Latest releases
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2,846 releases
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Toothless Voluntary Contributions Scheme Lets Developers Off the Hook
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll criticises the Finance Minister's voluntary developer contributions scheme as toothless, arguing it lets developers off the hook while about 50,000 families wait for social housing blocked by infrastructure shortfalls. He calls for profitable property…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Finance Minister's voluntary developer contributions scheme for infrastructure Original release: Toothless Voluntary Contributions Scheme Lets Developers Off the Hook (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Condemn Attack on Activist at St Patricks Day Event
People Before Profit condemns the verbal harassment and physical assault of activist Marc Mac Seáin in Newry, which happened while he was marching at the St Patrick's Day event alongside a local hospital campaign. The party calls the attack severe, says it was witnessed by children and others, and…
Justice and policing Health Issue: Attack on People Before Profit activist Marc Mac Seáin in Newry Original release: People Before Profit Condemn Attack on Activist at St Patricks Day Event (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must address ambulance waiting times – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to address pressures on the Ambulance Service after the Health Committee heard both Category 1 and Category 2 calls are missing target times. He urges improved patient flow through hospitals, timely handovers and support for frontline staff.
Health Issue: Health Committee briefing on Ambulance Service response times Original release: Health Minister must address ambulance waiting times – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Introduction of developer contributions will help unlock more new properties – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's announcement of voluntary developer contributions, with the funds used to upgrade wastewater infrastructure where capacity shortages are blocking new builds. He says it will complement recent housing unlocks.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Infrastructure Minister announcement on developer contributions for wastewater upgrades Original release: Introduction of developer contributions will help unlock more new properties – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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O’Dowd congratulates Woodside Hill residents following ‘significant’ bilingual signage court case
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd congratulates Woodside Hill residents in Portadown after their High Court win over Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council's refusal of bilingual street signage. He says unionist councillors blocked a proposal backed by most residents and that the council wasted public…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Woodside Hill bilingual signage High Court ruling against council Original release: O’Dowd congratulates Woodside Hill residents following ‘significant’ bilingual signage court case (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Minister’s tinkering won’t solve wastewater crisis
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says Infrastructure Minister Kimmins's decision to make developer contributions to wastewater infrastructure voluntary is a piecemeal step that will not solve the wastewater crisis. He calls for mandatory contributions, which he says would help…
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Infrastructure Minister announcement on developer contributions for wastewater upgrades Original release: McNulty: Minister’s tinkering won’t solve wastewater crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister's policy is water charging through back door, says McMurray
Alliance infrastructure spokesperson Andrew McMurray MLA criticises the Infrastructure Minister's plan to collect developer contributions for wastewater systems, calling it "water charging through the back door" that would raise house prices and deter new builds.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: Infrastructure Minister announcement on developer contributions for wastewater upgrades Original release: Infrastructure Minister's policy is water charging through back door, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to outline measures to manage the potential spread of meningitis
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of the Assembly's Health Committee, says he has written to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt asking what preparations and preventative measures will be put in place to manage possible spread of meningitis. The call follows a suspected case in a Belfast student and…
Health Issue: Suspected meningitis case in Belfast student and Britain outbreak Original release: McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to outline measures to manage the potential spread of meningitis (opens in a new tab)
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First and deputy First Minister can no longer ignore Covid Inquiry’s demand for institutional reform – Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, Executive Office spokesperson, says the First and deputy First Minister can no longer sidestep the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's findings on Executive dysfunction. She argues only institutional overhaul will prevent political deadlock from hampering future emergency health…
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: UK Covid-19 Inquiry recommendations on Executive dysfunction and institutional reform Original release: First and deputy First Minister can no longer ignore Covid Inquiry’s demand for institutional reform – Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Allister questions impact of ECJ ruling in support of trans ideology on Northern Ireland
TUV leader Jim Allister warns that a European Court of Justice ruling in the Shipovo case, recognising a trans woman's legal gender, could override the UK Supreme Court's finding that sex is biological under the Protocol. He has tabled an urgent Westminster question on its impact on gender…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: ECJ Shipovo ruling on gender recognition and Northern Ireland Original release: Allister questions impact of ECJ ruling in support of trans ideology on Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard raises serious concerns over Downe Hospital service reductions
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has raised concerns with the South Eastern Health Trust over reduced services at Downe Hospital on St Patrick's Day, calling for adequate staffing and a holiday contingency strategy.
Health Issue: Downe Hospital service reductions on St Patrick's Day 2026 Original release: Hazzard raises serious concerns over Downe Hospital service reductions (opens in a new tab)
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Women deserve timely, high-quality care at every stage of their lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says women in the north are let down by a health system that dismisses their pain, citing long waits for breast and gynaecology services and endometriosis care. She welcomes an Assembly vote backing a Women's Health Strategy and says her party supports a fully resourced…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on a Women's Health Strategy passed Original release: Women deserve timely, high-quality care at every stage of their lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister to invest properly in Irish-medium education after Department of Education figures showed a near 400% rise in pupils. He says the growth brings accommodation and curriculum resource shortfalls, and he is bringing forward a law on staffing.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education Irish-medium pupil numbers rise figures Original release: Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Gordon Lyons ‘heel dragging’ on purchasing temporary accommodation – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of dragging his heels on buying temporary accommodation, saying none of the 600 homes funded under the scheme have been purchased. He calls on the minister to speed up purchases so homes reach those who need them.
Housing Issue: Communities Department purchase of 600 temporary accommodation homes not progressed Original release: Gordon Lyons ‘heel dragging’ on purchasing temporary accommodation – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to make abiraterone available to Northern Ireland men with prostate cancer that has not spread, as it is already offered in England, Scotland and Wales. The Minister says NI lacks a NICE equivalent and cites budget pressures.
Health Issue: Abiraterone prostate cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says Education Minister Paul Givan should give classroom assistants proper respect, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Monday. He criticises proposed reforms, especially around special educational needs, and calls for scrutiny of the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Classroom assistant reforms proposed by Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says funding for a violence against women scheme is allocated to groups using a third gender category, 'neither', and has submitted questions to all Executive Ministers on how departmental data is broken down by gender and defined.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women funding scheme gender category 'neither' questions to Executive Ministers Original release: Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services
TUV councillor Anna Henry, Mid and East Antrim, warns women face years of chronic pain awaiting first gynaecology specialist appointments, citing June 2025 figures showing over 14,000 waiting in the South Eastern Trust and wait times near two years, and calls for urgent investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health June 2025 gynaecology outpatient waiting list figures Original release: Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services (opens in a new tab)
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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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Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go
TUV leader Jim Allister says Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds's claim that opposition to Irish is a blow for unification echoes a 1982 IRA-era remark and calls for his removal, urging Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to act.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds comments on opposition to Irish Original release: Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go (opens in a new tab)