Latest releases
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3,914 releases
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Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving…
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the completion of the final legislative stage for baby loss certificates, which open for applications in June, giving formal recognition to parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving… (opens in a new tab)
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Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says the baby loss certificate regulations, coming into effect in June, will let parents and families have their loss formally acknowledged. She commends the Finance Minister and department for bringing the scheme forward.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes £29.2 million transformation funding for family support
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's allocation of £29.2 million from the Transformation Fund to the Department of Health's Together for Families project, which will also receive £30 million in National Lottery match funding. She praises the appointment of Jacinta…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Transformation Fund allocations announcement Original release: Kimmins welcomes £29.2 million transformation funding for family support (opens in a new tab)
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Investment will help to improve health service – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes more than £70 million announced by Finance Minister John O'Dowd for health, saying it will fund digital prescriptions and expanded pharmacy services to ease pressure on GPs. He says the party will keep pressing the British government for proper public service…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £70 million health service investment announced by Finance Minister O'Dowd Original release: Investment will help to improve health service – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Fix the planning paralysis and deliver the roads Northern Ireland needs
UUP Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA calls on the Executive to act on the A5 after a court ruling and to introduce a lawful, workable climate framework, also urging delivery of the A1 upgrade and York Street Interchange. UUP Agriculture Spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says rural…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: A5 court ruling over climate planning obligations Original release: Fix the planning paralysis and deliver the roads Northern Ireland needs (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister welcomes additional £100m Transformation and National Lottery funding
UUP Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes over £100m in Public Service Transformation Bid funding, including £42m for an ePharmacy programme to replace paper prescriptions and £29.2m for Together for Families, plus £30m from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Transformation Fund allocations announcement Original release: Health Minister welcomes additional £100m Transformation and National Lottery funding (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan welcomes hospice funding but calls for a sustainable model in the future
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes £1.6million in funding for hospices across the north, but urges the Health Minister to establish a sustainable funding model for all hospices. He says palliative care should be fully funded by the Department of Health rather than relying on charities and…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency hospice funding announcement Original release: McGuigan welcomes hospice funding but calls for a sustainable model in the future (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Welcomes Hospice Funding but Calls for Long-Term Solution
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes £1.1 million for Northern Ireland's adult hospices and £500,000 for the Children's Hospice, but says repeated emergency funding shows a sustainable long-term model is needed. She cites Department of Health funding covering only about £10.2 million…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency hospice funding announcement Original release: Dodds Welcomes Hospice Funding but Calls for Long-Term Solution (opens in a new tab)
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More to be gained by working together north and south – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe, a member of the NSIPA executive committee, says north-south cooperation on healthcare has much to gain, citing paediatric oncology after the two-day NSIPA plenary session. He also calls for clarity and security on future PEACEPLUS funding, which has not yet been decided.
Health Issue: North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association plenary session on paediatric cancer and PEACEPLUS Original release: More to be gained by working together north and south – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland to stop citing "further judgments" and issue clear guidance after the Supreme Court's Dillon ruling, following the Great Britain commission's updated guidance and revised Code of Practice.
Disability and equality Issue: Equality and Human Rights Commission updated guidance and revised Code of Practice for services Original release: Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further… (opens in a new tab)
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Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says the cancellation of the Carlingford Ferry for 2026 is a huge setback for South Down tourism and local businesses, criticises the lack of support from tourism agencies and the Department for the Economy, and urges that the ferry and the Narrow Water Bridge can coexist.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Carlingford Ferry suspension for 2026 Original release: Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -… (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly calls on the PSNI and Policing Federation to listen to Catholic, Nationalist and Republican communities and other under-represented groups, responding to the Federation chairman's annual conference speech. He says 50-50 recruitment should be explored as part of an…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Federation chairman's annual conference speech on PSNI recruitment Original release: PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes a National Audit Office report on the Planning Appeals Commission, saying it confirms long-known delays and backlogs. He commends Planning Minister Kimmins's bid to the Transformation Board on 'Hear and Report' cases and urges the Justice Minister to speed up…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report (opens in a new tab)
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McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn condemns Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee's Dáil remarks comparing calls for a North and north west passport office with wasteful public spending, saying the comparison is disgraceful and insulting to citizens.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: McEntee Dáil remarks on passport office versus public spending waste Original release: McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (opens in a new tab)
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Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who chairs the Assembly's Economy Committee, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report exposes failures in the planning system and calls for reform. He cites planning appeals averaging 73 weeks and a Planning Appeals Commission lacking statutory targets and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is not giving public transport enough priority, after Translink warned of possible bus and rail service cuts and reduced concessionary fares. He blames years of underfunding and calls on the Minister to work…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes progress on the Mother and Baby Institutions Bill in the Assembly, saying it will provide a framework for a public inquiry into institutions where women and girls were held. She says victims' priority is exposing the abuse they endured and criticises…
Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Institutions Bill progress in the Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Meaningful engagement needed between Health Minister and BMA – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to urgently hold meaningful negotiations with the BMA to avert planned hospital doctor strikes, citing the 3.5% pay offer rejection and warning of added pressure on emergency services.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: Meaningful engagement needed between Health Minister and BMA – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes progress on Graduated Driver Licensing, with changes to how new drivers obtain licences expected by October and new tests beginning in April 2027. She says the reforms aim to reduce serious road traffic accidents involving new and young drivers.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Graduated Driver Licensing progress following Infrastructure Committee meeting Original release: Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive must prevent doctors’ strike
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive must take responsibility for deteriorating relations with healthcare workers and calls on the Health Minister to engage with staff representatives to prevent BMA-announced strike action by doctors.
Health Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: McGrath: Executive must prevent doctors’ strike (opens in a new tab)