Latest releases
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3,431 releases
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People urgently need to know when energy payments will be paid – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald calls on the British Government to urgently confirm when households will receive the energy support and heating oil payments, saying families lack answers and details more than six months after announcement.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Energy bill support payment timing uncertainty, utility regulator update Original release: People urgently need to know when energy payments will be paid – Archibald (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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Robinson tells NIO to stop manufacturing excuses
DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson calls on NIO Minister Steve Baker to stop making excuses and set a timeline for delivering the £400 energy payment in Northern Ireland. He rejects the claim that the delay is due to Stormont not fully functioning, saying energy companies are ready and the holdup…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Delays to £400 energy support payment in Northern Ireland Original release: Robinson tells NIO to stop manufacturing excuses (opens in a new tab)
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Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair says the outcome of COP27 will be crucial for securing nature's future, arguing climate change and biodiversity loss are linked. He warns that without concrete targets at the climate summit and success at the UN Biodiversity Conference, halting biodiversity…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 climate summit outcome and UN Biodiversity Conference targets Original release: Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says the announced suspension of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen from 18 December is deeply disappointing. She calls on the Western Trust to publish a concrete plan to recruit emergency general surgeons and restore the service.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the Tory budget will push the economy deeper into a needless downturn, citing an OBR forecast of a 2% contraction and a 7% drop in living standards, and calls for a credible plan to rebuild public services.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Paisley presses Chancellor on Autumn statement
DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley responds to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, saying Northern Ireland benefits from UK-wide schemes but the budget is challenging. He calls for a clear timetable for the increased oil and electricity payments and for Tax-Free Childcare to be increased.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Fiscal Statement November 2022 Northern Ireland funding Original release: Paisley presses Chancellor on Autumn statement (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart secures Equality Commission commitment on Ulster-Scots…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Census 2021 figures show similar ability in Irish and Ulster-Scots, yet funding is far unequal, and welcomes an Equality Commission pledge to assess the equality implications of the £4m An Ciste Infheistiochta Gaeilge award.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Census 2021 language findings and Equality Commission funding assessment commitment Original release: Lockhart secures Equality Commission commitment on Ulster-Scots… (opens in a new tab)
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This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara criticises the Chancellor's Autumn Statement as austerity that will deepen recession, and says it fails to protect vulnerable people, tackle tax avoidance or deliver adequate climate action. He also says the DUP blockade of the Assembly stops the £650 million Barnett…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK (opens in a new tab)
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Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the Chancellor's Autumn Statement is painful for the economy and public services, warning of "Austerity 2.0" and calling for investment in a Green New Deal, insulation and renewables instead, plus wealth and windfall taxes.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Department of Health confirmation of a meeting with party health spokespeople next week on health priorities and reform. He calls for urgent political and health leadership action on the emergency care crisis and urges the DUP to end its…
Health Issue: Department of Health cross-party meeting on health priorities and reform Original release: McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health (opens in a new tab)
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Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron says the Protocol threatens future medicine supply to Northern Ireland, citing Teva UK evidence on product licensing burdens and NHS Confederation and PAGB concerns about EU legislation expiry and food supplement certification.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Teva UK evidence on Protocol medicine licensing challenges Original release: Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron (opens in a new tab)
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Medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol – Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says medicines should be taken out of the Northern Ireland Protocol, warning that patients could lose equitable access to new and innovative drugs and cancer treatments. He calls on the EU to recognise the problems, urges a parallel MHRA and EMA system for centrally…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Medicines divergence under the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Dithering and delay on the £400 energy payment needs to end – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald calls for an end to delays in paying the £400 energy payment, saying it is more than six months since people were promised it. She blames the DUP's boycott of the Executive and says the British government has not clarified when the money will be paid.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Delays to £400 energy support payment in Northern Ireland Original release: Dithering and delay on the £400 energy payment needs to end – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson challenges Chancellor about £400 payments for NI
DUP MP Sammy Wilson calls on the UK Government to deliver the £400 energy payments to Northern Ireland households before Christmas, dismissing claims that delays are linked to the Assembly and Executive's status. He urges a swift rollout and says no one should use fuel poverty as leverage.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Delays to £400 energy support payment in Northern Ireland Original release: Wilson challenges Chancellor about £400 payments for NI (opens in a new tab)
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“MLA Pay Cut Isn’t Enough” – Gemma Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for MLA wages to be cut to minimum wage, saying a reported 27% salary cut is not enough amid the cost-of-living and fuel crisis. She also blames the Stormont stalemate for health service delays and calls for Stormont institutions to be reformed.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Secretary of State legislation extending Executive formation period and cutting MLA pay Original release: “MLA Pay Cut Isn’t Enough” – Gemma Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP seeks urgent health service talks
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he has asked the Department of Health's senior officials to convene urgent talks between political leaders, health chiefs and civil servants on the emergency care crisis. He argues devolved government must resume with a full-time Health Minister, and…
Health Issue: Emergency care crisis and proposed urgent health talks Original release: SDLP seeks urgent health service talks (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for joined-up approach to help health pressures
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone calls on the Department of Health to improve cooperation between health trusts to tackle current pressures, after visiting Antrim Area Hospital following a major incident there. He blames the DUP's boycott of the institutions for letting health services down.
Health Issue: Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department temporary closure Original release: McGlone calls for joined-up approach to help health pressures (opens in a new tab)
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Executive support needed for hospitals which are at breaking point – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA and party chair Declan Kearney says he is deeply concerned about the night‑time temporary shutdown of the Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital, urges the public to still use the ED for urgent cases and calls for the Executive to release an extra £1 billion for health to relieve
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department temporary closure Original release: Executive support needed for hospitals which are at breaking point – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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‘Suffering cancer patients need Executive formed’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says rising numbers waiting longer than 62 days for cancer treatment are a matter of life and death, and urges the DUP to stop blocking an Executive so it can address health service pressures.
Health Issue: Rising cancer treatment waiting times beyond 62-day target Original release: ‘Suffering cancer patients need Executive formed’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)