Latest releases
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3,516 releases
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Rathlin Island ferry essential and vital service – McGuigan
Sinn Féin North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan says the Department for Infrastructure must quickly put a contingency plan in place to keep a ferry service running between Rathlin Island and Ballycastle after RIFL ceased trading. He calls for the solution to protect islanders, island workers and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: RIFL ceases trading Rathlin Island ferry service Original release: Rathlin Island ferry essential and vital service – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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More public awareness is key to saving lives, says Dickson, marking Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson, marking Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day, shares his experience of surviving oesophageal cancer and urges wider public awareness of symptoms so that people can be diagnosed and treated earlier.
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Rathlin Island ferry service closure greatly disappointing and appropriate contingency measures must be put in place, says O’Lynn
Alliance North Antrim MLA Patricia O'Lynn says she is deeply disappointed that Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd has ceased operating the Ballycastle route and calls for urgent contingency arrangements for islanders. She says she has sought assurances from the Department for Infrastructure on a plan…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: RIFL ceases trading Rathlin Island ferry service Original release: Rathlin Island ferry service closure greatly disappointing and appropriate contingency measures must be put in place, says O’Lynn (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds welcomes the success of late night buses in Belfast.
Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds welcomes the success of Translink's Christmas late-night bus and train scheme, which carried over ten thousand passengers in Belfast and Derry-Londonderry in December 2022. He calls for permanent late-night services and increased funding, and says he will raise this…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Translink late night bus and train services festive period ridership Original release: McReynolds welcomes the success of late night buses in Belfast. (opens in a new tab)
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Fair pay key to safe staffing our health service – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the UK Government to prioritise safe staffing in healthcare at all times, not only during industrial action, and to agree enhanced pay awards for NHS staff. She claims the Independent Pay Review Body recommendation lags behind inflation.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Government legislation on safe staffing during industrial action in healthcare Original release: Fair pay key to safe staffing our health service – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposes Tory ‘Anti Trade Union’ Bill
SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood opposes the British Government's Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which would let employers in critical public services sack and sue striking staff. He says nurses are using food banks and calls for essential workers to be paid properly.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill in the House of Commons Original release: SDLP Opposes Tory ‘Anti Trade Union’ Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent investigation needed into year-long waits for red flag referrals, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw calls for an urgent investigation into red flag referral waits that are now taking months, with some cancer referrals exceeding a year. She says MLAs should return to Stormont to scrutinise health reform.
Health Issue: Red flag referral waiting times for cancer patients in Northern Ireland Original release: Urgent investigation needed into year-long waits for red flag referrals, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Kate Nicholl say they met DAERA's Permanent Secretary and senior team about pressures from having no Minister, including climate and environmental protection and budgets. Blair calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and reform the institutions.
Environment and climate Issue: Alliance meeting with DAERA Permanent Secretary on Ministerial vacancy Original release: Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan urges the North to move forward with a ban on single-use plastics after England announced one would proceed before year's end. He points to Scotland's ban, Wales' plans and the New Decade, New Approach pledge on plastic pollution.
Environment and climate Issue: England single-use plastics ban announcement January 2023 Original release: Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Clear benefits of progressing A5 scheme
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says work on the A5 Western Transport Corridor should begin at the first opportunity after submitting his views to the Department for Infrastructure on supplementary environmental information. He backs the 'do something' option, citing forecast reductions in…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 Western Transport Corridor supplementary environmental information consultation Original release: McCrossan: Clear benefits of progressing A5 scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew concerned at the rising crisis in our health service
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says it is deeply concerning that non-urgent operations are being cancelled because of health service pressures. He blames years of Tory cuts and calls for substantial health investment, fair pay for workers, and the DUP to return to the Executive.
Health Issue: Cancellation of non-urgent surgeries due to health service pressures Original release: Gildernew concerned at the rising crisis in our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Problems being caused to medicines supply by Protocol “indefensible” – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA says a Nuffield Trust report confirms Protocol effects on medicine availability in Northern Ireland, calls for medicines to be removed from the Protocol's scope, and urges the UK Government to track divergence and defend equal access.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Nuffield Trust report on medicine availability under the NI Protocol Original release: Problems being caused to medicines supply by Protocol “indefensible” – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Health crisis will continue to deepen without political leadership – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns that the health service crisis will worsen while the Executive remains unrestored, saying winter pressures are costing lives and staff are being let down. He says the delay is leaving the health system without the leadership needed to implement…
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Continued lack of Budget could lead to unprecedented and harmful consequences, says Muir
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA warns that a continued lack of an Executive could harm public health and safety, citing a Department for Infrastructure letter on Budget shortfalls and possible cuts to road gritting and street lighting. He calls on the DUP to end its boycott…
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure letter on Budget shortfall and possible service cuts Original release: Continued lack of Budget could lead to unprecedented and harmful consequences, says Muir (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of Executive causing more stress for cancer patients – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the lack of an Executive is adding stress for cancer patients, citing Department of Health figures showing under 40 percent start treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral. He urges the DUP to end its blockade and form an Executive to invest £1 billion in…
Health Issue: Department of Health cancer waiting times figures January 2023 Original release: Lack of Executive causing more stress for cancer patients – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Further confirmation that Protocol is disrupting medicine supplies
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron describes a Nuffield Trust report on NI Protocol medicine supply as deeply alarming, claiming many medicines available in Great Britain are not in Northern Ireland and calling for the Protocol to be replaced.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Nuffield Trust report on medicine availability under the NI Protocol Original release: Further confirmation that Protocol is disrupting medicine supplies (opens in a new tab)
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Scenes at Causeway Hospital confirmation of recent accounts - Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly says recent scenes at Causeway Hospital confirm patients' experiences, pointing to bed waits and ambulance delays, and calls on MLAs to return to work and overhaul the health system, blaming Stormont parties.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital scenes and patient accounts of bed and ambulance delays Original release: Scenes at Causeway Hospital confirmation of recent accounts - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Crucial support is put in place for Rathlin inhabitants by Department, says O'Lynn
Alliance North Antrim MLA Patricia O'Lynn says proper support must be put in place for Rathlin Island residents while strike action halts ferry sailings to Ballycastle. She has contacted the Department for Infrastructure asking which immediate steps it is taking to help islanders.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Rathlin Island ferry strike action and sailing cancellations Original release: Crucial support is put in place for Rathlin inhabitants by Department, says O'Lynn (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew requests meeting with Ambulance Service over response concerns
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Colm Gildernew MLA says the NIAS probe into delayed responses that may have contributed to eight recent deaths is deeply concerning, requests a meeting with the service and urges the DUP to end its boycott while calling for an extra £1 billion investment in health.
Health Issue: NIAS investigation into delayed response linked to eight deaths Original release: Gildernew requests meeting with Ambulance Service over response concerns (opens in a new tab)
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Tory government needs to reverse decade-long policy of cuts and invest in health service – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on the UK Tory government to reverse its decade-long cuts to health and social care and invest in the service, and urges the DUP to return to the Executive to provide political leadership for health workers.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Tory government needs to reverse decade-long policy of cuts and invest in health service – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)