Latest releases
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4,539 releases
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Women need reassurance following smear test revelations – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she has asked the Southern Health and Social Care Trust for an urgent meeting over three missed abnormal smear test results that preceded a cervical cancer diagnosis, and calls for a swift review of the case.
Health Issue: Cervical smear testing misreading review in Northern Ireland Original release: Women need reassurance following smear test revelations – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Women’s health strategy could improve cancer screening, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for a women's health strategy including cervical cancer screening, after BBC reporting that three abnormal smear tests were missed for a woman treated by the Southern and Western Trusts. She urges all Trusts to complete audits and clear the…
Health Issue: Cervical smear testing misreading review in Northern Ireland Original release: Women’s health strategy could improve cancer screening, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Extension of bereavement benefits is welcomed says Armstrong
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong welcomes new legislation extending bereavement benefit to parents of dependent children whose cohabiting partner has died, including backdated payments and a 12-month application window. She urges anyone needing help with applications to contact…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Bereavement benefit extension to cohabiting parents legislation Original release: Extension of bereavement benefits is welcomed says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
SDLP Justice Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin voices concern that the Executive Office has warned work on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy may stall without a functioning Executive, blaming the DUP boycott for putting it at risk.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office warning on delayed Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Original release: McLaughlin expresses concern at potential delay of Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Sheerin welcomes that Safe Access Zones Act is now law
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin welcomes the Safe Access Zones Act becoming law, noting it will be enforceable from 7 May 2023. She says the measure will protect people using healthcare services from intimidation and will safeguard women and healthcare workers.
Health Issue: Safe Access Zones Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming law Original release: Sheerin welcomes that Safe Access Zones Act is now law (opens in a new tab)
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The Secretary of State must progress organ donation legislation.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Secretary of State to push secondary legislation through the Commons so Daithi's Law, the organ donation measure passed by the Assembly a year ago, can take effect in Northern Ireland. She raised the request with NIO Minister of State Steve Baker.
Health Issue: Daithi's Law organ donation secondary legislation Westminster progress Original release: The Secretary of State must progress organ donation legislation. (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill.
Green Party leader Councillor Mal O'Hara welcomes Royal Assent for the Buffer Zones Bill, which he says will be enforceable from 7 May 2023 and end intimidation of people accessing abortion services. He credits former MLA Clare Bailey and campaigners.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Safe Access Zones Act receiving Royal Assent and becoming law Original release: Green Party Leader welcomes Royal Assent for Clare Bailey’s Buffer Zones Bill. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson and Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says a 7% Translink fares increase, directed by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, will hit families struggling with the cost of living. He calls for sustainable transport to be made more accessible rather than costlier.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Translink 7% fares increase directed by Secretary of State Original release: Durkan: Translink fares increase will punish worst off (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw marks Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and calls for restoration of the Executive so that vital action can be taken
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw backs this week's awareness campaign and says she has tabled an Assembly motion on infant mental health, urging support for the Mental Health Strategy and its infant-focused action. She blames the DUP's boycott for blocking action and calls for the…
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Ennis slams invasive use of counselling records in sexual assault trials
Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ennis says the practice of introducing survivors’ counselling notes as evidence in sexual‑assault prosecutions is unacceptable, breaches privacy and could discourage victims from seeking help or reporting crimes.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Counselling records used in sexual assault trials Original release: Ennis slams invasive use of counselling records in sexual assault trials (opens in a new tab)
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We are not giving up in our pursuit of the truth – Finucane tells New Lodge 6 families
SF MP John Finucane says the Westminster Legacy Bill denies truth and justice to conflict victims and calls on the Prime Minister to withdraw it, marking 50 years since six unarmed men were killed by soldiers in north Belfast in 1973.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Westminster Legacy Bill and New Lodge Six inquest 50th anniversary event Original release: We are not giving up in our pursuit of the truth – Finucane tells New Lodge 6 families (opens in a new tab)
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‘No time to waste on forming Executive to deliver for people’ – Michelle O’Neill after Tánaiste meeting
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Leas-Uachtarán, urges the DUP to return to the Executive table and form an Executive quickly, after meeting Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Belfast. She says the DUP's block is hurting public services, energy costs and Dáithí's Law on organ donation.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Michelle O'Neill and Tánaiste Micheál Martin Belfast meeting on Executive formation Original release: ‘No time to waste on forming Executive to deliver for people’ – Michelle O’Neill after Tánaiste meeting (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - "Protocol must be replaced with arrangements that…
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP says he met Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin in Belfast, urging that the Protocol be swapped for arrangements unionists can back. He also calls on the Republic to run a parallel process to the Omagh bombing inquiry.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Donaldson meeting with Micheál Martin in Belfast on Omagh inquiry Original release: Sir Jeffrey - "Protocol must be replaced with arrangements that… (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw marks World Cancer Day and calls for consistent five-year cancer strategies for NI
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw calls for consistent five-year cancer strategies in Northern Ireland, pointing to Denmark and England as comparators and saying NI has lagged on survival rates since 1995 ahead of World Cancer Day.
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Jim Shannon welcomes Omagh bomb inquiry announcement
DUP MP Jim Shannon welcomes the announcement of an Omagh bomb inquiry, saying it may help victims' families uncover more of the truth. He blames the terrorists for the attack and calls for a similar process in the Irish Republic into the planning carried out across the border.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Jim Shannon welcomes Omagh bomb inquiry announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Inquiry announcement a step forward for the Omagh families – Begley
West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley welcomes the announcement of an independent statutory inquiry into the Omagh bombing and calls on the British government to scrap its Legacy Bill, which she describes as flawed and cruel.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Inquiry announcement a step forward for the Omagh families – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Families need to have continued access to courts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says the sentencing of a former British soldier over the 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie shows accountability is possible, and urges courts to stay open to families seeking redress. She backs the family's call for the Legacy Bill to be scrapped.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Sentencing of British soldier for 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie Original release: Families need to have continued access to courts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Omagh bomb inquiry welcomed
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes the UK Secretary of State's decision to hold an inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing, hoping it brings full truth to light. He says the Republic of Ireland's cooperation will be a test and criticises the government's handling of legacy prosecutions.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Omagh bomb inquiry welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag
TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper condemns Alliance's use of the call-in process to overturn the council's vote for permanent Union Flag displays at all 13 Ards and North Down war memorials and the Newtownards council building. He says Alliance is undermining democracy and calls for the…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council Union Flag call-in decision Original release: Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag (opens in a new tab)
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Omagh investigation announcement welcomed
DUP Legacy Spokesperson Emma Little Pengelly welcomes the Secretary of State's decision to set up an independent statutory inquiry into the Omagh bombing, and calls on the Irish Government to confirm whether it will open a matching investigation across the border.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Omagh bombing independent statutory inquiry announcement Original release: Omagh investigation announcement welcomed (opens in a new tab)