Latest releases
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2,846 releases
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Alliance representatives welcome decision to protect Tullynagardy Wood
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison and Councillor Vicky Moore welcome Ards and North Down Council's Planning Committee decision to refuse permission for five houses in Tullynagardy Wood, Newtownards, despite officer recommendations to approve. Mathison hopes the site's protection is confirmed at the next…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Tullynagardy Wood housing planning refusal by Ards and North Down Council Original release: Alliance representatives welcome decision to protect Tullynagardy Wood (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Slams O’Neill’s ‘Virtue-Signalling’ Over Middle East
TUV chairman and Causeway councillor Allister Kyle accuses First Minister Michelle O'Neill of virtue-signalling over Middle East comments, arguing she neglects NHS waiting lists and corridor care at home. He also cites her past remarks on the Claudy bombing.
Health International affairs Issue: Michelle O'Neill's Middle East comments on Gaza and hostages Original release: TUV Slams O’Neill’s ‘Virtue-Signalling’ Over Middle East (opens in a new tab)
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Panel announced for healthcare in a new Ireland discussion
Health Constitutional affairs Original release: Panel announced for healthcare in a new Ireland discussion (opens in a new tab)
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Nesbitt comments about Gender Identity Service raise more questions than they answer
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's comments defending extra public funding for the Gender Identity Service, arguing questions about its past governance and what ministers knew must be answered first. He calls for a petition to be presented to the Assembly in September.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: Nesbitt comments about Gender Identity Service raise more questions than they answer (opens in a new tab)
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Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Begins with Consistent Sentencing – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA calls for a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland, arguing inconsistent sentencing is undermining confidence in the courts. He cites a recent case where a man received a suspended sentence for striking a teenage girl, and urges the Justice Minister to…
Justice and policing Education Original release: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Begins with Consistent Sentencing – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly welcomes Neurology Review and urges urgent action from Health Minister
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA welcomes the Regional Review of Neurology Services but warns of slow implementation and a failure to prioritise neurology in funding. He says over 11,000 people wait more than a year for a first appointment and calls on the Health Minister to publish…
Health Issue: Regional Review of Neurology Services publication Original release: Donnelly welcomes Neurology Review and urges urgent action from Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston raises concerns with Minister Lyons following “drag queen story time” for children event
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has written to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons over a drag story time event for children at Holywood Arches Library, asking whether Libraries NI approved it, for a review of criteria for child-targeted library events, and for confirmation that safeguarding checks on…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Holywood Arches Library drag story time event for children Original release: Gaston raises concerns with Minister Lyons following “drag queen story time” for children event (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives pay tribute to former Alliance Councillor David Reid
Alliance figures including leader Naomi Long MLA, MEA Group Leader Councillor Lauren Gray and North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland mourn David Reid, a former Braid councillor in Mid and East Antrim, who has died aged 35 after a cancer battle.
Other Local government Original release: Alliance representatives pay tribute to former Alliance Councillor David Reid (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister is the one with questions to answer - Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, must answer questions over the £800,000 allocated to gender identity services and will be challenged when the Assembly returns in September. He claims the Minister is avoiding scrutiny and says the spending is poor prioritisation…
Health Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: Health Minister is the one with questions to answer - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly condemns racially motivated hate crimes in Larne
Alliance Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly condemns racially motivated criminal damage to two houses in Larne, where police are investigating graffiti and property damage in Hampton Crescent and Doric Way. She urges anyone with information to contact police immediately.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Larne racially motivated criminal damage to two houses investigation Original release: Donnelly condemns racially motivated hate crimes in Larne (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls for urgent scrutiny of the Irish medium sector after Assembly answer figures showed just 20 newcomer pupils in Irish medium primary schools and none in post-primary. He says the sector should take its fair share of newcomer children.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly answer on newcomer pupil enrolment in Irish medium schools Original release: TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Launch Public Petition Calling for Funding to Gender Identity Service to be Stopped
Traditional Unionist Voice launches an online petition urging Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to reverse the £800,000 approval for a new “lifespan” gender identity service with no lower age limit, arguing the evidence is insufficient, it endangers children and misuses public money.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: TUV Launch Public Petition Calling for Funding to Gender Identity Service to be Stopped (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart Secures High-Level Meeting with Airport Chiefs Over…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Belfast International Airport senior executives have agreed to meet her and constituents over reports of humiliating security screening experiences involving stoma bags. She also says she has contacted Belfast City Airport about sharing training, and will work with…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Belfast International Airport meeting over stoma bag security screening complaints Original release: Lockhart Secures High-Level Meeting with Airport Chiefs Over… (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Mike Nesbitt, Leader Ulster Unionist Party and Health Minister, on nurses pay rise
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, also Health Minister, says he shares the RCN's frustration that 2025-26 recommended nurse pay rises remain unimplemented, noting his May Ministerial Direction decision is stuck with the wider Executive.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses 2025-26 pay award Ministerial Direction delay Original release: Statement from Mike Nesbitt, Leader Ulster Unionist Party and Health Minister, on nurses pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive disrespect for nurses risks strike action
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA warns the Executive is courting nurses' industrial action by not paying the agreed 3.6% pay rise, after the RCN declared a trade dispute. He says the RCN's June letter to the First and deputy First Ministers went unanswered and calls for urgent…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses 2025-26 pay award Ministerial Direction delay Original release: McGrath: Executive disrespect for nurses risks strike action (opens in a new tab)
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Ann Graves TD hosts meeting for families affected by drug addiction in Leinster House
Sinn Féin spokesperson Ann Graves TD says a meeting with Families Addiction Recovery Ireland highlighted concerns, and criticises a government diversion scheme for drug possession as a shortsighted move that undermines a health-led approach. She calls for families to be central to any new National…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Government diversion scheme for people caught with drugs Original release: Ann Graves TD hosts meeting for families affected by drug addiction in Leinster House (opens in a new tab)
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Banning Conversion Practices
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson proposes a Private Members' Bill to ban conversion practices in Northern Ireland, creating two new offences: engaging in conversion practice, and removing a person from Northern Ireland for that purpose.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Private Members' Bill to ban conversion practices in Northern Ireland Original release: Banning Conversion Practices (opens in a new tab)
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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly is introducing a Bill that would require public authorities in Northern Ireland to give statutory due regard to the rights set out in the UN disability treaty, UNCRPD, when developing and reviewing policies and decisions.
Disability and equality Issue: UNCRPD public authorities due regard Bill introduction Original release: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Waiting list crisis demands concrete response
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA questions why it took so long to appoint Professor Mark Taylor to lead efforts on health waiting lists, and calls for concrete action and clearer detail on his role rather than recycled funding figures.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Waiting list crisis demands concrete response (opens in a new tab)
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Renewed focus on waiting lists needed - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the appointment of Professor Mark Taylor to drive down waiting lists across Northern Ireland, saying patients need visible progress and hoping his role brings fresh urgency to waiting times and access to care.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: Renewed focus on waiting lists needed - Dodds (opens in a new tab)