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5,195 releases
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McGuigan welcomes hospice funding but calls for a sustainable model in the future
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes £1.6million in funding for hospices across the north, but urges the Health Minister to establish a sustainable funding model for all hospices. He says palliative care should be fully funded by the Department of Health rather than relying on charities and…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency hospice funding announcement Original release: McGuigan welcomes hospice funding but calls for a sustainable model in the future (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Welcomes Hospice Funding but Calls for Long-Term Solution
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes £1.1 million for Northern Ireland's adult hospices and £500,000 for the Children's Hospice, but says repeated emergency funding shows a sustainable long-term model is needed. She cites Department of Health funding covering only about £10.2 million…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency hospice funding announcement Original release: Dodds Welcomes Hospice Funding but Calls for Long-Term Solution (opens in a new tab)
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More to be gained by working together north and south – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe, a member of the NSIPA executive committee, says north-south cooperation on healthcare has much to gain, citing paediatric oncology after the two-day NSIPA plenary session. He also calls for clarity and security on future PEACEPLUS funding, which has not yet been decided.
Health Issue: North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association plenary session on paediatric cancer and PEACEPLUS Original release: More to be gained by working together north and south – Seán Crowe TD (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls on the Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland to stop citing "further judgments" and issue clear guidance after the Supreme Court's Dillon ruling, following the Great Britain commission's updated guidance and revised Code of Practice.
Disability and equality Issue: Equality and Human Rights Commission updated guidance and revised Code of Practice for services Original release: Lockhart: Equality bodies cannot keep hiding behind “awaiting further… (opens in a new tab)
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Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -…
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says the cancellation of the Carlingford Ferry for 2026 is a huge setback for South Down tourism and local businesses, criticises the lack of support from tourism agencies and the Department for the Economy, and urges that the ferry and the Narrow Water Bridge can coexist.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Carlingford Ferry suspension for 2026 Original release: Loss of Carlingford Ferry a major blow to South Down Tourism -… (opens in a new tab)
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Rachel Reeves great summer giveaway needs careful study
UUP MLA Steve Aiken urges close scrutiny of the Chancellor's summer measures, including VAT cuts on children's activities and food and tariff changes on over 100 essential food items entering GB. He questions whether Windsor Framework rules would allow similar savings in Northern Ireland and wants…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's summer cost-of-living support measures announcement Original release: Rachel Reeves great summer giveaway needs careful study (opens in a new tab)
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Protecting the environment should be a collective effort, says Blair, on Biodiversity Day
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls for a collective political effort to protect the environment on Biodiversity Day, after visiting Divis and the Black Mountain with the National Trust. He backs DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's nature recovery work and urges support from other…
Environment and climate Original release: Protecting the environment should be a collective effort, says Blair, on Biodiversity Day (opens in a new tab)
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Temporary help welcome, but bigger issues must be tackled: Bradley
DUP East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley welcomes Chancellor's temporary measures to ease summer costs for families and hospitality businesses, but says they do not address the wider need for a long-term plan that lowers the tax burden and rewards work.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Chancellor's summer cost-of-living support measures announcement Original release: Temporary help welcome, but bigger issues must be tackled: Bradley (opens in a new tab)
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PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly calls on the PSNI and Policing Federation to listen to Catholic, Nationalist and Republican communities and other under-represented groups, responding to the Federation chairman's annual conference speech. He says 50-50 recruitment should be explored as part of an…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Federation chairman's annual conference speech on PSNI recruitment Original release: PSNI and Policing Federation need to listen to under-represented sections of our communities – Kelly (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes a National Audit Office report on the Planning Appeals Commission, saying it confirms long-known delays and backlogs. He commends Planning Minister Kimmins's bid to the Transformation Board on 'Hear and Report' cases and urges the Justice Minister to speed up…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Boylan welcomes Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission report (opens in a new tab)
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McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn condemns Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee's Dáil remarks comparing calls for a North and north west passport office with wasteful public spending, saying the comparison is disgraceful and insulting to citizens.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: McEntee Dáil remarks on passport office versus public spending waste Original release: McEntee remarks on Northern passport office disgraceful and deeply out of touch – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (opens in a new tab)
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Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett
North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who chairs the Assembly's Economy Committee, says a Northern Ireland Audit Office report exposes failures in the planning system and calls for reform. He cites planning appeals averaging 73 weeks and a Planning Appeals Commission lacking statutory targets and…
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on planning system failures Original release: Planning System Failing Northern Ireland – Brett (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Millions wasted on deliberate fires while public services struggle
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the cost of responding to deliberate grass and gorse fires running into millions after Chief Fire Officer Aidan Jennings's Health Committee evidence should shock the public. He calls for the term 'wildfire' to be dropped, saying the…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Chief Fire Officer evidence on costs of deliberate fires to Health Committee Original release: McGrath: Millions wasted on deliberate fires while public services struggle (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome move, but where was it weeks ago? Armstrong responds to fuel duty announcement
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA welcomes the UK Government's fuel duty package, including the temporary red diesel duty cut for farmers, but says it came too late. She calls the measures a modest, belated response and vows to press the Labour Government for a fair deal for farmers…
Economy and employment Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Government red diesel duty cut for farmers announcement Original release: Welcome move, but where was it weeks ago? Armstrong responds to fuel duty announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport
UUP infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is not giving public transport enough priority, after Translink warned of possible bus and rail service cuts and reduced concessionary fares. He blames years of underfunding and calls on the Minister to work…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Translink considering service cuts and fare discount removal Original release: Bus and rail cuts a direct result of Minister’s failure to prioritise public transport (opens in a new tab)
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Government Fuel Package is Smoke and Mirrors for NI Farmers: Butler critiques latest Labour Government announcement
UUP agriculture spokesperson and AERA Committee Chair Robbie Butler MLA says the UK Government's red diesel duty cut is 'smoke and mirrors' for farmers, as many diversified and contracting activities no longer qualify. He calls for temporary wider red diesel use during the fuel crisis and urgent…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government red diesel duty cut for farmers announcement Original release: Government Fuel Package is Smoke and Mirrors for NI Farmers: Butler critiques latest Labour Government announcement (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes progress on the Mother and Baby Institutions Bill in the Assembly, saying it will provide a framework for a public inquiry into institutions where women and girls were held. She says victims' priority is exposing the abuse they endured and criticises…
Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Institutions Bill progress in the Assembly Original release: Ní Chuilín welcomes further progress on public inquiry into Mother and Baby institutions (opens in a new tab)
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Meaningful engagement needed between Health Minister and BMA – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls on the Health Minister to urgently hold meaningful negotiations with the BMA to avert planned hospital doctor strikes, citing the 3.5% pay offer rejection and warning of added pressure on emergency services.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: Meaningful engagement needed between Health Minister and BMA – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes progress on Graduated Driver Licensing, with changes to how new drivers obtain licences expected by October and new tests beginning in April 2027. She says the reforms aim to reduce serious road traffic accidents involving new and young drivers.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Graduated Driver Licensing progress following Infrastructure Committee meeting Original release: Changes to how new drivers obtain licenses will improve road safety – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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British government must deliver for local farmers – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard urges the British Government to create a distinct, protected agricultural funding package for Northern Ireland, arguing the current system is shortchanging local farmers and rural communities since changes made in 2021 to post-Brexit support.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: British government must deliver for local farmers – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)