Latest releases
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4,537 releases
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Working together key to fixing health service- Gildernew - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on the DUP to end its boycott and return to the Executive to prioritise health. He cites reports that up to 500 patients waited over 12 hours in A&E for beds and says Sinn Féin will invest an extra £1 billion in waiting lists, staffing, cancer and mental health.
Health Issue: Reports of long A&E waits for hospital beds in Northern Ireland Original release: Working together key to fixing health service- Gildernew - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Western Trust's plan to restart early abortion services in July after their April 2021 suspension, but says the service should never have been suspended. She blames the Health Minister's inaction on commissioning and calls for a fully…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Western Trust early abortion services resumption announcement Original release: ‘Start-stop’ provision of Abortion Services should not be allowed to occur again, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Lessons must be learned from neurology patient recall
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says the neurology patient recall involving 5,448 former Dr Michael Watt patients, 19% with insecure diagnoses, requires new safeguards, a swift redress scheme and clear RQIA findings to prevent recurrence.
Health Issue: Michael Watt voluntary erasure and neurology inquiry questions Original release: McGrath: Lessons must be learned from neurology patient recall (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew urges health department to address recognition payment delay - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says delays in getting the recognition payment to some health and social care workers are intolerable, and he will raise the issue with the Department of Health and urge it to pay workers quickly as living costs rise.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care recognition payment delays Original release: Gildernew urges health department to address recognition payment delay - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Long way to go on emissions – Cllr Mal O'Hara
Green Party NI Deputy Leader Cllr Mal O'Hara says Northern Ireland still has a long way to go to cut greenhouse gas emissions, citing 2020 statistics showing a 23.9% fall since 1990 that lags behind England, Scotland and Wales. He calls for implementation of the Climate Change Act and changes to…
Environment and climate Issue: Northern Ireland greenhouse gas emissions statistics 2020 publication Original release: Long way to go on emissions – Cllr Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish
South Belfast Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Finance considering reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish or bilingual English and Irish, following a written question. She urges the Finance Minister to make new certificates available as soon as possible.
Disability and equality Issue: Department of Finance consideration of reissuing birth certificates in Irish Original release: Bradshaw welcomes exploration of reissuing existing birth certificates in Irish (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast
Alliance Councillor Ross McMullan welcomes Belfast City Council's agreement to begin work on inclusive play, with officers tasked to produce a full report, while saying the delay is disappointing. He cites PlayBoard NI and Mae Murray Foundation research on families excluded from play parks and…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on inclusive play parks Original release: Alliance secures steps towards inclusive play parks across Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Patients across Ireland benefiting from Cross Border Services - Gildernew - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew hails the cross-border health directive, which over 2,000 people have used in the last year, and calls on the Department of Health to ensure access continues beyond 1 July. He also urges exploring options to replace access lost to the European scheme after Brexit.
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Will SF's call to tackle sectarianism be matched by action?
DUP MLA Joanne Bunting questions whether Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard's anti-sectarianism pledge will lead to action, urging him to rename his constituency office and the local Sinn Féin branch, both named after IRA members.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Original release: Will SF's call to tackle sectarianism be matched by action? (opens in a new tab)
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British Government must scrap 'fatally flawed' legacy plans- Dillon - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the Victims Commission's criticism of British government legacy plans reinforces the case for scrapping the legislation. She calls on the British government to listen to victims, families, parties and the Irish government, and urges full implementation of the 2014…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Victims Commission verdict on British government legacy plans Original release: British Government must scrap 'fatally flawed' legacy plans- Dillon - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Family of Hugh Coney deserve truth and justice – Dillon - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the family of Internee Hugh Coney, shot at Long Kesh in 1974, should not wait longer for truth and justice, after a UK legal office failed to release related papers. She accuses the Tory government of cover-up, opposing its proposed amnesty, and calls for Stormont…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Attorney General's office fails to release papers in Hugh Coney killing Original release: Family of Hugh Coney deserve truth and justice – Dillon - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Investigation Needed into Funding of Orange Order and Flute Band at the Centre of Vile McAreavey Song. - Tóibín
Aontú's Peadar Tóibín expresses disgust at a viral video of a group mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey and calls for scrutiny of state and council funding to the Orange Order and loyalist flute bands. He says Aontú is submitting questions to Stormont, councils, the EU and the southern…
Community relations and legacy Public finance and taxation Issue: Video mocking Michaela McAreavey's murder at centenary event Original release: Investigation Needed into Funding of Orange Order and Flute Band at the Centre of Vile McAreavey Song. - Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Ards and North Down Sustainability Policy welcomed
Green Party councillors in North Down welcome Ards and North Down Borough Council's approval of a new Sustainability Policy, with Cllr Barry McKee calling it a first step and urging immediate action on fuel poverty, insulation and retrofitting. Cllr Stephen Dunlop and Cllr Lauren Kendall back a…
Environment and climate Local government Original release: Ards and North Down Sustainability Policy welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong repeats her call for all respite and day care services for disabled people and older people to reopen during Carers Week. She says carers are exhausted, notes the Health Minister has asked for a review of each Trust's reopening pathway, and says carers now need support.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Armstrong uses Carers Week to call again for respite and day centre provision to reopen (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath concerned at SWAH neonatal unit reduction
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath expresses concern at the reduction of neonatal cots at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen from six to two due to nurse shortages. He calls for health service transformation, and blames the DUP's boycott of the institutions for stalling action.
Health Issue: South West Acute Hospital neonatal unit cot reduction Original release: McGrath concerned at SWAH neonatal unit reduction (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Legacy Bill risks eroding confidence in institutions of justice
SDLP MP Claire Hanna says the UK government's planned legacy legislation could damage public trust in Northern Ireland's policing and justice institutions, citing Human Rights Commission evidence that the Bill cannot be made compliant. She calls for the Stormont House Agreement to be implemented…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Human Rights Commission evidence to Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on legacy Bill Original release: Hanna: Legacy Bill risks eroding confidence in institutions of justice (opens in a new tab)
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‘Laws to tackle hate crime and sectarianism must be strengthened’ – O’Neill - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill says laws on hate crime and sectarianism must be strengthened after recent sectarian scenes, pledging her party will ensure the Justice Minister's proposed hate crime legislation is strong enough to tackle incitement.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: Recent sectarian incitement scenes and proposed hate crime legislation Original release: ‘Laws to tackle hate crime and sectarianism must be strengthened’ – O’Neill - Sinn Féin (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson welcomes opening of Muckamore Inquiry
DUP MP Gavin Robinson welcomes the start of the public inquiry into alleged mistreatment of patients at Muckamore Abbey, paying tribute to families. He says the Belfast Trust adopted a closed, defensive stance and calls for real change within the Trust.
Health Issue: Muckamore Abbey Hospital public inquiry hearings begin Original release: Robinson welcomes opening of Muckamore Inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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Muckamore public inquiry needs to provide truth, transparency and accountability, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA sends best wishes to patients and families as public hearings open into alleged abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital. She says the inquiry is long overdue and calls for answers on governance failures, including unanswered complaints and an unmonitored…
Health Issue: Muckamore Abbey Hospital public inquiry hearings begin Original release: Muckamore public inquiry needs to provide truth, transparency and accountability, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP nominates McLaughlin to Policing Board
SDLP nominates Sinéad McLaughlin MLA as its representative on the Policing Board, saying she will advocate for a representative police service that builds community confidence and hold the PSNI robustly to account.
Justice and policing Community relations and legacy Issue: SDLP nomination of Sinéad McLaughlin to Policing Board Original release: SDLP nominates McLaughlin to Policing Board (opens in a new tab)