Latest releases
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4,588 releases
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McGrath: Health Minister’s winter preparedness plan has clearly failed
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Health Minister's winter plan has failed in delivery, pointing to patients on trolleys and long ambulance waits. He calls for urgent action on staff retention, social care pay and safe staffing legislation, and for proper planning for…
Health Issue: Health Minister's winter preparedness plan Original release: McGrath: Health Minister’s winter preparedness plan has clearly failed (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong hits out at official council ‘Irish Unity’ group
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong condemns Fermanagh and Omagh District Council's allocation of up to £20,000 for research by its new 'Irish Unity Working Group', calling it an abuse of council powers and ratepayers' money. She says the council is promoting a single constitutional outcome and that party…
Constitutional affairs Local government Issue: Fermanagh and Omagh council Irish Unity Working Group funding Original release: Armstrong hits out at official council ‘Irish Unity’ group (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Surreal SF vote on Executive failure underlines Stormont farce
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA says Sinn Féin’s support for an SDLP Opposition Day motion criticising the Executive’s failure highlights a farcical Stormont, citing poor public services, stalled budgets and infrastructure and questioning what will be done.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin vote on Executive failure at Stormont Original release: O'Toole: Surreal SF vote on Executive failure underlines Stormont farce (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist Co-operation
Ulster Unionist Party says the current Unionist co‑operation talks mark an exciting time for Ulster unionism and pledges to set out its vision for Northern Ireland and the Union, inviting all unionists to join and promising to consider any meeting requests that serve the best interests of the region
Constitutional affairs Issue: Unionist co‑operation discussions Original release: Unionist Co-operation (opens in a new tab)
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Patients and health staff deserve better than winter preparedness delay and disorganisation, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says patients and staff deserve better after the Winter Preparedness Plan was published in mid-October, months after it was due in August. She calls for the Health Minister to set a timeline so 2026-27 winter planning starts earlier, with detailed…
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Patients and health staff deserve better than winter preparedness delay and disorganisation, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Calling out EU hypocrisy on Greenland
TUV leader Jim Allister accuses the EU and the UK government of hypocrisy over calls to respect Greenland's territorial integrity, arguing the EU undermined UK territorial integrity through the Irish Sea border. He says the EU should give up its claim over Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Calling out EU hypocrisy on Greenland (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist unity must be based on resistance to the Protocol
TUV says it has held no one-to-one meetings with the DUP or the UUP, and accuses the DUP of abandoning unionist unity by dropping collective opposition to the Protocol. It calls for any unionist unity to rest on firm opposition to the Protocol as it stands.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DUP letter on unionist unity and the Protocol Original release: Unionist unity must be based on resistance to the Protocol (opens in a new tab)
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A moment Unionism must not waste
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP writes to members and supporters urging pro-union parties to co-operate, saying he has written to the incoming Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows inviting a meeting. He claims a divided unionism will cost seats and criticises Sinn Fein as uninterested in working with…
Constitutional affairs Original release: A moment Unionism must not waste (opens in a new tab)
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All-island approach to paediatric pathology is necessary – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says an all-Ireland approach to paediatric pathology is needed, after an Assembly motion on all-island collaboration passed. She says families currently travelling to England face extra strain, and that recruitment for specialist vacancies has been difficult.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on all-island collaboration for paediatric pathology services Original release: All-island approach to paediatric pathology is necessary – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Work on Layde Cliff Path due to begin in May – McMullan
Sinn Féin Councillor Oliver McMullan says Causeway Coast and Glens Council officers have told him work on the Layde Cliff Path will start in May, brought forward by several months. He says the design team has visited the site and tendering is under way, and he will seek a further update.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Layde Cliff Path restoration works start date Original release: Work on Layde Cliff Path due to begin in May – McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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TUV responds to Burrows success
TUV leader Jim Allister congratulates Jon Burrows on winning the UUP leadership but says he is surprised Burrows never took a public stand on the Protocol. Allister urges Burrows to oppose the Windsor Framework and says the UUP should move from indifference to active opposition.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Jon Burrows wins UUP leadership election Original release: TUV responds to Burrows success (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw expresses ongoing concern at inaction by First and deputy First Ministers on key aspects of Covid-19 Inquiry
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says she remains concerned at the lack of visible action by the First and deputy First Minister on the Covid-19 Inquiry, including reforming institutions to respond better to future emergencies.
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Breast cancer waiting times a scandal - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds says new Department of Health figures, showing only 3.5% of urgently referred women with suspected breast cancer seen within the 14-day target, reveal a failing system. She calls on the Health Minister to set out a plan to expand diagnostic capacity and cut…
Health Issue: Department of Health breast cancer urgent referral waiting time figures Original release: Breast cancer waiting times a scandal - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Practical and pragmatic solutions required to manage post Brexit frictions – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls the proposed EU customs fee on small parcels an unfair extra burden on customers already facing the cost of living crisis. He urges practical, pragmatic engagement from all stakeholders and Assembly parties to remove the duty and manage Brexit-related trade…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP motion on EU fees for small parcels Original release: Practical and pragmatic solutions required to manage post Brexit frictions – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Cancer waiting times show Executive has lost focus
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says published cancer waiting time figures show the Executive is failing to prioritise cancer care. He points to only 30% of urgent GP referrals treated within 62 days, a fall on the previous quarter, and calls on the Executive to take…
Health Issue: Department of Health cancer waiting times statistics publication January 2026 Original release: McGrath: Cancer waiting times show Executive has lost focus (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken Slams Windsor Framework Over Toy Safety Accountability
UUP's Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says a Democratic Scrutiny Committee session found no body willing to take responsibility for policing the new EU toy safety rules under the Windsor Framework. He says OPSS declined to attend and the Department for the Economy said it lacked resources and passed the…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Democratic Scrutiny Committee session on EU toy safety responsibility Original release: Aiken Slams Windsor Framework Over Toy Safety Accountability (opens in a new tab)
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Staff and patients paying price for another year of late and ineffectual winter planning, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson and registered nurse Danny Donnelly MLA says the Winter Preparedness Plan should have prioritised patient flow, citing RCN testimony on corridor care. He calls the plan late and rushed and urges investment in social care to free hospital beds, ahead of an Assembly…
Health Issue: RCN testimony on corridor care and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: Staff and patients paying price for another year of late and ineffectual winter planning, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Breast cancer screening referral wait times unacceptable, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says waits for urgent breast cancer screening referrals are too long after new Department of Health figures showed only 3.5% of 6,194 urgent referrals were seen within 14 days. She calls on the Health Minister and Trusts to ensure the move to a…
Health Issue: Department of Health breast cancer urgent referral waiting time figures Original release: Breast cancer screening referral wait times unacceptable, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Launch of ‘Public Media Ireland’ report demonstrates unique opportunity to deliver all island public service broadcasting – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Conor Murphy welcomes the 'Public Media Ireland' report from Ulster University and Dublin City University, saying it points to a new all-island public broadcaster in a united Ireland rather than retaining the BBC or extending RTÉ north.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Public Media Ireland report on all-island public service broadcasting Original release: Launch of ‘Public Media Ireland’ report demonstrates unique opportunity to deliver all island public service broadcasting – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Kimmins Must Act After Winter Chaos
Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA urges Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to act after snow and ice disrupted roads, saying gritting was inadequate, grit boxes were slow to refill and planning with councils was lacking.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Northern Ireland snow and ice winter disruption and gritting response Original release: Minister Kimmins Must Act After Winter Chaos (opens in a new tab)