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4,935 releases
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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)
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O'Toole: Long's nationalist jibe unworthy and unacceptable
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Alliance leader Naomi Long's remark linking nationalist exclusion from the Justice Minister post to their engagement with unionists was unworthy and offensive. He calls for reform of the Justice ministry's allocation outside the d'Hondt process.
Justice and policing Constitutional affairs Issue: Naomi Long's comments on Justice Minister appointment and d'Hondt exclusion Original release: O'Toole: Long's nationalist jibe unworthy and unacceptable (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Only through building a new Ireland will we realise our full potential – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney says only a new united Ireland can undo the damage of Brexit, ahead of an Assembly motion calling for closer alignment with EU trade rules and a joint customs union. He calls for a date to be set for a unity referendum.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Assembly motion on closer alignment with EU trade rules Original release: Only through building a new Ireland will we realise our full potential – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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UK-EU customs union would cut bureaucracy and boost growth, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA calls for the UK Government to begin negotiations on a UK-EU customs union, arguing it would cut red tape, boost growth and ease the cost of living, ahead of a related Assembly motion.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Assembly motion on UK-EU customs union negotiations Original release: UK-EU customs union would cut bureaucracy and boost growth, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the launch of a Sentencing Review by Justice Minister Naomi Long, which will examine animal welfare offences and environmental crime. He says stronger penalties are needed for those who harm animals or damage the environment, and cites pollution incidents in South…
Justice and policing Environment and climate Original release: Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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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 Original release: Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty
UUP Communities Spokesperson and East Belfast MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes recent additional investment in NISEP and calls on the Economy Minister to sustain it and align it with the wider fuel poverty strategy, including renewable biofuel options for rural areas.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Original release: Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a more coordinated storm response on the Portaferry Road and A20 ahead of her Stormont adjournment debate. She asks the Department for Infrastructure to set out closure procedures, inter-agency communication and signposting of an alternative…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Original release: More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Two years of failure shows Stormont must change
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Executive parties must recognise Stormont needs far-reaching change, citing a poll finding only one in four people think the return of the institutions has improved their lives. He points to slow progress on Lough Neagh pollution, healthcare…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Two-year anniversary of Stormont's restoration and public poll on the Executive Original release: O’Toole: Two years of failure shows Stormont must change (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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2 years on from the Protocol lies was it worth it?
TUV leader Jim Allister says the DUP should ask whether returning to the Executive to implement the Protocol was worth it, citing border posts, trade diversion and no improvement in health, education or housing. He calls for TUV MLAs to be elected to block any Protocol-implementing Executive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: 2 years on from the Protocol lies was it worth it? (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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Hazzard welcomes progress on low-carbon heating support as ‘a vital step for affordability and climate action’
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's decision to proceed with designing a new low-carbon home heating support scheme. He says it offers clarity for families reliant on oil heating and calls for affordability, rural needs and fuel-poor households to stay central…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy low-carbon heating support scheme design next steps Original release: Hazzard welcomes progress on low-carbon heating support as ‘a vital step for affordability and climate action’ (opens in a new tab)