Latest releases
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2,611 releases
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Budget underlines Executive’s commitment to health – McGuigan
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA welcomes the Executive's agreed budget, saying £215 million for 2025/26 will fund cutting waiting lists and investment in elective care. He says it shows the Executive's commitment to health.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive agreed 2025/26 budget with £215 million for health Original release: Budget underlines Executive’s commitment to health – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Underwhelming Budget won’t fix our problems
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says the Executive's final 2025/26 budget, signed off at Thursday's meeting, lacks the resources to tackle Northern Ireland's problems and calls for multi-year budgeting. He criticises the Executive for blaming the UK Government.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive agreed 2025/26 budget with £215 million for health Original release: McGrath: Underwhelming Budget won’t fix our problems (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan calls for improved autism services and greater inclusion of people with autism
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan calls for better autism services and wider inclusion of autistic people in daily life as World Autism Month begins. He credits Autism NI and Caleb's Cause for advocacy, and says cross-departmental action is needed, pledging work with the Health, Education and Economy…
Disability and equality Health Original release: Boylan calls for improved autism services and greater inclusion of people with autism (opens in a new tab)
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GB Energy shouldn't fund damage of NI tourism: Wilson
DUP MP Sammy Wilson calls for a clear government commitment that GB Energy will not fund a proposed offshore wind farm near the Giant's Causeway, arguing it would damage the World Heritage Site and the tourism industry. He says the government failed to give a straight answer at Northern Ireland…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Proposed offshore wind farm near Giant's Causeway and GB Energy funding Original release: GB Energy shouldn't fund damage of NI tourism: Wilson (opens in a new tab)
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Focus Needed on Lough Neagh Ahead of Summer - Swann & Butler
UUP MP Robin Swann and AERA Committee Chair Robbie Butler MLA call for renewed focus on the Lough Neagh algae crisis after Environment Minister Andrew Muir confirmed an 80% probability of a blue-green algae bloom this summer. Swann urges delivery of the Lough Neagh Action Plan on time, while…
Environment and climate Issue: Minister Muir confirms 80% probability of Lough Neagh algae bloom Original release: Focus Needed on Lough Neagh Ahead of Summer - Swann & Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Link between poverty and suicide crisis can’t be ignored
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan urges the Executive to recognise the link between poverty and rising suicide rates and calls for an effective anti-poverty strategy, following a Samaritans report on inequality and suicidality. He says suicide rates are three times higher in deprived areas and calls…
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Samaritans 'Lost Futures' report on poverty and suicide in Northern Ireland Original release: Durkan: Link between poverty and suicide crisis can’t be ignored (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly unites to reject British government cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes cross-party Assembly support for a motion calling on the British government to reconsider its cuts to disability benefits, which followed the Chancellor's recent announcement of further welfare and public service cuts.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government disability benefit cuts and employability support plans Original release: Assembly unites to reject British government cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Craigavon Hospital redevelopment must be prioritised - Dodds
Upper Bann DUP MLA Diane Dodds calls on the Health Minister to approve and fund the Southern Trust's programme business case for redeveloping Craigavon Area Hospital in the next financial year, citing an outdated estate and a £151 million Phase 1A bid.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Craigavon Area Hospital redevelopment Assembly motion Original release: Craigavon Hospital redevelopment must be prioritised - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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People with terminal illnesses deserve early access to their state pension – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes cross-party support for a party motion calling on the British government to allow terminally ill people early access to their state pension, arguing it would provide financial security in their final months.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on early state pension access for terminally ill people Original release: People with terminal illnesses deserve early access to their state pension – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan questions Executive parties’ rejection of welfare cuts support
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan questions Executive parties' rejection of a party proposal for a mitigation package against UK welfare cuts, after the motion was defeated, saying the Executive should explore all options to help vulnerable people.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: SDLP motion on mitigation package for UK welfare cuts defeated Original release: Durkan questions Executive parties’ rejection of welfare cuts support (opens in a new tab)
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Craigavon Area Hospital redevelopment must be progressed - Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds has tabled an Assembly motion highlighting the need to redevelop Craigavon Area Hospital, saying its main building has had no major capital investment in over fifty years. She urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to back and finance the trust's programme business case.
Health Issue: Craigavon Area Hospital redevelopment Assembly motion Original release: Craigavon Area Hospital redevelopment must be progressed - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly must unite to reject draconian welfare cuts, says Mulholland ahead of motion
Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland MLA urges the Assembly to unite against UK Government disability benefit cuts and to back a motion calling for a UK-wide commission on employment barriers for disabled people. She says the cuts would hit Northern Ireland hard and calls for the…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government disability benefit cuts and employability support plans Original release: Assembly must unite to reject draconian welfare cuts, says Mulholland ahead of motion (opens in a new tab)
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Independent report lays bare the damage of stop-start government in Northern Ireland, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says a UCL report on Assembly collapses shows stop-start government is damaging public services and blocking reform. She calls for removing Executive veto powers and for institutional reform talks before the next Assembly election.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: UCL report on Stormont power-sharing reform and Assembly collapses Original release: Independent report lays bare the damage of stop-start government in Northern Ireland, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew slams latest round of British government austerity cuts
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew criticises the British government's latest austerity cuts, claiming billions are being found for militarisation while welfare payments, international aid and public services are cut following the Chancellor's Spring Statement.
Public finance and taxation Social security and welfare Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Gildernew slams latest round of British government austerity cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison calls for investment in a dedicated care pathway for Facial Palsy patients
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison urges the Health Minister to set up a dedicated facial palsy care pathway, saying Northern Ireland lacks a multi-disciplinary team and patients face long waits and costly travel. He says the Department's pathway work has been slow and the promised 2019 interim service is…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Facial palsy care pathway call at Stormont event hosted by Facial Palsy UK Original release: Mathison calls for investment in a dedicated care pathway for Facial Palsy patients (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey welcomes completion of Belfast flood defence scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey welcomes completion of the £33 million Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme by the Department for Infrastructure, which installs defences along the River Lagan to protect over 3,000 homes and businesses. She calls for fairer Executive funding from the British…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme completion Original release: Hargey welcomes completion of Belfast flood defence scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Pressures facing the Chancellor are largely of her own making - Aiken
UUP Finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the Chancellor's statement is unlikely to restore confidence in her economic management, citing a downgraded OBR growth forecast, a £10bn headroom and the £2.2bn defence-funded aid cut. He warns further austerity is likely.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Pressures facing the Chancellor are largely of her own making - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland to bear the brunt of UK Government cuts, says Eastwood
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says Northern Ireland will bear the brunt of UK welfare cuts without the mitigations offered elsewhere, such as employability support, and calls on Labour to abandon austerity and seek revenue from billionaires and multinational tech firms instead, also urging a…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Northern Ireland to bear the brunt of UK Government cuts, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Cutting welfare support not the way to balance the books
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says welfare recipients should not bear the brunt of UK Government cuts after Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement. She warns disabled people and those with mental health problems face income cuts and urges Executive ministers to act on mitigations.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Chancellor's Spring Statement to the House of Commons 2025 Original release: Hanna: Cutting welfare support not the way to balance the books (opens in a new tab)
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Regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments needed to safeguard clients and professionals – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the Health Minister to introduce regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, including an age limit for procedures like botox and dermal fillers, training standards, and an oversight body such as RQIA.