Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
4,935 releases
-
Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA warns that reconfiguring maternity and other services during a crisis, without a Health Minister or Committee able to scrutinise, will see services crumble, as the Northern Trust begins consulting on maternity reconfiguration.
Health Issue: Northern Trust maternity services reconfiguration consultation Original release: Lack of Minister to lead on maternity services reconfiguration frustrating, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the recent withdrawal of emergency surgery at South West Acute Hospital is a service collapse, not reform, and urges the Western Trust to publish its plans for recruiting surgeons. He also calls on the DUP to end its boycott and allow an Executive to be formed.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Collapse of services is not transformation – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Beware of well packaged but meaningless change on Protocol
TUV leader Jim Allister warns unionists against settling for less than full restoration of UK sovereignty over Northern Ireland in the Protocol talks with the EU. He sets out tests for any deal, including whether EU single market, customs and VAT laws still apply and whether Irish Sea checks remain.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU-UK talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Beware of well packaged but meaningless change on Protocol (opens in a new tab)
-
Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the Stormont deadlock is worsening pressures on GPs after the Maple Healthcare practice in Lisnaskea signalled it may hand back its contract. She calls for MLAs to restore the Executive and pursue health reform, and accuses the DUP of using health services as…
Health Issue: Maple Healthcare Lisnaskea GP practice contract hand-back Original release: Lisnaskea GP practice pressures reinforce need for MLAs to get to work on reform, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent need for a negotiated solution on veterinary medicines, says Brown
Alliance's Patrick Brown MLA urges an extension of the grace period for veterinary medicines to give EU and UK negotiators more time, warning that disruption could harm animal welfare and cut supply in Northern Ireland. He also criticises the DUP for boycotting the Assembly and Executive while…
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: Veterinary medicines grace period expiry under the Northern Ireland Protocol Original release: Urgent need for a negotiated solution on veterinary medicines, says Brown (opens in a new tab)
-
McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup
SDLP Sports Spokesperson Justin McNulty criticises FIFA's threat of bookings against teams wearing OneLove armbands at the World Cup, calling it a disgrace and urging players to find other ways to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community in Qatar.
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: FIFA threat of bookings over OneLove armbands at World Cup Original release: McNulty slams decision to punish teams for wearing OneLove armbands at World Cup (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan welcomes the COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance for poorer countries but says it does not go far enough. He calls for radical action on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and urges restoration of the Executive so Northern…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 agreement on damage and loss financial assistance Original release: Durkan: COP27 progress doesn’t go far enough (opens in a new tab)
-
Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he has written to members of the House of Lords to reiterate opposition to the British government's Legacy Bill, which he claims will block families seeking truth and justice. He calls on peers to urge the government to implement the Stormont House Agreement legacy…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government Legacy Bill House of Lords Original release: Finucane tells British Lords that legacy bill is cruel, callous and offensive (opens in a new tab)
-
Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he is deeply concerned that ambulance cover in some areas is being held up for hours outside hospitals, calling the pressures on staff and patients a crisis. He urges the DUP to end its boycott so an Executive and health minister can be restored.
Health Issue: Ambulance crews delayed outside hospitals reports Original release: Gildernew deeply concerned ambulances and crews are tied up outside hospitals (opens in a new tab)
-
Forsythe – Protocol not acceptable to unionists
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says she told Taoiseach Micheál Martin during his constituency visit that the Protocol must be replaced with arrangements unionists can support. She also questions the Narrow Water bridge project, citing Trader Support Service costs and urging investment in…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Taoiseach Micheál Martin's visit to South Down and Narrow Water bridge progress Original release: Forsythe – Protocol not acceptable to unionists (opens in a new tab)
-
Irish language not part of “shared heritage”
TUV North Down spokesperson John Gordon criticises Alliance's Stephen Farry and the party for welcoming the Identity and Language Bill and describing Irish as shared heritage, arguing Irish is not a shared heritage because unionists do not regard it as part of their identity and citing 2021 Census…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Identity and Language Bill passage through Westminster Commons Original release: Irish language not part of “shared heritage” (opens in a new tab)
-
Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair says the outcome of COP27 will be crucial for securing nature's future, arguing climate change and biodiversity loss are linked. He warns that without concrete targets at the climate summit and success at the UN Biodiversity Conference, halting biodiversity…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: COP27 climate summit outcome and UN Biodiversity Conference targets Original release: Outcome of COP27 crucial to secure future for nature, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew says the announced suspension of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen from 18 December is deeply disappointing. She calls on the Western Trust to publish a concrete plan to recruit emergency general surgeons and restore the service.
Health Issue: Potential loss of emergency surgical services at South West Acute Hospital Original release: Temporary removal of emergency surgical services from South West Acute Hospital ‘deeply disappointing’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the Tory budget will push the economy deeper into a needless downturn, citing an OBR forecast of a 2% contraction and a 7% drop in living standards, and calls for a credible plan to rebuild public services.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Ordinary workers and families will pay the price for Tory budget – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
-
Paisley presses Chancellor on Autumn statement
DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley responds to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, saying Northern Ireland benefits from UK-wide schemes but the budget is challenging. He calls for a clear timetable for the increased oil and electricity payments and for Tax-Free Childcare to be increased.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Fiscal Statement November 2022 Northern Ireland funding Original release: Paisley presses Chancellor on Autumn statement (opens in a new tab)
-
Lockhart secures Equality Commission commitment on Ulster-Scots…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Census 2021 figures show similar ability in Irish and Ulster-Scots, yet funding is far unequal, and welcomes an Equality Commission pledge to assess the equality implications of the £4m An Ciste Infheistiochta Gaeilge award.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Census 2021 language findings and Equality Commission funding assessment commitment Original release: Lockhart secures Equality Commission commitment on Ulster-Scots… (opens in a new tab)
-
This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara criticises the Chancellor's Autumn Statement as austerity that will deepen recession, and says it fails to protect vulnerable people, tackle tax avoidance or deliver adequate climate action. He also says the DUP blockade of the Assembly stops the £650 million Barnett…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: This is not a budget to create a greener, fairer and more stable UK (opens in a new tab)
-
Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP says the Chancellor's Autumn Statement is painful for the economy and public services, warning of "Austerity 2.0" and calling for investment in a Green New Deal, insulation and renewables instead, plus wealth and windfall taxes.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: 2022 UK autumn budget public spending cuts Original release: Austerity 2.0 is not the solution, says Farry (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Department of Health confirmation of a meeting with party health spokespeople next week on health priorities and reform. He calls for urgent political and health leadership action on the emergency care crisis and urges the DUP to end its…
Health Issue: Department of Health cross-party meeting on health priorities and reform Original release: McGrath welcomes confirmation of cross-party meeting with Department of Health (opens in a new tab)
-
Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron
DUP South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron says the Protocol threatens future medicine supply to Northern Ireland, citing Teva UK evidence on product licensing burdens and NHS Confederation and PAGB concerns about EU legislation expiry and food supplement certification.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Teva UK evidence on Protocol medicine licensing challenges Original release: Protocol’s threat to medicine supply still looms large: Cameron (opens in a new tab)