Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
3,620 releases
-
Health Service budget must be used to tackle issues causing concern:…
DUP MP Sammy Wilson says constituents are angry about GP access, waiting lists of up to six years and reliance on private healthcare, and challenges Health Minister Robin Swann to explain how he will use the Health budget, which he says takes almost 50% of the NI budget, to reform services.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Service budget must be used to tackle issues causing concern:… (opens in a new tab)
-
Allowing those who want to form Executive to do so would kick-start devolution, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP calls for reform of the Assembly and Executive, including passing First or deputy First Minister nomination rights to the next largest party and weighted majority voting for cross-community votes, ahead of a Commons adjournment debate.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Allowing those who want to form Executive to do so would kick-start devolution, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: DUP blocking health service reform
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath accuses the DUP of blocking health reform by refusing to return to Stormont, saying the boycott leaves overdue changes stalled and will harm patients. He responds to Health Minister Robin Swann's warning on the health service's finances.
Health Issue: Health minister's warning on impact of Executive boycott Original release: McGrath: DUP blocking health service reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Efforts to undermine Protocol must be unambiguously opposed – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says the Protocol is working and protects northern businesses, urging Keir Starmer's Labour to firmly oppose efforts by Johnson and the DUP to weaken it. He also calls on the Irish government to set up a citizens' assembly on Irish unity.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Keir Starmer remarks on the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Efforts to undermine Protocol must be unambiguously opposed – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
Why is EU showing more pragmatism towards Putin’s Russia than the UK?
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson questions why the EU takes a more pragmatic approach towards Russia than the UK, citing German Chancellor Scholz's stance on sanctions for goods moving to Kaliningrad and calling for EU flexibility on Northern Ireland Protocol trade checks.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: German Chancellor's comments on EU sanctions for Kaliningrad goods transit Original release: Why is EU showing more pragmatism towards Putin’s Russia than the UK? (opens in a new tab)
-
Political leaders have a responsibility to plan for Irish unity – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy urges the British government to set out the rules for an Irish unity poll, but says the lack of detail should not stop political leaders from preparing for a referendum and the transition to a united Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Issue: British government criteria for Irish unity poll Original release: Political leaders have a responsibility to plan for Irish unity – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
-
Irish government needs to have ambition for Irish Unity – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA urges the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly on constitutional change without delay, responding to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar's remarks and calling them lacking in ambition.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Varadkar remarks on Irish unity and Citizens' Assembly Original release: Irish government needs to have ambition for Irish Unity – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons – “Varadkar should be honest about majority rule ambitions”
DUP East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons says Tánaiste Leo Varadkar should be honest about wanting majority rule, citing his BBC interview and his past distribution of an Irish Times article on a bombed checkpoint, and should apologise for it.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Lyons – “Varadkar should be honest about majority rule ambitions” (opens in a new tab)
-
Public deserve accessible, timely and high standard of general surgery Gildernew
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Colm Gildernew MLA says the public deserve accessible, timely, high‑quality general surgery and urges the DUP to end its boycott of Stormont, calling for urgent action on backlogs, staff shortages and a £1 billion health investment.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Review of General Surgery in Northern Ireland report Original release: Public deserve accessible, timely and high standard of general surgery Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Cancer waiting times highlight scale of challeges facing Health…
DUP East Belfast MLA David Brooks says published cancer waiting time figures show the scale of pressures on health services and argues that delays are a lingering effect of Covid-19 service cancellations. He says the Public Inquiry should examine the impact of halting routine checks on cancer…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times statistics publication June 2022 Original release: Cancer waiting times highlight scale of challeges facing Health… (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Flawed legacy legislation should be scrapped’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the British government's legacy legislation should be scrapped after two recent court rulings on the McGurk's Bar and Kathleen Thompson killings. She accuses the government of seeking an amnesty for state forces and of disregarding the Stormont House Agreement.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Two recent court rulings on McGurk's Bar and Kathleen Thompson killings Original release: ‘Flawed legacy legislation should be scrapped’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
-
Review cannot be a 'false dawn' for patients
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron welcomes the Review of General Surgery in Northern Ireland, warning it must not be a false dawn for patients facing rising waiting lists. DUP Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine says the DUP will play an integral part in delivering its 24/7 surgical…
Health Issue: Review of General Surgery in Northern Ireland report Original release: Review cannot be a 'false dawn' for patients (opens in a new tab)
-
Cancer patients cannot wait any longer for functioning Executive – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says cancer patients cannot wait for a functioning Executive and urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive can be formed today to invest £1 billion in health, cut waiting lists and fund cancer services.
Health Issue: DUP boycott of Stormont Executive Original release: Cancer patients cannot wait any longer for functioning Executive – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Parties must get behind Way Forward on General Surgery in NI – Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Review of General Surgery in Northern Ireland and urges all parties to back the proposed way forward, saying it offers reforms to create a universal, responsive health service and tackle workforce challenges.
Health Issue: Review of General Surgery in Northern Ireland report Original release: Parties must get behind Way Forward on General Surgery in NI – Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Cancer patients failed by political stalemate
SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Down MLA Colin McGrath says cancer patients are being let down by the DUP's ongoing boycott of Stormont, after new Department of Health figures showed all key cancer waiting time targets were missed again. He urges the DUP to rejoin the Executive so the Assembly…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times statistics publication June 2022 Original release: McGrath: Cancer patients failed by political stalemate (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP MPs outline opposition to Government's legacy Bill
DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson says the Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill would grant amnesty for Troubles-related crimes, and the DUP will table amendments on early release, immunity and fines. Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says the party will vote against…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government legacy bill progressing through Westminster Original release: DUP MPs outline opposition to Government's legacy Bill (opens in a new tab)
-
Flynn deeply concerned at numbers of young people waiting on mental health appointments - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn expresses deep concern over the number of children waiting for mental health referrals, citing figures showing 557 young people awaiting referral in the Belfast Trust and two Trusts without records. She calls for urgent action and says an Executive must be formed…
Health Issue: Children and young people mental health referral waiting figures Original release: Flynn deeply concerned at numbers of young people waiting on mental health appointments - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Legacy bill a ‘slap in the face’ to victims and families – O’Neill - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill calls the British government's legacy bill a 'slap in the face' to victims and families, writing to Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to urge the bill be scrapped and the Stormont House Agreement implemented instead.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government legacy bill progressing through Westminster Original release: Legacy bill a ‘slap in the face’ to victims and families – O’Neill - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Solid support for the Protocol across the north – Kearney - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney welcomes a Lucidtalk poll finding most people in the north back the Protocol for its economic benefits. He accuses the British government and DUP of spreading misinformation and says the Protocol is shielding businesses and workers amid the cost of…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Lucidtalk poll on public support for the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Solid support for the Protocol across the north – Kearney - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
-
Border poll calls a divisive distraction from the issues that matter
DUP MLA Gordon Lyons says repeated border polls, in Scotland or Northern Ireland, divert attention from voters' priorities. He points to Sinn Féin's recent calls for a Northern Ireland poll and urges fixing the Protocol, restoring devolution and delivering NHS and childcare policies.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin call for a Northern Ireland border poll date Original release: Border poll calls a divisive distraction from the issues that matter (opens in a new tab)