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4,310 releases
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London's last minute change is delaying energy payments
DUP MLA Gordon Lyons, writing in the Belfast Telegraph, accuses Ministers in London of delaying the £600 energy support payment in Northern Ireland by introducing a last-minute cash-out option. He says the payments were promised for autumn and before Christmas, and calls the change cynical and…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £600 energy support payment delay in Northern Ireland Original release: London's last minute change is delaying energy payments (opens in a new tab)
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Save The South West Acute Hospital Now, Save Real Lives Now!’
People Before Profit's Carol Gallagher, Tyrone Branch, says threats to the South West Acute Hospital's emergency services will endanger lives by pushing patients beyond the golden hour. She calls for public protests across Fermanagh and Tyrone to oppose the cuts and the loss of jobs.
Health Issue: Threats to South West Acute Hospital services Original release: Save The South West Acute Hospital Now, Save Real Lives Now!’ (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Anthony Flynn welcomes next stage of Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn welcomes Belfast City Council's agreement of a £1 million fuel poverty hardship fund offering one-off £100 payments to eligible households this winter. He says the Green Party will do what it can to support the most vulnerable, blaming UK government and DUP…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Belfast City Council £1 million fuel poverty hardship fund agreement Original release: Cllr Anthony Flynn welcomes next stage of Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund (opens in a new tab)
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Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's decision to waive building control fees for individual loft insulation applications, saying it will make insulation more affordable amid the cost of living crisis.
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast City Council waiving building control fees for loft insulation Original release: Limiting the impact of both the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency go hand in hand, says McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Safe staffing legislation should be consulted upon urgently, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA urges the Department of Health to prepare a consultation on staffing legislation for a future Health Minister to pursue. She argues it could curb agency spending on nursing cover and redirect funds to staff pay and conditions.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Safe staffing legislation consultation call for incoming Health Minister Original release: Safe staffing legislation should be consulted upon urgently, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan
Alliance MLAs Paula Bradshaw and Connie Egan welcome the Secretary of State's ringfenced funding and formal instruction to the Department of Health to commission reproductive health services, calling it a further step, while urging swift full provision locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Secretary of State instruction to Department of Health on abortion services commissioning Original release: Further confirmation of ringfenced funding for reproductive health services a welcome step, say Bradshaw and Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Confirmation people in the north will not receive £600 energy payment until after Christmas “devastating” for workers and families – O’Dowd
Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd says the delay of the £600 energy payment in the north until after Christmas will hit struggling workers and families hard. He blames the DUP for collapsing the Executive, which stopped funding being allocated, and urges an Executive be formed now.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £600 energy support payment delay in Northern Ireland Original release: Confirmation people in the north will not receive £600 energy payment until after Christmas “devastating” for workers and families – O’Dowd (opens in a new tab)
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‘Securing future of Shantallow GP practice must be priority’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson calls on the Department of Health and Western Trust to urgently secure the future of the Shantallow GP practice after reports that Racecourse Practice has handed back its contract, with six months remaining on it.
Health Issue: Racecourse Practice Shantallow GP contract handback Original release: ‘Securing future of Shantallow GP practice must be priority’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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The UCU Strikes
People Before Profit interviews Aisling O'Beirn, a UCU representative at Ulster University, on the picket line over the strike. She describes casualised contracts, rising workloads, staff shortages and cuts to pension benefits as the central issues.
Education Economy and employment Issue: UCU strike at Ulster University Original release: The UCU Strikes (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs mark World Aids Day and argue that we need to combat the stigma around HIV
Alliance South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl and Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA say the World AIDS Day event highlights the need to combat HIV stigma in Northern Ireland, urging a Sexual Health Strategy, comprehensive relationship and sex education in schools and wider access to PrEP and
Health Issue: World AIDS Day 2022 Original release: Alliance MLAs mark World Aids Day and argue that we need to combat the stigma around HIV (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP meets with Royal College of Nursing
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath says the party backs nurses and other health staff in their fight for fair pay and safe conditions, after meeting the Royal College of Nursing ahead of planned strike action. He blames the British government for failing to address long-running concerns and…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Royal College of Nursing planned strike action later this month Original release: SDLP meets with Royal College of Nursing (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges progress on tackling sexual offences
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin says new PPS figures on sexual offences, showing prosecution rates rose from 23.6% to 31.6% in 2021/22, show the need for a violence against women and girls plan from a reformed Executive.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PPS annual report on sexual offence prosecutions 2021/22 Original release: McLaughlin urges progress on tackling sexual offences (opens in a new tab)
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Coroner and PSNI should investigate neurology deaths – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says a report into 44 deaths of patients treated by ex-neurologist Michael Watt poses more queries than answers, and calls on the PSNI and Coroner to investigate.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Neurology review of Dr Michael Watt patient deaths Original release: Coroner and PSNI should investigate neurology deaths – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)
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‘Tory delays to £600 scheme a crushing blow to workers and families’ – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy condemns the delay to the £600 energy support payments in the north, saying people will miss them before Christmas, and calls on the British government to set out when and how households will receive the money.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £600 energy support payment delay in Northern Ireland Original release: ‘Tory delays to £600 scheme a crushing blow to workers and families’ – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Government shifting the goalposts on energy support payments: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart accuses the UK Government of moving the goalposts on the £400 energy support payment, after raising an urgent question in Parliament on its delivery. She says Westminster is withholding the payment from Northern Ireland households and calls for it to be delivered before…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £400 energy support payment delivery delay in Northern Ireland Original release: Government shifting the goalposts on energy support payments: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Muir seeks action on MOT chaos
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA says he has contacted the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Infrastructure over MOT booking backlogs, which leave drivers unable to renew certificates or road tax and facing fines. He calls for swift improvement and firm measures from…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Muir seeks action on MOT chaos (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson calls for a review of support mechanisms for staff experiencing domestic abuse
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA calls on employers to review their policies and procedures so staff experiencing domestic abuse get the right support, citing the 16 days of activism campaign. He urges employers to consider paid leave for appointments, workplace security and…
Justice and policing Economy and employment Original release: Dickson calls for a review of support mechanisms for staff experiencing domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Blame for energy payment delay lies with DUP
SDLP Cost of Living Spokesperson and South Belfast MLA Matthew O'Toole accuses the DUP of responsibility for the holdup in the £600 energy support payment, arguing that a functioning Assembly and Executive would have made delivery easier. He also criticises the British government for missing the…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £600 energy support payment delay in Northern Ireland Original release: O’Toole: Blame for energy payment delay lies with DUP (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Increase in suicides highlights need for funded mental health strategy
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says tackling the mental health crisis is impossible without a functioning Stormont, calling for an Assembly and Executive to fund a robust mental health strategy after NISRA figures showed 237 suicide deaths last year.
Health Issue: NISRA suicide statistics showing 237 deaths last year Original release: McGrath: Increase in suicides highlights need for funded mental health strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes campaign to raise awareness of the signs of all types of domestic abuse
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the PSNI's Tis' the Season Christmas campaign on domestic abuse, citing holiday-period call and crime figures, and calls for the Executive to be restored so parties can take forward violence-against-women measures.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI Tis' the Season Christmas domestic abuse awareness campaign Original release: Dillon welcomes campaign to raise awareness of the signs of all types of domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)