Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
3,128 releases
-
McGuigan welcomes hospice funding but calls for a sustainable model in the future
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes £1.6million in funding for hospices across the north, but urges the Health Minister to establish a sustainable funding model for all hospices. He says palliative care should be fully funded by the Department of Health rather than relying on charities and…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency hospice funding announcement Original release: McGuigan welcomes hospice funding but calls for a sustainable model in the future (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds Welcomes Hospice Funding but Calls for Long-Term Solution
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes £1.1 million for Northern Ireland's adult hospices and £500,000 for the Children's Hospice, but says repeated emergency funding shows a sustainable long-term model is needed. She cites Department of Health funding covering only about £10.2 million…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency hospice funding announcement Original release: Dodds Welcomes Hospice Funding but Calls for Long-Term Solution (opens in a new tab)
-
More to be gained by working together north and south – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe, a member of the NSIPA executive committee, says north-south cooperation on healthcare has much to gain, citing paediatric oncology after the two-day NSIPA plenary session. He also calls for clarity and security on future PEACEPLUS funding, which has not yet been decided.
Health Issue: North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association plenary session on paediatric cancer and PEACEPLUS Original release: More to be gained by working together north and south – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says the cancellation of the Carlingford Ferry for 2026 is a huge setback for South Down tourism and local businesses, criticises the lack of support from tourism agencies and the Department for the Economy, and urges that the ferry and the Narrow Water Bridge can coexist.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Carlingford Ferry suspension for 2026 Original release: Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -… (opens in a new tab)
-
Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes a National Audit Office report on the Planning Appeals Commission, saying it confirms long-known delays and backlogs. He commends Planning Minister Kimmins's bid to the Transformation Board on 'Hear and Report' cases and urges the Justice Minister to speed up…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report (opens in a new tab)
-
McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn condemns Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee's Dáil remarks comparing calls for a North and north west passport office with wasteful public spending, saying the comparison is disgraceful and insulting to citizens.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: McEntee Dáil remarks on passport office versus public spending waste Original release: McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who chairs the Assembly's Economy Committee, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report exposes failures in the planning system and calls for reform. He cites planning appeals averaging 73 weeks and a Planning Appeals Commission lacking statutory targets and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett (opens in a new tab)
-
Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is not giving public transport enough priority, after Translink warned of possible bus and rail service cuts and reduced concessionary fares. He blames years of underfunding and calls on the Minister to work…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport (opens in a new tab)
-
Meaningful engagement needed between Health Minister and BMA – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to urgently hold meaningful negotiations with the BMA to avert planned hospital doctor strikes, citing the 3.5% pay offer rejection and warning of added pressure on emergency services.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: Meaningful engagement needed between Health Minister and BMA – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
-
Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes progress on Graduated Driver Licensing, with changes to how new drivers obtain licences expected by October and new tests beginning in April 2027. She says the reforms aim to reduce serious road traffic accidents involving new and young drivers.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Graduated Driver Licensing progress following Infrastructure Committee meeting Original release: Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Executive must prevent doctors’ strike
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive must take responsibility for deteriorating relations with healthcare workers and calls on the Health Minister to engage with staff representatives to prevent BMA-announced strike action by doctors.
Health Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: McGrath: Executive must prevent doctors’ strike (opens in a new tab)
-
McNulty: Executive failure risking Translink cuts
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA blames an Executive failure to properly fund Translink for possible service cuts and fare discount removals. He says students, disabled and elderly people and rural communities would be hit, and calls for expanded public transport…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: McNulty: Executive failure risking Translink cuts (opens in a new tab)
-
Chambers: Doctors have a genuine ally in Health Minister Nesbitt
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA expresses disappointment at the BMA in Northern Ireland balloting members for industrial action, and urges doctors to recognise Health Minister Mike Nesbitt as an ally committed to delivering their pay award once an Executive budget is agreed.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: Chambers: Doctors have a genuine ally in Health Minister Nesbitt (opens in a new tab)
-
Dunne Calls for Urgent Review of Grass Cutting Policy Amid Road…
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne urges Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to reassess the department's roadside grass cutting approach, citing poor sight lines at junctions and on key routes after a wet, mild spell. He says the current twice-yearly cut is a safety concern and asks for more…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Dunne Calls for Urgent Review of Grass Cutting Policy Amid Road… (opens in a new tab)
-
Dillon comments on Ógra Shinn Féin video
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says Ógra Shinn Féin has removed a video that was intended as tongue-in-cheek and not to offend. She says young people are frustrated by the DUP's stance and calls on all parties to use social media responsibly.
Other Issue: Ógra Shinn Féin video removal after social media controversy Original release: Dillon comments on Ógra Shinn Féin video (opens in a new tab)
-
Time for Health and Education Ministers to deliver for children with complex and additional needs – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate on drafting a bill in the next mandate that would improve support for young people with complex and additional needs, urging them to act without delay.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Time for Health and Education Ministers to deliver for children with complex and additional needs – Baker (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Executive must agree Budget to fund 24/7 thrombectomy services
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes the Health Minister's pledge to fund a dedicated 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service once his department's Budget is confirmed. He argues progress has been too slow and blames the lack of an agreed Executive budget, and repeats the call…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister commitment to 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service Original release: McGrath: Executive must agree Budget to fund 24/7 thrombectomy services (opens in a new tab)
-
Stewart welcomes Belfast Harbour expansion plans but warns barriers must be removed
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA welcomes Belfast Harbour's Horizons masterplan as a vote of confidence in the regional economy, but says planning constraints and the ONS classification of Trust Ports still hamper delivery. He urges the Department to keep to the timeline for the…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast Harbour Horizons masterplan announcement Original release: Stewart welcomes Belfast Harbour expansion plans but warns barriers must be removed (opens in a new tab)
-
Kimmins hails GAA’s sense of community following Armagh victory
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins congratulates Armagh GAA on winning the Ulster Championship Final against Monaghan, its first Ulster title since 2008. She praises the GAA's role in community life and wishes the squad well in the All-Ireland Championship.
Other Issue: Armagh win Ulster Championship Final against Monaghan Original release: Kimmins hails GAA’s sense of community following Armagh victory (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin to hold Endometriosis event
Sinn Féin announces an endometriosis awareness event at Shaftesbury Community & Recreation Centre on 23 May, highlighting diagnosis wait times of almost 10 years and calling on the Health Minister to act on faster referrals and specialist care.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sinn Féin to hold Endometriosis event (opens in a new tab)