Latest releases
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5,687 releases
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Kearney urges DAERA Minister to address the pressures on Lough Neagh’s fishing industry
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, has written to the DAERA Minister urging action on financial pressures facing Lough Neagh's commercial freshwater fishermen after last year's shortened eel season. He calls for contingency planning and a communication strategy before summer.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Kearney urges DAERA Minister to address the pressures on Lough Neagh’s fishing industry (opens in a new tab)
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‘Women must be supported and assured throughout smear test review’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Department of Health and relevant trusts to keep affected women informed and supported during the review of thousands of smear tests, and to clear the backlog quickly.
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Urgent action needed to ensure safe staffing levels for social work teams working with children – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the health minister to present a plan tackling children's social work staff shortages as social workers begin industrial action. She says the plan should boost recruitment, keep experienced staff and protect support for vulnerable families.
Health Economy and employment Original release: Urgent action needed to ensure safe staffing levels for social work teams working with children – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Beattie challenges Executive partners U-turn on Health commitment
UUP MLA Mr Beattie challenges Executive partners over a £184 million health cut, saying the party rejects the budget as presented over losses of almost 150 acute hospital beds, 1.1 million hours of domiciliary care and 500 care home beds. He calls for an urgent meeting of party leaders to resolve…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Beattie challenges Executive partners U-turn on Health commitment (opens in a new tab)
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SEN children must be placed suitably and on time – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure pupils with special educational needs are placed in suitable schools on time this September, after the Department warned schools of a shortfall in SEN places.
Education Disability and equality Original release: SEN children must be placed suitably and on time – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Time to deliver on potential of Maze Long Kesh site, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Sorcha Eastwood and David Honeyford call for no further delay on the Maze Long Kesh site, saying the development corporation has existed for over a decade without agreed plans. Eastwood welcomes groups using parts of the site and cross-party backing to act, and Honeyford says…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Original release: Time to deliver on potential of Maze Long Kesh site, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Support for NI foster carers lagging behind: Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on Health Minister Robin Swann to urgently increase foster carer allowances, ahead of an Assembly debate on a DUP motion on recruiting more foster carers. She says allowances lag behind other UK regions and the Republic, and do not cover the full cost of caring for a child.
Health Social security and welfare Original release: Support for NI foster carers lagging behind: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Councillor Brian Smyth has voiced his concerns over the language used by DAREA Minister
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth says he is worried DAREA Minister Andrew Muir is shifting responsibility for Lough Neagh by citing possible lack of funds. He calls for stronger action against polluters and an independent environmental protection agency.
Environment and climate Original release: Councillor Brian Smyth has voiced his concerns over the language used by DAREA Minister (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Disappointment for health staff and patients as Assembly backs free parking delay
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says health staff and patients will be very disappointed after the Assembly approved a two‑year delay to free hospital parking, and urges the Health Minister to introduce the scheme as soon as possible.
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Blair commends disposable vape ban on Earth Day 2024
Alliance's environment spokesperson John Blair MLA backs the DAERA Minister's proposed ban on disposable vapes on Earth Day, arguing they add plastic waste that litters streets and harms oceans and wildlife.
Environment and climate Original release: Blair commends disposable vape ban on Earth Day 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition proposes amendment to expedite free hospital car parking
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has tabled an amendment to cut the Executive's proposed two-year delay to free hospital car parking to one year. He says the system could be in place by autumn and urges the Health Minister to commit to free staff parking without delay.
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This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie
UUP Leader Doug Beattie says the Executive must make decisions this week on a new 2024/25 Budget, warning that continued delay is destabilising and damaging core services such as health. He urges the Finance Minister's paper to move to the Executive table and money to be allocated urgently.
Public finance and taxation Health Original release: This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on parties to state their position on gender-affirming healthcare and asks the Health Minister to clarify the Department of Health's approach following the Cass Report. She accuses Alliance and Sinn Féin of silence since its publication.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare” (opens in a new tab)
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TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers
TUV councillors Allister Kyle and Jonathan McCauley welcome Causeway Coast and Glens Council's decision to award its Freedom to the NHS and health and care workers in recognition of their work during the COVID pandemic.
Health Local government Original release: TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers (opens in a new tab)
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Lagan Valley TUV looking forward to Dromore rally
Lagan Valley TUV branch chairman Stewart Ferris previews a public rally in Dromore on Friday 26 April, featuring Ann Widdecombe, Ben Habib, Kate Hoey and Jim Allister, which he says is the first major TUV and Reform UK event since their Memorandum of Understanding. He says it will press the…
Constitutional affairs Original release: Lagan Valley TUV looking forward to Dromore rally (opens in a new tab)
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Lackadaisical approach to public appointments must end, says Alliance TEO spokespeople
Constitutional affairs Original release: Lackadaisical approach to public appointments must end, says Alliance TEO spokespeople (opens in a new tab)
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Allister backs reunification
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol is pushing Northern Ireland towards Irish unity by aligning its goods and agri-food rules with EU law, and criticises the DUP and UUP for implementing it and the DUP leader for dismissing the 'Red Lane' concerns.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Allister backs reunification (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Stormont's supposed oversight of two new EU laws imposed on Northern Ireland is absent, citing a DUP vice-chair who called MLAs "impotent" and a partly private Windsor Framework Committee meeting.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he is disturbed by surgeons' "SOS" warning on surgical waiting lists, raised at a Royal College of Surgeons briefing to the Health Committee. He calls for action from the Health Minister and department on waiting lists.
Health Original release: McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning (opens in a new tab)
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Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says rising school transport costs, including bus hire hikes, are forcing schools to cut services and leaving children unable to attend activities such as swimming. She says she challenged the Education Authority and will follow up for an explanation and resolution.
Education Infrastructure and transport Original release: Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools (opens in a new tab)