Latest releases
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2,489 releases
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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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Time to ban unjust letting fees – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson urges the public to comment on a proposed bill that would ban unfair letting fees and require the Department for Communities to issue guidance on prohibited charges, before the consultation ends on 12 May 2025.
Housing Issue: Consultation on proposed letting fees ban Original release: Time to ban unjust letting fees – Ferguson (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)
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Belfast to March on 10 May: Ban Evictions Now
People Before Profit announces an anti-eviction march from Dunville South to Belfast City Hall on Saturday 10 May, calling for an eviction ban, rent caps and an end to Housing Executive succession evictions.
Housing Issue: Belfast anti-eviction march announced for 10 May Original release: Belfast to March on 10 May: Ban Evictions Now (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes departmental investment plan to tackle hospital waiting lists
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's Assembly statement on a funding plan to reduce hospital waiting times, and backs a £10m reimbursement scheme for treatment abroad starting in June.
Health Issue: Health Minister's investment plan to cut waiting lists Original release: Chambers welcomes departmental investment plan to tackle hospital waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of reference to mental health waiting lists greatly concerning, says Donnelly, following Health Minister statement
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA welcomes the Health Minister's announcement on how funds will be used to tackle waiting lists, but says the lack of reference to people on mental health waiting lists is a great concern.
Health Issue: Health Minister's investment plan to cut waiting lists Original release: Lack of reference to mental health waiting lists greatly concerning, says Donnelly, following Health Minister statement (opens in a new tab)
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Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew McMurray welcome the designation of seven new bathing waters in Northern Ireland, including Brompton Bay, Donaghadee and Warrenpoint. Egan urges NI Water to progress wastewater treatment upgrades and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to act.
Environment and climate Issue: Seven new bathing waters designated in Northern Ireland Original release: Expansion of official bathing waters welcome news, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Waiting lists plan must show results
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to publish monthly reports on his £50m plan to tackle waiting lists, but says results must be shown. He raises concerns about reliance on outside providers, repurposing staff, upfront payment for…
Health Issue: Health Minister's investment plan to cut waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Waiting lists plan must show results (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Adam Gannon challenges Executive parties to press for restoring emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital, saying none has yet acted on it. He says the SDLP will keep raising the unfairness of long emergency journeys for rural…
Health Issue: Removal of emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital Original release: Gannon challenges Executive parties over SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray and Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome the National Trust's decision not to consider a bid for land at Thomas's Quarry for the Mournes Gondola project, citing environmental damage from recent fires and economic viability concerns.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: National Trust halts Newry, Mourne and Down Council Gondola talks over Thomas's Quarry Original release: Alliance representatives welcome reconsideration of Gondola project (opens in a new tab)
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Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA says the absence of nurses in some special schools is unacceptable, and calls for nursing to be reinstated in every special school that needs it, as soon as possible.
Education Health Issue: Nursing provision removal from special schools review Original release: Removal of nursing provision in special schools simply unacceptable, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair
Alliance's agriculture and environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA's launch of a consultation on reviewing the 2019 Nutrients Action Programme and the proposed programme covering 2026 to 2029.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges the Education and Health departments to coordinate more closely on support for children with special educational needs, citing rising identification and a shortage of allied health professionals. He says neither the Education Department nor the Education Authority…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Departments must work together to support children with SEN – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban
DUP Peer Lord Dodds warns that the proposed generational smoking ban cannot apply in Northern Ireland because the EU Tobacco Products Directive still governs it under the Windsor Framework. He calls on the Government to clarify whether it will override the Directive.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Generational smoking ban and EU Tobacco Products Directive in Northern Ireland Original release: EU Law Blocks UK Tobacco Ban (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit support the Counter Demo
People Before Profit says it will join UNITED AGAINST RACISM's counter-demonstrations against far-right groups marching on Remigration in Dublin, Belfast and Derry this weekend, arguing that housing and public service failures are a government problem, not a migration one.
Disability and equality Housing Issue: United Against Racism counter-demonstrations against far-right Remigration march Original release: People Before Profit support the Counter Demo (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives welcome National Trust report on Donard recovery
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray and Councillor Jill Truesdale welcome a National Trust report on the condition and recovery of upland habitats around Slieve Donard, citing pressures from recreation, overgrazing and wildfires. McMurray commends the Trust's post-2021 fire recovery work.
Environment and climate Issue: National Trust report on Slieve Donard habitat recovery Original release: Alliance representatives welcome National Trust report on Donard recovery (opens in a new tab)
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Young condemns racist attack in Newry
Alliance Councillor Helena Young condemns a racist attack in Newry on international doctors and their families at a park on 12 April, saying those responsible should be ashamed and the abuse must stop immediately.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attack on international doctors in Newry park Original release: Young condemns racist attack in Newry (opens in a new tab)
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Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan
UUP MLA Robbie Butler calls for a co-designed approach to wildfire risk on upland and designated land, arguing that unmanaged gorse rather than sheep grazing is the main danger to the environment and rural safety. He cites talks with the National Sheep Association and repeated fires, and urges…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Cut the Gorse, Not the Grazing – Butler Calls for Cooperative Fire Prevention Plan (opens in a new tab)