Latest releases
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4,446 releases
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Doug Beattie MLA responds to publication of cervical screening report
UUP MLA Doug Beattie responds to the Atherton report on the Northern Ireland cervical screening programme, saying it exposed serious governance failings and damaged public trust. He is disappointed no statutory public inquiry will proceed, while backing the Health Minister's reasoning and urging…
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: Doug Beattie MLA responds to publication of cervical screening report (opens in a new tab)
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Gordon Lyons and the DUP are opposed to equality, rights and respect – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of hostility to the Irish language after his Communities Committee appearance, citing the Líofa decision, opposition to Acht Gaeilge and a stalled language strategy.
Disability and equality Issue: Gordon Lyons Communities Committee appearance on Irish language policy Original release: Gordon Lyons and the DUP are opposed to equality, rights and respect – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Palantir Unlimited Access to NHS - Stormont Must Halt Health Service Privatisation
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on Stormont to halt health service privatisation, citing Palantir's access to NHS England patient data and warning it could extend to Northern Ireland. He urges backing for the UNISON campaign ahead of a Health and Community Committee deputation.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Palantir access to NHS England patient data Original release: Palantir Unlimited Access to NHS - Stormont Must Halt Health Service Privatisation (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must ensure Irish language strategy is delivered
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA calls on the Executive to make sure an Irish language strategy is brought forward, after the High Court heard the Department for Communities will not deliver it before the current Assembly mandate ends.
Disability and equality Issue: Department for Communities delay on Irish language strategy Original release: Durkan: Executive must ensure Irish language strategy is delivered (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Cervical screening public inquiry decision will cause further hurt
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Health Minister's refusal to order a public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening failures will hurt affected women, despite findings from Professor Sir Frank Atherton's review.
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: McGrath: Cervical screening public inquiry decision will cause further hurt (opens in a new tab)
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Denial of public inquiry into cervical screening scandal fails those impacted, says McAllister
Alliance's Nuala McAllister MLA says refusing a full public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal fails those affected, after the Atherton Report was published. She has tabled an urgent oral question asking the Health Minister to explain his rationale to the Assembly.
Health Issue: Atherton Report and decision against a statutory cervical screening inquiry Original release: Denial of public inquiry into cervical screening scandal fails those impacted, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Latest reports on Irish Language Strategy ‘a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach’ by Gordon Lyons – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach after reports that his department will not produce an Irish language strategy during this mandate. He says the DUP is attacking the language to win back support from hardline…
Disability and equality Issue: Department for Communities delay on Irish language strategy Original release: Latest reports on Irish Language Strategy ‘a deliberate, provocative and intolerant approach’ by Gordon Lyons – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Why We Are Marching For Lough Neagh
People Before Profit calls for a mass march for Lough Neagh on Sunday 17 May, starting at The Batter Bar and ending at Ardboe High Cross, citing toxic algae blooms, pollution from intensive farming and sewage, and unsafe drinking water. It is held 40 years after a 1980s march against lignite mining.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Why We Are Marching For Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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TUV responds to King’s Speech
TUV leader Jim Allister, speaking from Westminster, says the King's Speech was surreal given the government's position, claims the PM's plans would bring the UK closer to the EU, and says the speech offered nothing new to restore confidence in the government.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: King's Speech 2026 reaction from Westminster Original release: TUV responds to King’s Speech (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister: Musgrave Park ‘Mega Clinic’ life changing for long-waiting patients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes a weekend 'Mega Clinic' at Musgrave Park Hospital for adult patients awaiting a first spinal appointment, saying it will review around 123 long-waiting patients and cut waiting times by 11 weeks. He calls for recurrent funding to sustain such projects.
Health Issue: Musgrave Park Mega Clinic for spinal patients weekend Original release: Health Minister: Musgrave Park ‘Mega Clinic’ life changing for long-waiting patients (opens in a new tab)
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Behind every figure is a person as NI drug-related deaths continue to rise
UUP Deputy Leader and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong responds to NISRA's annual drug-related death figures, which show 251 deaths registered in 2024, and says the rising trend reflects a collective failure, criticising the drugs taskforce for inaction.
Health Issue: NISRA annual drug-related deaths statistics 2024 Original release: Behind every figure is a person as NI drug-related deaths continue to rise (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must recognise real issues facing homecare – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to fulfil his pledge for real Living Wage pay for care workers and to produce a comprehensive plan that improves and future‑proofs homecare services, ahead of a Sinn Féin motion in the Assembly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister real Living Wage for care workers Original release: Health Minister must recognise real issues facing homecare – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Starmer in hopeless denial
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP says Keir Starmer is deluded to think closer alignment with the EU is the answer, arguing it would impose foreign laws on the whole UK and cost large financial contributions. He says Brexit was a democratic instruction Starmer has always wanted to defy.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Starmer in hopeless denial (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to act quickly on autism provision ahead of an Assembly motion tomorrow. She cites long assessment waits, a postcode lottery in respite services, and calls for a plan to cut waiting lists and deliver the Autism Strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on autism services and support Original release: Minister must urgently outline plans to better autism services and provide support for struggling families, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson comments on election results across GB
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says voters across Great Britain punished Labour over immigration, pay and delivery, and that SNP and Plaid Cymru gains do not advance constitutional change. He also attacks Sinn Fein's repeated Irish unity timelines.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Great Britain election results May 2026 Original release: Robinson comments on election results across GB (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader on Election Results in Great Britain
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA says unionism remains strong across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after the mainland elections, and calls on the Labour Government to listen and rebuild trust before the King's Speech. He also urges Northern Ireland voters to back the UUP at the next election.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Great Britain election results May 2026 Original release: Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader on Election Results in Great Britain (opens in a new tab)
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Election results send a huge message of hope, opportunity and change – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill welcomes the SNP and Plaid Cymru election results, saying they point to a shift towards independence and self-determination. She says she looks forward to working with John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth on constitutional change.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SNP and Plaid Cymru success in 2026 Scottish and Welsh elections Original release: Election results send a huge message of hope, opportunity and change – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language Policy: AN GHAEILGE FAOI BHLÁTH NÓ FAOI BHAGAIRT?
People Before Profit says it supports the Irish language movement and the right of people across Ireland, North and South, to live fully through Irish. It argues partition divides Irish speakers and calls for uniting Gaeltacht, non-Gaeltacht, urban and rural communities into one movement.
Disability and equality Original release: Irish Language Policy: AN GHAEILGE FAOI BHLÁTH NÓ FAOI BHAGAIRT? (opens in a new tab)
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Safe access zones law working as intended
The Green Party welcomes a judgment upholding Northern Ireland's Safe Access Zones legislation, saying the courts have confirmed the law is lawful and proportionate and protects people accessing abortion services. Cllr Groogan says the law is working as intended.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Supreme Court judgment on Safe Access Zones law Original release: Safe access zones law working as intended (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 May 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston: Answers expose reality of Stormont “safeguards”
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Executive Office answers on an X post promoting Michelle O'Neill's Easter Rising commemoration attendance show joint agreement with the deputy First Minister, and criticises the lack of cost details for her travel.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: Executive X post promoting Michelle O'Neill's Easter Rising commemoration attendance Original release: Gaston: Answers expose reality of Stormont “safeguards” (opens in a new tab)