Latest releases
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2,486 releases
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The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey warns that eight prisoners in Britain on collective hunger strike face grave risk, and urges Justice Secretary David Lammy to engage with their lawyers. He says Qesser Zuhrah's condition has rapidly worsened and calls for immediate clarity on her health.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh calls for a single all-island health data system to enable comparable healthcare planning, and says the Good Friday Agreement Committee will ask the Health Minister to examine adopting Encompass in the south as an interim measure.
Health Issue: ESRI briefing to Good Friday Agreement Committee on all-island health data Original release: Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be…
Lagan Valley DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Home Office to urgently release hundreds of empty homes it holds across Northern Ireland through Mears Housing, and says the arrangement lacks transparency and accountability.
Housing Immigration Original release: Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be… (opens in a new tab)
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Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says delayed patient discharges have passed 600, citing trust-level figures and a rise of 77 in six weeks. She calls for a senior figure to be given responsibility for the issue and says the Department's current approach has not worked.
Health Issue: Delayed hospital discharges exceed 600 across Northern Ireland trusts Original release: Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals… (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont’s £5 million spin bill
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Executive departments have spent about £5 million on press officers since devolution returned, criticising delayed Assembly answers from the Health Department and calling the spending a diversion from frontline services.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Stormont Executive departments' press officer spending figures since devolution Original release: Stormont’s £5 million spin bill (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong says she is shocked by the first confirmed case of invasive Quagga Mussel in Lower Lough Erne and criticises DAERA for failing to implement robust biosecurity measures. She calls for urgent action to protect waterways, citing gaps in guidance on power-washing and regulation…
Environment and climate Issue: First confirmed Quagga Mussel case in Lower Lough Erne Original release: Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s recent tour of Daisy Hill Hospital, praises staff and reduced waiting lists, and calls for additional long‑term funding, expanded resources and stronger North‑South health cooperation to sustain progress.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visit to Daisy Hill Hospital Original release: Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew presses the Communities Minister to publish the analysis behind cutting funding for housing associations, after new research claimed the move would halve social home numbers, particularly in Belfast and Lisburn.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: New Western Trust chief must engage on SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Councillor Adam Gannon urges the incoming Western Trust chief executive, following Neil Guckian's retirement, to reset relations with local communities. He calls for visits, meetings with campaigners, and proper engagement with the Save Our…
Health Issue: Western Trust chief executive Neil Guckian retirement announcement Original release: Gannon: New Western Trust chief must engage on SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says repeated Executive failures directly contribute to the high number of homeless deaths, reacting to new statistics recording 58 such deaths in 2024. He calls for sustained investment in prevention, housing, mental health and addiction…
Housing Health Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison expresses disappointment to PAC appeal on Tullynagardy Wood Development
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison says he is disappointed that the developer of five proposed houses in Tullynagardy Wood, Newtownards, has appealed to the Planning Appeals Commission after the council's committee unanimously moved to reject the plan. He calls on the council to defend its position firmly…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Tullynagardy Wood five-house development appeal to PAC Original release: Mathison expresses disappointment to PAC appeal on Tullynagardy Wood Development (opens in a new tab)
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Homelessness deaths devastating – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the 58 homeless deaths reported by NISRA are devastating and urges priority action on homelessness, calling for more homes, better funded prevention services and legislation to extend Housing Executive support to at least 60 days.
Housing Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Homelessness deaths devastating – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly
Danny Donnelly MLA, Alliance health spokesperson and Health Committee deputy chair, says patient safety is at risk and urges the Health Minister to act urgently after TERN data showed Northern Ireland has the UK’s highest level of corridor care, calling for swift transformation proposals.
Health Issue: TERN data reveals highest corridor care in NI Original release: Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes describes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at the Oireachtas committee on the Good Friday Agreement as constructive, welcoming his backing for all-island health collaboration and a forthcoming joint health strategy between north and south.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at GFA Committee on healthcare Original release: Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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No way to start the winter period - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says a Written Question response shows 529 inpatients fit to leave were still in hospital on 1 October, and calls for a senior figure to be tasked with resolving delayed discharges before winter pressures worsen.
Health Issue: Written Question response on 529 delayed discharge inpatients in Northern Ireland hospitals Original release: No way to start the winter period - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls the Communities Minister's cut to social housing grant reckless and inhumane amid a supply crisis, citing Simon Community homelessness figures and an NI Audit Office finding, and urges him to reconsider priorities.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to improve neurology services ahead of an Assembly motion, citing long waiting lists and delays in diagnosis and treatment. He calls for an implementation plan for the recommendations of a 2025 neurology services report.
Health Issue: 2025 neurology services report recommendations implementation plan Original release: Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA accuses the Executive of a chaotic budget monitoring round that leaves a £31m shortfall in the health budget, questioning earlier health pay commitments and the delay in reallocating A5 project funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín expresses alarm at projected reduction in social homes
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says an independent review of changes to social housing grant levels projects Belfast social home completions falling from 1,026 to 337. She calls on the Communities Minister to urgently re-engage with housing associations and protect building in areas of greatest…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Ní Chuilín expresses alarm at projected reduction in social homes (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to social housing funding must not impact building of homes – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew warns that changes to social housing funding could cut the number of social homes built, citing an independent review commissioned by the Federation of Housing Associations. He calls on the Communities Minister to urgently re-engage with housing associations and…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Changes to social housing funding must not impact building of homes – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)