Latest releases
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3,930 releases
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Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes Health Minister confirmation that Keytruda is already available in three Health Trusts, and urges swift rollout to the remaining two areas. She says the immunotherapy could save lives.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Health Trusts Original release: Dodds welcomes confirmation of key cancer drug use in NI (opens in a new tab)
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New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard writes to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt demanding the immediate rollout of Keytruda, a new injectable cancer immunotherapy being introduced in England and Wales, and asks for a clear timeline for its use in Northern Ireland.
Health Issue: Keytruda cancer drug rollout in England and Wales Original release: New cancer drug must be available to patients here – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a 17% year-on-year rise in new social home starts in 2025/26, to 1,765, credited to a £210 million building programme and the largest-ever Social Housing Development Programme investment. He says more work remains and points to reviews of grant rates…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Social home starts rise 17% in 2025/26 Original release: Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces he has approved changes to childcare regulation after consultation, limiting GP-countersigned health declarations to senior childcare roles and altering adult:child ratios for childminders and group day care from 1 June 2026.
Education Health Issue: Health Minister childcare regulation changes on GP declarations and adult:child ratios Original release: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin and DUP allergic to scrutiny, says Tennyson, after they block amendment to look at cost of division
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the DUP of being unwilling to face scrutiny after they voted down an amendment requiring the Fiscal Council to assess the cost of duplicated and segregated services. He says Alliance will keep pressing for transparency and a debate on…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Fiscal Council Bill amendment on cost of division voted down Original release: Sinn Féin and DUP allergic to scrutiny, says Tennyson, after they block amendment to look at cost of division (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín praises fire service after Carrick Hill fire
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín praises emergency services and the local community after a fire forced residents out of an apartment block in Carrick Hill, North Belfast. She says she will contact Choice Housing to secure alternative accommodation for residents whose homes are unfit to live in.
Housing Issue: Carrick Hill apartment block fire evacuation Original release: Ní Chuilín praises fire service after Carrick Hill fire (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says his Voting Rights in Presidential Elections Bill, which passed second stage, would let Irish citizens across the island vote in presidential elections, enfranchising around one million people, with the change taking effect at the next election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: All-Ireland Presidential Voting Bill passes 2nd stage (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise
TUV's Lord Dodds and Jim Allister KC MP say the Independent Monitoring Panel failed to explain why it measured goods value rather than freight movements in assessing the Internal Market Guarantee. They demand revised figures on the UK Internal Market System share of GB-NI freight, saying the 96%…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Independent Monitoring Panel first Internal Market Guarantee report on freight Original release: Irish Sea Border Panel Unable to Explain Failure To Address Internal Market Promise (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt highlights critical role of primary care elective services
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt praises primary care elective services after a visit to Glengormley Practice, citing £2.9million funding, over 1,450 GP vasectomies and around 3,000 gynaecology procedures. He says the model is cutting hospital waiting lists and looks forward to more elective pathways…
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Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services
UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken condemns the lack of an agreed Executive budget, saying departments face real-terms cuts under interim spending limits and health services, including staff pay awards and waiting list progress, are suffering.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive failure to pass multi-year budget Original release: Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe backs extending the presidential vote to Irish citizens abroad and in the North, regardless of residence, and says a Peadar Tóibín bill debated in the Dáil is a narrower but important first step.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Peadar Tóibín presidential franchise bill Dáil debate Original release: Sinn Féin supports the right of all Irish citizens to vote for the Irish President – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)
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There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan
SF MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes progress on a perinatal mental health unit for mothers and babies in Belfast following a Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announcement. He says interim support has not been agreed and urges the minister to avoid further delays, secure…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: There must be no more delays to delivering a mother and baby unit – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP says she has written to the UK Prime Minister and Taoiseach urging them to start formal cross-party talks on Stormont institutional reform, aiming to agree a focused package before the May 2027 Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Original release: SDLP calls on UK and Irish Governments to initiate urgent talks on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis
UUP Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA hits back at Justice Minister Naomi Long after her Nolan Show appearance, saying the PSNI is underfunded and blaming the Justice Department and Alliance for failing to fight for policing funding.
Justice and policing Public finance and taxation Issue: Justice Minister Naomi Long's Nolan Show comments on policing funding Original release: Beattie hits out at Justice Minister over policing funding crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes confirmation that the new Regional Mother and Baby Unit will be located at Belfast City Hospital, but says it is disappointing that no interim provision will be in place before the facility opens.
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt announcement on Belfast mother and baby unit Original release: Progress on Regional Mother and Baby Unit welcome but lack of interim measure disappointing, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law
UUP MP Robin Swann and Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcome Royal Assent for the Tobacco and Vapes Act, calling it a landmark for public health in Northern Ireland. Chambers says smoking causes over 2,000 deaths a year locally and credits the Assembly's Legislative Consent Motion request.
Health Issue: Tobacco and Vapes Act receives Royal Assent Original release: Ulster Unionist Party welcomes landmark public health reform as Tobacco and Vapes Act becomes law (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan call on the Irish government to use its EU Presidency to advance unity, peace and social justice, including starting EU-level discussions on Irish reunification and representation for the North. Boylan also urges calls for suspension of the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency Original release: Ireland’s EU Presidency must be used to advance unity and peace – Kathleen Funchion MEP and Lynn Boylan MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns a Housing Executive eviction in west Belfast, where masked men carried out the removal of a family under PSNI presence. He says the Housing Executive's succession policy has left families homeless after bereavements and blames Stormont for not…
Housing Issue: West Belfast Housing Executive succession eviction of family Original release: Carroll Condemns West Belfast Housing Executive Eviction (opens in a new tab)
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DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation
DUP MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Forsythe welcome a motion passed by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council calling for a local planning policy on HMOs to tackle their concentration, particularly in Portadown.
Housing Local government Issue: Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council HMO proliferation motion Original release: DUP welcomes Council action on HMO proliferation (opens in a new tab)
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Independent Autism Reviewer report will play key role in informing policy to improve the lives of those with Autism – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the Independent Autism Reviewer's initial findings will help shape policy to improve services for autistic people, and says the report exposes a gap between policy and reality. He calls for the Assembly and Health Committee to keep scrutinising delivery and press…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer first report launch Original release: Independent Autism Reviewer report will play key role in informing policy to improve the lives of those with Autism – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)