Latest releases
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2,486 releases
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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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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)
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Murray welcomes introduction of pilot drug testing facilities at Belfast events
Alliance councillor Micky Murray welcomes Belfast City Council's passing of his motion seeking pilot drug-checking services at major city events, arguing testing gives people safety information and helps health authorities issue warnings.
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on drug testing at city events Original release: Murray welcomes introduction of pilot drug testing facilities at Belfast events (opens in a new tab)
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Net Zero targets must be met to protect our environment – Kearney
SDLP... no, Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says Net Zero targets must be met during a Stormont debate, pointing to Lough Neagh's ecological decline, threats to eel fishing livelihoods and calls for investment in green energy such as offshore wind.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Net Zero targets must be met to protect our environment – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Parties Refuse to Face Cost of Net Zero – McIlveen
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA criticises other Assembly parties for voting down a DUP motion requiring departments to assess the costs and benefits of climate policies, arguing the Climate Action Plan's proposals remain unquantified and risk delaying the A5 and A1 road projects.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Assembly vote on DUP motion to cost net zero policies Original release: Parties Refuse to Face Cost of Net Zero – McIlveen (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt announces Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces that 16 cancer service charities will share funding from the Cancer Charities Grant Scheme, jointly backed by his department and Macmillan, to deliver local support such as mental health help, rehabilitation and transport.
Health Issue: Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients announced Original release: Minister Nesbitt announces Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients (opens in a new tab)
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Gary Middleton Steps Back from Public Life to Focus on Health
DUP MLA Gary Middleton announces he is resigning his Foyle seat at the Assembly tomorrow, citing mental health challenges and the need to focus on recovery. DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP thanks him and pays tribute to his service.
Health Issue: Gary Middleton resignation from Foyle Assembly seat Original release: Gary Middleton Steps Back from Public Life to Focus on Health (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer welcomes reconvening of Curraghinalt Goldmine Public Inquiry
West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer welcomes the resumption of the Curraghinalt goldmine inquiry in Omagh next Monday after a 15-month break, saying it offers local people a chance to be heard. He calls for the process to move forward without further delay toward a timely conclusion.
Environment and climate Issue: Curraghinalt goldmine public inquiry resumption in Omagh Original release: McAleer welcomes reconvening of Curraghinalt Goldmine Public Inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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No Water Levy on Struggling Households – Make the Developers Pay
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll rejects an additional levy on households to fund water infrastructure, calling instead for the Executive to fund repairs and for housing developers to contribute, criticising Sinn Féin's voluntary developer contributions scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Proposed water infrastructure levy on households and developer contributions Original release: No Water Levy on Struggling Households – Make the Developers Pay (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Patients still waiting far too long for cancer treatment
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says latest cancer waiting time statistics show only 29.5% starting treatment within the 62-day target, and criticises the Health Minister's claims of progress and the use of £73.5 million of cancer capacity funding to offset a department…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Latest cancer waiting time statistics for 62-day treatment target Original release: McGrath: Patients still waiting far too long for cancer treatment (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister's Regional Plan Delivers 46% Increase in Breast Cancer Assessments – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes figures showing a 46% rise in patients seen by breast cancer specialists after urgent referrals in the quarter ending December 2025, up from 2,699 to 3,902. He credits Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's regional breast assessment scheme and welcomes…
Health Issue: Breast cancer urgent referral waiting time statistics published April 2026 Original release: Health Minister's Regional Plan Delivers 46% Increase in Breast Cancer Assessments – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Wildfires Plan will protect communities, nature and the Mournes, says McMurray
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray calls the Wildfires Action Plan to 2030, published by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, a timely intervention for the countryside after around 200 wildfires. He highlights rewetting peatlands and the Wildfire Recovery Project led by the Pau Costa Foundation in at-risk areas…
Environment and climate Issue: Wildfires Action Plan to 2030 publication by DAERA Original release: Wildfires Plan will protect communities, nature and the Mournes, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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Breast cancer patients being badly let down by DoH, says McAllister
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister accuses the Department of Health of failing breast cancer patients after figures showed only 6% of urgent suspected-cancer referrals were seen within 14 days. She urges the Health Minister to set out a workforce and capacity plan rather than publicising his own record.
Health Issue: Breast cancer urgent referral waiting time statistics published April 2026 Original release: Breast cancer patients being badly let down by DoH, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin submits recommendations for new Cancer Strategy to Minister for Health – David Cullinane TD
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane TD says the party has sent the Health Minister 42 recommendations for a new cancer strategy, citing regional access gaps, scanner and bed shortfalls, and calling for ringfenced funding and all-island cooperation.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Féin submission of recommendations for new cancer strategy Original release: Sinn Féin submits recommendations for new Cancer Strategy to Minister for Health – David Cullinane TD (opens in a new tab)
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Barr welcomes Council Motion on women’s health and praises Minister Nesbitt’s clear action plan for Gynaecology services
UUP Councillor Alan Barr welcomes Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's motion on women's health after Endometriosis Awareness Month and praises Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's £3.5 million ring-fenced gynaecology plan, with targets of a 40% waiting list cut by March 2027.
Health Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim Council women's health motion on gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Barr welcomes Council Motion on women’s health and praises Minister Nesbitt’s clear action plan for Gynaecology services (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate and restore the cancelled special school summer schemes, urging the Executive to provide nursing support and reverse the decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance in bid to recall Assembly over cancellation of special school summer schemes
Alliance's Eóin Tennyson, Deputy Leader, says his party has submitted a petition to recall the Assembly over the Education Authority's decision to cancel summer schemes at special schools. He calls on the Education and Health Ministers to return and set out how they will fix the problem.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Alliance in bid to recall Assembly over cancellation of special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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OVER £17 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTOR FOR MATERNITY…
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says £17.4 million in extension-of-time payments to the contractor for the new Maternity Hospital in Belfast is public money requiring prudence, and warns the Children's Hospital project may face further costs after £1.4 million in similar payments.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Ministerial replies on Maternity Hospital contractor extension-of-time costs Original release: OVER £17 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTOR FOR MATERNITY… (opens in a new tab)