Latest releases
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3,928 releases
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Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark Durkan MLA urges the Health, Communities and Finance Ministers to cooperate so health staff on Universal Credit can receive the backdated 2025/26 NHS pay award without losing benefit payments. He calls for a phased payment approach, warning single parents, mainly…
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must reset relations with GPs, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the BMA's backing of a no-confidence vote in the Health Minister is extremely concerning, urging the minister and GPs to resume talks and repair ties to protect access to primary care.
Health Issue: BMA endorsement of no-confidence vote in Health Minister Original release: Health Minister must reset relations with GPs, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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GP dispute must be resolved urgently – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to re-engage with GPs and reach a swift settlement, following a no-confidence motion passed at the Local Medical Committees conference in Belfast. He says patient access to appointments is suffering and that he will raise the matter directly…
Health Issue: GP no-confidence motion in Health Minister at Belfast LMC conference Original release: GP dispute must be resolved urgently – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Time to work together to drive economic growth – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls the DUP's upcoming Assembly motion on the Windsor Framework a diversion and says the DUP is using it to offset pressure from the TUV. He urges the DUP to stop looking backwards and engage on post-Brexit trading.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Assembly motion on the Windsor Framework debate Original release: Time to work together to drive economic growth – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Minister must heed GPs vote to consider leaving NHS
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says Health Minister Mike Nesbitt must heed a NILMC Conference motion from GPs exploring alternatives to the NHS. He urges the minister to return to talks with GPs on a funding model and plan, and says he does not back the Conference's approach.
Health Issue: Local Medical Committees conference GP decisions on NHS and industrial action Original release: McGrath: Minister must heed GPs vote to consider leaving NHS (opens in a new tab)
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GP Conference Decision was Reckless and ill Judged
UUP spokesperson calls the weekend Local Medical Committees conference decisions reckless and ill-judged, criticising GP proposals to ramp up action, including on vaccination programmes, and a vote to explore moving outside the NHS. The party urges GP leaders to return to responsible engagement.
Health Issue: Local Medical Committees conference GP decisions on NHS and industrial action Original release: GP Conference Decision was Reckless and ill Judged (opens in a new tab)
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Unionist Protections Are Non-Negotiable Amid Reform Debate
UUP MLA John Stewart warns against diluting the Belfast Agreement's cross-community protections, arguing that an SDLP motion on reforming the institutions, including removing ministers, sets a dangerous precedent and that reform must not proceed without unionist input.
Constitutional affairs Issue: SDLP motion on reform of Stormont cross-community consent for removing ministers Original release: Unionist Protections Are Non-Negotiable Amid Reform Debate (opens in a new tab)
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No role for the Irish Republic in internal affairs of NI - McIlveen
The DUP's Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen marks the 40th anniversary of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, calling it imposed without consent and saying the Irish Republic should have no role in Northern Ireland's internal affairs. She also links it to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Constitutional affairs Original release: No role for the Irish Republic in internal affairs of NI - McIlveen (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan highlights urgent need to address men’s health across our island
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan calls for more attention to men's and boys' health across the island, following an event at Stormont, and stresses better mental health access in rural areas and tackling stigma. He also urges cross-departmental working, policy reform and improved healthcare access.
Health Issue: The Invisible Man event at Stormont on men's health Original release: Boylan highlights urgent need to address men’s health across our island (opens in a new tab)
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Time to establish an Irish passport office in the north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says Department of Foreign Affairs figures showing over 120,000 passport applications from the north in 2024 show the need for a passport office here. He calls on the Irish government to set up one without delay.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Department of Foreign Affairs passport application figures for 2024 Original release: Time to establish an Irish passport office in the north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirms he remains committed to funding the Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers, saying it will be a priority in 2026/27 planning despite a recent £209million pay direction not covering it.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Real Living Wage funding for independent sector homecare workers Original release: Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers (opens in a new tab)
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Health Committee urges Minister to establish full public inquiry into cervical screening scandal, following Alliance proposal
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Assembly Health Committee has unanimously backed a call for the Health Minister to set up a full statutory public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal, following an Alliance proposal from Nuala McAllister MLA.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening scandal public inquiry call Original release: Health Committee urges Minister to establish full public inquiry into cervical screening scandal, following Alliance proposal (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey welcomes new homes for south Belfast
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes a council planning decision clearing 104 new social homes at Havelock House, the former UTV headquarters, in south Belfast. She says the £25 million scheme will help reduce housing waiting lists.
Housing Local government Issue: Havelock House social housing scheme approved in south Belfast Original release: Hargey welcomes new homes for south Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly calls for stronger action on flu as hospital admissions double and winter pressures mount
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA warns of mounting winter strain on health services after new figures show emergency hospital admissions from flu in the community have doubled. He urges the Department of Health to boost vaccine take-up, publish a winter preparedness plan and say…
Health Issue: New figures showing doubling of flu-related emergency hospital admissions Original release: Donnelly calls for stronger action on flu as hospital admissions double and winter pressures mount (opens in a new tab)
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Brit Card proposal must be scrapped – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the UK government to abandon its proposed mandatory digital ID scheme, and says that if it proceeds, Northern Ireland should be exempted. He argues the policy ignores the rights of Irish citizens and local political realities.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly debate on Labour's Digital ID plans Original release: Brit Card proposal must be scrapped – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes invites public to ‘Another Ireland is Possible’ discussion in Armagh
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes invites people from all communities to a public discussion on Irish unity, 'Another Ireland is Possible', in Armagh City Hotel on 27 November at 7pm. He says the panel includes Claire Mitchell and Reverend Karen Sethuraman, chaired by ICTU's Gerry Murphy.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Hughes invites public to ‘Another Ireland is Possible’ discussion in Armagh (opens in a new tab)
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Digital ID plan must be scrapped – Frew
DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew calls for Labour's Digital ID plans to be scrapped in full, rejecting any separate Northern Ireland arrangement that he says could create a border in the Irish Sea. He criticises Sinn Fein's Assembly motion on the issue and cites a petition and a poll against the…
Immigration Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly debate on Labour's Digital ID plans Original release: Digital ID plan must be scrapped – Frew (opens in a new tab)
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Pat Cullen confirms panel for ‘Delivering Rural Health and Care in a New Ireland’ event in Enniskillen
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen announces the speakers for a November 26 Enniskillen event on rural healthcare across the island, with Mary Lou McDonald as guest speaker and Cullen chairing a panel including Paula Leonard, Fr Brian D'Arcy and Denzil McDaniel.
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Telling it as it is – the honest reasons as to why no Unionist should attend the Connolly inauguration
TUV says no unionist should attend the inauguration of Catherine Connolly as Irish President, listing reasons including her stated wish to see the UK dismembered, her alleged employment of a convicted dissident terrorist, and her remarks on Israel, Hamas and NATO. It also criticises the DUP for…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Irish President inauguration invitation declined by Deputy First Minister Original release: Telling it as it is – the honest reasons as to why no Unionist should attend the Connolly inauguration (opens in a new tab)