Latest releases
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3,430 releases
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Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -…
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says Health Minister figures show over 72,000 recorded incidents of abuse against health and social care staff over five years, and says the true number is higher. She calls for further information on alcohol, substances, mental illness, time off work and…
Health Issue: Health Minister figures on abuse against health and social care staff Original release: Over 72,000 incidents of abuse against health and social care staff -… (opens in a new tab)
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North Down TUV demands accountability from local council
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson accuses Ards and North Down Council of poor governance after it funded a first-time Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor alongside the Ulster Pipe Band Championships. He says a formal complaint has been lodged, demands an Equality Impact Assessment, and questions why…
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Fleadh Fringe event in Bangor clashing with Ulster Pipe Band Championships Original release: North Down TUV demands accountability from local council (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs a campaign by Foras na Gaeilge for TG4 to gain formal status as a public broadcaster in the North and move to Freeview Channel 8. She welcomes Minister Ian Murray's pledge to examine the issue but says progress must come soon.
Disability and equality Issue: Foras na Gaeilge campaign for TG4 recognition and Freeview Channel 8 placement Original release: Hanna calls for recognition of TG4 in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler
UUP Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA says Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address offered warm words but not the action needed to restore farmers' confidence. He calls for concrete progress on bovine TB, ammonia regulation and farm transfer, rather than pilots and timelines.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Minister Andrew Muir's Oxford Farming Conference address Original release: Farmers Need Action, Not Speeches, to Restore Confidence says Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to urgently set out a dedicated women's health plan, citing rising gynaecology waiting lists and long delays for women and girls with endometriosis. She urges specialist services with clear diagnosis and treatment targets.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Action to deliver better outcomes for women’s health is urgently needed – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to urgently explain how gynaecology waiting lists will be cleared, citing around 60,000 women reported by the RCOG and no timetable for a Women's Health Action Plan.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Women being routinely failed by gynaecology waiting lists, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes over £1m in active travel funding from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for greenway projects in Belfast, Derry and Strabane, and Newry, Mourne and Down councils. He says the projects will provide cleaner connections and support health and the economy.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Active travel greenway funding for three councils from Infrastructure Minister Original release: Boylan welcomes active travel funding for greenway projects (opens in a new tab)
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As Stonewall nears financial ruin why is Stormont still sending it out money?
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls on the Finance Minister, First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain why departmental ties with Stonewall continue and whether they will end them, citing its reported £906,000 deficit and written answers on civil service membership and training payments.
Public finance and taxation Disability and equality Issue: Stonewall reported £906,000 deficit and Stormont funding ties Original release: As Stonewall nears financial ruin why is Stormont still sending it out money? (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong urges benefit claimants to seek advice as almost 13,000 at financial risk
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges people who received a Department for Communities letter about moving to Universal Credit to get advice, citing figures she obtained showing almost 13,000 have not yet claimed after a mandatory migration notice.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Universal Credit mandatory migration notices with almost 13,000 yet to claim Original release: Armstrong urges benefit claimants to seek advice as almost 13,000 at financial risk (opens in a new tab)
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Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell criticises the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for advocating gender self-identification after the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex. He calls for the Executive Office to hold the Commission to account and says the Health Minister will be held…
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission gender self-identification advocacy Original release: Unelected Commission Pushing Self-ID Agenda in Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin writes to David Lammy MP concerning hunger strikers’ health and wellbeing
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says all Sinn Féin parliamentarians have signed a letter to Justice Secretary David Lammy urging him to resolve the hunger strike by eight prisoners in Britain, now at 47 days, and to engage directly with them and their legal representatives.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: Sinn Féin writes to David Lammy MP concerning hunger strikers’ health and wellbeing (opens in a new tab)
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Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency to ensure breastfeeding mothers get support, citing reports of a mother who had to pay for help and PHA research showing many mothers stop early due to lack of support.
Health Issue: Reports of mother paying for breastfeeding support in Northern Ireland Original release: Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes DAERA's announcement of a support payment for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, but urges the department to work closely with fishing families on a lasting plan to rebuild the lough's commercial fishing sector.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA financial support for Lough Neagh eel fishermen Original release: Support welcome but collaboration needed with eel fishermen – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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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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Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls the Labour Government's proposals to offer free TV licences to benefit claimants a slap in the face for working people. He says the plans would shift the burden onto working households, questions how they would be funded, and urges Labour to focus on easing pressures…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Labour proposals for free TV licences for benefit claimants Original release: Campbell: Free TV licence plans a slap in the face for working people (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty criticises Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for confirming no Department for Communities funding for Belfast City Council's Hardship Fund in 2025/26. He says the decision will hit projects such as school breakfast clubs and calls on the Executive to take…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Hardship Fund no Department for Communities funding 2025/26 Original release: Doherty slams Lyons over hardship funding (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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Lyons: Make the Call Wraparound Service generates over £63million in…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons hails the Make the Call Wraparound Service for delivering over £63million in unclaimed benefits last year, including £7.9million in Pension Credit and £16million in Attendance Allowance, and urges people who may be entitled to use the free service.
Social security and welfare Original release: Lyons: Make the Call Wraparound Service generates over £63million in… (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (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)