Latest releases
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4,869 releases
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Kearney addresses ‘International Peace and Democratic Society Conference’ in Istanbul
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA reports speaking at an Istanbul conference on peace between Türkiye's government and Kurdish political representatives, citing the Good Friday Agreement. He urges both sides to begin inclusive negotiations and calls for Abdullah Öcalan's immediate…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Kearney addresses ‘International Peace and Democratic Society Conference’ in Istanbul (opens in a new tab)
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Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says delays by the Environment Agency in responding to planning consultations are holding back economic development in mid Ulster. He says the Agriculture and Environment Minister declined his request for an urgent meeting, and calls for updates and transparency for…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Original release: Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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DUP seeks cross-community vote on EU observer status debate
DUP Leader Rt Hon Gavin Robinson MP says DUP MLAs will invoke a Petition of Concern to require cross‑community support for a Sinn Féin motion that would grant Northern Ireland representatives observer status in the European Parliament, and urges unionist members to reject it.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: DUP seeks cross-community vote on EU observer status debate (opens in a new tab)
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British Secretary of State ignoring ‘exciting and energetic’ debate underway on Irish unity – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes accuses Secretary of State Hilary Benn of ignoring the active public debate on a united Ireland after Benn said a border poll remains distant. Hughes calls on the British government to work with the Irish government to prepare for future constitutional change.
Constitutional affairs Original release: British Secretary of State ignoring ‘exciting and energetic’ debate underway on Irish unity – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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New support grant scheme for patients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces a £500,000 Support While Waiting Grant Scheme, with awards of £5,000 to £30,000 for voluntary groups offering wellbeing and practical help to people on HSC waiting lists. Applications close on 30 January 2026.
Health Original release: New support grant scheme for patients (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA calls on the DAERA Minister to break a planning deadlock stalling farm improvements, urging adoption of a mitigation-and-betterment model like Natural England's. He also criticises the Department's reliance on the Office for Environmental Protection and a…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Get Protected: get your Influenza vaccine
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt urges eligible people to get flu, Covid-19 and RSV vaccinations after positive flu cases nearly doubled to 954 in a week and flu admissions rose to 264, speaking during a visit to the Ulster Hospital clinic.
Health Original release: Get Protected: get your Influenza vaccine (opens in a new tab)
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8 o’clock Phone Lottery Must End – TUV Responds to Committee Findings on GP Service
TUV councillor Christopher Jamieson says an Assembly Committee's findings on GP services confirm primary care is in crisis, citing the 8am phone lottery and the Department of Health's lack of an FTE GP count. He calls for workforce planning and an end to contract arrangements he says waste public…
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Time for government action as Houses of Oireachtas support Irish unity motion – Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Senator Conor Murphy says the Irish government must now lead preparations for Irish unity after both Houses of the Oireachtas backed a party motion calling for an all-island citizens' assembly and a parliamentary committee on reunification.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Time for government action as Houses of Oireachtas support Irish unity motion – Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the response to her consultation on a Bill that would give legal protection to breastfeeding in public and require businesses and service providers to make premises breastfeeding-friendly. She urges councils, businesses and public facilities to display…
Disability and equality Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson “London must defend our single market”
DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP says the UK Government is failing to defend Northern Ireland's place in the internal market, during a Westminster Hall debate on veterinary medicines. He calls for certainty on supplies for wholesalers, manufacturers and farmers, and for EU law to end in Northern…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Original release: Robinson “London must defend our single market” (opens in a new tab)
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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.
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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 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…
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Zero FDI Investment in Northern Ireland as a result of Dual Market…
DUP Economy Spokesperson Phillip Brett, who chairs the Economy Committee, says Invest NI could give no example of foreign direct investment resulting from the Windsor Framework and calls the claimed benefits a myth. He urges the UK Government and Assembly supporters of the Framework to act on its…
Economy and employment Constitutional affairs Original release: Zero FDI Investment in Northern Ireland as a result of Dual Market… (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 Original release: Public health and care at heart of new Ireland – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK and Irish Governments must prepare for New Ireland
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood's party colleague Hanna (first name not given in the release) calls on the UK and Irish Governments to prepare for a New Ireland. The release text provided is only the headline, so no further detail is available.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Hanna: UK and Irish Governments must prepare for New Ireland (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…
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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 Original release: Dignity at the end of life must be a priority - Dodds (opens in a new tab)