Latest releases
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2,609 releases
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Northern Ireland cancer waiting times worst in UK
TUV leader Jim Allister says a Cancer Research UK report showing Northern Ireland has the worst cancer waits in the UK is further evidence Stormont must act now. He cites only about 31% of patients starting treatment within 62 days in 2025 and calls for more investment, lung screening and a lower…
Health Issue: Cancer Research UK Northern Ireland Overview 2026 cancer waiting times report Original release: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times worst in UK (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan comments on latest emergency care waiting time statistics
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says recent emergency care waiting figures point to sustained strain in emergency departments, citing only 40.2% of patients seen within four hours and a sharp rise in 12-hour waits. He urges the Health Minister to tackle hospital flow, delayed discharges and…
Health Issue: Emergency care waiting time statistics for the last three months Original release: McGuigan comments on latest emergency care waiting time statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Healthcare transformation essential to tackle alarming ED wait times, says Donnelly
Alliance spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls on the Health Minister to prioritise healthcare transformation after new Department of Health figures showed a rise of over 14 per cent in patients waiting more than 12 hours in Emergency Departments.
Health Issue: Emergency care waiting time statistics for the last three months Original release: Healthcare transformation essential to tackle alarming ED wait times, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh fishermen must not become economic casualties of ongoing crisis – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, says Lough Neagh fishermen must not become casualties of the ecological crisis after meeting DAERA Minister Andrew Muir ahead of the eel season. He calls for a comprehensive strategy to support fishermen and secure commercial fishing's future on the…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Lough Neagh eel fishing season 2026 uncertainty and DAERA engagement Original release: Lough Neagh fishermen must not become economic casualties of ongoing crisis – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must engage with British Medical Association – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to engage in meaningful dialogue with the British Medical Association to resolve a pay dispute and prevent strike action, after the BMA announced a ballot of members on industrial action.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA ballot of members on industrial action over pay Original release: Health Minister must engage with British Medical Association – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Biomethane strategy must be based on treating waste and by-products, not distorting the agricultural system – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy says a biomethane strategy should focus on treating waste and by‑products rather than altering the agricultural system, urging local consultation, strong planning, robust regulation and direct benefits for rural communities.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Biomethane strategy must be based on treating waste and by-products, not distorting the agricultural system – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Minister must listen to doctors and avert strike action
SDLP Opposition Health spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health Minister to urgently engage with the BMA and present a credible plan on pay and workforce, after the BMA announced a ballot of hospital doctors over a 3.5% pay uplift.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA ballot of members on industrial action over pay Original release: McGrath: Minister must listen to doctors and avert strike action (opens in a new tab)
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Royal College of Emergency Medicine report ‘deeply alarming’ – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to state whether he accepts the Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on emergency departments, its recommendations and its finding that overcrowding stems from system failure, and to set out specific actions and timescales for…
Health Issue: Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on excess deaths linked to ED waiting times Original release: Royal College of Emergency Medicine report ‘deeply alarming’ – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must rethink stance as fuel costs hit care workers - Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe urges the Health Minister to revisit his refusal to cover travel costs for domiciliary care workers, saying rising fuel prices leave low-paid staff out of pocket and that his Assembly answer appeared to dismiss their concerns.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister's Assembly answer on domiciliary care workers' travel costs Original release: Minister must rethink stance as fuel costs hit care workers - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Death dealers must face harsher sentences
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan calls for harsher sentences for drug dealers who supply vulnerable people, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion asking the Justice Minister to review sentencing frameworks. He backs the Jasmine's Law campaign on vulnerability as an aggravating factor.
Justice and policing Health Original release: Durkan: Death dealers must face harsher sentences (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces new clinic and additional new dentists with £8m funding boost for dental services
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces £8m for general dental services, including six extra dental foundation training places, continued child examination funding and a new urgent dental clinic in the west of the region.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £8m general dental services funding boost announced by Health Minister Original release: Health Minister announces new clinic and additional new dentists with £8m funding boost for dental services (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Calls for Action on Lobular Breast Cancer Research
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP calls on the Government to take decisive action on research funding for lobular breast cancer, urging a ring-fenced £20 million for dedicated UK-wide discovery research. He says existing competitive funding programmes have failed to deliver disease-specific…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Allister Calls for Action on Lobular Breast Cancer Research (opens in a new tab)
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Revise, don’t retreat Butler calls for realism on climate targets
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges a revision of the 2023-2027 Climate Action Plan targets rather than the DUP's proposed full withdrawal, citing energy and infrastructure failures and Stormont shutdowns. He says farmers must be central to any future plan and previews a UUP…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP motion calling for withdrawal of draft Climate Action Plan 2023-2027 Original release: Revise, don’t retreat Butler calls for realism on climate targets (opens in a new tab)
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Patients losing their lives needlessly in EDs due to ‘snail’s pace health reform’, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says patients are dying needlessly in Northern Ireland's Emergency Departments due to slow health reform, citing a Royal College of Emergency Medicine report of over 1,000 excess deaths in 2025 linked to long waits. He calls on the Health Minister to…
Health Issue: Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on excess deaths linked to ED waiting times Original release: Patients losing their lives needlessly in EDs due to ‘snail’s pace health reform’, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces agreement for home heating oil support
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons says the Executive has agreed a £36.4million package giving eligible households a £100 prepaid card for use at heating oil suppliers, targeting over 300,000 households hit by steep oil price rises.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Executive £36.4million home heating oil support package Original release: Lyons announces agreement for home heating oil support (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan urges urgent action to tackle persistent shortcomings in autism support, citing evidence heard by the All-Party Group for Autism from the Independent Autism Reviewer. He calls on the Department of Health to work closely with the reviewer and to prioritise the Autism…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer evidence to All-Party Group for Autism Original release: Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard welcomes Council support for Strangford Lough Bridge Study
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes a unanimous vote by Newry, Mourne and Down Council backing a feasibility study for a fixed link bridge across Strangford Lough. He has contacted Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins about commissioning a full study of a Portaferry-to-Strangford crossing, citing…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Newry, Mourne and Down Council motion on Strangford Lough bridge study Original release: Hazzard welcomes Council support for Strangford Lough Bridge Study (opens in a new tab)
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Allen comments on announced household support announcement
UUP MLA and Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE welcomes the Executive's £19 million for oil-heating households, a £100 payment for around 340,000 households earning about £30,000 or less. He calls for prompt, accessible delivery avoiding Spend Local card problems, support for households just…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive £36.4million home heating oil support package Original release: Allen comments on announced household support announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Fuel Protests In The North
People Before Profit says today's fuel protests across the North have a right core demand for urgent action on fuel prices, blaming the Executive for years of rising costs and calling for price caps, windfall taxes on energy firms and a £500 energy credit for households.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Fuel protests and energy price caps across Ireland Original release: Fuel Protests In The North (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the installation of a new sensory unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, a multisensory 'Cubbie' purchased with Little Heroes NI funding, which she says will officially open this week.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children sensory unit installation Original release: Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)