Latest releases
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2,485 releases
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Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes the latest waiting list figures, citing a fall of over 15,000 patients awaiting first outpatient appointments and 7,316 fewer waiting for inpatient or day case admission. He commends healthcare staff and expects further improvement from the Elective Care…
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the Environment Minister's Assembly update on stronger wastewater pollution rules, including tougher fines, ending NI Water's licence to pollute and stricter discharge consent standards. He urges Executive approval and urgent Infrastructure…
Environment and climate Issue: Environment Minister's Assembly update on wastewater pollution measures Original release: No one should have a licence to pollute, says Blair, welcoming stronger wastewater pollution regulations (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the Department for the Economy must be candid about Northern Ireland's 2030 renewable electricity target of 80%, which she calls unachievable on current trajectory. She cites roughly 44% renewable generation today and calls for a credible, deliverable energy…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Economy Committee questioning of Energy Group officials on 2030 renewable electricity target Original release: Forsythe: DfE Must Be Honest About Unrealistic 2030 Energy Targets (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the latest hospital waiting list figures, showing over 542,000 people awaiting a first outpatient appointment and more than 174,000 waiting over two years, raise doubts about whether the Executive treats the backlog as a priority.
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to set a firm timetable for upgrading the regional eating disorder service, noting an outline business case awaits Finance review under Action 29d of the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Eating disorder service enhancement timetable ahead of Awareness Week debate Original release: Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services (opens in a new tab)
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‘Stark’ endometriosis waiting times highlight need for change – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for a step change in endometriosis services in the north after new figures show average diagnosis waiting times of nearly 10 years. She urges the Health Minister to set up specialist endometriosis services and work with Dublin on an all-island approach.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New figures on endometriosis diagnosis waiting times Original release: ‘Stark’ endometriosis waiting times highlight need for change – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Brooks expresses concern at lack of transparency and consideration around plans for Botanic Gardens
Alliance councillor Tara Brooks voices concern that Belfast City Council's plan to move a community garden and an EU-funded UPSURGE environmental project from Botanic Gardens for a sports pitch lacks transparency. She says her proposal to pause the decision for more information was ignored and…
Local government Environment and climate Issue: Botanic Gardens community garden relocation for new sports pitch Original release: Brooks expresses concern at lack of transparency and consideration around plans for Botanic Gardens (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Minister must address soaring temporary accommodation spend
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urgently address spending on temporary accommodation after a PAC report found £40m was spent in 2024/25.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on homelessness Original release: McCrossan: Minister must address soaring temporary accommodation spend (opens in a new tab)
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NI homelessness crisis exacerbated by lack of investment and continued selling of social homes, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA says homelessness in Northern Ireland is worsening due to low prevention investment and NI Housing Executive Right to Buy sales, and calls for an urgent pause on selling social homes after a Public Accounts Committee inquiry recommended changes to the scheme.
Housing Issue: Public Accounts Committee inquiry on NIHE Right to Buy Scheme Original release: NI homelessness crisis exacerbated by lack of investment and continued selling of social homes, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Passes Motion on Damp and Mould - Hits Out at Shameless Pay Hike
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says his motion on damp and mould in rented housing has passed at Stormont and calls on the Communities Minister to bring in tougher legislation requiring landlords to investigate and fix such problems within set deadlines. He cites NHS costs of cold, damp…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Stormont motion on damp and mould in rented housing Original release: Carroll Passes Motion on Damp and Mould - Hits Out at Shameless Pay Hike (opens in a new tab)
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Murphy welcomes Executive approval to permanently end Petroleum Exploration and Licensing
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomes the Executive's sign-off on repeal legislation that would permanently halt oil and gas exploration and licensing in the north, including fracking. She says it aligns the region with the rest of the island and will protect Fermanagh communities.
Environment and climate Issue: Executive approval of Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (Repeal) Bill Original release: Murphy welcomes Executive approval to permanently end Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (opens in a new tab)
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Doctors’ testimony of impact of genocide on Gaza healthcare system harrowing – Cullen
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen describes testimony from Palestinian and British doctors on Gaza's healthcare system as harrowing, condemns Israel's blocking of medical treatment and evacuations, and calls for stronger global pressure to enforce international law.
International affairs Health Issue: Westminster briefing on impact of Gaza conflict on healthcare Original release: Doctors’ testimony of impact of genocide on Gaza healthcare system harrowing – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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Rising levels of homelessness must be tackled – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to tackle rising homelessness with greater focus on prevention, following a Public Accounts Committee report. He urges full acceptance of its recommendations and welcomes its support for his bill on preventing homelessness.
Housing Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on homelessness Original release: Rising levels of homelessness must be tackled – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Marine Protected Areas Strategy crucial for healthier habitats, says Blair, following publication
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair welcomes the launch of Northern Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas Strategy by Minister Andrew Muir, calling it a vital step to restore marine and freshwater habitats, boost biodiversity and use carbon‑absorbing seagrass and kelp to aid climate action.
Environment and climate Issue: Launch of Northern Ireland Marine Protected Areas Strategy Original release: Marine Protected Areas Strategy crucial for healthier habitats, says Blair, following publication (opens in a new tab)
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Halt For-Profit Gouging of Health Service
People Before Profit's Cllr Shaun Harkin brings a motion to Derry City and Strabane District Council's February meeting urging a halt to profiteering in the health service, citing more than £302 million paid to private providers by Health and Social Care Trusts from 2020 to 2025.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Halt For-Profit Gouging of Health Service (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: NI tenants left behind on damp and mould protections
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA criticises the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for inaction on damp and mould and calls for Awaab's Law-style protections in Northern Ireland, citing around 14,500 Housing Executive reports and problems in temporary accommodation.
Housing Original release: Durkan: NI tenants left behind on damp and mould protections (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health service adrift as staffing gaps persist
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says latest Health and Social Care workforce statistics show vacancies stuck around 6,000 for three years, with recruitment replacing leavers. He calls on the Health Minister to set a date for introducing safe staffing legislation.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care workforce vacancy statistics February 2026 Original release: McGrath: Health service adrift as staffing gaps persist (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds: Children’s Safety Must Come Before Political Ideology
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the UK Medicines Authority’s move to halt the King’s College puberty‑blocker study, saying it underlines the need for safeguarding vulnerable children and criticises other parties for putting ideology ahead of safety.
Health Issue: UK Medicines Authority pauses King’s College puberty blocker trial Original release: Dodds: Children’s Safety Must Come Before Political Ideology (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must provide clarity on future of emergency general surgery at SWAH
Sinn Féin representatives joined a Stormont protest by Save Our Acute Services over the withdrawal of emergency surgery from South West Acute Hospital in 2022. Pat Cullen MP calls the continuing lack of clarity unacceptable, while Jemma Dolan MLA urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to set a…
Health Issue: Save Our Acute Services Stormont protest over SWAH surgery Original release: Health Minister must provide clarity on future of emergency general surgery at SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP backs SOAS Stormont protest
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, speaking after attending a Save Our Acute Services protest at Stormont, says Fermanagh residents are angered by losing surgical cover at the South West Acute Hospital and calls for the Health Minister and Western Trust to revisit the situation.
Health Issue: Save Our Acute Services Stormont protest over SWAH surgery Original release: SDLP backs SOAS Stormont protest (opens in a new tab)