Latest releases
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2,931 releases
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Durkan demands action on household heating costs and damp homes
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan calls for urgent action on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and damp in homes after an Assembly motion on household energy costs. He cites 40,000 damp reports to the Housing Executive and only 24% of Affordable Warmth Scheme applicants receiving support in 2023/24.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on reducing household energy costs Original release: Durkan demands action on household heating costs and damp homes (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister has failed to prioritise value for money after an Audit Office report found no proof that Department of Health effective use of resources rules are being followed for 29 restricted procedures. She calls for urgent action…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report (opens in a new tab)
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Cullen welcomes end to flawed consultation but demands urgency on SWAH Vision Plan
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen welcomes the Western Trust's decision to end its consultation on permanently removing emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital, but urges an urgent update and clear timeframe for the final Future Health and Care Services Vision Plan for Fermanagh and West…
Health Issue: Western Trust ends consultation on permanent removal of emergency general surgery at SWAH Original release: Cullen welcomes end to flawed consultation but demands urgency on SWAH Vision Plan (opens in a new tab)
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Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA says non-fatal strangulation cases are handled inadequately, citing 2023-24 figures showing 329 of 344 prosecutions heard in the Magistrates' Court and only 28 prison sentences, and calls for sentences that deter.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Non-fatal strangulation prosecutions and sentencing figures 2023-2024 Original release: Justice System Failing Victims of Violence Against Women says Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, also South Belfast MLA, demands urgent clarity from the First and deputy First Minister on Identity and Language Commissioner appointments, as publicised appointees have not received confirmation after resigning from their current jobs.
Disability and equality Issue: Identity and Language Act Commissioner appointments delay Original release: Bradshaw demands clarity on Language Commissioner appointments (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce
Alliance's Danny Donnelly MLA, a health spokesperson and nurse, calls on the Health Minister to urgently publish the overdue Winter Preparedness Plan, which was due in August, warning delays are costing lives and straining health staff.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce (opens in a new tab)
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Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister…
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons outlines a Disability and Work Strategy aiming to bring 50,000 more people into the workforce over ten years, launching a 12-week public consultation running to 12 January 2026. The strategy proposes a Disability and Work Council and four themes including…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Consultation on Disability and Work strategy launched by Minister… (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA accuses the Health Minister of delaying a nurses' pay deal and says recent comments have added uncertainty as the RCN ballots members on industrial action. He calls on the Executive to act now and deliver a fair pay rise.
Health Economy and employment Issue: RCN ballot on nurses' pay strike action Original release: McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay (opens in a new tab)
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Time to build mother and baby unit – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn is bringing a motion, to be debated Tuesday, urging the Health Minister to set up a dedicated ward with trained staff for mothers while a mother and baby unit is developed. It also asks the Minister to work with the Irish government so the unit serves mothers and…
Health Issue: Mother and baby unit motion on postpartum mental health support Original release: Time to build mother and baby unit – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns reported loyalist paramilitary plans to attack council vehicles bearing Irish language signage, saying paramilitaries should not exist. He defends the council's Irish language policy and pledges SDLP cooperation with…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Loyalist paramilitary threats to Belfast City Council facilities Original release: De Faoite condemns threats to council vehicles (opens in a new tab)
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Lynch condemns Lisburn racist graffiti
Sinn Féin councillor Declan Lynch condemns racist graffiti that has appeared in Lisburn North, saying hate has no place in the community. He praises Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for removing it quickly and the PSNI for arresting an individual linked to the incidents.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti in Lisburn North and arrest Original release: Lynch condemns Lisburn racist graffiti (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Pro-Life Conference: Building a Culture That Values Every Life
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly announces a pro-life conference in Newry's Canal Court Hotel and says Irish abortion policy has failed its promises. She calls for pain relief for unborn children in late-term terminations and care for babies born alive after procedures, and opposes assisted suicide.
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Nationalist and Republican Alliance Must Be Confronted at Every Turn After City Hall Vote
TUV leader Jim Allister condemns Belfast City Council's vote to impose Irish citywide, accusing Alliance of siding with Sinn Féin and of backing Gerry Kelly's amendment removing 'innocent' from a victims motion. He calls for unionists to unite against the Irish Language Commissioner appointment.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Nationalist and Republican Alliance Must Be Confronted at Every Turn After City Hall Vote (opens in a new tab)
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Catney condemns racist graffiti in Lisburn
SDLP Lisburn North Councillor Pat Catney condemns racist graffiti targeting Muslim residents in the Chapel Hill area of Lisburn. He says he has contacted the PSNI and is working with council officials to have it removed.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Racist graffiti in Lisburn North and arrest Original release: Catney condemns racist graffiti in Lisburn (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLA must apologise for using homophobic slur on national TV, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA urges Jonathan Buckley of the DUP to apologise after he allegedly used a homophobic slur during a BBC Question Time appearance. Tennyson also accuses DUP politicians of divisive rhetoric.
Disability and equality Issue: Jonathan Buckley homophobic slur on BBC Question Time Original release: DUP MLA must apologise for using homophobic slur on national TV, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Ending the rip-off and supporting workers and families must be top priority in this budget – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Ending the rip-off and supporting workers and families must be top priority in this budget – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke
UUP MLA Jon Burrows says prison officers in Northern Ireland should not have to endure second-hand smoke at work and calls on the Department of Justice and Prison Service to act now. He notes Northern Ireland lacks a prison smoking ban that applies elsewhere in the UK and says urgent questions…
Justice and policing Health Original release: Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke (opens in a new tab)
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Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says he is deeply dismayed that the planned new children's unit at Altnagelvin has been paused pending a Department of Health review of capital spending. He calls for the Health Minister to explain his priorities and says his party will write to the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Altnagelvin Hospital children's unit plans paused pending capital spending review Original release: Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA condemns continuing failures to meet cancer waiting time targets, citing quarterly figures for April to June 2025 showing fewer urgent GP-referred patients starting treatment within 62 days. She calls on the Health Minister to act.
Health Issue: Quarterly cancer waiting times statistics for April to June 2025 Original release: McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets (opens in a new tab)