Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Public finance and taxation: remove filter
4,076 releases
-
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 Issue: Infrastructure Minister Kimmins nearly £8 million roads repair funding package 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 Issue: Finance Minister's £55 million funding allocations announcement February 2026 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)
-
Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds says recent figures on ambulance handover delays and emergency department waits show Northern Ireland's health system is under intense pressure, citing handovers over 16 hours and median admitted-patient waits of 13 hours 36 minutes. She has requested further…
Health Issue: Latest Department of Health emergency care waiting time statistics Original release: Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
-
Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA questions the Department of Education's failure to record data on children with special educational needs placed on reduced school timetables. She says she will raise it with the Education Minister and press for clear data collection processes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Department of Education no data on SEN reduced timetables Original release: Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Slow progress cannot hide a broken system
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says marginal gains in the latest emergency care waiting figures do not reflect conditions at the Ulster Hospital, where he claims patients face delays of up to 15 hours. He calls on the Health Minister to stop managing the message and take urgent…
Health Issue: Latest Department of Health emergency care waiting time statistics Original release: McGrath: Slow progress cannot hide a broken system (opens in a new tab)
-
Swann & Stewart Lead Westminster Delegation to Protect Community Sector Funding
UUP MPs Robin Swann and MLA John Stewart say their Westminster delegation pressed ministers and MPs over the move from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to the Local Growth Fund, warning community and voluntary groups face funding gaps and urging joint action across government.
Public finance and taxation Issue: UK Shared Prosperity Fund transition to Local Growth Fund affecting NI community sector Original release: Swann & Stewart Lead Westminster Delegation to Protect Community Sector Funding (opens in a new tab)
-
Lockhart: Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays
DUP MP Carla Lockhart warns that new Radiotherapy UK figures showing only 30.1% of Northern Ireland cancer patients treated on time expose chronic delays. She calls for free travel support for patients, ring-fenced Barnett consequentials for cancer care, and a response from the Health Minister.
Health Issue: Radiotherapy UK cancer treatment timeliness figures for Northern Ireland Original release: Lockhart: Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays (opens in a new tab)
-
Buckley slams Minister over “Pothole Pandemic”
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins gave no clear answers when summoned to the Assembly over poor road conditions, and calls for £85 million set aside for cycle paths to be redirected to road maintenance.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly questions to Infrastructure Minister on road condition and potholes Original release: Buckley slams Minister over “Pothole Pandemic” (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing on suicide prevention after confirmation that its mental wellbeing working group has met just once in two years. He points to funding cuts to mental health and suicide prevention strategies, a 31% rise in…
Health Issue: Executive suicide prevention working group meeting frequency confirmed Original release: Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years (opens in a new tab)
-
Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes the committee's decision to write to the Executive backing the Health Minister's minimum unit pricing legislation for alcohol. He argues it would reduce harm and urges all parties to progress the law this mandate.
Health Issue: Health Committee briefing on minimum unit pricing for alcohol Original release: Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
-
Gynaecological and menopause waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for action on gynaecology and menopause waiting times, citing a BBC report that almost 60,000 women are on gynaecology waiting lists in the north. She urges the Health Minister to work with his southern counterpart and says the forthcoming women's health action…
Health Disability and equality Issue: BBC report on almost 60,000 women on gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Gynaecological and menopause waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister welcomes Sinn Fein u-turn on rates
TUV leader Jim Allister welcomes the Finance Minister's decision to halt the proposed revaluation of business rates, but says the climbdown shows Stormont is detached from the real economy. He says the proposal should never have progressed and that it took a public backlash to force a change.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland domestic rates revaluation Original release: Allister welcomes Sinn Fein u-turn on rates (opens in a new tab)