Latest releases
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2,938 releases
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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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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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Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to move urgently to get the £17 million confirmed by the British government for households reliant on oil to those in need, and to bring forward his proposal without delay.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew (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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International School Meals Day
People Before Profit joins a Derry Trades Union Council rally at the Guildhall calling for free school meals for all children. It cites 41% of children in poverty lacking access and a 20% school meals price rise, and calls for universal free school meals now.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: International School Meals Day (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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‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says the DUP is detached from reality for calling for higher military spending while cuts to welfare support are considered, as fuel prices rise. He accuses DUP leader Gavin Robinson of backing cuts to welfare to fund military spending abroad, and urges the deputy…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: ‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Executive must act now to secure future of Childcare Subsidy Scheme
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin calls on the Executive to urgently allocate funding so the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme continues beyond March 2026. She says parents face uncertainty and that the scheme should not lapse without confirmed funding.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme funding beyond March 2026 Original release: McLaughlin: Executive must act now to secure future of Childcare Subsidy Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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DUP calls to gut welfare spending during energy crisis ‘catastrophically out of touch’, says Mulholland
Alliance Poverty Spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA says calls from senior DUP figures, including Arlene Foster and Gavin Robinson, to move money from welfare budgets to defence are catastrophically out of touch during an energy crisis. She argues it would hit low-income households already…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP calls to move welfare spending to defence during energy crisis Original release: DUP calls to gut welfare spending during energy crisis ‘catastrophically out of touch’, says Mulholland (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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Economy Minister needs to engage with UK Government to help local people during energy crisis, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA has written to Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald urging her to engage with the UK Government on support for households facing rising energy and fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. He calls for help similar to the 2022 package after Russia's…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Rising energy and fuel costs following Middle East conflict Original release: Economy Minister needs to engage with UK Government to help local people during energy crisis, says Tennyson (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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Communities Minister must listen to those on frontline tackling poverty – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to take on board concerns from local councils and community organisations about his plan to tackle poverty, and to bring forward a more ambitious plan. He says the minister ignored campaigners and councils during its…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Communities Committee hearing on Communities Minister's anti-poverty plan Original release: Communities Minister must listen to those on frontline tackling poverty – Gildernew (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)