Latest releases
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11,734 releases
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Any reduction in patient waiting times step in the right direction but long-term planning and investment needed to ensure progress – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of the Health Committee, welcomes reductions in waiting lists noted by the Health Minister at the NICON '25 conference, but urges more progress on red flag cancer waits and long-term investment planning.
Health Issue: Health Minister's NICON '25 remarks on reducing waiting lists Original release: Any reduction in patient waiting times step in the right direction but long-term planning and investment needed to ensure progress – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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All communities must have a say in new plan for Belfast’s Waterfront – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes a multi-million-pound National Lottery Heritage Fund investment in Belfast's Waterfront and calls on the Fund to ensure all communities, including inner-city residents, are fully engaged in the process.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: National Lottery Heritage Fund investment in Belfast Waterfront Original release: All communities must have a say in new plan for Belfast’s Waterfront – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Winter health plan confusion failing patients and staff
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA warns of a looming winter health crisis after the Health Minister's winter pressures plan remained unfinalised in mid-October, with trust-level plans still outstanding and the timeline unclear.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: O’Toole: Winter health plan confusion failing patients and staff (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: £800m school repairs scandal exposes total failure of leadership
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says a Public Accounts Committee report on the schools estate, chaired by SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan, shows serious shortcomings at the Department of Education and Education Authority. She calls on the Education Minister to act now on the…
Education Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on schools estate maintenance backlog Original release: Hunter: £800m school repairs scandal exposes total failure of leadership (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Child poverty must be political priority
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty says child poverty must become a political priority, urging the Executive and Communities Minister to overhaul the anti‑poverty strategy and introduce free school meals, greater childcare support and higher child‑welfare payments after an SDLP Opposition Day
Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Opposition Day anti‑poverty motion passed Original release: Doherty: Child poverty must be political priority (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes progress towards pay deal for health workers but warns there’s still more to be done
Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers welcomes Executive endorsement of a Health Minister proposal to align health and social care pay with UK colleagues, but says the £208m-cost 2025/26 award is only partly funded and criticises the First Minister's press conference remarks.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: Chambers welcomes progress towards pay deal for health workers but warns there’s still more to be done (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance welcomes UK bid to host Women’s World Cup
Alliance Sports spokesperson David Honeyford MLA welcomes the UK's bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup with Northern Ireland as a partner nation, after the Executive backed the bid. He says it would boost tourism, jobs and facilities, and urges Alliance's ministers' support be followed by…
Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland part-host agreement for 2035 Women's World Cup Original release: Alliance welcomes UK bid to host Women’s World Cup (opens in a new tab)
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School dilapidation result of years of systemic failure to strategically invest in education, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says school dilapidation stems from years of neglect of the school estate by the education department and past ministers, who he claims avoided difficult decisions on reform. Event label applies to the dilapidation issue as a whole.
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McAllister provides cautious welcome for steps towards confirming pay awards for health workers
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA gives a cautious welcome to Executive steps towards funding health sector pay awards, but says the Health Minister needs the resources to match the offer and deliver the award he has promoted.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: McAllister provides cautious welcome for steps towards confirming pay awards for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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High Court Ruling Upholds Rule of Law Over Ideology in Education — Wilson Welcomes Judgment on Bangor Academy Case
Peter Wilson, Chairman of North Down TUV, welcomes the High Court’s ruling that the Education Minister’s refusal to convert Bangor Academy and Rathmore Primary to integrated status was lawful, saying it restores legal clarity and stresses that education policy must be based on evidence, not politics
Education Issue: High Court ruling on north Down schools' integrated transformation applications Original release: High Court Ruling Upholds Rule of Law Over Ideology in Education — Wilson Welcomes Judgment on Bangor Academy Case (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister should step up on Lough Neagh
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says Infrastructure Minister must step up on Lough Neagh and appear before the NI Affairs Committee, arguing sewage outflow is an overlooked factor alongside agriculture. He points to Action 12 of the Lough Neagh Action Plan as critical.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: NI Affairs Committee evidence session on Lough Neagh environmental situation Original release: Infrastructure Minister should step up on Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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Adams to take legal action
Former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says he has instructed lawyers to pursue legal action against the British government's decision to deny internees compensation for wrongful imprisonment, calling the approach discriminatory and tied to new legacy legislation.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government decision to retrospectively change internment custody order law Original release: Adams to take legal action (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes proposals to reform management of shared property
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's move to reform the management of shared property, such as public spaces in apartment blocks, which she says currently lack legislative underpinning in the North. She says residents deserve the same legal protections as others.
Housing Issue: Finance Minister O'Dowd shared property management reform announcement Original release: Dolan welcomes proposals to reform management of shared property (opens in a new tab)
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High Court ruling brings clarity to Integrated transformation…
DUP MLA David Brooks says the High Court ruling on two north Down schools' bids to become integrated is significant, clarifying the criteria for transformation. He stresses it concerns the legal definition of integrated education and the 'reasonable numbers' test, not the schools' quality, and…
Education Issue: High Court ruling on north Down schools' integrated transformation applications Original release: High Court ruling brings clarity to Integrated transformation… (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes decisive court ruling upholding lawful decision on…
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes a High Court judgment dismissing judicial review challenges to his refusals to approve integrated status for Rathmore Primary and Bangor Academy, saying the ruling confirms his decisions were lawful.
Education Issue: High Court ruling on north Down schools' integrated transformation applications Original release: Givan welcomes decisive court ruling upholding lawful decision on… (opens in a new tab)
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Mere Tinkering Will Not Suffice – Undemocratic Windsor Framework Must…
DUP peer Lord Dodds welcomes a House of Lords committee report finding the Windsor Framework overly complex and the democratic deficit unresolved, and calls for the framework to be dismantled and Northern Ireland's place in the UK restored.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords Northern Ireland committee report on Windsor Framework scrutiny Original release: Mere Tinkering Will Not Suffice – Undemocratic Windsor Framework Must… (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework; A Broken System Failing Northern Ireland - Empey
The Ulster Unionist Party says the Windsor Framework creates unnecessary complexity and regulatory divergence, citing the Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee report. Lord Empey calls for divergent regulations to be listed in one constantly updated location and for the issue to be a priority…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords Northern Ireland committee report on Windsor Framework scrutiny Original release: Windsor Framework; A Broken System Failing Northern Ireland - Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes demonstrable progress on tackling hospital waiting lists
UUP MLA and Health Committee member Alan Chambers welcomes falling hospital waiting lists, citing recent Department of Health figures showing reductions in the longest waits for colonoscopies, hip and knee replacements and tonsillectomies. He credits the Minister's focus on longest waiters and…
Health Issue: Department of Health hospital waiting list figures showing reductions in longest waits Original release: Chambers welcomes demonstrable progress on tackling hospital waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party responds to Alliance Leaders' comments on Border Poll conditions
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA says Alliance's call for the Secretary of State to set out border poll conditions reveals a shifting constitutional position. He argues the Belfast Agreement already sets the framework, that defining electoral thresholds would entrench constitutional division…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Alliance call for Secretary of State to set border poll conditions Original release: Ulster Unionist Party responds to Alliance Leaders' comments on Border Poll conditions (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance remains committed to planting more trees, says Blair, following announcement of Tree Planting Action Plan
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says the party remains committed to planting more trees, after DAERA Minister Andrew Muir announced a Tree Planting Action Plan at a Woodland Trust event launching a report on Northern Ireland's woods and trees.
Environment and climate Issue: Tree Planting Action Plan announcement at Woodland Trust State of Woods and Trees report launch Original release: Alliance remains committed to planting more trees, says Blair, following announcement of Tree Planting Action Plan (opens in a new tab)