Latest releases
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4,076 releases
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Hazzard raises serious concerns over Downe Hospital service reductions
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has raised concerns with the South Eastern Health Trust over reduced services at Downe Hospital on St Patrick's Day, calling for adequate staffing and a holiday contingency strategy.
Health Issue: Downe Hospital service reductions on St Patrick's Day 2026 Original release: Hazzard raises serious concerns over Downe Hospital service reductions (opens in a new tab)
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Women deserve timely, high-quality care at every stage of their lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says women in the north are let down by a health system that dismisses their pain, citing long waits for breast and gynaecology services and endometriosis care. She welcomes an Assembly vote backing a Women's Health Strategy and says her party supports a fully resourced…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on a Women's Health Strategy passed Original release: Women deserve timely, high-quality care at every stage of their lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to move urgently to get the £17 million confirmed by the British government for households reliant on oil to those in need, and to bring forward his proposal without delay.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: Gordon Lyons must get financial support out the door – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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British government’s home heating oil funding ‘an insult to struggling families’ – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard says the British government's £17 million home heating oil support package, worth about £34 per household, 'doesn't even touch the surface' of rising energy costs. He calls for a proper financial support package now and says Sinn Féin will keep pressing the government.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: British government’s home heating oil funding ‘an insult to struggling families’ – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Keep Stormont delay away from underwhelmingly modest heating oil support
TUV leader Jim Allister says government support for heating oil dependent homes is underwhelmingly modest and should have been paid as AME funding overseen by Westminster rather than through Stormont. He warns against means testing that would hurt low income working families and calls for…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: Keep Stormont delay away from underwhelmingly modest heating oil support (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government and Executive failing people on energy support
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP says the Executive has failed households facing high energy costs, criticising its reliance on blaming London and its lack of a workable heating oil support scheme. She says the £17m Northern Ireland share of the UK Government's £53m announcement won't go far enough and…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: British government £17 million home heating oil support package Original release: Hanna: UK Government and Executive failing people on energy support (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party welcomes rural energy support but warns £53m not enough for hard pressed households
UUP cautiously welcomes the £53 million UK rural energy bill support but says it is far too small for struggling households, and expects Northern Ireland households to get most of it given heavy home heating oil use. It urges a universal scheme, a stronger Competition and Markets Authority to…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: £53m UK rural energy bills support announcement Original release: Ulster Unionist Party welcomes rural energy support but warns £53m not enough for hard pressed households (opens in a new tab)
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Executive ministers must now act to ensure NI households don’t miss out on energy support package, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood urges NI Executive ministers to act quickly on a scheme so households are not left out of the UK Government's £53 million heating oil support, arguing that funding should reflect the 68 per cent of NI households reliant on heating oil.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: UK Government £53 million heating oil support for households Original release: Executive ministers must now act to ensure NI households don’t miss out on energy support package, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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MLA Pay Hike a Slap in the Face of Struggling Families
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the 27% MLA pay rise is unjustifiable, accusing Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance of doublespeak after they voted down his amendment to cap rises at CPI inflation. He contrasts the £1.2 million cost with a £300 energy payment for 4,000 households.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: MLA Pay Hike a Slap in the Face of Struggling Families (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education Minister to invest properly in Irish-medium education after Department of Education figures showed a near 400% rise in pupils. He says the growth brings accommodation and curriculum resource shortfalls, and he is bringing forward a law on staffing.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education Irish-medium pupil numbers rise figures Original release: Minister must do more to support ‘rapid’ Irish-medium education growth – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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£81m energy bill funding exposes Economy Minister’s priorities
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett says Economy Committee evidence shows the Permanent Secretary was unaware of details of £81million in energy bill support, and calls on the Economy Minister to deliver the funding.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: £81m energy bill funding exposes Economy Minister’s priorities (opens in a new tab)
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DUP secure emergency meeting to question Minister on £81million…
DUP MLA Phillip Brett welcomes the Economy Committee's agreement to hold an emergency meeting on 16 March to question the Economy Minister and Permanent Secretary on £81million for household energy bills. He says confusion from Department of Finance and Department for Economy statements requires…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: DUP secure emergency meeting to question Minister on £81million… (opens in a new tab)
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Treasury Meeting Points to DfE “Asleep at the Wheel”
DUP Treasury spokesperson Sammy Wilson MP and Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart criticise the Department for Economy for not acting on £81m energy bill support, saying the Economy Minister must bring forward a scheme and engage with the Treasury before incoming Crisis and Resilience Fund consequentials…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: Treasury Meeting Points to DfE “Asleep at the Wheel” (opens in a new tab)
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British government’s approach to the Local Growth Fund is unacceptable and should be reversed – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls on the British Prime Minister to reverse the British government's Local Growth Fund decisions, which she says threaten community and voluntary sector services and jobs, following a meeting with Keir Starmer in Belfast.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: British government Local Growth Fund cuts to community and voluntary services Original release: British government’s approach to the Local Growth Fund is unacceptable and should be reversed – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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1st April MLA pay hike takes the public for fools
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says the MLA pay rise taking effect on 1 April was designed by MLAs to exclude public input, and says his amendments to the remuneration board's remit were dismissed. He accuses the parties involved of taking the public for fools.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: 1st April MLA pay hike takes the public for fools (opens in a new tab)
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International School Meals Day
People Before Profit joins a Derry Trades Union Council rally at the Guildhall calling for free school meals for all children. It cites 41% of children in poverty lacking access and a 20% school meals price rise, and calls for universal free school meals now.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: International School Meals Day (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to make abiraterone available to Northern Ireland men with prostate cancer that has not spread, as it is already offered in England, Scotland and Wales. The Minister says NI lacks a NICE equivalent and cites budget pressures.
Health Issue: Abiraterone prostate cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Northern Ireland Men Denied Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Drug Available Across Rest of UK (opens in a new tab)
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DUP are deliberately misleading workers and families with false claims – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard accuses the DUP of deliberately misleading workers and families, calling its claim that £81m is available now for allocation untrue. He says the funding announced in the 2025 autumn budget still needs enabling legislation.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP claim on £81m energy bill support funding availability Original release: DUP are deliberately misleading workers and families with false claims – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Allister comments after meeting on oil prices
TUV MP Jim Allister says a meeting with Government ministers on fuel prices was largely disappointing, with no commitment to remove 5% VAT on home heating oil or keep the 5p fuel duty rebate. He also says ministers could not clarify any Barnett consequential for a Crisis and Resilience Fund-style…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Government ministers meeting on fuel prices, March 2026 Original release: Allister comments after meeting on oil prices (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says the DUP is detached from reality for calling for higher military spending while cuts to welfare support are considered, as fuel prices rise. He accuses DUP leader Gavin Robinson of backing cuts to welfare to fund military spending abroad, and urges the deputy…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: ‘DUP detached from the realities of workers and families’ – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)