Latest releases
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3,450 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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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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University scholarships a testament to Gaza students’ courage and determination – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane praises Gaza students evacuated to take up university scholarships, including students now studying at Ulster University, and wishes them success following a Westminster reception honouring them.
Education International affairs Issue: Westminster reception honouring Gaza students awarded university scholarships Original release: University scholarships a testament to Gaza students’ courage and determination – Finucane (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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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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Childcare Strategy Welcome But Parents Must See Real Value
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the draft childcare strategy as a step forward but says it fails to address fee rises matching increased support, and asks what safeguards will stop disproportionate provider fee hikes under the childcare subsidy scheme.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Childcare Strategy Welcome But Parents Must See Real Value (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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Teachers’ pay must not be used as a political bargaining chip
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes Executive approval of the Education Minister's Ministerial Direction on the 2025/26 teachers' pay offer, and accuses Sinn Féin of using pay as leverage in budget talks. He calls for a fair pay outcome and says he looks forward to pay negotiators reconvening in…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of Ministerial Direction on 2025/26 teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ pay must not be used as a political bargaining chip (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes approval of Ministerial Direction on Teachers’ Pay
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes First Minister and deputy First Minister approval of his Ministerial Direction for the 2025–26 teachers' pay award, reached through the Urgent Decision procedure. He says the wider Education Department financial pressure, including a projected deficit of…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of Ministerial Direction on 2025/26 teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes approval of Ministerial Direction on Teachers’ Pay (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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Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50%
Education Minister Paul Givan launches a draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, with a public consultation, saying it could subsidise working families' childcare costs by more than 50%. It proposes universal full-time pre-school education and an Early Years Curriculum Framework.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Givan: Childcare reforms could cut costs for families by over 50% (opens in a new tab)
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DUP delivering for working families - Middleton
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes the launch of a new consultation on the draft early years and childcare strategy, saying it offers parents and providers a real chance to shape reforms that are affordable, high‑quality and supportive of working families. He praises Education Minister Paul Givan for
Education Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: DUP delivering for working families - Middleton (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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McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin questions how the Education Minister's draft childcare strategy will be financed, noting no agreed multi-year budget exists for the roughly £500 million needed over four years. She also criticises its release so close to Christmas after a promised autumn timetable.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: McLaughlin questions how Childcare Strategy will be funded (opens in a new tab)
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Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must tangibly deliver for families, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA welcomes the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy but says it lacks clear targets. She raises concern over the absence of a mechanism to stop public subsidies being absorbed into fees and over plans to consult on removing admissions priority…
Education Issue: Launch of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation Original release: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must tangibly deliver for families, says Guy (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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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)