Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Public finance and taxation: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
4,067 releases
-
Robinson - Reserve Funding Welcome but Reform is Essential
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP welcomes confirmation that the Executive will access £400 million from the Reserve for public services, while saying the funding is exceptional and backing line-by-line scrutiny of Executive budgets. He calls for root and branch reform of the Northern Ireland Civil…
Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 million Reserve funding for Northern Ireland Executive Original release: Robinson - Reserve Funding Welcome but Reform is Essential (opens in a new tab)
-
Chambers welcomes latest example of Northern Ireland health service innovation
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes confirmation that the Royal Victoria Hospital is the first in the UK to trial the Volt Pulsed Field Ablation system for atrial fibrillation. He credits Belfast clinical teams and says the approach allows up to three patients per day and frees…
Health Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital Volt Pulsed Field Ablation UK-first trial Original release: Chambers welcomes latest example of Northern Ireland health service innovation (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Féin oversells £400 million reprofiling as HM Treasury imposes greater oversight
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the agreed reprofiling of Northern Ireland's £400 million overspend is a smaller gain than Sinn Féin and the Finance Minister suggest, and warns that HM Treasury oversight may reduce pressure for departmental reform.
Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 million Reserve funding for Northern Ireland Executive Original release: Sinn Féin oversells £400 million reprofiling as HM Treasury imposes greater oversight (opens in a new tab)
-
£400m reserve claim welcome but fundamental reform required, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson welcomes Treasury approval of a £400m reserve claim for the Executive, but says it is only temporary relief without public service reform and action on the cost of division. He backs the planned Treasury open-book exercise.
Public finance and taxation Issue: £400 million Reserve funding for Northern Ireland Executive Original release: £400m reserve claim welcome but fundamental reform required, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds Raises Serious Concerns Over Puberty Blocker Trials
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, who sits on the Assembly Health Committee, warns children should not be used as test subjects after it was announced Northern Ireland children will join a clinical trial of puberty-blocking drugs. She says children cannot give informed consent and raises concerns about the…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland participation in puberty blocker clinical trial Original release: Dodds Raises Serious Concerns Over Puberty Blocker Trials (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
‘Delivery is challenging but progress being made’
Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill says delivery in the Executive is challenging due to British government underfunding, and points to a multi-year budget and progress on public services, Lough Neagh and the Irish language while calling for Irish and British governments to plan a unity…
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: ‘Delivery is challenging but progress being made’ (opens in a new tab)
-
TUV back ratepayers amid council rates hike
TUV's Mid and East Antrim group says it opposed the council's rates increase, calling for any projected under spend to be used to offset the rate struck. It also warns that City Deal financial contributions risk a long-term burden on ratepayers.
Public finance and taxation Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim council district rate increase vote Original release: TUV back ratepayers amid council rates hike (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
Crushing Overheads Kill Another Ballymena Institution
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says the closure of McKillens, following Wyse Byse, is a retail blow for Ballymena's Church Street. He blames punitive business rates and high street decline, calls for action on crushing overheads facing traders, and pays tribute to the workforce.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: McKillens closure in Ballymena Church Street Original release: Crushing Overheads Kill Another Ballymena Institution (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
Boylan welcomes funding to help fix our roads
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes a nearly £8 million package announced by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to repair roads, saying it follows £30 million for maintenance announced before Christmas. He says the funding is a swift response to recent road deterioration.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Original release: Boylan welcomes funding to help fix our roads (opens in a new tab)
-
Dolan welcomes funding announcement of almost £55 million
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes almost £55 million in funding allocations for road and transport, public sector pay, disability home adaptations and education. She says the Finance Minister is working with the Executive and calls for a multi-year budget to allow departments to plan more…
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Original release: Dolan welcomes funding announcement of almost £55 million (opens in a new tab)
-
Sinn Fein holding back investment in the west of Northern Ireland:…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says the Department for Infrastructure handing back £6.6million for the Enniskillen Southern Bypass reflects unrealistic climate targets backed by some Assembly parties. She claims the project now has no timetable and that delay will raise costs, and asks how this fits…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Enniskillen Southern Bypass £6.6million funding handback Original release: Sinn Fein holding back investment in the west of Northern Ireland:… (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
Campbell to challenge “inevitability myth” at Dublin debate
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says a border poll is neither inevitable nor desirable and urges nationalist politicians to temper expectations, ahead of his UCD Literary and Historical Society debate in Dublin, citing static nationalist support and UK fiscal benefits.
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Original release: Campbell to challenge “inevitability myth” at Dublin debate (opens in a new tab)