Latest releases
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4,525 releases
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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 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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Dolan welcomes investment in public services and workers
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's monitoring round allocation of £162 million for capital projects and £104 million for public sector pay awards. She says it will improve roads, public transport, housing, healthcare and education, and urges parties to work together…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Dolan welcomes investment in public services and workers (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to improve neurology services ahead of an Assembly motion, citing long waiting lists and delays in diagnosis and treatment. He calls for an implementation plan for the recommendations of a 2025 neurology services report.
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O'Toole: Quarter of a billion unspent capital underlines staggering Executive mismanagement
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the £250 million underspend revealed in the December monitoring round shows Executive financial mismanagement, criticises delays on the A5, Casement Park and Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital, welcomes PSNI and public‑sector pay allocations and
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Original release: O'Toole: Quarter of a billion unspent capital underlines staggering Executive mismanagement (opens in a new tab)
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Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA accuses the Executive of a chaotic budget monitoring round that leaves a £31m shortfall in the health budget, questioning earlier health pay commitments and the delay in reallocating A5 project funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Original release: Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall (opens in a new tab)
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Lord Empey shocked by huge cost of Trader Support Service
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey says Treasury Parliamentary Answers show £385.01m spent over four years on the Trader Support Service, calling the cost colossal and warning that businesses and consumers will bear the costs of the Windsor Framework.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Original release: Lord Empey shocked by huge cost of Trader Support Service (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín expresses alarm at projected reduction in social homes
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says an independent review of changes to social housing grant levels projects Belfast social home completions falling from 1,026 to 337. She calls on the Communities Minister to urgently re-engage with housing associations and protect building in areas of greatest…
Housing Public finance and taxation Original release: Ní Chuilín expresses alarm at projected reduction in social homes (opens in a new tab)
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Changes to social housing funding must not impact building of homes – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew warns that changes to social housing funding could cut the number of social homes built, citing an independent review commissioned by the Federation of Housing Associations. He calls on the Communities Minister to urgently re-engage with housing associations and…
Housing Public finance and taxation Original release: Changes to social housing funding must not impact building of homes – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Time to end dysfunctional politics and reform Stormont to deliver for the people of NI, says Bradshaw
Alliance TEO spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says Covid Inquiry findings show instability is built into Stormont's structures and calls for reform ahead of an Alliance motion in the Assembly urging the Secretary of State to convene an institutional reform process.
Constitutional affairs Health Original release: Time to end dysfunctional politics and reform Stormont to deliver for the people of NI, says Bradshaw (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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Sinn Féin Seanad team vote against Finance Bill 2025 – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Senator Conor Murphy says the party voted against the Finance Bill 2025, claiming the government rejected every opposition amendment and that the bill gives €2.5 billion in tax cuts to landlords, developers and investors while homelessness rises.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Sinn Féin Seanad team vote against Finance Bill 2025 – Senator Conor Murphy (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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Armstrong Slams Sinn Féin of ‘Fantasy Politics’ Over Tuition Fee Abolition Claims
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin of fantasy politics over claims to abolish tuition fees, saying the Economy Minister's claim to have alone kept fees low is untrue and calling for an explanation of how Magee expansion would be funded and a debate on lifting the MaSN…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Armstrong Slams Sinn Féin of ‘Fantasy Politics’ Over Tuition Fee Abolition Claims (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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Peace Plus funding must be protected in EU Budget negotiations – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion urges that Peace Plus funding be safeguarded beyond 2028 and given a central EU allocation, after a Derry visit to community groups, warning of underfunding during the next EU budget talks.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Original release: Peace Plus funding must be protected in EU Budget negotiations – Kathleen Funchion MEP (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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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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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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Half a million spent on Stormont canteen — and no politician will put their name to it
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises the Assembly Commission's over £500,000 refit of the Stormont Blue Flax canteen, saying it is used mainly by MLAs and staff and that no Commission member signed the official reply.
Public finance and taxation Original release: Half a million spent on Stormont canteen — and no politician will put their name to it (opens in a new tab)