Latest releases
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3,335 releases
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Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
Green Party Councillor Rachel Woods calls for a Northern Ireland Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, saying the lack of an Executive has stalled delivery despite promises, and urges mandatory relationship and sexuality education alongside recent abuse legislation.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods reiterates calls for Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Termination of Ballymena GPs contracts a sad state of affairs and indicates need for institutional reform, says O’Lynn
Alliance North Antrim MLA Patricia O'Lynn says she is saddened by the termination of two Ballymena GP practice contracts, which could close services for over 7,000 patients, and blames the DUP's boycott of the institutions for stalling health decision-making and calling for institutional reform.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Ballymena GP practices terminating contracts and potential closure Original release: Termination of Ballymena GPs contracts a sad state of affairs and indicates need for institutional reform, says O’Lynn (opens in a new tab)
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Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan
Alliance Spokesperson for Violence Against Women & Girls Connie Egan MLA says targeted gender-based violence must be eliminated, citing 32,000 PSNI domestic abuse incidents in 2021 and calling for the stalled Executive Office VAWG strategy to move forward without ministerial sign-off.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Violence against women and girls must be eliminated from our society, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Fire shows urgency in replacing cladding, says McReynolds
Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds says a recent fire at Obel Tower in Belfast shows the urgency of replacing cladding on similar towers across the city, and calls for costs to be met by government rather than tenants and owners. He blames the lack of an Executive, which he links to the DUP boycott…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Obel Tower fire in Belfast city centre Original release: Fire shows urgency in replacing cladding, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
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Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson, speaking as COP27 closed with a deal on loss and damage funding for vulnerable nations, says wealthy industrialised countries bear disproportionate blame for climate harm and calls for justice for affected communities. He welcomes the new fund and points to Alliance's…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Tennyson echoes calls for justice for communities at the frontline of the climate emergency (opens in a new tab)
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Reid expresses concern over GP surgery closures
SDLP councillor Eugene Reid expresses concern over two Ballymena GP surgeries handing back their contracts, affecting around 7,000 patients. He calls on the Department of Health to find doctors to take over the practices and links the situation to GP workforce planning shortfalls.
Health Issue: Ballymena GP practices terminating contracts and potential closure Original release: Reid expresses concern over GP surgery closures (opens in a new tab)
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Immediate funding needed to tackle delays in discharging patients – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls for immediate additional funding for social care to tackle delays in discharging patients from hospitals, and for mileage costs to be met for domiciliary care workers in rural areas. She also urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive can be formed.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Meeting between five main parties and Department of Health Permanent Secretary on discharge delays Original release: Immediate funding needed to tackle delays in discharging patients – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Tory budget highlights the cost of DUP boycott – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the DUP's refusal to let the Executive set a budget will hurt hospital waiting lists and businesses, after the British Government's one-year budget left out extra business rates relief.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British Government one-year budget for Northern Ireland, November 2022 Original release: Tory budget highlights the cost of DUP boycott – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says unpaid carers are among those worst affected by rising living costs, citing higher energy, heating, food and transport bills. She points to new figures showing 27% of carers struggling to make ends meet and 23% cutting back on essentials, and blames the DUP's…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI cost of living statistics on carers' financial struggles Original release: Unpaid carers among the hardest hit groups by the cost of living crisis in NI, says Armstrong (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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"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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Blair welcomes new air route announcement
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair welcomes plans by Fly Atlantic to launch a transatlantic route from Belfast International Airport from summer 2024. He calls on the UK Government to protect connectivity for outlying parts of the UK while cutting aviation's carbon footprint.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Fly Atlantic proposed transatlantic and European routes from Belfast International Airport Original release: Blair welcomes new air route announcement (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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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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McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup
SDLP Sports Spokesperson Justin McNulty criticises FIFA's threat of bookings against teams wearing OneLove armbands at the World Cup, calling it a disgrace and urging players to find other ways to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community in Qatar.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: FIFA threat of bookings over OneLove armbands at World Cup Original release: McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes the COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance for poorer countries but says it does not go far enough. He calls for radical action on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and urges restoration of the Executive so Northern…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough (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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Irish language not part of “shared heritage”
TUV North Down spokesperson John Gordon criticises Alliance's Stephen Farry and the party for welcoming the Identity and Language Bill and describing Irish as shared heritage, arguing Irish is not a shared heritage because unionists do not regard it as part of their identity and citing 2021 Census…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language Bill passage through Westminster Commons Original release: Irish language not part of “shared heritage” (opens in a new tab)
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Housing Executive staff entitled to fair pay award – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges Housing Executive management and Board to engage with trade unions and reach a fair pay settlement for striking staff, citing cost of living pressures and concern over repairs and tenants.
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Housing Executive staff industrial dispute and pay settlement Original release: Housing Executive staff entitled to fair pay award – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)