Latest releases
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3,914 releases
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Durkan: Winter Fuel Payment review key to protect elderly from fuel poverty
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan criticises Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey for not reviewing the Winter Fuel Payment rate, unchanged since 2010/11, and calls for an emergency pensioner support package ahead of winter.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: DfC response on Winter Fuel Payment rate review Original release: Durkan: Winter Fuel Payment review key to protect elderly from fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must tackle Gender Identity Clinic Staff Shortages – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin urges the Health Minister to tackle staffing gaps at the Brackenburn gender identity clinic, where over 500 people were reportedly waiting as of April. She links the problem to a need for an Executive to fund extra health recruitment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Brackenburn gender identity clinic waiting list and staffing shortages Original release: Health Minister must tackle Gender Identity Clinic Staff Shortages – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter expresses concern at wait for smear test results
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter says she is very concerned that every health trust in the North has missed its four-week target for reporting smear test results. She warns that long waits could delay treatment for cervical cancer and calls for better for women.
Health Issue: Health trusts miss four-week smear test results target Original release: Hunter expresses concern at wait for smear test results (opens in a new tab)
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Executive must be formed to secure funding for mental health projects – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the DUP to end its blocking of a new Executive, after health officials flagged a £3 million shortfall in mental health and suicide prevention funding. She says she has contacted the Health Minister about protecting these services.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health officials report £3 million shortfall in mental health and suicide prevention funding Original release: Executive must be formed to secure funding for mental health projects – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader reacts to new Conservative Prime Minister’s proposals.
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara criticises the new Conservative Prime Minister's proposals as light on detail, calling the return of fracking a dereliction of duty and saying little detail covers Northern Ireland's separate energy market. He calls for an immediate returned Executive and says the DUP…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: New Conservative Prime Minister's energy and cost-of-living proposals Original release: Green Party Leader reacts to new Conservative Prime Minister’s proposals. (opens in a new tab)
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Drip feed of Neurology recalls is traumatic for patients – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls on the Belfast Trust to keep all patients affected by the neurology scandal updated as a further 19 cases are reviewed in the fifth recall. She says the repeated recalls are traumatic and urges a thorough, transparent investigation.
Health Issue: Belfast Trust neurology patient recall of further 19 cases Original release: Drip feed of Neurology recalls is traumatic for patients – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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Imperative Economy minister brings SONI to heel
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Utility Regulator's report on SONI shows Northern Ireland's grid is run from Dublin, with the SONI board dominated by Eirgrid staff and consumers paying for Republic grid works. He challenges Economy Minister Gordon Lyons to act and tables Assembly written…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Utility Regulator report on SONI governance Original release: Imperative Economy minister brings SONI to heel (opens in a new tab)
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As the cost of living bites, rural communities will be hit hard, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair warns rural communities will be hit hard by the cost of living crisis, citing higher fuel and transport costs, reliance on oil heating and poor insulation. He calls on the incoming Rural Affairs Minister to address insecure employment and lack of services.
Economy and employment Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: As the cost of living bites, rural communities will be hit hard, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken welcomes release of Fiscal Council’s Sustainability Report
UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the Fiscal Council’s Sustainability report, saying it critically examines NI public finances despite no Executive, highlights a £2 bn water service investment need, and calls for better borrowing and spending of allocated funds.
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fiscal Council Sustainability Report release Original release: Aiken welcomes release of Fiscal Council’s Sustainability Report (opens in a new tab)
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Households require urgent action in response to the energy crisis – Allen
UUP Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA says he convened a Round Table with NEANI on the energy crisis, and calls on the Communities Minister to establish a departmental fuel poverty task force, noting no Department for Communities representative attended.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: UUP fuel poverty task force call and energy crisis round table Original release: Households require urgent action in response to the energy crisis – Allen (opens in a new tab)
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New Fuel poverty group is essential as we face cost of living crisis, says Mathison
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison welcomes the new Fuel Poverty Emergency Response Group after attending its first meeting with energy suppliers, regulators and advice bodies. He says government intervention is key, questions how UK-wide winter measures announced by Liz Truss would work in Northern…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Fuel Poverty Emergency Response Group first meeting Original release: New Fuel poverty group is essential as we face cost of living crisis, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Latest energy hike shows urgent need for further intervention, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson says a further 56.3 per cent Firmus Energy tariff rise from October, lifting average bills to £3,150, shows the need for more cost of living support. He urges Westminster to fund a large emergency budget, restore the Executive, raise the energy support scheme and restore…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Firmus Energy 56.3 per cent regulated tariff increase from October Original release: Latest energy hike shows urgent need for further intervention, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Quest for truth and justice goes on for victims of neurology scandal, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says much work remains beyond the Independent Neurology Inquiry to deliver truth and justice for families bereaved by misdiagnoses. She calls for urgent assurance that the failings are not ongoing and for families to get immediate access to the truth.
Health Issue: Independent Neurology Inquiry report publication Original release: Quest for truth and justice goes on for victims of neurology scandal, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to extend electronic death certification – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the temporary law allowing doctors to certify deaths electronically will lapse in three weeks, blaming the DUP's Executive stalemate, and backs calls to extend it.
Health Issue: Temporary electronic death certification law set to expire Original release: Executive needed to extend electronic death certification – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Those affected by Health and Social Care scandals deserve openness and transparency – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says she stood with families affected by Health and Social Care scandals, including Hyponatraemia, Neurology, Mesh, Muckamore and Care Homes, at a rally. She calls for the Health Minister to meet these groups and update them on responses to two public inquiries and a…
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Gregory Campbell: Stop the Secrecy, get the A6 finished now
DUP MP Gregory Campbell accuses Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd of secrecy over continuing delays to the A6 dual carriageway between Londonderry and Dungiven, and calls for it to be finished now. He says the Spring 2022 completion date has been missed and that the Minister declined to say…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A6 Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway delays and closures Original release: Gregory Campbell: Stop the Secrecy, get the A6 finished now (opens in a new tab)
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Brogan welcomes plan for two new special schools
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes Education Authority plans to build two new special schools, citing a rise of about 500 pupils in special schools in a year to around 7,150 in September 2022.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority plan to build two new special schools Original release: Brogan welcomes plan for two new special schools (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan welcomes plan to increase Irish medium schools
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Education Authority plans to expand Irish-medium post-primary provision across the north, citing rising enrolments. He calls on the EA to deliver the plan and secure new first-class facilities for Irish-language pupils.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority Irish-medium post-primary expansion plan Original release: Sheehan welcomes plan to increase Irish medium schools (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives discuss way forward with Haemophilia NI at Stormont
Alliance Party health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw says the party will keep pressing for urgent recognition payments for contaminated blood scandal victims, so Northern Ireland is not left behind, after meeting Haemophilia NI at Stormont. North Down MP Stephen Farry calls for a fully implemented…
Health Issue: Haemophilia NI meeting at Stormont on contaminated blood scandal recognition Original release: Alliance representatives discuss way forward with Haemophilia NI at Stormont (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Schools need answers over plans for new buildings
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan backs a call from the Construction Professionals' Council of Northern Ireland for Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to publish a timetable after delays to 28 new school buildings. He says the Minister must clarify the position for schools and contractors…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: CPCNI call over delays to 28 new school buildings Original release: McCrossan: Schools need answers over plans for new buildings (opens in a new tab)