Latest releases
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4,535 releases
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Casement Park developments expose Stormont delivering for Republicans, not ordinary people
TUV leader Jim Allister says Michelle O'Neill's announcement of preparatory work at Casement Park shows Stormont favours Republicans over ordinary people. He criticises other MLAs for not challenging the over £100 million public funding, and calls for the GAA to repay public money and for profits…
Public finance and taxation Issue: Casement Park preparatory works announcement and public funding Original release: Casement Park developments expose Stormont delivering for Republicans, not ordinary people (opens in a new tab)
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New inquiry launched to improve suicide prevention services in the north – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes a new cross-party inquiry into funding for suicide prevention in the north, set up by the All-Party Group she chairs. She says the inquiry will look at services beyond a purely health-focused approach, involving schools, prisons and youth clubs, and will hear…
Health Issue: Cross-party inquiry into suicide prevention funding launched by All-Party Group Original release: New inquiry launched to improve suicide prevention services in the north – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Mournes must be protected for future generations – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard says the Mourne Mountains must be protected as visitor numbers rise, urging the Stormont Executive to grant regional asset status to secure sustainable investment and safeguard fragile habitats.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Rising visitor numbers to the Mourne Mountains Original release: Mournes must be protected for future generations – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister’s winter preparedness plan has clearly failed
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Health Minister's winter plan has failed in delivery, pointing to patients on trolleys and long ambulance waits. He calls for urgent action on staff retention, social care pay and safe staffing legislation, and for proper planning for…
Health Issue: Health Minister's winter preparedness plan Original release: McGrath: Health Minister’s winter preparedness plan has clearly failed (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong hits out at official council ‘Irish Unity’ group
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong condemns Fermanagh and Omagh District Council's allocation of up to £20,000 for research by its new 'Irish Unity Working Group', calling it an abuse of council powers and ratepayers' money. She says the council is promoting a single constitutional outcome and that party…
Constitutional affairs Local government Issue: Fermanagh and Omagh council Irish Unity Working Group funding Original release: Armstrong hits out at official council ‘Irish Unity’ group (opens in a new tab)
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Independent Environmental Protection Agency - NOW!
Alliance says the DUP has blocked its plan for an independent Environmental Protection Agency at the Executive, citing Lough Neagh and the Mobuoy illegal dump, and calls on the UK and Irish governments to reform the system via a petition.
Environment and climate Issue: DUP blocks independent Environmental Protection Agency at Executive Original release: Independent Environmental Protection Agency - NOW! (opens in a new tab)
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Parties must continue working together – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Executive parties must keep working together to deliver public services, citing progress since the Executive's return in February 2024 and calling for a multi-year budget, Programme for Government delivery and opposition to British government cuts.
Public finance and taxation Original release: Parties must continue working together – Sheehan (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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Delargy welcomes £2 million energy support for low-income households
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes over £2 million in extra Department for the Economy funding, announced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald, to cut energy bills for low-income households through insulation and efficiency measures for over 1,000 homes.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Department for the Economy £2 million NISEP energy-efficiency funding allocation Original release: Delargy welcomes £2 million energy support for low-income households (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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MEP Funchion welcomes positive signal from EU Commissioner on future of PEACE Plus
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion welcomes a reply from EU Commissioner Raffaele Fitto on PEACE Plus after the Commission's proposal removed a specific allowance from the central EU budget. She warns post-2028 funding would rely on Irish and British contributions and says she will table an amendment…
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: EU Commissioner Fitto reply on PEACE Plus post-2028 funding Original release: MEP Funchion welcomes positive signal from EU Commissioner on future of PEACE Plus (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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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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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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McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says people cannot accept a five-year timeline for fixing the health service, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt suggested recovery could take that long. He presses the Minister and Executive on ambulance response delays, citing a 75-year-old…
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt says health recovery could take five years Original release: McGrath: Public can’t wait five years to sort out health service (opens in a new tab)