Latest releases
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4,042 releases
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Patients losing their lives needlessly in EDs due to ‘snail’s pace health reform’, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says patients are dying needlessly in Northern Ireland's Emergency Departments due to slow health reform, citing a Royal College of Emergency Medicine report of over 1,000 excess deaths in 2025 linked to long waits. He calls on the Health Minister to…
Health Issue: Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on excess deaths linked to ED waiting times Original release: Patients losing their lives needlessly in EDs due to ‘snail’s pace health reform’, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan urges urgent action to tackle persistent shortcomings in autism support, citing evidence heard by the All-Party Group for Autism from the Independent Autism Reviewer. He calls on the Department of Health to work closely with the reviewer and to prioritise the Autism…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Independent Autism Reviewer evidence to All-Party Group for Autism Original release: Boylan calls for urgent action to tackle failures in autism services (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches photography exhibition exploring identity, belonging,…
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has opened a photography exhibition at Belfast Exposed exploring identity, belonging and cultural heritage, part of the BIEN programme developed with OICE, which the Minister says celebrates diversity.
Community relations and legacy Issue: BIEN photography exhibition launch at Belfast Exposed gallery Original release: Lyons launches photography exhibition exploring identity, belonging,… (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the installation of a new sensory unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, a multisensory 'Cubbie' purchased with Little Heroes NI funding, which she says will officially open this week.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children sensory unit installation Original release: Brownlee welcomes installation of sensory unit at Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan says a visit to Holywood Nursery School shows the Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for children with special educational needs. He cites a new sensory room, extra classroom assistant hours and £4.5million invested in 2025/26 across…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Givan visit to Holywood Nursery School on Pre-School Inclusion Fund Original release: Givan: Pre-School Inclusion Fund is delivering targeted support for… (opens in a new tab)
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Justice Minister refuses to confirm violence against women funding is spent on women
TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry says Justice Minister Naomi Long refused to confirm that funding to tackle violence against women is spent on women, and calls for serious questions to be asked about how the money is allocated.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Justice Minister's response on violence against women funding in Assembly Original release: Justice Minister refuses to confirm violence against women funding is spent on women (opens in a new tab)
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Murray welcomes introduction of pilot drug testing facilities at Belfast events
Alliance councillor Micky Murray welcomes Belfast City Council's passing of his motion seeking pilot drug-checking services at major city events, arguing testing gives people safety information and helps health authorities issue warnings.
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Council motion on drug testing at city events Original release: Murray welcomes introduction of pilot drug testing facilities at Belfast events (opens in a new tab)
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One year on, women still waiting for law to be enforced - Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart urges the UK Government to act quickly on the Supreme Court's For Women Scotland ruling, saying women's rights remain unclear a year on. She calls for the EHRC Code of Practice and NHS guidance to be published without delay and for the law to be enforced in full across the…
Disability and equality Issue: For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling one-year anniversary Original release: One year on, women still waiting for law to be enforced - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Reilly welcomes verdict date for Springhill Massacre inquest
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes the news that families have been told the date for the verdict in the Springhill Massacre inquest, praising their 54-year campaign and pledging ongoing support for the Springhill and Westrock families.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Springhill Massacre inquest verdict date announcement Original release: Reilly welcomes verdict date for Springhill Massacre inquest (opens in a new tab)
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Retaining PEACEPLUS funding from EU is vital – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for central EU funding for the PEACEPLUS programme to be retained, warning that no proposed EU funding from 2028 would seriously affect community services, victims and survivors, and young people.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: PEACEPLUS funding continuation debate at the Assembly Original release: Retaining PEACEPLUS funding from EU is vital – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Ron McDowell highlights Belfast City Council’s appalling attitude to IRA memorials goes back years
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council has for years facilitated an IRA memorial in Ballymurphy on council-owned land, including applying for planning permission for its fence in 2019. He calls this political bias and hypocrisy, citing the removal of a Union flag in…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council decision not to act on Bobby Sands statue Original release: Ron McDowell highlights Belfast City Council’s appalling attitude to IRA memorials goes back years (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt announces Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces that 16 cancer service charities will share funding from the Cancer Charities Grant Scheme, jointly backed by his department and Macmillan, to deliver local support such as mental health help, rehabilitation and transport.
Health Issue: Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients announced Original release: Minister Nesbitt announces Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients (opens in a new tab)
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Decision on illegal terrorist statue underscores double standards
TUV deputy leader and Belfast councillor Ron McDowell condemns Belfast City Council's decision to take no action over an unauthorised statue of Bobby Sands, claiming it shows double standards compared with council removal of Union Flags.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council decision not to act on Bobby Sands statue Original release: Decision on illegal terrorist statue underscores double standards (opens in a new tab)
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Bobby Sands statue is symptom of a society dragged back to Troubles legacy every day
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says the illegally erected Bobby Sands statue is a symptom of wider problems, arguing society is dragged back to Troubles legacy daily through media, social media and politicians. He says there are more memorials to perpetrators than victims and calls…
Community relations and legacy Issue: Illegally erected Bobby Sands statue Original release: Bobby Sands statue is symptom of a society dragged back to Troubles legacy every day (opens in a new tab)
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No one should be above the planning process, says Nelson
Alliance Belfast City Councillor Sam Nelson says everyone must be subject to planning rules, following a council decision not to enforce against a Bobby Sands statue erected on public land in west Belfast without permission. He calls for equal enforcement across all cases and seeks clarity on how…
Local government Community relations and legacy Issue: Belfast City Council decision not to act on Bobby Sands statue Original release: No one should be above the planning process, says Nelson (opens in a new tab)
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Gary Middleton Steps Back from Public Life to Focus on Health
DUP MLA Gary Middleton announces he is resigning his Foyle seat at the Assembly tomorrow, citing mental health challenges and the need to focus on recovery. DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP thanks him and pays tribute to his service.
Health Issue: Gary Middleton resignation from Foyle Assembly seat Original release: Gary Middleton Steps Back from Public Life to Focus on Health (opens in a new tab)
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Why did Unionists permit the Northern Ireland Executive X account to be used to promote Republican terrorism?
TUV leader Jim Allister MP asks who approved an Executive Office X post highlighting Michelle O'Neill's attendance at a Dublin Easter Rising commemoration, and whether it will be removed. He says Unionists in government must explain their role in allowing the account to be used this way.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: Northern Ireland Executive X post on Michelle O'Neill's Easter Rising attendance Original release: Why did Unionists permit the Northern Ireland Executive X account to be used to promote Republican terrorism? (opens in a new tab)
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Review clearly shows an urgent need to tackle underlying and unacceptable behaviours within the PSNI – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Justice Minister to urgently change regulations to speed up and improve PSNI disciplinary processes, following Rachel Langdale's review finding sexism, misogyny and a flawed misconduct process.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Rachel Langdale review of PSNI sexism and misogyny findings Original release: Review clearly shows an urgent need to tackle underlying and unacceptable behaviours within the PSNI – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú says the government should adopt an All‑Ireland inclusion strategy and a shared North‑South definition of disability, and work harder to boost employment for disabled people, following the ESRI report on island‑wide disability rates.
Disability and equality Issue: ESRI report on disability rates across the island Original release: All-Ireland strategy on inclusion for those with disabilities needed – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Patients still waiting far too long for cancer treatment
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says latest cancer waiting time statistics show only 29.5% starting treatment within the 62-day target, and criticises the Health Minister's claims of progress and the use of £73.5 million of cancer capacity funding to offset a department…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Latest cancer waiting time statistics for 62-day treatment target Original release: McGrath: Patients still waiting far too long for cancer treatment (opens in a new tab)