Latest releases
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4,033 releases
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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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Sheehan commends family of Patrick Rooney
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan praises the relatives of Patrick Rooney, a nine-year-old shot dead by police in the Divis flats in 1969, after an announced compensation payment and police apology. He says the RUC blocked a proper investigation and prosecutions.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Patrick Rooney compensation and police apology announcement Original release: Sheehan commends family of Patrick Rooney (opens in a new tab)
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Dublin & Monaghan victims families deserve truth – Senator O’Reilly
Aontú Senator Sarah O'Reilly says the final Kenova report falls short of conclusively showing collusion between loyalist paramilitaries in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which killed 34 people. She calls on the Irish Government to demand that all Kenova material be handed to Irish…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Publication of Operation Kenova Final Report and related reports Original release: Dublin & Monaghan victims families deserve truth – Senator O’Reilly (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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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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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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We must deal with the issue of flags – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says the current approach to flags has failed, after reports that an agreement on flags on the Ormeau Road has broken down. She calls for the FICT report to be used as a pathway, blaming the DUP for repeatedly blocking an implementation plan and a working group.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Ormeau Road flags agreement breakdown Original release: We must deal with the issue of flags – Hargey (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson congratulates new Orange Grand Master
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson congratulates Harold Henning on his election as head of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, succeeding Edward Stevenson. Robinson praises Stevenson's leadership and his pledge to remember Orange members murdered by terrorists.
Other Community relations and legacy Issue: Harold Henning elected Grand Master of the Orange Order in Ireland Original release: Robinson congratulates new Orange Grand Master (opens in a new tab)
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No way to start the winter period - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says a Written Question response shows 529 inpatients fit to leave were still in hospital on 1 October, and calls for a senior figure to be tasked with resolving delayed discharges before winter pressures worsen.
Health Issue: Written Question response on 529 delayed discharge inpatients in Northern Ireland hospitals Original release: No way to start the winter period - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls the Communities Minister's cut to social housing grant reckless and inhumane amid a supply crisis, citing Simon Community homelessness figures and an NI Audit Office finding, and urges him to reconsider priorities.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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The British State must finally confront the truth of its actions in Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD says the Kenova Final Report and Operation Denton findings show British state forces colluded with loyalist paramilitaries in murders, including the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. She calls for a fully independent, ECHR Article 2-compliant truth and…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Publication of Operation Kenova Final Report and related reports Original release: The British State must finally confront the truth of its actions in Ireland – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches a public consultation on the draft ten-year Executive Disability Strategy for 2025 to 2035, with commitments including a Regional Disability Forum, a review of disability legislation and an annual Disability Data compendium. The consultation runs…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD calls for urgent Dáil debate on findings of Kenova Report
Sinn Féin Chief Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn calls for an urgent Dáil debate on the Kenova Final Report and related Operations Denton, Mizzenmast and Turma reviews, saying they show collusion and criminality by British state agencies, including MI5 obstructing Operation Kenova.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Publication of Operation Kenova Final Report and related reports Original release: Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD calls for urgent Dáil debate on findings of Kenova Report (opens in a new tab)
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New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Department for Communities' draft Disability Strategy, published as it goes out for public consultation, calling it a step toward real equality for disabled people. He urges the Communities Minister to bring forward legislative change and encourages people…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin responds to publication of Kenova Final Report
Sinn Féin's John Finucane says the published Kenova Final Report and the Denton, Mizzenmast and Turma reviews further confirm British state wrongdoing, and claims MI5 deliberately undermined Operation Kenova. He calls for a fully independent, human-rights-compliant legacy process.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Publication of Operation Kenova Final Report and related reports Original release: Sinn Féin responds to publication of Kenova Final Report (opens in a new tab)