Latest releases
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3,928 releases
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Jim Allister KC MP, Leader of the TUV, responds to EU demands for tighter enforcement of the Irish Sea Border
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP condemns EU calls for stricter Irish Sea Border enforcement, arguing the UK should instead trigger Article 16 and reject a UK-wide SPS Agreement that would disenfranchise Great Britain too.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: EU demand for stricter Irish Sea Border enforcement before SPS talks Original release: Jim Allister KC MP, Leader of the TUV, responds to EU demands for tighter enforcement of the Irish Sea Border (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the party is launching a new phase to recruit members and candidates, pledges to champion fairness, anti‑sectarianism and a New Ireland, and criticises the Executive for failing on housing, services and environmental issues.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Original release: SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP Speech SDLP Conference 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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World Mental Health Day brings to light the dire need for better mental health services across the North – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls on the Health Minister to clarify plans for tackling the mental health crisis, saying progress on the 2021 Mental Health Strategy is falling far short. She urges a regional mental health crisis centre and cites her Suicide Prevention Bill requiring training for…
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McGrath: Executive must get serious about mental health
SDLP's McGrath says the Executive needs to take mental health far more seriously, though the release gives no specific policy, figure or decision behind the call.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Executive must get serious about mental health (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Health Minister has left parents and special school staff in limbo after a review into nursing provision in special schools gave no clarity. He urges urgent answers and calls for full nursing provision to be reinstated.
Health Education Issue: Health Minister's review on nursing provision in special schools Original release: Health Minister leaving parents in limbo following withdrawal of nursing support for special educational needs children, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Budget is a missed opportunity to advance constitutional change – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin's Senator Conor Murphy says Budget 2026 is a missed opportunity for constitutional change and urges the Irish government to set up a Citizens' Assembly on Irish unity, backed by funding, with economic planning for reunification.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Budget 2026 constitutional change and Irish unity planning Original release: Budget is a missed opportunity to advance constitutional change – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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TUV responds to UUP attack
TUV councillor Anna Henry accuses UUP leader Mike Nesbitt of abandoning unionist promises after he called TUV demands undeliverable, citing the 2021 United Unionist Declaration and claiming TUV now polls ahead of the UUP.
Constitutional affairs Issue: Mike Nesbitt comments on TUV demands in Belfast Telegraph Original release: TUV responds to UUP attack (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificate will provide compassion and recognition for families – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says she will host a ribbon display at Stormont on 9 October to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, and calls for the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme legislation, brought forward by Finance Minister John O'Dowd, to be progressed with other parties.
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McGrath: £20 million spent on restricted health procedures with no checks shows lack of oversight
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says an Audit Office report shows almost £22 million was spent on procedures that should have been restricted, with no monitoring by the Department or Health Trusts, and calls on the Minister for Health to explain the failure and ensure tighter s
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: McGrath: £20 million spent on restricted health procedures with no checks shows lack of oversight (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan demands action on household heating costs and damp homes
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan calls for urgent action on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and damp in homes after an Assembly motion on household energy costs. He cites 40,000 damp reports to the Housing Executive and only 24% of Affordable Warmth Scheme applicants receiving support in 2023/24.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on reducing household energy costs Original release: Durkan demands action on household heating costs and damp homes (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister has failed to prioritise value for money after an Audit Office report found no proof that Department of Health effective use of resources rules are being followed for 29 restricted procedures. She calls for urgent action…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report (opens in a new tab)
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Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy says reform of the Assembly and Executive is overdue and calls for a Citizens' Assembly to be explored, after the Assembly Executive Review Committee backed her proposal to examine how one could be set up. She argues no single party can deliver reform and that the public…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Executive Review Committee backing for a Citizens' Assembly proposal Original release: Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Cullen welcomes end to flawed consultation but demands urgency on SWAH Vision Plan
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen welcomes the Western Trust's decision to end its consultation on permanently removing emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital, but urges an urgent update and clear timeframe for the final Future Health and Care Services Vision Plan for Fermanagh and West…
Health Issue: Western Trust ends consultation on permanent removal of emergency general surgery at SWAH Original release: Cullen welcomes end to flawed consultation but demands urgency on SWAH Vision Plan (opens in a new tab)
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‘Communities Minister must do more to support families forced from their homes’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to step up support for families driven from their homes in north Belfast by intimidation, after a BBC Spotlight report found them in unsuitable temporary housing. A Sinn Féin Urgent Oral Question is being tabled in the Assembly.
Housing Community relations and legacy Issue: North Belfast intimidation families in unsuitable temporary accommodation BBC Spotlight Original release: ‘Communities Minister must do more to support families forced from their homes’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP secures proposal for First Ministers to give evidence on Stormont reform
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole says the First Ministers should appear before the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to give evidence on Stormont reform. The proposal, which he tabled at the committee, covers rules to prevent future collapses, equalising the First Minister titles…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly and Executive Review Committee proposal to hear evidence from First Ministers on reform Original release: SDLP secures proposal for First Ministers to give evidence on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
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Leaving the ECHR would be a strategic mistake, says Nesbitt.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA criticises Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's plan to withdraw from the ECHR, arguing it would breach the 1998 Agreement's guaranteed access to the convention and that the real issue is domestic court interpretation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Conservative plan to withdraw from ECHR if returned to government Original release: Leaving the ECHR would be a strategic mistake, says Nesbitt. (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce
Alliance's Danny Donnelly MLA, a health spokesperson and nurse, calls on the Health Minister to urgently publish the overdue Winter Preparedness Plan, which was due in August, warning delays are costing lives and straining health staff.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA accuses the Health Minister of delaying a nurses' pay deal and says recent comments have added uncertainty as the RCN ballots members on industrial action. He calls on the Executive to act now and deliver a fair pay rise.
Health Economy and employment Issue: RCN ballot on nurses' pay strike action Original release: McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must take action to reduce energy costs and tackle fuel poverty urgently, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges the Communities Minister to set out plans for social housing built to higher energy efficiency and renewable integration standards, ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue tomorrow, to cut household energy costs and fuel poverty.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Alliance Assembly motion on higher energy efficiency standards for social housing Original release: Minister must take action to reduce energy costs and tackle fuel poverty urgently, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)