Latest releases
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5,774 releases
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Focus on restoring NI’s place in UK rather than hollow threats on…
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson urges former minister Sir Robert Buckland to concentrate on returning Northern Ireland to its position in the UK Internal Market instead of issuing threats about Joint Authority. Robinson says Buckland is confused and argues the Protocol, not any other factor, is…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Buckland remarks on Joint Authority over Northern Ireland Original release: Focus on restoring NI’s place in UK rather than hollow threats on… (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Brian Smyth welcomes new QUB report on Overdose Prevention Sites
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth for Lisnasharragh welcomes a new QUB report by Dr Gillian Shorter on Overdose Prevention Sites, which he says shows such facilities save lives and reduce pressure on health services. He calls for one in Belfast city centre and says current drug policy is failing.
Health Local government Issue: Queen's University Belfast report on Overdose Prevention Sites Original release: Cllr Brian Smyth welcomes new QUB report on Overdose Prevention Sites (opens in a new tab)
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EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Authority to engage urgently with Unite and agree a special derogation so Special Schools keep services running during eight days of planned industrial action by EA staff. He also says the DUP's collapse of the Executive is…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Unite eight days of industrial action at Education Authority Original release: EA must act to mitigate against disruption for SEN pupils as strikes hit (opens in a new tab)
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Executive must be restored now to tackle ‘intolerable’ cancer waiting times – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls cancer waiting times in the north intolerable and urges the DUP to return to Stormont so an Executive can tackle waiting lists and the cancer strategy. She cites latest waiting time figures, saying less survivable cancers are being diagnosed too late.
Health Issue: Latest cancer waiting time figures for Northern Ireland released January 2024 Original release: Executive must be restored now to tackle ‘intolerable’ cancer waiting times – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Publication of latest cancer waiting times must focus minds on the critical need for immediate intervention - Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says the latest cancer waiting‑times report reveals a deepening crisis, with only 8.6% of suspected breast‑cancer referrals in the South Eastern Trust seen within 14 days, and calls for immediate intervention and implementation of the 10‑year cancer strategy
Health Issue: Latest cancer waiting time figures for Northern Ireland released January 2024 Original release: Publication of latest cancer waiting times must focus minds on the critical need for immediate intervention - Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Waiting times failures going back decades reinforce need for fundamental health reform, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says failures to meet Health Service waiting time targets for over a decade, including A&E targets never met, reinforce the need for fundamental health reform. She cites newly published figures on cancer treatment and planned care.
Health Issue: Latest cancer waiting time figures for Northern Ireland released January 2024 Original release: Waiting times failures going back decades reinforce need for fundamental health reform, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Honeyford says it’s time for progress on electric vehicle charging for homes without a driveway
Alliance infrastructure spokesperson David Honeyford MLA calls for greater efforts to let people without a driveway charge electric vehicles, and says he has asked the Department for Infrastructure's Permanent Secretary to treat public charging points as permitted development to speed rollout.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Honeyford says it’s time for progress on electric vehicle charging for homes without a driveway (opens in a new tab)
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The claims of ‘privileged access’ to EU market under the Protocol don’t stand up to scrutiny
TUV leader Jim Allister says the notion of ‘privileged access’ to the EU market under the Northern Ireland Protocol is unfounded, citing House of Commons data that GB sold £187.8bn of goods to the EU in 2022 and that NI’s exports are £5.9bn, and noting UK‑EU trade has risen since Brexit.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Privileged access claims under NI Protocol Original release: The claims of ‘privileged access’ to EU market under the Protocol don’t stand up to scrutiny (opens in a new tab)
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Planning Reform vital for Northern Ireland
DUP Infrastructure Spokesman Phillip Brett, North Belfast MLA, welcomes a position paper from the Chamber of Commerce on planning system reform. He says the current system is not fit for purpose, deters investors and must be a priority for a reformed Executive.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Chamber of Commerce report on planning system reform Original release: Planning Reform vital for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Planning needs root-and-branch review - Butler
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA welcomes a Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry report on reforming the planning system. He calls for a full root-and-branch review and says he will press the Minister on it once a functioning Executive returns.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Chamber of Commerce report on planning system reform Original release: Planning needs root-and-branch review - Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for clarity on Strangford ferry service
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong calls on the Department for Infrastructure to clarify its commitment to running the Strangford Lough ferry after a suspended service on 26 December left passengers stranded. She disputes the Department's 98-99 per cent availability figure.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Strangford Lough ferry service suspension on 26 December Original release: Armstrong calls for clarity on Strangford ferry service (opens in a new tab)
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Climate Commissioner role key to meeting our climate change targets, says Donnelly and Blair
Alliance MLAs Danny Donnelly and John Blair call for the creation of a Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner, a requirement of the Climate Change Act, and urge the restoration of the Executive so the legislation can be brought forward urgently.
Environment and climate Original release: Climate Commissioner role key to meeting our climate change targets, says Donnelly and Blair (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds welcomes NI Chamber of Commerce paper on reforms to planning system
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA welcomes a newly published paper from the Chamber of Commerce with 10 recommendations to improve planning, and calls for legislation for planning reform in a future Executive. He also backs priority for renewable energy projects to help…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Chamber of Commerce report on planning system reform Original release: McReynolds welcomes NI Chamber of Commerce paper on reforms to planning system (opens in a new tab)
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Bold and decisive action needed in 2024 to restore our natural environment, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for 2024 to bring significant progress on restoring the natural environment, citing an RSPB report on threatened species and pressing DAERA on marine strategies, Lough Neagh and the Waste Management Strategy.
Environment and climate Original release: Bold and decisive action needed in 2024 to restore our natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to support GP practices – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls for an Executive to be restored now to support GP practices, after a Larne-area practice announced it will hand back its contract affecting over 8,000 patients. She urges the DUP to end its blockade.
Health Issue: Larne GP practice handing back contract Original release: Executive needed to support GP practices – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill tells nurses there should be no delay in forming Executive and delivering fair pay rises
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, First Minister Designate, says there should be no further delay in restoring the Executive and securing pay settlements for nurses and other public workers after meeting the Royal College of Nursing. She calls on the DUP to end its blockade and urges the Secretary of…
Health Economy and employment Original release: O’Neill tells nurses there should be no delay in forming Executive and delivering fair pay rises (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - Talks with Government Recommence
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says talks with the Government are set to restart this week, aiming for a fair outcome that restores Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and reverses the destabilising NI Protocol arrangements.
Constitutional affairs Issue: DUP talks with Government on NI Protocol restart Original release: Sir Jeffrey - Talks with Government Recommence (opens in a new tab)
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So called ‘privileged access’ to EU single market means submissive access
TUV leader Jim Allister says Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's pursuit of 'privileged access' for Northern Ireland to the EU single market for goods would in reality mean submissive access, bringing EU law, the EU court and an Irish Sea border. He points to Annex 2 of the Protocol as evidence of the cost.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson's seeking privileged EU single market access for Northern Ireland goods Original release: So called ‘privileged access’ to EU single market means submissive access (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Áine Groogan will attempt to overturn SF & DUP carve-up
Green Party Councillor Áine Groogan criticises Sinn Féin and DUP for seeking to overturn a £800,000 Neighbourhood Regeneration Funding award to Sólás, a South Belfast charity for children with special needs. She says she will propose rejecting the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee's…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Sólás funding cut at south Belfast area working group Original release: Cllr Áine Groogan will attempt to overturn SF & DUP carve-up (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Junior doctors' concerns cannot be ignored
SDLP Young People's Spokesperson and East Derry MLA Cara Hunter warns that junior doctors' concerns must not be ignored, citing reports that three-quarters are considering leaving for better pay and conditions. She urges the UK Government's Northern Ireland minister to open talks with the…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Reports that three-quarters of junior doctors are considering leaving the North Original release: Hunter: Junior doctors' concerns cannot be ignored (opens in a new tab)