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4,936 releases
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DoH must get to grips with ‘shocking’ breast cancer waiting times, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to redouble efforts on breast cancer waiting times after new statistics showed only 8% of urgent suspected-cancer referrals were seen within the 14-day target. She urges the Minister to increase system capacity and…
Health Issue: Breast cancer urgent referral waiting times statistics 2026 Original release: DoH must get to grips with ‘shocking’ breast cancer waiting times, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray welcomes new Strategic Group to protect Mourne Mountains by DAERA Minister
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's establishment of a Strategic Group for the Mournes, chaired by the Minister with cross-departmental representatives and a Forever Mournes Partnership observer. He says a coordinated approach is needed to address parking…
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA Strategic Group established for the Mournes Original release: McMurray welcomes new Strategic Group to protect Mourne Mountains by DAERA Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Paramilitary element in racist disorder highlights lack of TEO work on race relations, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says the Chief Constable's confirmation of loyalist paramilitary direction of recent racist violence exposes a lack of progress from the Stormont leadership on race relations. She criticises the executive's framework for omitting paramilitaries and lacking…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Chief Constable confirms loyalist paramilitary role in recent race riots Original release: Paramilitary element in racist disorder highlights lack of TEO work on race relations, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland’s Presidency of the EU comes at defining time for Europe and for Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD sets out three priorities for Ireland's EU Council Presidency: preparing for Irish unity, standing up for workers and farmers, and defending military neutrality and peace. She urges the Government to open talks with European partners on constitutional change.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: Ireland's EU Council Presidency commencement ceremony in Dublin Castle Original release: Ireland’s Presidency of the EU comes at defining time for Europe and for Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Northern Ireland must not be forgotten during EU Council Presidency
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges that Northern Ireland's place in Europe be considered during Ireland's EU Council Presidency, which began on Wednesday. She calls for outstanding Brexit issues to be addressed, European funding secured, and UK-Irish cooperation improved.
International affairs Constitutional affairs Issue: Ireland's EU Council Presidency commencement ceremony in Dublin Castle Original release: Hanna: Northern Ireland must not be forgotten during EU Council Presidency (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Families and children let down by Executive inaction
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA accuses the Executive of failing to establish a Regional Children and Families Authority, recommended by the 2023 children's social care review. He criticises the Health and Justice Ministers for shelving it and for announcing the decision…
Health Issue: Regional Children and Families Authority decision announced by Health and Justice Ministers Original release: McGrath: Families and children let down by Executive inaction (opens in a new tab)
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New PSNI search guidance is confusion dressed up as compassion
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA criticises the Justice Minister's interim guidance on searching detainees, which asks the PSNI to first seek a female officer to search people who identify as women, calling it confusing and a dereliction of duty. He says officers need firm rules and that no female…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI interim guidance on searching transgender detainees Original release: New PSNI search guidance is confusion dressed up as compassion (opens in a new tab)
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill passes Assembly stage Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Donaldson Deal Continues to Damage Northern Ireland as New EU Rules Take Effect
TUV councillor and Newry and Armagh candidate Keith Ratcliffe says the DUP/Donaldson Deal is damaging Northern Ireland, citing new EU rules from 1 July: a €3 customs duty on low-value parcels, new steel movement arrangements and ferry emissions charges. He argues the Irish Sea Border remains in…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: New EU customs duty and ferry emissions charges from 1 July 2026 Original release: Donaldson Deal Continues to Damage Northern Ireland as New EU Rules Take Effect (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA introduces the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill to the Assembly, seeking to ban conversion therapy and coercive conversion behaviour in Northern Ireland with penalties of fines or up to two years in custody.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill introduced to Assembly Original release: Alliance introduces essential legislation to end cruel so-called conversion practices (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Endorse Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham
People Before Profit endorses Sharon Graham in the Unite general secretary election, citing her record on disputes and workplace organising, while criticising her stance on war, climate and Gaza. It urges members to back her over Simon Dubbins, whom it says would revive Unite's ties with Labour.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Unite general secretary election ballot Original release: People Before Profit Endorse Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive managing collapse of health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive is simply managing decline in health services, pointing to resident doctors' industrial action, high waiting lists and difficulty recruiting and keeping staff, and calls on the Executive and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to…
Health Issue: Resident doctors' industrial action and Health questions in the Assembly Original release: McGrath: Executive managing collapse of health service (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Finance Minister to overturn the Civil Service's decision to pull out of this year's Belfast Pride, arguing the legal basis cited, an English High Court judgment, does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA cautiously welcomes the revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation, but says delivery now rests with Minister Muir. He calls for the economic impact assessment to be published in full and says Northern Ireland Water, wastewater and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation Original release: Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir (opens in a new tab)
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‘The Light of a New Republic’ – Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald calls for a united 32‑County Republic and an end to British rule, urging investment in housing, health, equality and community support, in her address at the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown Original release: ‘The Light of a New Republic’ – Mary Lou McDonald addresses Sinn Féin’s annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Donaldson verdict must be a watershed moment
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says revelations after Jeffrey Donaldson's conviction should mark a watershed moment, questioning senior DUP figures' past vetoes on rights and education and their handling of Donaldson's private life. She calls for accountability and reforms including healthy…
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: Hanna: Donaldson verdict must be a watershed moment (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA calls for a fully independent, external review into what DUP leadership knew about alleged victims of Jeffrey Donaldson, after BBC Spotlight revelations, and urges Edwin Poots to give a full account of his knowledge.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight programme on Jeffrey Donaldson allegations Original release: Transparency needed from DUP on further Donaldson allegations, says Long, calling for fully independent investigation (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises the funding for the lifespan gender identity service after Department of Health officials told the health committee the initial £806,000 is recurrent and will increase. He expresses concern for vulnerable young people and calls the spending astonishing given…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health lifespan gender identity service funding briefing to health committee Original release: Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase (opens in a new tab)
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Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan expresses serious concern that the Special Educational Needs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 have been delayed from September 2026 to September 2027 after extended Education Committee scrutiny. He says the delay postpones reduced assessment timescales…
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 implementation delay to September 2027 Original release: Givan voices disappointment over delay to SEN Regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Councillor Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis to Raise Awareness and Urge Early Detection
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall shares her breast cancer diagnosis to raise awareness of symptoms and urge women to seek prompt GP advice. She also says she waited six weeks for imaging and over 80 days for a treatment plan, and calls for more open conversations about breast health.
Health Issue: Councillor Lauren Kendall's breast cancer diagnosis Original release: Green Party Councillor Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis to Raise Awareness and Urge Early Detection (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)