Latest releases
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3,917 releases
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Dickson brands student finance news as insult to injury
Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA says he is alarmed by the Economy Minister's decision to raise student maintenance loans by 40 per cent and tuition fees by 1.8 per cent. He calls for an urgent financial support package for students, including higher maintenance grants and…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Economy Minister's student finance changes and maintenance loan increase Original release: Dickson brands student finance news as insult to injury (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Inflation rise shows challenge facing families this winter
SDLP Cost of Living Spokesperson Matthew O'Toole says rising inflation signals a hard winter for households, warning that families may struggle to afford heating and food. He calls for urgent support, including the SDLP's proposed 1,000 litre home heating oil voucher scheme, rather than an…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: UK inflation rise to 10.1% and winter cost of living pressures Original release: O’Toole: Inflation rise shows challenge facing families this winter (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty urges Minister to clarify future of emergency general surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital
SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty asks Health Minister Robin Swann to clarify the future of emergency surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital after reports it could be moved permanently, while welcoming plans for an elective surgery hub there. Colin McGrath separately urges a statement on emergency…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital emergency general surgery relocation reports Original release: McNulty urges Minister to clarify future of emergency general surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan raises concerns over surgical services at South West Acute
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says she is concerned about surgical services at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, urges an Executive to invest an extra £1 billion in health to recruit staff, and requests an urgent meeting with the health minister to address staffing shortages.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Staffing shortfall at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Dolan raises concerns over surgical services at South West Acute (opens in a new tab)
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Financial burden for keeping people healthy should not fall on individual pharmacists, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA backs Community Pharmacy NI's call for work on a drugs tariff for dispensing medicines, warning that pharmacists should not bear the financial burden and urging the Department of Health to act urgently.
Health Issue: Community Pharmacy NI warning on medicine shortages from rising costs Original release: Financial burden for keeping people healthy should not fall on individual pharmacists, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Carers in crisis could be helped if there was a local Executive
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls on the DUP to consider the stress its position is placing on carers across Northern Ireland, citing a Carers NI report finding fewer than one in three could afford their bills. She urges a return to the Executive to agree a budget.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Carers NI State of Caring Northern Ireland 2022 report Original release: Carers in crisis could be helped if there was a local Executive (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader announces changes to Front Bench Team
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP announces a new Opposition front bench team of MPs, MLAs and councillors, saying it will hold Ministers to account over the cost of living crisis and health service pressures while Stormont remains down.
Economy and employment Health Original release: SDLP Leader announces changes to Front Bench Team (opens in a new tab)
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Amendment to Criminalise Care and Support Around Abortion Clinics Must be defeated - Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly urges defeat of a proposed amendment by British MP Rupa Huq that would establish buffer zones restricting volunteers outside abortion clinics, arguing it threatens free assembly and support for pregnant women.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Rupa Huq amendment on buffer zones around abortion clinics Original release: Amendment to Criminalise Care and Support Around Abortion Clinics Must be defeated - Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes national report on police-perpetrated violence against women and girls
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the NPCC and College of Policing review of police-perpetrated violence against women, and says he wants the PSNI to set out reforms targeting lower-level sexual offending. He cites the Sarah Everard and Libby Squires cases to argue the police must prevent officers…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: NPCC and College of Policing review of police-perpetrated VAWG Original release: Blair welcomes national report on police-perpetrated violence against women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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‘Need for greater awareness of challenges facing women during menopause’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for greater awareness of the challenges women face during menopause, particularly in the workplace, after attending a Menopause Conference. She urges the DUP to end its boycott and restore the Executive so women can get support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: ‘Need for greater awareness of challenges facing women during menopause’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland under more liberal regulations
TUV leader Jim Allister publishes Department of Health figures showing 4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland since the March 2020 change in the law, broken down by Health Trust. He says the reasons for abortions are not recorded, unlike in Great Britain, and calls for regular publication of figures…
Health Issue: Department of Health abortion figures released since March 2020 law change Original release: 4,136 abortions in Northern Ireland under more liberal regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe - menace to women should be in jail for longer
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the Lady Chief Justice's response to her complaint about Judge Sherrard's comments in Dungannon, which led to further judicial guidance and training. She says the comments were ill-judged and will write to Justice Minister Naomi Long on whether…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Judge Sherrard's comments in Dungannon court case Original release: Forsythe - menace to women should be in jail for longer (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell welcomes rollout of Full-Fibre broadband in Claudy area
DUP MP Gregory Campbell welcomes the rollout of full-fibre broadband in the Claudy area under the Project Stratum scheme, which he says will connect up to 571 premises this winter. He credits £150million secured through the 2017 DUP Confidence and Supply Agreement and cites NI's 82% full-fibre…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Project Stratum full-fibre broadband rollout in Claudy Original release: Campbell welcomes rollout of Full-Fibre broadband in Claudy area (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time to break the stigma surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, says Kelly
Alliance Councillor Michelle Kelly, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, calls for an end to the stigma around baby and pregnancy loss and more awareness of available support, marking the close of Baby Loss Awareness Week. She announces a Remembrance Tree at Belfast City Hall, created with Aching Arms…
Health Local government Original release: It’s time to break the stigma surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, says Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the DfC Minister to suspend punitive debt deductions for Universal Credit and other benefit recipients, citing a Derry and Strabane Council motion and Department correspondence showing no plans to act.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Derry and Strabane Council motion on suspending benefit debt deductions Original release: DFC Minister Can Act And Should Act On Punitive Debt Deductions (opens in a new tab)
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£330,000 budget to pander to 10 English-speaking MLAs who might occasionally wish to speak in Irish
TUV leader Jim Allister criticises a £330,000 translation and interpretation service for Irish use in the Assembly, noting only 10 MLAs want to use it, and warns of further costs from Irish language legislation and an Irish Language Commissioner.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Irish language translation and interpretation service costs Original release: £330,000 budget to pander to 10 English-speaking MLAs who might occasionally wish to speak in Irish (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Tory benefits plan will plunge thousands into poverty
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan condemns a reported British Government plan to link benefit uprating to earnings rather than inflation, calling it a betrayal. He has requested that Minister Deirdre Hargey produce figures on how the change would affect Northern Ireland households, citing Resolution…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: British Government plan to link benefit uprating to earnings growth Original release: McCrossan: Tory benefits plan will plunge thousands into poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Council Hardship Fund is a tiny drop compared with the need, condemns the SDLP, Sinn Féin, and DUP for blocking or diluting it, and pledges to push for extra funding and stronger action on the cost‑of‑living emergency.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Council Hardship Fund Original release: Harkin: Council Hardship Fund Hypocrites (opens in a new tab)
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Support for households relying on oil totally inadequate – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the British Government's £100 payment for households relying on home heating oil is totally inadequate and an afterthought, and warns the switch to paying it via electricity providers may push people towards costlier electric heating. She also calls on the DUP…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £100 home heating oil payment announcement by British Government Original release: Support for households relying on oil totally inadequate – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Language and Identity Bill another example of contempt for devolution…
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says the Government's decision to proceed with the Language and Identity Bill is another case of disregarding devolution to push through legislation lacking cross-community support. The DUP says it will oppose the bill unless Unionist concerns are addressed.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill second reading at Westminster Original release: Language and Identity Bill another example of contempt for devolution… (opens in a new tab)