Latest releases
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3,215 releases
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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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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (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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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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McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the health service is still heading for a winter crisis despite the staff pay award, blaming Executive dysfunction and a Winter Preparedness Plan published amid delay and criticism. He calls for year-round resilience building and long-term…
Health Issue: Health and social care staff pay award and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal (opens in a new tab)
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Everyone deserves to remember loved ones with dignity and respect, but never in a way that glorifies violence or deepens division, says Bradshaw
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA ahead of a motion on Tuesday urges the Executive Office to audit memorials on public land and work with communities to remove paramilitary imagery from them. She says remembrance should be lawful, respectful and inclusive, and that unlawful memorials or those…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Alliance motion on auditing paramilitary memorials on public land Original release: Everyone deserves to remember loved ones with dignity and respect, but never in a way that glorifies violence or deepens division, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Mary Lou McDonald will attend Remembrance Sunday Service in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says she will attend this afternoon's Remembrance Sunday service in Dublin's St Patrick's Cathedral, held by the British Legion, to honour those from across Ireland who died in war. She calls for shared history to be commemorated respectfully and inclusively.
Community relations and legacy Original release: Mary Lou McDonald will attend Remembrance Sunday Service in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral (opens in a new tab)
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Government hears directly from those who suffered and served
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson and Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen greeted Government spokesperson Baroness Anderson at Stormont, where she met party representatives and victims of the terrorist campaign, urging that the legacy framework be driven by those directly affected.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Baroness Anderson meeting on legacy framework Original release: Government hears directly from those who suffered and served (opens in a new tab)
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Ron McDowell: I Will Not Share a Remembrance Ceremony with Michelle O’Neill While She Continues to Eulogise the IRA
TUV councillor and deputy leader Ron McDowell says he will mark Remembrance Day with the Royal British Legion and lay a wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph, but will not share a ceremony with First Minister Michelle O'Neill while she continues to eulogise the IRA.
Community relations and legacy Original release: Ron McDowell: I Will Not Share a Remembrance Ceremony with Michelle O’Neill While She Continues to Eulogise the IRA (opens in a new tab)
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Doug Beattie MC MLA Raises Concerns On Behalf Of The Cawdery Family Regarding Accuracy Of The Justice Minister’s Responses
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA raises concerns, on behalf of the Cawdery family, over the Justice Minister's Assembly answers on Thomas McEntee's day release from prison. He says the answers were inaccurate and misleading, and will write to the Minister seeking clarification.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Thomas McEntee day release and Justice Minister's Assembly answers Original release: Doug Beattie MC MLA Raises Concerns On Behalf Of The Cawdery Family Regarding Accuracy Of The Justice Minister’s Responses (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must deliver pay deal quickly – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the Health Minister to move swiftly to finalise a pay agreement for health workers, welcoming the Executive's framework that would bring northern staff pay in line with counterparts in Britain.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of health service pay parity Original release: Health Minister must deliver pay deal quickly – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes pay parity approval for health staff
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the Executive's approval of pay parity across the health service as overdue recognition of healthcare workers. She says the Health Minister should have prioritised departmental budget resources for staff pay and calls for a long-term workforce plan.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of health service pay parity Original release: Dodds welcomes pay parity approval for health staff (opens in a new tab)
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New exhibition a powerful reminder of how far we have come – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes the opening of a new visitor exhibition at St Comgall's on Divis Street, 'The Falls – Where the Troubles Began', which covers 1969 to 1970. He pays tribute to Falls Community Council and says the centre gives voice to local residents, and that it will boost…
Community relations and legacy Issue: The Falls – Where the Troubles Began exhibition opening at St Comgall's Original release: New exhibition a powerful reminder of how far we have come – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston calls for the blight of Maze prison buildings to be removed
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls for the former Maze prison buildings to be delisted and demolished, arguing public money spent maintaining them should instead fund development of the site. He compares the case to Spandau Prison and says the buildings would otherwise become a shrine to terrorists.
Community relations and legacy Economy and employment Original release: Gaston calls for the blight of Maze prison buildings to be removed (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes long overdue pay parity for health staff
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes confirmation of pay parity for health staff, but asks why the Executive and Health Minister took so long to reach it. He says staff should not have had to keep pressing the department, and he wants the Minister to honour his pledge to…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of health service pay parity Original release: McGrath welcomes long overdue pay parity for health staff (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers Welcomes Agreement To Deliver Full Pay Award For Health Workers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the Health Minister's agreement with the Executive to deliver this year's pay award for health workers, backdated in full to 1 April 2025. He says the decision is essential for morale, retention and the health service's sustainability.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Chambers Welcomes Agreement To Deliver Full Pay Award For Health Workers (opens in a new tab)
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Confirmation of pay awards welcome despite delay, says McAllister
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister welcomes the Health Minister's confirmation that healthcare workers will receive this year's pay award, backdated to 1 April 2025, and praises his commitment to budgeting for pay awards early. She says the months of delay have again undermined staff confidence.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Confirmation of pay awards welcome despite delay, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s…
East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes the Health Minister's update on a sensory room for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, following a DUP adjournment debate. She says the Minister asked officials to work with the Belfast Trust on the proposed facility.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Sensory room proposal at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Original release: Brownlee welcomes progress on Sensory Room proposals for children’s… (opens in a new tab)