Latest releases
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2,606 releases
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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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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)
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DUP welcomes defeat of Assisted Suicide Bill
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Commons defeat of the Assisted Suicide Bill, saying Parliament chose protecting vulnerable people and calling for improved hospice and palliative care for everyone facing terminal illness.
Health Issue: Commons defeat of the Assisted Suicide Bill Original release: DUP welcomes defeat of Assisted Suicide Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises issue of low pay for care workers directly with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has pressed the Health Minister for assurances that firms delivering publicly funded social care meet their duties to staff and pay them fairly. She also seeks an update on the promised Real Living Wage for independent sector social care workers.
Economy and employment Health Original release: Dillon raises issue of low pay for care workers directly with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has raised with the Health Minister new figures showing Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate, asking what action is being taken and how inequalities between deprived and affluent areas will be tackled.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New infant mortality figures showing Northern Ireland highest rate Original release: Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Organisations working on suicide prevention need greater support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn, Chair of the All-Party Group on Suicide Prevention, calls for secure, sustainable core funding for community suicide prevention organisations and cross-departmental government action, ahead of the APG Inquiry report launch on 22 September.
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Allister slams delay in Ballymena GP practice scheme
TUV MP Jim Allister expresses disappointment that multi-disciplinary teams for primary care in Ballymena will not begin until 2029, while other areas get the scheme sooner, and urges decision makers to reconsider the timeline.
Health Issue: Ballymena primary care multi-disciplinary teams delayed until 2029 Original release: Allister slams delay in Ballymena GP practice scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes encourages support for Sherry family cancer services petition
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes urges people to sign a petition launched by the family of Catherine Sherry, who died in 2024, seeking all-Ireland access to CAR-T cell therapy. He says the treatment is unavailable in the north until the early 2030s and that he has raised the issue with health ministers…
Health Issue: Sherry family CAR-T cell therapy cancer services petition Original release: Hughes encourages support for Sherry family cancer services petition (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology families deserve accountability and demonstrable change – McGuigan
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA says the RQIA Neurology Deceased Patients Review findings are deeply concerning and calls on the Health Minister and Department to set out action, responsibility and evidence of change across all Trusts.
Health Issue: RQIA Neurology Deceased Patients Review findings Original release: Neurology families deserve accountability and demonstrable change – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls for an urgent Health Minister response to a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report showing rising infant mortality in the region. He says he will write to the minister seeking a funded plan for the College's recommendations…
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics State of Child Health 2026 report on infant mortality Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a £1.25million second-year Cancer Charities Grant Scheme with Macmillan Cancer Support, funding community wellbeing, rehabilitation, transport and practical support for people affected by cancer.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support (opens in a new tab)
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Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed that only benefits named in the outgoing regulations will count for priority in next year's pre-school admissions, ending the reading-in of replacement benefits. He announced this alongside a public consultation on the Socially Disadvantaged…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Education Minister immediate changes to pre-school Socially Disadvantaged Circumstances criterion Original release: Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working… (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the DUP is using renewed Drumcree controversy to divert attention from the Executive's failure to pass a Budget, as public services face uncertainty. He calls on the DUP and Executive ministers to agree a Budget and address health, waiting…
Public finance and taxation Community relations and legacy Issue: Drumcree parading dispute and Executive Budget impasse Original release: O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Does Minister’s review meet his Leader’s promises?
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says a Health Minister's review of an earlier review fails to meet UUP leader Jon Burrows' promises on change and transparency. She questions the document's authorship and asks how far Department of Health officials shaped it.
Health Issue: Health Minister's review of a previous review Original release: Does Minister’s review meet his Leader’s promises? (opens in a new tab)
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Say No to Abortion Illuminations on Belfast City Hall!
Aontú opposes Belfast City Council's decision to light up Belfast City Hall for International Safe Abortion Day, calling it shocking use of the building. It says Sinn Féin and the SDLP councillors who backed the lighting have abandoned pro-life principles and calls for support for mothers instead.
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall lighting for International Safe Abortion Day Original release: Say No to Abortion Illuminations on Belfast City Hall! (opens in a new tab)