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5,395 releases
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Only by taking control of our future will we seize our full potential – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney, speaking in a Stormont debate on the island's economy, says all-island cooperation in health, education, transport and trade benefits workers and businesses, and calls on both governments and all parties to plan for Irish unity and set a referendum date by 2030.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly debate on the all-island economy Original release: Only by taking control of our future will we seize our full potential – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Gerry Adams
Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, speaking to reporters after the first day of a London civil case, says he is there to defend himself and challenge the allegations against him. He states he is an Irish republican seeking to end British rule and unite Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Justice and policing Issue: Gerry Adams London civil case first day Original release: Statement from Gerry Adams (opens in a new tab)
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Response from Jim Allister KC MP, leader of the TUV to the Government’s Statement on the ‘UK-EU SPS Agreement – Information for Businesses’
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP says the Government's UK-EU SPS Agreement undermines Brexit by extending EU animal, plant and food rules to Great Britain, and that it leaves the Irish Sea customs border in place. He calls the arrangement a surrender of sovereignty and says no financial contribution…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Government statement on UK-EU SPS Agreement for businesses Original release: Response from Jim Allister KC MP, leader of the TUV to the Government’s Statement on the ‘UK-EU SPS Agreement – Information for Businesses’ (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says Education Minister Paul Givan should give classroom assistants proper respect, ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Monday. He criticises proposed reforms, especially around special educational needs, and calls for scrutiny of the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Classroom assistant reforms proposed by Education Minister Paul Givan Original release: Durkan: Education Minister must value role of classroom assistants (opens in a new tab)
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SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on Secretary of State Hilary Benn to step in and help establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency, which he says all main parties committed to in New Decade, New Approach. He accuses the DUP of blocking it at the Executive ahead…
Environment and climate Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Environmental Protection Agency establishment blocked at Executive Original release: SoS must step in to ensure establishment of independent Environmental Protection Agency, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says funding for a violence against women scheme is allocated to groups using a third gender category, 'neither', and has submitted questions to all Executive Ministers on how departmental data is broken down by gender and defined.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Violence against women funding scheme gender category 'neither' questions to Executive Ministers Original release: Gaston challenges Executive Ministers after “neither” gender category exposed in violence against women funding scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston publishes his response to Stormont’s MLA only consultation on MLA pay
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston submits his response to the Independent Remuneration Board consultation, opposing the proposed rise in MLA basic salary from about £53,000 to £67,200. He argues the increase is out of step with public sector pay and that the benchmarking against other legislatures is…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Independent Remuneration Board MLA pay determination increase Original release: Gaston publishes his response to Stormont’s MLA only consultation on MLA pay (opens in a new tab)
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Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services
TUV councillor Anna Henry, Mid and East Antrim, warns women face years of chronic pain awaiting first gynaecology specialist appointments, citing June 2025 figures showing over 14,000 waiting in the South Eastern Trust and wait times near two years, and calls for urgent investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health June 2025 gynaecology outpatient waiting list figures Original release: Women Left Waiting Years in Pain – Urgent Investment Needed in Northern Ireland’s Gynaecology Services (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says a single Irish state offers the strongest chance to unlock a New Ireland’s economic potential, unveiling the ‘Success by Design’ paper with proposals for an all‑island infrastructure fund, stronger rail links, skills alignment and a Ministry for a New Ireland.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Launch of SDLP Success by Design policy paper Original release: SDLP: Single Irish state can unlock our economic potential (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes the latest waiting list figures, citing a fall of over 15,000 patients awaiting first outpatient appointments and 7,316 fewer waiting for inpatient or day case admission. He commends healthcare staff and expects further improvement from the Elective Care…
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: Health Minister commends healthcare staff working to reduce waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £9million pilot stage of the Grassroots Facilities Programme under the Northern Ireland Football Fund, with awards of £500,000 to £1.5million and applications now open. The DUP-linked release says six projects will be supported.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Grassroots Facilities Programme pilot £9million funding call Original release: Lyons announces £9million for grassroots football facilities (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go
TUV leader Jim Allister says Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds's claim that opposition to Irish is a blow for unification echoes a 1982 IRA-era remark and calls for his removal, urging Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to act.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner Pol Deeds comments on opposition to Irish Original release: Irish Language Commission links language to IRA campaign – he should go (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the latest hospital waiting list figures, showing over 542,000 people awaiting a first outpatient appointment and more than 174,000 waiting over two years, raise doubts about whether the Executive treats the backlog as a priority.
Health Issue: Latest hospital waiting list figures for outpatient appointments Original release: McGrath: Long health waiting lists leaving patients in limbo (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Secretary of State must recognise link between need for reform and Executive’s fiscal doom loop
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says Secretary of State Hilary Benn needs to accept that reforming Stormont's institutions is central to tackling the Executive's financial dysfunction. Speaking after his appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, she argues the current system is broken…
Public finance and taxation Constitutional affairs Issue: Secretary of State appearance before Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Original release: Hanna: Secretary of State must recognise link between need for reform and Executive’s fiscal doom loop (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services
DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to set a firm timetable for upgrading the regional eating disorder service, noting an outline business case awaits Finance review under Action 29d of the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Eating disorder service enhancement timetable ahead of Awareness Week debate Original release: Dodds Calls for Urgent Action on Eating Disorder Services (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, a Policing Board member, says the high number of officers abusing their position for sexual purposes shows a need for cultural change in the PSNI, following the Police Ombudsman's report on the issue. He calls for the Justice Minister to confirm when legislation for faster…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Police Ombudsman report on sexual misconduct by PSNI officers Original release: McGrath: PSNI officers abusing position for sexual purposes reinforces need for cultural change (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan demands urgent action on dangerous A5 road conditions
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan calls on the Department for Infrastructure to act immediately on the deteriorating A5, citing large potholes, blocked gullies and standing water that he says have led to drivers losing control.
Infrastructure and transport Original release: McCrossan demands urgent action on dangerous A5 road conditions (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says he is disappointed the Infrastructure Minister gave no clear timeline for school bus safety legislation. He calls for a law banning overtaking stationary school buses while children board or leave, citing further accidents since…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister's lack of timeline for school bus safety legislation Original release: McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws (opens in a new tab)
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£390m Barnett boost welcome but waste and inefficiency must be tackled
UUP Finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes an extra £390m in Barnett consequentials from the Chancellor's Spring Estimates, but says inefficiency and failure to reform public spending undermine services. He cites the Fiscal Council's criticism and calls the Department for…
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Chancellor's Spring Estimates Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland Original release: £390m Barnett boost welcome but waste and inefficiency must be tackled (opens in a new tab)
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‘Stark’ endometriosis waiting times highlight need for change – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for a step change in endometriosis services in the north after new figures show average diagnosis waiting times of nearly 10 years. She urges the Health Minister to set up specialist endometriosis services and work with Dublin on an all-island approach.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New figures on endometriosis diagnosis waiting times Original release: ‘Stark’ endometriosis waiting times highlight need for change – Flynn (opens in a new tab)