and calls for…
Environment and climate Issue: Rivers Trust State of Our Rivers 2024 report on Northern Ireland waters Original release: Rivers Trust report on state of NI waters disappointing but not surprising, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Life should be valued: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, Chair of the All Party Pro-Life Group, says society should focus on protecting life and improving palliative care rather than advancing assisted dying, following a Health and Social Care Committee report.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care Committee report on assisted dying Original release: Life should be valued: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin leaders in New York for two days of high level engagements
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Pearse Doherty, on a two-day trip to New York, say they will address an Irish Unity Summit, meet young Irish emigrants and US employers, and meet the Palestinian UN envoy to back a ceasefire.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin leaders in New York for two days of high level engagements (opens in a new tab)
-
Sir Jeffrey – the Union is in the hands of our children
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says unionism must recognise the changing demographics and diverse identities in Northern Ireland, and urges Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill to focus on the economy, schools and hospitals rather than calls for a border poll.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Sir Jeffrey – the Union is in the hands of our children (opens in a new tab)
-
Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
-
East-West Council meeting welcomed
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP welcomed the plan for the inaugural UK East‑West Council to convene in Belfast by the end of March, saying it will deepen ties between the four nations on trade, education and culture and that Intertrade UK will boost intra‑Union commerce, with further steps to be
Constitutional affairs Issue: First UK East-West Council meeting in Belfast Original release: East-West Council meeting welcomed (opens in a new tab)