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4,385 releases
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Beattie Slams AI Deepfake Menace in Schools
UUP Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA warns of AI misuse in schools after police opened a criminal investigation into boys at The Armagh Royal Academy over fake sexualised AI images of female pupils. He urges pupils who received such images to inform police or school authorities and not…
Justice and policing Education Issue: Armagh Royal Academy police investigation into AI-generated sexualised images of pupils Original release: Beattie Slams AI Deepfake Menace in Schools (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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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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New Structures Must Support Not Undermine the Controlled Sector
UUP education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes progress on proposals for a new statutory body to support the controlled sector, but warns against any 'nationalisation' perception and wants clarity on Christian ethos after the Supreme Court RE ruling.
Education Issue: Controlled sector statutory organisation proposals following consultation Original release: New Structures Must Support Not Undermine the Controlled Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must stop cherry-picking on school management reform, says Mathison, calling for creation of single managing authority for schools
Alliance Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA says the Education Minister must stop cherry-picking from the Independent Review of Education on school management reform. He calls for a single managing authority for all schools, arguing the minister's proposals add…
Education Issue: Education Minister's statement on school management reform proposals Original release: Minister must stop cherry-picking on school management reform, says Mathison, calling for creation of single managing authority for schools (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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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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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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Sinn Féin committed to unlocking full economic potential of the North West – Delargy
Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy says a 22 per cent rise in Magee campus enrolments shows Sinn Féin's commitment to the North West's economy, citing growth to 6,500 students since 2024. He welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's pledge to keep prioritising Magee and set up a working group on…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Magee Taskforce One Year Progress Report publication Original release: Sinn Féin committed to unlocking full economic potential of the North West – Delargy (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)
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Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed
UUP Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council decision to accept a 4% pay offer as fair. He calls for action on teacher workload and for a multi-year budget that keeps pace with inflation to give certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers’ Pay Deal Welcome, But Workload and Budget Certainty Must Be Addressed (opens in a new tab)
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Failure to transform education system and address service duplication represents historic budget mismanagement, says Mathison
Alliance’s Education spokesperson and Education Committee Chair, MLA Nick Mathison, says the Department of Education has overspent by hundreds of millions, added bureaucracy through the Controlled Schools Unit and TransformEd, and failed to transform schools or address estate duplication, urging a
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Education budget overspend and school estate duplication Original release: Failure to transform education system and address service duplication represents historic budget mismanagement, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the agreement by unions securing a 4% pay award for teachers. He says pay alone will not ease workload pressures and declining morale, and calls for meaningful action on workload and proper investment in education.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Teachers deserve fair pay and recognition – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after tabling a Commons motion, says public appointments must be fair to every community, citing Protestant under-representation in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and alleged intimidation deterring Catholic recruits to the PSNI, and urges nationalist parties to…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commons motion on public appointments and community representation in public bodies Original release: Fairness in public appointments must be restored - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the Health Minister to keep prioritising a Mother and Baby Unit in the North, welcoming a £4 million cut in its estimated cost and calling for it to be set up without delay.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit £4 million cost reduction Original release: New mothers experiencing serious mental illness deserve specialist support – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes progress on six signature Active Travel signature schemes
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes progress on six Department for Infrastructure Active Travel schemes, including the Sydenham Greenway, Newry Inner City Greenway and Coleraine to Portstewart route. He says the work supports cleaner travel and health, and looks forward to further engagement with…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure six signature Active Travel schemes progress Original release: Boylan welcomes progress on six signature Active Travel signature schemes (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council's acceptance of a 4% teacher pay offer, matching England and Wales, with graduate starting salaries rising to £32,916. He also commits to responding to the teacher workload review within weeks.
Education Economy and employment Issue: NITC acceptance of 4% teachers' pay offer Original release: Givan welcomes agreement on teachers’ pay (opens in a new tab)