Latest releases
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4,188 releases
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Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says delays by the Environment Agency in responding to planning consultations are holding back economic development in mid Ulster. He says the Agriculture and Environment Minister declined his request for an urgent meeting, and calls for updates and transparency for…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Environment Agency planning consultation backlog in mid Ulster Original release: Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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Wilson welcomes news that Marine Court Hotel will no longer accommodate asylum seekers
TUV North Down chairman Peter Wilson welcomes confirmation that asylum seekers will stop being accommodated at the Marine Court Hotel in Bangor in February 2026, arguing no formal change of use was approved. He calls for a firmer immigration system returning arrivals to the first safe country, and…
Immigration Housing Issue: Marine Court Hotel asylum accommodation closure in February 2026 Original release: Wilson welcomes news that Marine Court Hotel will no longer accommodate asylum seekers (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney commends community campaign to restore street lighting on Staffordstown Road
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Department for Infrastructure's decision to replace two removed street lights with four new ones on the Staffordstown Road in Creggan, after a petition and his representations. He credits the local school, GAA club and residents for the change.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Staffordstown Road street lighting replacement decision by Department for Infrastructure Original release: Kearney commends community campaign to restore street lighting on Staffordstown Road (opens in a new tab)
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New support grant scheme for patients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces a £500,000 Support While Waiting Grant Scheme, with awards of £5,000 to £30,000 for voluntary groups offering wellbeing and practical help to people on HSC waiting lists. Applications close on 30 January 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme launch Original release: New support grant scheme for patients (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA calls on the DAERA Minister to break a planning deadlock stalling farm improvements, urging adoption of a mitigation-and-betterment model like Natural England's. He also criticises the Department's reliance on the Office for Environmental Protection and a…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Get Protected: get your Influenza vaccine
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt urges eligible people to get flu, Covid-19 and RSV vaccinations after positive flu cases nearly doubled to 954 in a week and flu admissions rose to 264, speaking during a visit to the Ulster Hospital clinic.
Health Original release: Get Protected: get your Influenza vaccine (opens in a new tab)
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8 o’clock Phone Lottery Must End – TUV Responds to Committee Findings on GP Service
TUV councillor Christopher Jamieson says an Assembly Committee's findings on GP services confirm primary care is in crisis, citing the 8am phone lottery and the Department of Health's lack of an FTE GP count. He calls for workforce planning and an end to contract arrangements he says waste public…
Health Issue: Assembly Committee findings on GP services and primary care Original release: 8 o’clock Phone Lottery Must End – TUV Responds to Committee Findings on GP Service (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the response to her consultation on a Bill that would give legal protection to breastfeeding in public and require businesses and service providers to make premises breastfeeding-friendly. She urges councils, businesses and public facilities to display…
Disability and equality Issue: Linda Dillon breastfeeding in public Bill consultation closure Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)
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Abortion figures continue to rise – Northern Ireland has now lost over 8,000 citizens
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says abortion figures have risen every year since decriminalisation, citing 2,792 terminations in 2023/24 and over 8,000 in four years. He criticises the Health Minister and his department for not commenting on the released statistical bulletin.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland abortion statistical bulletin figures for 2023/24 Original release: Abortion figures continue to rise – Northern Ireland has now lost over 8,000 citizens (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan responds to access to GP services report
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, who chairs the Health Committee, says the Public Accounts Committee inquiry report on GP access underlines the need to improve services, citing over 15,000 survey responses. He urges the Health Minister to heed people's firsthand accounts and fully weigh the report's…
Health Issue: Public Accounts Committee inquiry report on GP services access Original release: McGuigan responds to access to GP services report (opens in a new tab)
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GP report shows need for urgent action to improve services, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes a Public Accounts Committee report on access to GP services and urges the Health Minister to engage with GPs and act on its recommendations. She calls for a dedicated Primary Care Strategy and a review of GP contract hand-backs, and…
Health Issue: Public Accounts Committee inquiry report on GP services access Original release: GP report shows need for urgent action to improve services, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Martin – “finding potholes isn’t the problem”
North Down DUP MLA Peter Martin, who chairs the Infrastructure Committee, says the Department for Infrastructure's new digital approach to mapping potholes misses the point. He argues the real problem is repairing defects, not locating them, and calls for faster delivery on the ground.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure digital pothole mapping approach Original release: Martin – “finding potholes isn’t the problem” (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on Layd Cliff Path improvement – McMullan
Sinn Féin Councillor and Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council Oliver McMullan says he pressed council officers and the PEACEPLUS Partnership to start Layd Cliff Path improvements soon, with completion targeted for 2026. He welcomes the appointment of a design team in November and says a way…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Layd Cliff Path improvement works PEACEPLUS funding progress Original release: Progress on Layd Cliff Path improvement – McMullan (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister announces £150,000 seasonal funding for homeless…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £150,000 goodwill grant, distributed via Homeless Connect, to fund festive meals, social events and presents for those supported by homelessness services over Christmas.
Housing Social security and welfare Issue: £150,000 Christmas goodwill grant for homelessness services Original release: Communities Minister announces £150,000 seasonal funding for homeless… (opens in a new tab)
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Public health and care at heart of new Ireland – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen thanks attendees of a Westville Hotel event on rural health and care, where Mary Lou McDonald calls for a Citizens' Assembly on Ireland's future with health as a key theme and for an all-island public health framework.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Delivering Rural Health and Care in a New Ireland event, Westville Hotel Original release: Public health and care at heart of new Ireland – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Potholes must be fixed, not just mapped
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA says the draft Road Maintenance Strategy's digital road surveys do not go far enough, calling for potholes to be fixed rather than just mapped. He says he will question the Infrastructure Minister on how success will be measured and…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure digital pothole mapping approach Original release: McNulty: Potholes must be fixed, not just mapped (opens in a new tab)
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More than 700 newly-qualified social workers employed directly by Trusts since June 2023
The Ulster Unionist Party welcomes figures showing over 700 newly-qualified social workers have been directly employed by Health and Social Care Trusts since mid-2023, after agency recruitment ended. The release cites a record 344 training places this academic year.
Health Economy and employment Original release: More than 700 newly-qualified social workers employed directly by Trusts since June 2023 (opens in a new tab)
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Baby loss certificate scheme will provide some solace for parents and families – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes the Assembly's passing of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill, which introduces a certificate acknowledging baby loss before 24 weeks of pregnancy. She credits ministers Caoimhe Archibald and John O'Dowd and says Sinn Féin is also pursuing paid leave for…
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: Baby loss certificate scheme will provide some solace for parents and families – Dolan (opens in a new tab)
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Dignity at the end of life must be a priority - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA responds to the Health Committee's report on palliative and end-of-life care, saying services are fragmented and under-resourced and calling for palliative care to be funded as a core service, with hospices no longer left uncertain each year.
Health Issue: Assembly Health Committee report on palliative and end-of-life care Original release: Dignity at the end of life must be a priority - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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An important day for bereaved families - Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe, Deputy Chair of the Assembly Finance Committee, welcomes the final-stage passage of the baby loss legislation at Stormont as a landmark for bereaved families. She highlights the planned Baby Loss Certificates for early pregnancy loss, a DUP manifesto pledge she says she…
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: An important day for bereaved families - Forsythe (opens in a new tab)