Latest releases
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2,611 releases
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Allister: Assisted Dying Bill is a Dangerous Charter for Death
TUV leader Jim Allister MP criticises the Assisted Dying Bill as a danger to vulnerable people, arguing it lacks safeguards, including on mental capacity and minors, and urges MPs to reject it.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assisted Dying Bill Committee Stage amendments and vote Original release: Allister: Assisted Dying Bill is a Dangerous Charter for Death (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Welcomes NAP Extension But Real Change Demands Co-Design
UUP MLA Robbie Butler, agriculture, environment and rural affairs spokesperson, welcomes the Minister's extension of the Nitrates Action Programme consultation to 24 July 2025 but says it must include co-design with farmers, representative bodies and rural communities.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Nitrates Action Programme consultation extension to 24 July 2025 Original release: Butler Welcomes NAP Extension But Real Change Demands Co-Design (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister must listen to views of anti-poverty organisations – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says anti‑poverty groups must be consulted as the draft Anti‑Poverty Strategy is reviewed, urging Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey and Minister Lyons to heed their input to shape an effective plan for low‑income families.
Social security and welfare Issue: Presentation of draft Anti-Poverty Strategy to Executive Original release: Communities Minister must listen to views of anti-poverty organisations – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Long-awaited anti-poverty strategy must deliver
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty says the draft anti-poverty strategy signed off by the Executive must deliver, warning it is meaningless without funding and measures. He urges the Communities Minister to act on poverty now, not wait for consultation.
Social security and welfare Issue: Presentation of draft Anti-Poverty Strategy to Executive Original release: Doherty: Long-awaited anti-poverty strategy must deliver (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes progress on childcare support
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the Education Minister's decision to open the Childcare Subsidy scheme to school-age children, but says it is only a start. She calls for a fully funded childcare strategy, a Department for the Economy support scheme for providers, and UK action…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Executive approval of £55m early learning and childcare package Original release: McLaughlin welcomes progress on childcare support (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister urges Health Minister to ensure sustainable GP funding as a priority, following rejection of funding contract offer
Alliance health spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister urges the Health Minister to prioritise reopening talks on sustainable GP funding after 99.6% of BMA GP Committee ballot respondents rejected the 25/26 GMS contract offer. She says the proposed terms would cause a net loss of…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: BMA GP Committee rejection of 25/26 GMS contract offer Original release: McAllister urges Health Minister to ensure sustainable GP funding as a priority, following rejection of funding contract offer (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities
SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA criticises the award of seven new mineral prospecting licences to four companies, saying it contradicts the Economy Minister's earlier support for a moratorium. She calls for the licences to be suspended until a departmental review of mineral…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: McLaughlin: Mineral licences decision a slap in the face for local communities (opens in a new tab)
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Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme
DUP representatives, including Westminster spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP and Stormont agriculture spokesperson Michelle McIlveen, reject DAERA's draft Nutrients Action Programme and call for publication of a full economic impact assessment and the data behind its modelling.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew launches consultation on homelessness prevention legislation
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew invites public views on his proposed bill to extend Housing Executive support for people at risk of homelessness from 28 days to at least 60 days. He says the consultation will help ensure the legislation meets people's needs.
Housing Social security and welfare Issue: Gildernew homelessness prevention bill public consultation Original release: Gildernew launches consultation on homelessness prevention legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Current cancer waiting times ‘simply not acceptable’ – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says current cancer waiting times are simply not acceptable, following an Assembly motion on the issue. He welcomes the extra £10 million for Rapid Diagnosis Centres and calls for clear targets, timelines and transparency in the upcoming plans.
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Máire Devine TD to welcome nursing representatives to Leinster House in celebration of International Nurses’ Day
Sinn Féin TD Máire Devine will host nursing representatives at Leinster House on 14 May 2025 to mark International Nurses' Day, citing about 120,000 nurses and midwives and calling for retention measures including pay, conditions and affordable housing.
Health Economy and employment Original release: Máire Devine TD to welcome nursing representatives to Leinster House in celebration of International Nurses’ Day (opens in a new tab)
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Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara accuses the parties behind Lough Neagh's decline of selling off public land for profit, citing seven new mineral licences granted in the West under a 1969 law despite over 2,000 objections. He also criticises Alliance and Environment Minister Andrew Muir for failing…
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new mineral licences granted in the West Original release: Parties who let Lough Neagh die are now selling off our land for dirty profit (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA warns that proposed 2026–2029 Nutrients Action Programme changes must not strain farmers' livelihoods, calls for scrutiny of the consultation, and urges stakeholders to respond before the deadline.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Drop the Puberty Blocker Ban
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll criticises the Alliance Party's tabled Assembly motion for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and calls on the Executive to reverse its indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s and publish the clinical evidence behind it.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Assembly motion on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Original release: Drop the Puberty Blocker Ban (opens in a new tab)
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Cancer Waiting Times in Northern Ireland ‘a Scandal’ – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to act on cancer waiting times, citing only 37.9% of patients starting treatment within 62 days of GP referral against a 95% target. She also points to nearly 25,000 children awaiting a paediatrician and calls for accountability over the…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland cancer waiting times statistics and Assembly debate Original release: Cancer Waiting Times in Northern Ireland ‘a Scandal’ – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Erskine praises response to Clogher Valley fire
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine thanks emergency services on the third day of battling wildfires in the Clogher Valley, describing the scale of the damage as massive and upsetting. She urges the public to avoid lighting fires during the dry spell and to stay clear of the blaze.
Environment and climate Issue: Clogher gorse fire, County Tyrone Original release: Erskine praises response to Clogher Valley fire (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew expresses concern over Clogher gorse fire
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew expresses concern about a significant gorse fire near Clogher, County Tyrone, saying fire appliances are at the scene. He relays fire service advice for nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut because of smoke, and urges the community to avoid the area.
Environment and climate Issue: Clogher gorse fire, County Tyrone Original release: Gildernew expresses concern over Clogher gorse fire (opens in a new tab)
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Labour should listen and change course – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says Labour should reflect on recent local government and Runcorn by-election results and change course on winter fuel payments, national insurance rises, inheritance tax on family farms and illegal immigration.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Local Government elections and Runcorn by-election results 2025 Original release: Labour should listen and change course – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan welcomes plan to tackle health waiting lists
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes Health Minister Nesbitt's investment plan to cut waiting lists in the north, following Finance Minister John O'Dowd's allocations. He urges urgent action to bring cancer red flag referral figures back under target and welcomes the Cross Border Directive…
Health Issue: Health Minister's investment plan to cut waiting lists Original release: McGuigan welcomes plan to tackle health waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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An all-island health service makes sense – Sinn Féin to hold major health conference in Belfast
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen announces the Commission on the Future of Ireland will hold a ‘Health and Care in a New Ireland’ conference in Belfast on 6 June, chaired by an independent and featuring an expert panel, calling for all‑island cooperation to improve health services.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Health and Care in a New Ireland conference in Belfast Original release: An all-island health service makes sense – Sinn Féin to hold major health conference in Belfast (opens in a new tab)