Latest releases
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11,735 releases
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DoH must take more active role in maintaining accountability across Trusts, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls for clarity on the Department of Health's role in the Belfast Trust's accountability process, now raised to Level 5, after bullying allegations in cardiac surgery. She asks the Health Minister to answer MLAs' questions in the Assembly.
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: DoH must take more active role in maintaining accountability across Trusts, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney welcomes council backing for a commemoration to abolitionist Frederick Douglass, including a £25,000 stained-glass memorial window at Lisburn First Presbyterian Church. The window would also honour two other abolitionists who spoke locally in the mid-1800s…
Local government Disability and equality Issue: Lisburn council approval of Frederick Douglass commemoration window Original release: Catney welcomes approval for Frederick Douglass commemoration (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Bullying endemic within our health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says bullying is endemic across the North's health service, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced special measures for the Belfast Trust over Royal Victoria Hospital Cardiac Unit reports. He calls for the Minister to address wider…
Health Issue: Ministerial Statement on cardiac surgery at Belfast Trust Original release: McGrath: Bullying endemic within our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Finn proposes rainbow crossing to celebrate Newry’s LGBT+ community
SDLP Newry councillor Doire Finn calls on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to add a rainbow crossing to planned repairs at the Sugar Island zebra crossing in Newry city centre, or consider another site, as a show of support for the local LGBT+ community.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Finn proposes rainbow crossing to celebrate Newry’s LGBT+ community (opens in a new tab)
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McDonald meets council officials to discuss Ahoghill Woodland
TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald says he met council officials on Ahoghill Woodland Park, citing neglect, disrepair and overgrown land, and welcomes the council's confirmation that the pond will be filled in over child safety concerns.
Local government Issue: Ahoghill Woodland Park pond to be filled in Original release: McDonald meets council officials to discuss Ahoghill Woodland (opens in a new tab)
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Clarity needed on Labour’s winter fuel U-turn – Shannon
DUP MP for Strangford Jim Shannon welcomes the Government's U-turn reinstating winter fuel payments for some pensioners this winter, and calls on it to spell out who will qualify and when. He says the Government has not explained how eligibility will be decided.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Starmer announcement widening Winter Fuel Payment eligibility Original release: Clarity needed on Labour’s winter fuel U-turn – Shannon (opens in a new tab)
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Border posts to stay, it seems, despite proclaimed deal
TUV leader Jim Allister MP says a parliamentary answer shows no UK-EU deal removing SPS checks exists, so Irish Sea border posts at Northern Ish ports may still be needed, calling the proclaimed deal smoke and mirrors.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: UK-EU Reset Deal announcement Original release: Border posts to stay, it seems, despite proclaimed deal (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government must hold Irish Government to account on legacy – Beattie
UK Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says the UK Government has allowed the Irish Government to set the legacy agenda ahead of Secretary of State Hilary Benn's meeting with Northern Ireland parties. He calls on London to press Dublin on legacy mechanisms for Omagh and cross-border attacks, and…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Secretary of State Hilary Benn's meeting with Northern Ireland parties on legacy Original release: UK Government must hold Irish Government to account on legacy – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Butler hits out at Sinn Fein silencing of Fermanagh UUP Councillor
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA condemns Fermanagh and Omagh Council's decision to silence UUP Councillor Mark Ovens, calling it an affront to democracy. He calls on Sinn Fein's leadership to clarify whether it backs the members' actions and questions the Council chairman's record.
Local government Issue: Fermanagh and Omagh Council silencing of UUP Councillor Mark Ovens Original release: Butler hits out at Sinn Fein silencing of Fermanagh UUP Councillor (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Executive and UK Government must back Casement Park with real investment
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP urges the Executive and UK Government to break the stalemate on Casement Park funding, calling for a commitment matching the GAA's cultural significance and current costs. She says the £62.5 million offer is out of step with the Executive's budget growth and calls for…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park funding stalemate between Executive and UK Government Original release: SDLP: Executive and UK Government must back Casement Park with real investment (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Rise in child poverty demands urgent Executive response
SDLP Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Paul Doherty says rising child poverty across the North demands an urgent Executive response after new data showed rates worse than a decade ago, with 32.9% of children in West Belfast living in poverty. He blames the Executive for not tackling it…
Social security and welfare Issue: New child poverty data showing rise across the North Original release: Doherty: Rise in child poverty demands urgent Executive response (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna challenges PM on Gaza genocide
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP presses Prime Minister Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions on Gaza, asking when Britain will help halt the conflict, hold the Israeli government accountable and recognise Palestine.
International affairs Issue: Prime Minister's Questions on Gaza, June 2025 Original release: Hanna challenges PM on Gaza genocide (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces June 2025 start for £70m Queen’s Parade project
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces that on-site work on the £70m Queen's Parade scheme in Bangor will begin this month, after legal agreements were signed with partners. He credits officials and says the scheme will be transformational for the city.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Queen's Parade Bangor on-site work start announcement Original release: Minister announces June 2025 start for £70m Queen’s Parade project (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons commits to ‘doing things differently’ in initial Budget…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons sets out initial 2025-26 budget allocations, including £3.7m extra for homelessness and supporting people, £2.8m for care-leaver accommodation, and reforms to Discretionary Support Grant to tackle fraud.
Public finance and taxation Housing Issue: Communities Minister initial 2025-26 budget allocations Original release: Lyons commits to ‘doing things differently’ in initial Budget… (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes independent review of Northern Ireland Curriculum
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the findings of an independent review of the Northern Ireland curriculum, saying it exposes weaknesses and recommends a new knowledge‑rich framework and the creation of a Curriculum Taskforce, to be chaired by Christine Counsell.
Education Issue: Publication of independent Northern Ireland curriculum review Original release: Givan welcomes independent review of Northern Ireland Curriculum (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken comments on launch of Strategic Defence Review
UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the Strategic Defence Review as a start but says defence spending should have reached 3% of GDP now and 5% within the decade. He also calls for Irish Republic contributions to collective defence and for greater use of Northern Ireland's air and…
International affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Strategic Defence Review launch Original release: Aiken comments on launch of Strategic Defence Review (opens in a new tab)
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Long-awaited work on Queen's Parade must start imminently after years of disappointment, says Alliance representatives
Alliance North Down MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew Muir welcome the Communities Minister's announcement that work on the Queen's Parade project in Bangor will start this month, while urging that it begin imminently after years of delays.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Queen's Parade Bangor on-site work start announcement Original release: Long-awaited work on Queen's Parade must start imminently after years of disappointment, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister says community in shock after woman's murder
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister says the local community is in shock after a woman in her 60s was killed at a house on Shore Road, and offers sympathy to the family. She urges anyone with information to contact police and thanks the PSNI for its response.
Justice and policing Issue: Woman's murder in North Belfast Shore Road area Original release: McAllister says community in shock after woman's murder (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: A New Ireland is the only route back to Europe
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says a united Ireland is the only realistic way back into the EU, ahead of an Assembly Opposition motion marking nine years since the Brexit vote and urging other parties to accept it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly Opposition motion on a New Ireland and EU rejoining Original release: O’Toole: A New Ireland is the only route back to Europe (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP bring call to introduce bus safety to Stormont
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone says the party will table a motion urging the Infrastructure Minister to legislate so vehicles must stop for school buses loading or unloading pupils. The motion follows the fatal incident involving a Mid Ulster schoolgirl earlier this year.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: SDLP motion on mandatory stopping for school buses Original release: SDLP bring call to introduce bus safety to Stormont (opens in a new tab)