Latest releases
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3,441 releases
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Durkan: Deposit Return Scheme effectiveness depends on cross-border cooperation
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has written to DAERA and Irish Minister Ossian Smyth asking for an all-island approach to the planned Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, which DAERA says will launch in Northern Ireland in 2025. He argues cross-border working would deter fraud and bring economies…
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA confirmation of 2025 Deposit Return Scheme launch in Northern Ireland Original release: Durkan: Deposit Return Scheme effectiveness depends on cross-border cooperation (opens in a new tab)
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DUP boycott of Executive has left public services at mercy of cruel Tory cuts – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the DUP's refusal to take part in the Executive has exposed public services to Westminster-imposed cuts after the Budget Bill passed today. He calls on Chris Heaton-Harris to clarify steps to restore the Executive, and says Sinn Féin is ready to form one.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Westminster Budget Bill passage amid Stormont Executive impasse Original release: DUP boycott of Executive has left public services at mercy of cruel Tory cuts – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Selects Rosemary McGlone To Contest Slieve Croob DEA
Aontú announces Rosemary McGlone as its candidate for the Slieve Croob DEA in the upcoming council election. The release also calls for MLAs' wages to be suspended when they fail to work and for an end to the ability of one party to collapse the Assembly.
Local government Health Original release: Aontú Selects Rosemary McGlone To Contest Slieve Croob DEA (opens in a new tab)
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North Down Alliance representatives express concern over local GP surgeries changing hands
Alliance's North Down representatives express concern after the South Eastern Health Trust agreed to temporarily run the Priory and Springhill GP surgeries in Holywood and Bangor following the resignation of GP partners. MP Stephen Farry says they will seek reassurances on coverage and service.
Health Issue: Priory and Springhill GP surgeries taken over by South Eastern Health Trust Original release: North Down Alliance representatives express concern over local GP surgeries changing hands (opens in a new tab)
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Vaughan: Permanent solution needed for Priory and Springhill surgeries
SDLP Holywood and Clandeboye representative Déirdre Vaughan calls for a permanent solution for the Priory and Springhill GP surgeries after talks with new contractors collapsed. She says she will seek assurances from the South Eastern Trust that services will not be interrupted.
Health Issue: Priory and Springhill GP surgeries taken over by South Eastern Health Trust Original release: Vaughan: Permanent solution needed for Priory and Springhill surgeries (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey pays tribute to work of Professor Eileen Evason
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey pays tribute to Professor Eileen Evason, describing her as a champion of protecting the most vulnerable and recalling their work together on welfare support when Hargey was communities minister.
Social security and welfare Original release: Hargey pays tribute to work of Professor Eileen Evason (opens in a new tab)
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Health workers crying out for Executive to tackle crisis facing health and social care system – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says health workers are demanding an Executive to address the health and social care crisis, urging action on waiting lists, staff shortages and hospital overcrowding, and calling on the DUP to end its blockade.
Health Issue: Health leaders request meeting with UK Secretary of State over health crisis Original release: Health workers crying out for Executive to tackle crisis facing health and social care system – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill expresses condolences on death of Professor Eileen Evason
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill expresses condolences on the death of Professor Eileen Evason, praising her work protecting vulnerable people, advising the Executive on welfare supports and campaigning on rights and women's issues.
Social security and welfare Original release: O’Neill expresses condolences on death of Professor Eileen Evason (opens in a new tab)
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Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler, who speaks on education for the party, condemns proposed £110m cuts to Department of Education services as unconscionable. He warns they would hit vulnerable children and non-statutory services, and calls on the Secretary of State to reverse the cuts while Stormont…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £110m Department of Education budget cuts Original release: Proposals for £110m funding cut from EA budget “unconscionable” – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Chinese New Year
South Belfast MLA and Chair of the All Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities Kate Nicholl wishes people a happy Chinese New Year, marking the Year of the Rabbit and praising Belfast's Chinese community. She calls for joint working between government and stakeholders to secure racial equality…
Disability and equality Original release: Nicholl marks Chinese New Year (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood expresses alarm at reports of landlords claiming energy vouchers
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP expresses alarm that landlords are claiming £600 energy support payment vouchers intended for tenants. He says he has contacted the Post Office about assistance for affected tenants and whether landlords can be prevented from claiming the money.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Landlords claiming £600 energy support payment vouchers intended for tenants Original release: Eastwood expresses alarm at reports of landlords claiming energy vouchers (opens in a new tab)
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DUP should stop reckless scaremongering on medicine supply – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says DUP scaremongering over medicine supply must stop and that any solutions should come from talks between the British Government and the EU. He claims DUP warnings are a cynical ploy, notes paracetamol and antibiotic shortages predate Brexit, and says Brexit has…
Health International affairs Issue: DUP warnings over medicine supply in Northern Ireland after Brexit Original release: DUP should stop reckless scaremongering on medicine supply – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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British government must end do-nothing approach and work to restore Executive – O’Neill
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill challenges the British Government to explain its actions to restore the Northern Ireland Executive and end the DUP’s blockade, criticising the Secretary of State’s inaction and urging swift progress.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP blockade preventing formation of Northern Ireland Executive Original release: British government must end do-nothing approach and work to restore Executive – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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17 A&E Protests to Take Place Outside Hospitals This Saturday
Aontú's Peadar Tóibín TD, Cathaoirleach of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign, announces 17 Saturday 1pm protests outside hospitals across Ireland over A&E overcrowding, urging broad public and political turnout.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: 17 A&E protests outside hospitals across Ireland on Saturday Original release: 17 A&E Protests to Take Place Outside Hospitals This Saturday (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Power NI addressing issues around £600 energy payment
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says Power NI is working to fix a technical problem linking its systems with the Post Office that is stopping some customers redeeming their £600 energy support voucher. She says she will keep liaising with the company until the issues are resolved.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Power NI £600 energy support payment voucher technical issue Original release: McLaughlin: Power NI addressing issues around £600 energy payment (opens in a new tab)
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Committee hears benefits of Increasing tax-free childcare allowance
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Chancellor to increase the Tax Free Childcare Allowance, arguing that childcare costs in Northern Ireland, above the UK average, prevent people from working. She cites evidence heard by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on paramilitary activity and organised…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence on paramilitary activity and organised crime Original release: Committee hears benefits of Increasing tax-free childcare allowance (opens in a new tab)
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‘Block on life-saving organ donation law unacceptable’ – O’Neill
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says the blocking of the organ donation law is unacceptable, and calls on the DUP to return to the Executive so the legislation can be implemented without delay.
Health Issue: Organ donation law implementation blocked by Executive deadlock Original release: ‘Block on life-saving organ donation law unacceptable’ – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Private care home profits ‘outrageous’ – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín condemns reports that the head of private care home operator Runwood took over £21m in pay over five years. She says profits are being made at the expense of vulnerable residents, citing safety concerns at homes in her North Belfast constituency.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Runwood care home operator executive pay reports Original release: Private care home profits ‘outrageous’ – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Gerard Herdman Selected To Contest the Black Mountain DEA in West Belfast for Aontú
Aontú has selected Gerard Herdman, a West Belfast plumbing tutor, as its candidate for the Black Mountain district electoral area ahead of the upcoming local elections. Herdman says the Stormont parties have left West Belfast behind and calls for MLAs to lose salaries if they fail to work, and for…
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Aontú selects Gerard Herdman as Black Mountain local election candidate Original release: Gerard Herdman Selected To Contest the Black Mountain DEA in West Belfast for Aontú (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics
Green Party councillor Rachel Woods reacts to PSNI figures showing a rise in domestic abuse calls over Christmas, with 3,604 calls logged and a 10% increase on Christmas Day. She calls for Northern Ireland to adopt a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, noting it is the sole UK region…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI figures on domestic abuse calls over Christmas 2022 Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams recent domestic abuse statistics (opens in a new tab)