Latest releases
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3,054 releases
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Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme
UUP reports Health Minister Robbie Butler has announced £500,000 to extend the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for another year, funding voluntary groups to offer free support to people on HSCNI waiting lists. Applications open 25 September 2026 and close 6 November 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme extension announcement Original release: Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Trust, Minister and Department must find solutions to Daisy Hill Maternity crisis – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes calls on the Southern Trust, the health department and the Health Minister to find workable fixes for the Daisy Hill maternity crisis, saying local expectant mothers are anxious and warning of patient safety risks over capacity and travel times.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Trust, Minister and Department must find solutions to Daisy Hill Maternity crisis – Hughes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the Health Minister must deliver on promised transparency after he failed to answer questions at the Health Committee on the youngest puberty blocker recipient and the Maternity Hospital handover review. She claims bowel screening and thrombectomy announcements were hard…
Health Issue: Health Committee questioning of Health Minister on transparency and communication Original release: Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Calling it a final offer doesn't make it fair
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the UK Government's latest funding package is not fair or sufficient despite its movement, calls for an agreed multi-year Budget, and urges the Secretary of State to stay open to further targeted support rather than threatening to set spending…
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: UK Government final offer on Northern Ireland funding package Original release: Calling it a final offer doesn't make it fair (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Inquiry on Cross-departmental funding for Suicide prevention launched – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn, mental health spokesperson, says the Executive must provide a fair cross‑departmental funding package for suicide prevention and hold regular Executive Working Group meetings, after launching an All‑Party Group report on the issue.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: All‑Party Group report on cross‑departmental suicide prevention funding Original release: Inquiry on Cross-departmental funding for Suicide prevention launched – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment
Aontú TD Paul Lawless announces the Mayo Bones Bus, an initiative to help people with hip, knee and other bone or joint conditions obtain information on cross-border treatment options amid long orthopaedic waiting lists. It follows his Mayo Cataract Bus, with an information session planned in…
Health Original release: Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Brings Toxic Lough Neagh Water into Assembly Chamber: "Would any MLA Take a Sip?"
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll brought a jar of algae-contaminated Lough Neagh water into the Assembly chamber, challenging Executive ministers over the lough's pollution crisis and accusing the DUP of stoking sectarian tension around Drumcree. He also promotes a clean-water march at…
Environment and climate Original release: Carroll Brings Toxic Lough Neagh Water into Assembly Chamber: "Would any MLA Take a Sip?" (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Maternity announcement demands answers from Health Minister
DUP representatives call for urgent clarity after the Southern Trust announced changes to maternity care at Daisy Hill, asking whether this is a wider reduction in services and whether the Health Minister will set out the clinical basis and duration.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Maternity announcement demands answers from Health Minister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SAVE DAISY HILL MATERNITY – DON’T LET “TEMPORARY” BECOME FOREVER
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Urgent action needed on Daisy Hill maternity – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Health Minister to act on the crisis at Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services, calling for recruitment of clinical staff, including from other Trusts and across the island, and warning against relocating services to Craigavon.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Urgent action needed on Daisy Hill maternity – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Taylor: Priority must be to keep consultant-led maternity care at Daisy Hill
UUP Councillor David Taylor says retaining inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital must be the priority after the Southern Trust flagged medical workforce pressures. He calls for a full explanation from the Trust, an urgent meeting on workforce planning, and clear conditions for any…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Taylor: Priority must be to keep consultant-led maternity care at Daisy Hill (opens in a new tab)
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Political inaction allowed collapse of maternity services at Daisy Hill, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says political inaction has allowed maternity services at Daisy Hill to collapse, blaming long-term workforce planning failures, training places and pay. She calls on a Health Minister to act on the Renfrew Maternity Review recommendations…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Political inaction allowed collapse of maternity services at Daisy Hill, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must confirm when he will deliver Real Living Wage for care workers
Sinn Féin's social care spokesperson Linda Dillon MLA says rising fuel costs are squeezing care workers who drive to clients, and has asked the Health Minister to confirm when the Real Living Wage will be delivered for them and what steps will ease travel costs.
Health Economy and employment Original release: Health Minister must confirm when he will deliver Real Living Wage for care workers (opens in a new tab)
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MLAs Pocket Pay Rises While Workers Wait
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns proposed further MLA pay rise after their 27% increase, contrasting it with public sector workers still awaiting pay awards and the Executive's lack of budget. He says Executive parties cannot blame the Remuneration Board and urges MLAs to refuse the…
Economy and employment Health Issue: Proposed further MLA pay rise from Remuneration Board Original release: MLAs Pocket Pay Rises While Workers Wait (opens in a new tab)
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Taoiseach Refuses To Seek Clarity From Burnham on Mechanism for Unity Referendum – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD urges the Taoiseach to press Andy Burnham for clarity on how an Irish unity referendum would be triggered, and argues that all-island health planning would give better services at lower cost.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Taoiseach's refusal to raise unity referendum mechanism with Burnham Original release: Taoiseach Refuses To Seek Clarity From Burnham on Mechanism for Unity Referendum – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls for equitable access to Enhertu, a life-extending breast cancer drug now available on the NHS in England, for patients in Northern Ireland. She has written to Health Minister Robbie Butler seeking an urgent timetable for its availability locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Enhertu breast cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on the Infrastructure Minister to pause commercial sand dredging on Lough Neagh until a review of permissions and environmental assessments is completed, citing evidence that dredging releases nutrients linked to algal blooms. He also urges…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lough Neagh sand dredging nutrient release and NIEA licence review letter Original release: Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Allister calls on minister to bridge the gaps in dental provision
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on health minister Robbie Butler to fund dental hygienist training in Northern Ireland and to create an NHS contract for hygienists, arguing it would save money long term. He also highlights a claimed gap in hygienist numbers compared with England and says the…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland dental hygienist training courses and NHS contract Original release: Allister calls on minister to bridge the gaps in dental provision (opens in a new tab)
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Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA calls on Assembly members from all parties to back the Conversion Practices Bill at Second Stage, describing it as a historic opportunity to ban conversion practices he calls cruel and archaic.
Disability and equality Issue: Conversion Practices Bill Second Stage debate Original release: Conversion Practices Bill a historic opportunity for progress, says Tennyson, ahead of debate (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needs fair and sustainable funding settlement – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says Executive budget pressures stem from the British Government's failure to provide a fair, sustainable funding settlement for the North, citing Independent Fiscal Council evidence that it would receive £1-3 billion more a year if funded above need.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Independent Fiscal Council report on Northern Ireland funding need Original release: Executive needs fair and sustainable funding settlement – Hargey (opens in a new tab)