Latest releases
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4,397 releases
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Health Minister's Regional Plan Delivers 46% Increase in Breast Cancer Assessments – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes figures showing a 46% rise in patients seen by breast cancer specialists after urgent referrals in the quarter ending December 2025, up from 2,699 to 3,902. He credits Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's regional breast assessment scheme and welcomes…
Health Issue: Breast cancer urgent referral waiting time statistics published April 2026 Original release: Health Minister's Regional Plan Delivers 46% Increase in Breast Cancer Assessments – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Wildfires Plan will protect communities, nature and the Mournes, says McMurray
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray calls the Wildfires Action Plan to 2030, published by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, a timely intervention for the countryside after around 200 wildfires. He highlights rewetting peatlands and the Wildfire Recovery Project led by the Pau Costa Foundation in at-risk areas…
Environment and climate Issue: Wildfires Action Plan to 2030 publication by DAERA Original release: Wildfires Plan will protect communities, nature and the Mournes, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
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Breast cancer patients being badly let down by DoH, says McAllister
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister accuses the Department of Health of failing breast cancer patients after figures showed only 6% of urgent suspected-cancer referrals were seen within 14 days. She urges the Health Minister to set out a workforce and capacity plan rather than publicising his own record.
Health Issue: Breast cancer urgent referral waiting time statistics published April 2026 Original release: Breast cancer patients being badly let down by DoH, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin submits recommendations for new Cancer Strategy to Minister for Health – David Cullinane TD
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane TD says the party has sent the Health Minister 42 recommendations for a new cancer strategy, citing regional access gaps, scanner and bed shortfalls, and calling for ringfenced funding and all-island cooperation.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Sinn Féin submission of recommendations for new cancer strategy Original release: Sinn Féin submits recommendations for new Cancer Strategy to Minister for Health – David Cullinane TD (opens in a new tab)
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Barr welcomes Council Motion on women’s health and praises Minister Nesbitt’s clear action plan for Gynaecology services
UUP Councillor Alan Barr welcomes Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's motion on women's health after Endometriosis Awareness Month and praises Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's £3.5 million ring-fenced gynaecology plan, with targets of a 40% waiting list cut by March 2027.
Health Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim Council women's health motion on gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Barr welcomes Council Motion on women’s health and praises Minister Nesbitt’s clear action plan for Gynaecology services (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate and restore the cancelled special school summer schemes, urging the Executive to provide nursing support and reverse the decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance in bid to recall Assembly over cancellation of special school summer schemes
Alliance's Eóin Tennyson, Deputy Leader, says his party has submitted a petition to recall the Assembly over the Education Authority's decision to cancel summer schemes at special schools. He calls on the Education and Health Ministers to return and set out how they will fix the problem.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Alliance in bid to recall Assembly over cancellation of special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Irish government must end geo-blocking – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard urges Dublin to end RTÉ's blocking of its content for viewers in the north, citing the national team's international match, and says a Sinn Féin Dáil bill would secure all-island broadcast access.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Irish government must end geo-blocking – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland v Czechia: Government must act to end the blocking of audiences in the North – Pearse Doherty TD
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD challenges Tánaiste Simon Harris to end geo-blocking of RTÉ content for viewers in the North, ahead of Ireland's match against Czechia. He cites his party's Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill 2025 as a way to overcome licensing barriers.
Constitutional affairs Issue: RTÉ geo-blocking of Ireland v Czechia match in the North Original release: Ireland v Czechia: Government must act to end the blocking of audiences in the North – Pearse Doherty TD (opens in a new tab)
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OVER £17 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTOR FOR MATERNITY…
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says £17.4 million in extension-of-time payments to the contractor for the new Maternity Hospital in Belfast is public money requiring prudence, and warns the Children's Hospital project may face further costs after £1.4 million in similar payments.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Ministerial replies on Maternity Hospital contractor extension-of-time costs Original release: OVER £17 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTOR FOR MATERNITY… (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan calls on Health Minister to review funding process for Women’s Aid
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan asks the Health Minister to revisit the withdrawn core grant for Women's Aid, which he says was cut by half in 2023 and then removed entirely in 2024. He raised it at the Health Committee.
Justice and policing Health Original release: McGuigan calls on Health Minister to review funding process for Women’s Aid (opens in a new tab)
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Murray calls for pilot drug testing facilities at Belfast events to improve public safety
Alliance councillor Micky Murray says a motion he brought to Belfast City Council seeking pilot drug-checking services at major city events and festivals has cleared its first stage. He argues such testing would help health authorities warn the public about dangerous substances and reduce…
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on drug testing at city events Original release: Murray calls for pilot drug testing facilities at Belfast events to improve public safety (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges Education and Health Ministers to act urgently to save Summer schemes at special schools
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison calls on the Education and Health Ministers to urgently secure a joint funding package so summer schemes can run in special schools this year, after the Education Authority cancelled schemes over healthcare concerns.
Education Health Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Mathison urges Education and Health Ministers to act urgently to save Summer schemes at special schools (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly: Executive must provide clarity on Altnagelvin Hospital ED redevelopment
SDLP Waterside Councillor Martin Reilly says the Executive must provide clarity on the Altnagelvin Hospital Emergency Department redevelopment, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirmed full works would cost £72.8m and depend on a multi-year budget and a 10-year capital plan.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Altnagelvin Hospital Emergency Department redevelopment cost and funding dependency Original release: Reilly: Executive must provide clarity on Altnagelvin Hospital ED redevelopment (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Public deserve to know money wasted on free hospital car parking delays
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the public should be informed of the expense incurred by the Executive’s repeated postponements of free hospital car parking, and notes an amendment obliges the Health Department to issue a cost report.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Delays to free hospital car parking implementation Original release: McGrath: Public deserve to know money wasted on free hospital car parking delays (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to tackle spiralling rents across NI, says Armstrong
Alliance Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Communities Minister to act urgently on spiralling private rents, citing a report that rents rose an average of 51% over five years. She urges restrictions on rent increase frequency, a ban on inflation-busting hikes and a cap on…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Reported rise in Northern Ireland rents over five years Original release: Urgent action needed to tackle spiralling rents across NI, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister Can't Be Trusted on Extent of Defective Block in Derry
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of dismissing a wider defective block problem in the North too readily, and says the Derry and Strabane council area's full extent remains unknown. He calls for assurances of government support for potentially…
Housing Local government Issue: Communities Minister comments on defective block extent in Derry and Strabane Original release: Communities Minister Can't Be Trusted on Extent of Defective Block in Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must drive down ‘out of control’ rent prices – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to act on rising rents after new figures showed average rents continuing to climb. He says the minister has failed to buy any of the 600 homes funded for temporary accommodation and should prioritise delivering social and…
Housing Issue: New figures showing continued rise in average rents Original release: Communities Minister must drive down ‘out of control’ rent prices – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan criticises DUP for ignoring scientific evidence in blocking Minimum Unit Pricing
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan criticises the DUP for blocking Minimum Unit Pricing legislation for alcohol despite scientific and medical evidence. He says MUP targets the cheapest, strongest drinks and calls it a missed opportunity to save lives.
Health Issue: Minimum unit pricing for alcohol blocked in Executive Original release: McGuigan criticises DUP for ignoring scientific evidence in blocking Minimum Unit Pricing (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to host United Ireland public meeting in Cork City – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion announces a public meeting in Cork on 8 May at the Clayton Hotel to discuss what a United Ireland should look like. She calls for EU institutions to engage with the Irish unity debate and to set out what supports they could offer after any successful referendum.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Sinn Féin to host United Ireland public meeting in Cork City – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)