Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
5,779 releases
-
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.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: SDLP Opposition proposes amendment to expedite free hospital car parking (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Issue: Executive 2024/25 Budget agreement delay Original release: This must be decision week for the Budget – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Issue: Cass Report publication on gender-affirming healthcare Original release: Parties need to be clear on “gender-affirming healthcare” (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Issue: Causeway Coast and Glens Council Freedom award to NHS health and care workers Original release: TUV councillors welcome Freedom of Causeway Coast and Glens to health and care workers (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Issue: Reform UK and TUV anti-Protocol rally in Dromore Original release: Lagan Valley TUV looking forward to Dromore rally (opens in a new tab)
-
Lackadaisical approach to public appointments must end, says Alliance TEO spokespeople
Alliance Party spokespeople Paula Bradshaw MLA and Connie Egan MLA demand that the First Minister and deputy First Minister promptly name a Commissioner for Public Appointments, condemning the current lax attitude to urgent Executive Office vacancies and urging swift action on other stalled posts.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Delay in appointing Commissioner for Public Appointments Original release: Lackadaisical approach to public appointments must end, says Alliance TEO spokespeople (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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 Issue: Two new EU laws and Stormont oversight under the Windsor Framework Committee Original release: Northern Ireland’s colonial masters in the EU impose two new laws – without any oversight from Stormont (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind
Alliance MLA Connie Egan, Executive Office Committee Deputy Chair, says urgent action is needed so victims are not left behind, calling for a trauma-focused Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme process, a backdated payments deadline extension, and a bereavement payment scheme.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to ensure victims and survivors not left behind (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Issue: Royal College of Surgeons SOS warning on surgical waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning (opens in a new tab)
-
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 Issue: Rising school bus hire costs and Education Authority transport communication breakdown Original release: Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools (opens in a new tab)
-
Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says urgent action is needed after a Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report found children in Northern Ireland wait longer than anywhere else on these islands for speech and language therapy. He says he will work with parties and executive ministers on…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
-
Legislation on British Citizenship rights reaches another milestone
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says his Private Members Bill, which passed a Committee stage today, would let Irish citizens with UK residency hold British citizenship and passports without naturalisation, and he calls for it to cover the whole UK. He cites 2021 Census figures for people born in the…
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: Private Members Bill on British citizenship for Irish citizens committee stage Original release: Legislation on British Citizenship rights reaches another milestone (opens in a new tab)
-
Lagan Valley deserves better than absentee MP
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on Jeffrey Donaldson to resign as Lagan Valley MP and allow a by-election, arguing the constituency currently has no representation in the Commons. He also points to Donaldson's refusal to take up his Stormont seat as an MLA.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Jeffrey Donaldson absence from Commons and call for Lagan Valley by-election Original release: Lagan Valley deserves better than absentee MP (opens in a new tab)
-
Welcome for Cookstown bypass plan
TUV Mid Ulster spokesman Glenn Moore welcomes the announcement of plans for a Cookstown bypass, saying local residents and traders have long called for it and that main street delays have worsened.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Cookstown bypass plans announcement Original release: Welcome for Cookstown bypass plan (opens in a new tab)
-
Early intervention with speech and language therapy for children crucial for development, says Donnelly, responding to report
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says more must be done on early intervention speech and language therapy for children, responding to an RCSLT report showing a 85% rise in children waiting for appointments in Northern Ireland since 2021. He calls for more speech and language…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Early intervention with speech and language therapy for children crucial for development, says Donnelly, responding to report (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan presses Minister for A5 progress
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan presses Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd in Assembly questions for a publication date for the Planning Appeals Commission findings on the A5 redevelopment. He calls for a firm timeline for delivering the road, citing 50 deaths on the route since 2007.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road redevelopment Planning Appeals Commission findings publication Original release: McCrossan presses Minister for A5 progress (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath challenges Minister to commit to free parking for hospital staff
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath, a South Down MLA, urges Health Minister Robin Swann to set a guaranteed timescale and interim exemption for hospital staff parking charges. He says the delay to the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, pushed through by accelerated passage, leaves staff facing…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: McGrath challenges Minister to commit to free parking for hospital staff (opens in a new tab)
-
Health minister must work to abolish hospital parking charges as soon as possible – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says the health minister must urgently work to abolish hospital parking charges after legislation moved in the Assembly delayed their abolition for up to two years. She calls for the department to quickly put the necessary infrastructure in place.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: Health minister must work to abolish hospital parking charges as soon as possible – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
-
GPs need urgent support – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls on the health minister to bring forward a plan to tackle problems facing GPs, including transforming general practice and prioritising recruitment and retention of staff, after a Royal College of GPs report.
Health Issue: Royal College of GPs report on general practice pressures Original release: GPs need urgent support – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)