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4,967 releases
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McGrath: Doctors should not pay the price for Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says doctors and patients should not bear the cost of the Executive's failure to fund healthcare, after hospital doctors announced planned strike action later this month. He calls for urgent engagement to avoid escalation and deliver certainty…
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: McGrath: Doctors should not pay the price for Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh fishermen must be properly supported by DAERA – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for appropriate financial support for Lough Neagh fishermen after DAERA announced further measures, including closing the yellow eel fishery for up to three years. He says fishermen should not bear the cost of the lough's ecological crisis.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA Lough Neagh yellow eel fishery closure measures Original release: Lough Neagh fishermen must be properly supported by DAERA – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Back British Buses: Allister Calls for Procurement Rules to Protect UK Manufacturing
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on the Government to tighten bus procurement guidance so contracts favour UK jobs and domestic firms, shielding the sector from low-cost overseas rivals, after speaking at the British Bus Manufacturing Fair.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: British Bus Manufacturing Fair bus procurement guidance call Original release: Back British Buses: Allister Calls for Procurement Rules to Protect UK Manufacturing (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon writes to Health Minister seeking clarity on availability of mirvetuximab soravtansine in north
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon writes to the Health Minister seeking clarity on whether mirvetuximab soravtansine, a drug that reduces side effects and extends life for terminal ovarian cancer, is available in the north, and urges a delivery timetable for women’s health.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Availability of mirvetuximab soravtansine for ovarian cancer in the north Original release: Dillon writes to Health Minister seeking clarity on availability of mirvetuximab soravtansine in north (opens in a new tab)
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Refusal to fund respite care despite left over budget diabolical, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA criticises the Department of Health for refusing to fund extra respite beds at the NI Children's Hospice while over a quarter of the £13.1m children's respite budget went unspent. She calls on the Health Minister to work with the hospice to secure…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health refusal to fund NI Children's Hospice respite care Original release: Refusal to fund respite care despite left over budget diabolical, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Waiting time progress welcome but long-term planning essential – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes progress on cutting patient waiting times in the year-end Elective Care Framework update, but says long-term planning, extra capacity and investment are needed. He wants quicker action on urgent cancer and other time-critical waiting lists.
Health Issue: Elective Care Framework year-end waiting times update Original release: Waiting time progress welcome but long-term planning essential – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Planning delays exposing a broken system – Martin
DUP North Down MLA Peter Martin, Chair of the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, calls for planning reform legislation after officials confirmed regionally significant applications are taking 215 to 362 weeks to decide against a 30-week target.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Officials' confirmation of delays in regionally significant planning applications Original release: Planning delays exposing a broken system – Martin (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Growing pressures shows safe staffing legislation cannot wait
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes new figures showing a record HSC workforce of 68,341 whole-time equivalent staff, but calls on the Health Minister to set a clear timetable for safe staffing legislation, citing rising agency nurse spending and ongoing pressures.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care workforce statistics on recruitment and vacancies Original release: McGrath: Growing pressures shows safe staffing legislation cannot wait (opens in a new tab)
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Time for Stormont DFI Minister to End Derry Rail Timetable Disparity
People Before Profit's Eamonn McCann welcomes over a million Derry rail passengers in the last year and calls on the DFI Minister to fund equal train access on the Derry line, estimated by Translink at £1m.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Derry rail passenger numbers and timetable disparity funding Original release: Time for Stormont DFI Minister to End Derry Rail Timetable Disparity (opens in a new tab)
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Health and Social Care Statistics highlight scale of challenge facing our health service
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the latest health workforce statistics show the scale of pressure on the health service, with over 6,000 vacancies. He urges the Health Minister to introduce a properly financed workforce plan covering future need, more training posts, overseas recruitment where…
Health Issue: Health and Social Care workforce statistics on recruitment and vacancies Original release: Health and Social Care Statistics highlight scale of challenge facing our health service (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart leads Westminster delegation in push for life-saving MLD…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she will lead a delegation to Westminster to press for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) to be added to the UK newborn heel-prick screening programme. She will meet Health Minister Sharon Hodgson and Conservative and Reform health spokespeople, and cites the Prime…
Health Issue: MLD inclusion in newborn heel-prick screening programme review Original release: Lockhart leads Westminster delegation in push for life-saving MLD… (opens in a new tab)
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Bower welcomes motion passing on environmentally conscious public acts of remembrance
Alliance Belfast Councillor Christine Bower welcomes council's passing of her motion urging support for public remembrance acts that are safe and environmentally mindful, including designated memorial spaces in parks and greener events. Officers will research feasibility.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on environmentally mindful public remembrance acts Original release: Bower welcomes motion passing on environmentally conscious public acts of remembrance (opens in a new tab)
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SF Tying Itself in Knots on Climate Laws
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says Sinn Fein is struggling with contradictions over amending the Climate Change Act to allow major infrastructure, arguing Michelle O'Neill's remarks on road projects were a kite-flying exercise. She says the Infrastructure Minister gave no answer on the A5 Court of…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Sinn Fein stance on amending climate change legislation for infrastructure Original release: SF Tying Itself in Knots on Climate Laws (opens in a new tab)
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Health checks are for more than just the GAA – Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls for free health checks offered through Kingsbridge Private Hospital's GAA-focused Health Check Roadshow to be extended to football, rugby, cricket and other sports clubs. He says he wrote to the hospital in April and again last week without a reply.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Kingsbridge Private Hospital GAA Health Check Roadshow Original release: Health checks are for more than just the GAA – Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart calls for PHA drugs post to be withdrawn
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the Health Minister to have the Public Health Agency withdraw a social media post on illegal drug use at music festivals, which she says sends the wrong message. She has asked the Department of Health who approved the campaign and what approval process was followed.
Health Issue: PHA social media post on drug use at music festivals Original release: Lockhart calls for PHA drugs post to be withdrawn (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK and Irish Governments must respond to Stormont reform momentum
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP calls on the British and Irish Governments to engage seriously and open a focused negotiation process on Stormont reform, pointing to Sinn Féin's public endorsement and broad agreement on electing a Speaker, ending Executive vetoes and preventing paralysis.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin public endorsement of Stormont institutional reform Original release: Hanna: UK and Irish Governments must respond to Stormont reform momentum (opens in a new tab)
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‘A New Ireland is Possible’ event a positive discussion – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes a well-attended public event in north Belfast on the vision for a progressive, equal new Ireland, praising its panel and audience engagement. He says constitutional change conversations need detailed planning, support and resourcing.
Constitutional affairs Issue: A New Ireland is Possible event, Lansdowne Hotel, north Belfast Original release: ‘A New Ireland is Possible’ event a positive discussion – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes Finance Minister’s investment in pharmacy services
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes a £42 million investment in pharmacies, part of a wider £70 million health package announced by Finance Minister John O'Dowd, to fund digital prescriptions and expanded pharmacy services. He says it will ease pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals and calls…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £70 million health service investment announced by Finance Minister O'Dowd Original release: Kearney welcomes Finance Minister’s investment in pharmacy services (opens in a new tab)
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Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges DAERA to fill the three agriculture seats on the new Just Transition Commission with people who understand farming and food production, not just academics and advocates. He says food and energy security must shape its terms of reference.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA appointments to the Just Transition Commission Original release: Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP announces panellists for cross-party event examining future of these islands
SDLP announces the panellists for the cross‑party event “Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change” at The MAC in Belfast on 25 June, featuring figures such as Leo Varadkar, Jim O’Callaghan, Stephen Gethins, Liz Saville Roberts, Adam Jogee and others, with leader Claire Hanna set to deliver an
Constitutional affairs Issue: Future of these Islands event panel announcement Original release: SDLP announces panellists for cross-party event examining future of these islands (opens in a new tab)