Latest releases
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3,431 releases
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EU must continue direct funding of Peace Projects in Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy presses the SEUPB on post-2027 funding for Peace Plus, warning no future money has been ringfenced from Brussels and urging the EU to keep the three-pillar model. He also calls for smaller grassroots groups to receive support.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Peace Plus funding beyond current programme period after EU extension proposal Original release: EU must continue direct funding of Peace Projects in Ireland – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney calls for improved GP services in South Antrim
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says GP services across South Antrim are inconsistent and access is near impossible in some urban areas, calling on the Health Minister for considerable investment and targeted support. He links poor access to pressure on Antrim Area Hospital's emergency department.
Health Original release: Kearney calls for improved GP services in South Antrim (opens in a new tab)
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A full-time thrombectomy service will help stroke patients in North – McGuigan
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson and North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to introduce a 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service, noting it is still only available 8am to 5pm despite a 2022 Stroke Action Plan target of end-2024.
Health Issue: Assembly debate on 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service in the North Original release: A full-time thrombectomy service will help stroke patients in North – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces plans to tackle welfare fraud and error
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a drive to tackle benefit fraud and error, citing recommendations from a specialist working group, including staff training and technology use. He warns some measures depend on funding bids and seeks Executive support for initial investment.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Department benefit fraud and error working group recommendations Original release: Minister announces plans to tackle welfare fraud and error (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: 24/7 cross-border Thrombectomy Service would save lives
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath calls on the Health Minister to explore a co-funded 24/7 cross-border thrombectomy service in Belfast and set a realistic timeline, after a 2024 deadline was missed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service in the North Original release: McGrath: 24/7 cross-border Thrombectomy Service would save lives (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Communities Minister has his priorities all wrong
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Communities Minister should address housing stress, poverty and support for vulnerable people rather than running a new welfare fraud advertising campaign and extra fraud measures. He argues most claimants are genuine and that…
Social security and welfare Issue: Communities Department benefit fraud and error working group recommendations Original release: Durkan: Communities Minister has his priorities all wrong (opens in a new tab)
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The Window of Opportunity for Minimum Unit Pricing Legislation Is Closing
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says minimum unit pricing for alcohol is in jeopardy because DUP Executive ministers are blocking the proposal from reaching an Assembly debate. He cites the Health Minister's warning that he may have to explain to the Assembly why legislation before 6…
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt's minimum unit pricing legislation Executive blockage Original release: The Window of Opportunity for Minimum Unit Pricing Legislation Is Closing (opens in a new tab)
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ADHD services must be improved – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says ADHD services in the north are inadequate, with access depending on location, age and ability to pay privately. Ahead of a party motion, she calls on the Health Minister to work with trusts to set up a regional, uniform service.
Health Disability and equality Original release: ADHD services must be improved – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches Warm Healthy Homes Strategy for Northern Ireland
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026-2036 to tackle fuel poverty, saying it has Executive backing and will be paired with a £150million Warm Healthy Homes Fund next year.
Social security and welfare Housing Issue: Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026-2036 launch Original release: Lyons launches Warm Healthy Homes Strategy for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the £6.5 million allocated to the Department for Communities for disability home adaptations. He calls for better support and oversight so adaptations meet specification, and urges the Minister to create a dedicated fund for accessibility in public and community…
Disability and equality Housing Issue: £6.5 million Department for Communities disability adaptations funding Original release: Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding (opens in a new tab)
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Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the launch of a Sentencing Review by Justice Minister Naomi Long, which will examine animal welfare offences and environmental crime. He says stronger penalties are needed for those who harm animals or damage the environment, and cites pollution incidents in South…
Justice and policing Environment and climate Issue: Justice Minister's Sentencing Review on animal welfare and environmental crime Original release: Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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New plan must support those struggling with rising energy costs – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the publication of the Executive's Fuel Poverty Strategy, which aims to support low-income households, those facing high energy costs and pensioners. He calls on the minister to finalise and strengthen the plan to tackle poverty.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Publication of the Fuel Poverty Strategy Original release: New plan must support those struggling with rising energy costs – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds says recent figures on ambulance handover delays and emergency department waits show Northern Ireland's health system is under intense pressure, citing handovers over 16 hours and median admitted-patient waits of 13 hours 36 minutes. She has requested further…
Health Issue: Latest Department of Health emergency care waiting time statistics Original release: Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA questions the Department of Education's failure to record data on children with special educational needs placed on reduced school timetables. She says she will raise it with the Education Minister and press for clear data collection processes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education no data on SEN reduced timetables Original release: Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Slow progress cannot hide a broken system
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says marginal gains in the latest emergency care waiting figures do not reflect conditions at the Ulster Hospital, where he claims patients face delays of up to 15 hours. He calls on the Health Minister to stop managing the message and take urgent…
Health Issue: Latest Department of Health emergency care waiting time statistics Original release: McGrath: Slow progress cannot hide a broken system (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart: Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays
DUP MP Carla Lockhart warns that new Radiotherapy UK figures showing only 30.1% of Northern Ireland cancer patients treated on time expose chronic delays. She calls for free travel support for patients, ring-fenced Barnett consequentials for cancer care, and a response from the Health Minister.
Health Issue: Radiotherapy UK cancer treatment timeliness figures for Northern Ireland Original release: Lockhart: Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays (opens in a new tab)
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Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty
UUP Communities Spokesperson and East Belfast MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes recent additional investment in NISEP and calls on the Economy Minister to sustain it and align it with the wider fuel poverty strategy, including renewable biofuel options for rural areas.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Additional investment in Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) Original release: Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna backs removal of two-child welfare cap
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes Commons progress on a Bill to scrap the Universal Credit two-child limit, arguing it has pushed children into poverty and could benefit over 50,000 households in Northern Ireland.
Social security and welfare Issue: Removal of the two-child welfare cap Original release: Hanna backs removal of two-child welfare cap (opens in a new tab)
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More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a more coordinated storm response on the Portaferry Road and A20 ahead of her Stormont adjournment debate. She asks the Department for Infrastructure to set out closure procedures, inter-agency communication and signposting of an alternative…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Storm Bram impact on A20 Portaferry Road and Ards Peninsula Original release: More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing on suicide prevention after confirmation that its mental wellbeing working group has met just once in two years. He points to funding cuts to mental health and suicide prevention strategies, a 31% rise in…
Health Issue: Executive suicide prevention working group meeting frequency confirmed Original release: Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years (opens in a new tab)