Latest releases
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2,981 releases
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Durkan: NI tenants left behind on damp and mould protections
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA criticises the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for inaction on damp and mould and calls for Awaab's Law-style protections in Northern Ireland, citing around 14,500 Housing Executive reports and problems in temporary accommodation.
Housing Original release: Durkan: NI tenants left behind on damp and mould protections (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health service adrift as staffing gaps persist
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says latest Health and Social Care workforce statistics show vacancies stuck around 6,000 for three years, with recruitment replacing leavers. He calls on the Health Minister to set a date for introducing safe staffing legislation.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care workforce vacancy statistics February 2026 Original release: McGrath: Health service adrift as staffing gaps persist (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan offers condolences following A5 death
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan offers condolences to the family of a man in his 30s killed in a collision on the A5 at Garvaghy, thanks the emergency services, and calls for improved road safety and delivery of the long-promised A5 upgrade.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fatal crash on the A5 road Monday night Original release: McCrossan offers condolences following A5 death (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds: Children’s Safety Must Come Before Political Ideology
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the UK Medicines Authority’s move to halt the King’s College puberty‑blocker study, saying it underlines the need for safeguarding vulnerable children and criticises other parties for putting ideology ahead of safety.
Health Issue: UK Medicines Authority pauses King’s College puberty blocker trial Original release: Dodds: Children’s Safety Must Come Before Political Ideology (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must provide clarity on future of emergency general surgery at SWAH
Sinn Féin representatives joined a Stormont protest by Save Our Acute Services over the withdrawal of emergency surgery from South West Acute Hospital in 2022. Pat Cullen MP calls the continuing lack of clarity unacceptable, while Jemma Dolan MLA urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to set a…
Health Issue: Save Our Acute Services Stormont protest over SWAH surgery Original release: Health Minister must provide clarity on future of emergency general surgery at SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP backs SOAS Stormont protest
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, speaking after attending a Save Our Acute Services protest at Stormont, says Fermanagh residents are angered by losing surgical cover at the South West Acute Hospital and calls for the Health Minister and Western Trust to revisit the situation.
Health Issue: Save Our Acute Services Stormont protest over SWAH surgery Original release: SDLP backs SOAS Stormont protest (opens in a new tab)
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MLAs Pay Rise: Immoral, Unjustified, and an Insult to Every Worker and Vulnerable Child
Aontú calls the proposed 27% MLA pay rise immoral and unjustifiable, contrasting it with 3–5% increases for teachers, nurses and other public sector workers. It also demands the rise be stopped immediately, citing SEND and EA transport cuts.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: MLAs Pay Rise: Immoral, Unjustified, and an Insult to Every Worker and Vulnerable Child (opens in a new tab)
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Government recklessly rushing to pass International Protection Bill despite glaring gaps – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Matt Carthy TD criticises the Government for guillotining the International Protection Bill in the Dáil next week, saying it denies TDs scrutiny of gaps in the legislation and opposition amendments, including a community impact assessment for IPAS centres and a cap on…
Immigration International affairs Issue: Guillotine of International Protection Bill in the Dáil Original release: Government recklessly rushing to pass International Protection Bill despite glaring gaps – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane welcomes Glider progress after speaking to Infrastructure Minister
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes progress on the North–South Glider extension after speaking to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, noting Full Business Case approval in December and groundworks expected this autumn. He says the Antrim Road route gives clarity to North Belfast residents and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Rapid Transport 2 Glider extension progress update Original release: Finucane welcomes Glider progress after speaking to Infrastructure Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Step change in flooding interventions for Six Mile Water required – Kearney
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls for a strategic step change in flood interventions for homes near Antrim's Six Mile Water after Storm Chandra. He urges Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to speed up the Flood Risk Feasibility Study and to order a NI Water review of…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Storm Chandra flooding in Antrim Town Six Mile Water Original release: Step change in flooding interventions for Six Mile Water required – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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New framework welcome but statutory duty of candour needed to ensure openness and transparency, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes the new Being Open Framework for Health and Social Care, due to start on 1 April, but says only a statutory duty of candour will guarantee the openness and transparency the service needs.
Health Issue: Being Open Framework for Health and Social Care publication Original release: New framework welcome but statutory duty of candour needed to ensure openness and transparency, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Martin: Planning Enforcement Integrity Cannot Be Optional
DUP MLA Peter Martin says serious questions remain about the unauthorised billboard erected near the Egyptian Arch in Newry, urging the Minister to reveal who is responsible, ensure equal enforcement of planning rules and address public‑safety risks.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Egyptian Arch Newry billboard Sinn Féin FOI disclosure Original release: Martin: Planning Enforcement Integrity Cannot Be Optional (opens in a new tab)
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New waterfront plans will help to continue with the positive transformation of Derry – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson says proposed waterfront plans for Derry will be a game-changer and urges the public to comment on the £45 million Derry City Central Riverfront project, which would add cycle and walking routes and community spaces along The Quay.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Derry City Central Riverfront £45 million waterfront consultation Original release: New waterfront plans will help to continue with the positive transformation of Derry – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds and Little-Pengelly press Royal Mail for urgent action on…
DUP MLAs Diane Dodds and Emma Little-Pengelly say they pressed Royal Mail leadership in Northern Ireland for prompt fixes to late and missing post in Banbridge and Lisburn. Royal Mail has pledged 18 new delivery staff, overtime and agency cover, and the MLAs will raise missed health appointments…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Banbridge and Lisburn postal delivery delays and Royal Mail staffing shortages Original release: Dodds and Little-Pengelly press Royal Mail for urgent action on… (opens in a new tab)
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Puberty blockers trial never justified and should be permanently…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds says Health Minister's position on the puberty blocker trial defies logic, accusing the Ulster Unionist Party of reversing its support within 24 hours. She calls for the trial to be permanently ended, not just paused.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland withdrawal from puberty blocker trial Original release: Puberty blockers trial never justified and should be permanently… (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Challenges First Minister Over Veterans Support
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the First Minister's reply to her Question Time question on veterans was dismissive and offensive. She calls for devolved services such as housing, health and employment support to better recognise the barriers veterans and their families face from repeated deployments and…
Health Issue: First Minister's Question Time reply on veterans support Original release: Dodds Challenges First Minister Over Veterans Support (opens in a new tab)
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Consistent mental health data needed to support those struggling – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says the lack of accurate, consistent mental‑health data in the north hampers service planning and delivery, and calls for a single, standardised data system to help health trusts better plan and support those in need.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion for single mental health data system Original release: Consistent mental health data needed to support those struggling – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne challenges Kimmins on pothole pandemic
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne says a Assembly motion he proposed, which passed, calls on the Infrastructure Minister to tackle a worsening road network crisis, citing over 127,000 surface defects logged in 2025 and a £3 billion maintenance backlog, and urges permanent repairs and tighter…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly motion on Northern Ireland road maintenance and potholes Original release: Dunne challenges Kimmins on pothole pandemic (opens in a new tab)
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Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers
TUV equality spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's reversal on Northern Ireland's role in the puberty blocker trial but says he must explain how the decision was made and reversed. Party colleague Timothy Gaston is seeking an urgent Assembly answer from the Minister, and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland withdrawal from puberty blocker trial Original release: Welcome Nesbitt u-turn but major questions remain on his approach to puberty blockers (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein denial over Newry billboard collapses as FOI shows Department contacted party office
TUV councillor Keith Ratcliffe says FOI documents show the Department for Infrastructure contacted Sinn Féin about an illegal Egyptian Arch billboard in Newry, contradicting Sinn Féin's denial in the Assembly, and asks why the law is not enforced against it.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Egyptian Arch Newry billboard Sinn Féin FOI disclosure Original release: Sinn Fein denial over Newry billboard collapses as FOI shows Department contacted party office (opens in a new tab)