Latest releases
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4,181 releases
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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)
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McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, calling for better public services, expanded supports, a narrower employment gap and accessible transport and public spaces.
Disability and equality Original release: McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Palliative care report can play a positive role in shaping change – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes the Health Committee's report on palliative care access across the North, saying it gives voice to patients and staff. He points to growing waiting lists, limited resources and uneven services by postcode, and urges the Health Minister to consider its…
Health Issue: Assembly Health Committee report on palliative and end-of-life care Original release: Palliative care report can play a positive role in shaping change – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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People in crisis need the right care from the right service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to lead a cross-departmental effort delivering Right Care, Right Person, so people in mental ill-health or personal crisis receive health or social care rather than relying on PSNI as a last resort.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Assembly debate on Right Care, Right Person motion Original release: People in crisis need the right care from the right service – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates
SDLP MLA O'Toole welcomes the introduction of baby loss certificates, which he says will give families recognition of pregnancy and baby loss. The release is brief and gives no further detail on the scheme's scope or timing.
Health Issue: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill final stage passage Original release: O’Toole welcomes introduction of baby loss certificates (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council
Alliance says a motion it brought forward, proposing that Belfast City Council explore nature-friendly burials, has passed the People and Communities committee. Cllr Hedley Abernethy says the motion would consider the feasibility of natural burials as an alternative to traditional burial and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council People and Communities committee passes nature-friendly burials motion Original release: Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificate Scheme marks a compassionate step forward, says Tennyson
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We must do all we can to protect and grow our ‘world-class’ agri-food industry – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer urges continued support for Northern Ireland's agri-food sector, opposing cattle culls and warning that cutting local production could raise emissions through imports, ahead of an Assembly food security debate.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on food security Original release: We must do all we can to protect and grow our ‘world-class’ agri-food industry – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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We must work to ensure everyone in NI has a safe and suitable home, says Armstrong, on Homelessness Awareness Week
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says homelessness is too often reduced to statistics, labels or stereotypes, and calls for work to ensure everyone in Northern Ireland has a safe and suitable home, marking Homelessness Awareness Week.