Latest releases
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4,736 releases
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Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency to ensure breastfeeding mothers get support, citing reports of a mother who had to pay for help and PHA research showing many mothers stop early due to lack of support.
Health Issue: Reports of mother paying for breastfeeding support in Northern Ireland Original release: Breastfeeding mothers must have access to services to support them – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey warns that eight prisoners in Britain on collective hunger strike face grave risk, and urges Justice Secretary David Lammy to engage with their lawyers. He says Qesser Zuhrah's condition has rapidly worsened and calls for immediate clarity on her health.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Eight pro-Palestinian prisoners' collective hunger strike in Britain Original release: The health and well-being of the hunger strikers is now entering an extremely alarming stage – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh calls for a single all-island health data system to enable comparable healthcare planning, and says the Good Friday Agreement Committee will ask the Health Minister to examine adopting Encompass in the south as an interim measure.
Health Issue: ESRI briefing to Good Friday Agreement Committee on all-island health data Original release: Data infrastructure must be established to enable evidence-based comparability of health care provision across the island – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be…
Lagan Valley DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly calls on the Home Office to urgently release hundreds of empty homes it holds across Northern Ireland through Mears Housing, and says the arrangement lacks transparency and accountability.
Housing Immigration Original release: Hundreds of empty homes held on behalf of Home Office must be… (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework Still Failing to Deliver for Northern Ireland
UUP spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the government's response to Lord Murphy's recommendations and House of Lords findings on the Windsor Framework is cautiously welcome but falls well short of fixing Irish Sea Border problems. He points to retailer refusals, veterinary medicines…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Government response to Lord Murphy's Windsor Framework recommendations Original release: Windsor Framework Still Failing to Deliver for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (opens in a new tab)
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Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says delayed patient discharges have passed 600, citing trust-level figures and a rise of 77 in six weeks. She calls for a senior figure to be given responsibility for the issue and says the Department's current approach has not worked.
Health Issue: Delayed hospital discharges exceed 600 across Northern Ireland trusts Original release: Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals… (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont’s £5 million spin bill
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Executive departments have spent about £5 million on press officers since devolution returned, criticising delayed Assembly answers from the Health Department and calling the spending a diversion from frontline services.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Stormont Executive departments' press officer spending figures since devolution Original release: Stormont’s £5 million spin bill (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s recent tour of Daisy Hill Hospital, praises staff and reduced waiting lists, and calls for additional long‑term funding, expanded resources and stronger North‑South health cooperation to sustain progress.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visit to Daisy Hill Hospital Original release: Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew presses the Communities Minister to publish the analysis behind cutting funding for housing associations, after new research claimed the move would halve social home numbers, particularly in Belfast and Lisburn.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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2025 Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomes the publication of the Commission on the Future of Ireland's annual report, saying the Irish unity conversation is growing and calling on the Irish and British governments to plan for constitutional change. The release lists 2025 events, including 23…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Commission on the Future of Ireland 2025 annual report Original release: 2025 Report of the Commission on the Future of Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: New Western Trust chief must engage on SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Councillor Adam Gannon urges the incoming Western Trust chief executive, following Neil Guckian's retirement, to reset relations with local communities. He calls for visits, meetings with campaigners, and proper engagement with the Save Our…
Health Issue: Western Trust chief executive Neil Guckian retirement announcement Original release: Gannon: New Western Trust chief must engage on SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says repeated Executive failures directly contribute to the high number of homeless deaths, reacting to new statistics recording 58 such deaths in 2024. He calls for sustained investment in prevention, housing, mental health and addiction…
Housing Health Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison expresses disappointment to PAC appeal on Tullynagardy Wood Development
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison says he is disappointed that the developer of five proposed houses in Tullynagardy Wood, Newtownards, has appealed to the Planning Appeals Commission after the council's committee unanimously moved to reject the plan. He calls on the council to defend its position firmly…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Tullynagardy Wood five-house development appeal to PAC Original release: Mathison expresses disappointment to PAC appeal on Tullynagardy Wood Development (opens in a new tab)
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Homelessness deaths devastating – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the 58 homeless deaths reported by NISRA are devastating and urges priority action on homelessness, calling for more homes, better funded prevention services and legislation to extend Housing Executive support to at least 60 days.
Housing Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Homelessness deaths devastating – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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The Irish language is thriving right across society – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says the 227% rise in Irish language enrolments at Queen’s University Belfast shows the language is thriving across society and pledges Sinn Féin will keep supporting its promotion and preservation.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Queen’s University Belfast Irish language enrolment surge Original release: The Irish language is thriving right across society – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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The EU Grinch brings unpleasant gifts for the New Year
UUP Windsor Framework spokesperson Steve Aiken warns that tightening EU rules and ending grace periods from 1 January 2026 will bring new customs checks, bureaucracy and Irish Sea Border controls, and accuses DAERA, the Government and the Executive of failing to publish a full list of changes.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Windsor Framework Committee review of incoming EU regulations Original release: The EU Grinch brings unpleasant gifts for the New Year (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly
Danny Donnelly MLA, Alliance health spokesperson and Health Committee deputy chair, says patient safety is at risk and urges the Health Minister to act urgently after TERN data showed Northern Ireland has the UK’s highest level of corridor care, calling for swift transformation proposals.
Health Issue: TERN data reveals highest corridor care in NI Original release: Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes describes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at the Oireachtas committee on the Good Friday Agreement as constructive, welcoming his backing for all-island health collaboration and a forthcoming joint health strategy between north and south.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at GFA Committee on healthcare Original release: Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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Strength, not weakness remains TUV’s watchword
TUV leader Jim Allister tells the Central Council in Antrim that 2025 confirmed TUV as central to unionism, criticises the DUP's return to government with Sinn Fein over the Protocol, and says the party is starting preparations for the 2027 elections.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Strength, not weakness remains TUV’s watchword (opens in a new tab)