Latest releases
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3,334 releases
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Alliance team meets mental health champion to discuss strategy implementation
Alliance MLAs say they back the full roll‑out of the Mental Health Strategy, warning that funding is not assured and highlighting the pandemic, sectarianism and the cost‑of‑living crisis as reasons the plan must be delivered without delay.
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Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter urges action on banning single-use plastics in the North, noting Scotland introduced such a ban last week. She says the New Decade, New Approach pledge to end plastic pollution has seen little progress and blames the lack of a functioning Stormont.
Environment and climate Issue: Scotland single-use plastics ban introduction Original release: Hunter calls for progress on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to improve access to GPs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says people need greater GP access and calls for the Executive to be restored to invest an extra £1 billion in health. He is worried by a temporary freeze on patients moving GP practices in North Down, Ards and East Belfast, which he calls a short-term fix, and blames…
Health Issue: Temporary freeze on GP patient registrations in North Down, Ards and East Belfast Original release: Executive needed to improve access to GPs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara
The Green Party NI announces that Cllr Mal O'Hara has been selected as its new leader, unopposed, after Clare Bailey chose not to stand following the Assembly election. O'Hara says he will offer green solutions to cost of living, housing and climate challenges.
Other Environment and climate Issue: Green Party NI election of new leader Mal O'Hara Original release: Election of new leader Councillor Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes dual-strain vaccines
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the UK approval of Moderna's dual-strain Covid-19 vaccine, which targets both the original variant and Omicron, and encourages take-up of the autumn booster.
Health Issue: UK approval of Moderna dual-strain Covid-19 vaccine Original release: Bradshaw welcomes dual-strain vaccines (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for a review of how Maternity Allowance is treated under Universal Credit, where it is deducted from awards unlike Statutory Maternity Pay, and urges the Communities Minister to press Westminster on the policy.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes secondary breast cancer audit for Northern Ireland
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes a secondary breast cancer audit funded by Cancer Focus NI with the Cancer Registry, which followed lobbying by the Seen to be Heard campaign. She says equal access to trials, drugs and treatment, plus more specialist nurses across Trusts, is…
Health Issue: Secondary breast cancer audit funded by Cancer Focus NI Original release: Bradshaw welcomes secondary breast cancer audit for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw reinforces Alliance support for maternity strategy
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says her party backs the Royal College of Midwives' blueprint and calls for a Maternity Strategy with a regional maternity network, better data and consistent safety approaches, after meeting the RCM's Northern Ireland Director.
Health Original release: Bradshaw reinforces Alliance support for maternity strategy (opens in a new tab)
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‘Access to dental care must be a priority’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls for NHS dental access to be made the priority, responding to a BBC investigation finding that most practices in the north are not accepting new patients. He urges progress on urgent dental care for unregistered patients and an Oral Health strategy, and says the…
Health Issue: BBC investigation on adult NHS dentist registration in Northern Ireland Original release: ‘Access to dental care must be a priority’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Dental treatment "not just added extra" – Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says dental care should be central to health reform after a BBC investigation found most adults in Northern Ireland cannot register with an NHS dentist. She calls for urgent action to make dentists more accessible and to train more of them.
Health Issue: BBC investigation on adult NHS dentist registration in Northern Ireland Original release: Dental treatment "not just added extra" – Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Waiting list figures demonstrate need for health service reform
DUP MLA Pam Cameron says figures showing over 17,000 people on waiting lists died in Northern Ireland in three years are deeply disturbing and calls for reform of the health service. She says the problems predate Covid-19 and pledges to press Westminster for funding and a future Executive focused…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland waiting list deaths figures over three years Original release: Waiting list figures demonstrate need for health service reform (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent intervention needed for adult ADHD provision – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls on Health Minister Robin Swann to intervene urgently for adult ADHD services after a constituent was refused NHS medication following a private diagnosis and the Northern Trust reportedly refuses adult referrals.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Urgent intervention needed for adult ADHD provision – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed now to hire more doctors- Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says a possible closure of Priory GP surgery in County Down, due to a shortage of doctors, is troubling for patients. He calls on the Department of Health to step in and explore ways to keep the service open, and urges the restoration of the Executive to fund more GP…
Health Issue: Priory GP surgery possible closure in County Down Original release: Executive needed now to hire more doctors- Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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McKee calls for plan to finally end plastic pollution this Marine Week
Green Party councillor Barry McKee calls on DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to produce a plan to end plastic pollution during Marine Week, noting no plan has followed a 2021 call for evidence. He also points to Ards and North Down council's single-use plastic ban and refill scheme and urges a shift to…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: McKee calls for plan to finally end plastic pollution this Marine Week (opens in a new tab)
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Woodland restoration vital if Northern Ireland serious about a green recovery, says Burbank
Alliance Councillor Jay Burbank says investment in woodland restoration is essential for a credible green recovery. He welcomes Antrim & Newtownabbey council's talks with Forest Service NI on improving public access to three local forests, and calls for large-scale protection, restoration and…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Woodland restoration vital if Northern Ireland serious about a green recovery, says Burbank (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Mortgage support scheme crucial to help families
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for a mortgage support scheme to help families facing recession after the Bank of England announced interest rate rises. He says Ministers have failed to act on his repeated requests and urges urgent action.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Bank of England recession and inflation forecasts August 2022 Original release: Durkan: Mortgage support scheme crucial to help families (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne alarmed at GP Surgery services being cut in North Down
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne says he is alarmed by the planned cessation of GP services at Priory Surgery in Holywood and Springhill Surgery in Bangor from 1 February 2023, has written to the Health Minister and asked for a meeting to secure new partners and maintain continuity for the 14,525 patients.
Health Issue: Holywood and Bangor GP surgery withdrawal of services from February 2023 Original release: Dunne alarmed at GP Surgery services being cut in North Down (opens in a new tab)
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No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane expresses dismay at attempts to stop children and young people playing Gaelic Games at Victoria Park in East Belfast. He calls for work on a playing surface there to continue, saying discrimination based on choice of sport has no place in society.
Disability and equality Issue: Victoria Park East Belfast Gaelic Games pitch works halted Original release: No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Muir: Potential closure of North Down surgery extremely worrying
Alliance MLA Andrew Muir says the announced withdrawal of GP services from February 2023 at two North Down surgeries, affecting over 14,000 patients, is causing serious concern. He calls on the Department of Health to give patients assurances and raise service standards, and says he has requested…
Health Issue: Holywood and Bangor GP surgery withdrawal of services from February 2023 Original release: Muir: Potential closure of North Down surgery extremely worrying (opens in a new tab)
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McCusker: Stormont failing vulnerable people in our communities
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker says the lack of a restored Stormont executive is harming vulnerable people facing homelessness, mental health and addiction problems. He criticises the DUP for blocking the SDLP's bid to elect a Speaker and calls for government-led intervention and health service…
Health Housing Issue: Failed attempt to elect Assembly Speaker, August 2022 Original release: McCusker: Stormont failing vulnerable people in our communities (opens in a new tab)