Latest releases
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4,523 releases
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Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools
Green Party councillor Flynn welcomes the Supreme Court judgment on compulsory religious worship in Northern Ireland schools, urging the Executive to act quickly to overhaul the education framework so pupils from all backgrounds, including non-religious families, feel respected.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 20 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Cancer delays are costing lives - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA urges immediate action from the Health Minister on cancer treatment delays, citing a 41-year-old woman's 112-day referral-to-treatment wait and questioning the diversion of around £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Minister's confirmation that £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding was redirected Original release: Cancer delays are costing lives - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Family farm tax must be scrapped – Hazzard
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard calls on the British government to drop its farm inheritance tax proposals, which he describes as unacceptable and a financial burden on farming families, after attending an Ulster Farmers' Union event at Westminster.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: British government farm inheritance tax proposals Original release: Family farm tax must be scrapped – Hazzard (opens in a new tab)
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Rates Review Update Too Little Too Late for Hospitality Sector
UUP Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA says the Finance Minister's latest business rates review update offers too little immediate relief for hospitality, calling for quick action on a turnover-based rating model like Scotland's and urging measures to protect jobs.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Finance Minister's small business rate relief proposals and rates review Original release: Rates Review Update Too Little Too Late for Hospitality Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Health funding redirection only further demonstrates minister's financial mismanagement, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the diversion of over £70m of £215m ring-fenced for waiting lists to cut the Department of Health's budget deficit shows the Health Minister cannot manage his budget. She calls on him to clarify other ring-fenced funds redirected and urges…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Minister's confirmation that £70m of ring-fenced waiting list funding was redirected Original release: Health funding redirection only further demonstrates minister's financial mismanagement, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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All-island healthcare helps save lives and creates economic opportunities – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Senator Conor Murphy says Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee presentations on the All-Island Cancer Research Institute and All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network show all-island healthcare coordination saves lives and creates economic opportunities. He calls…
Health Issue: Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee all-island healthcare presentations Original release: All-island healthcare helps save lives and creates economic opportunities – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Chairman Allister Kyle Welcomes New MRI Scanner at Causeway Hospital
TUV chairman Kyle welcomes a new £3.07 million MRI scanner installed at Causeway Hospital in August, saying it will end local patients' need to travel to Antrim for routine scans. He credits Northern Trust staff and says it will help cut waiting times.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital new MRI scanner installation Original release: TUV Chairman Allister Kyle Welcomes New MRI Scanner at Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Health service must be fit for purpose for patients and workers – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLAs Philip McGuigan and Linda Dillon say they pressed the Health Minister at a committee meeting to pay social care workers a real living wage, and to resolve the GP contract dispute urgently. McGuigan also raised waiting lists and cancer services.
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Allister meets RNIB in Westminster
TUV MP Jim Allister thanks the RNIB after a Westminster meeting, praising its vision rehabilitation teams and guide dog work, and cites local figures of about 3,470 people in North Antrim with sight loss and roughly 130 new cases each year.
Disability and equality Health Original release: Allister meets RNIB in Westminster (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes Finance Minister’s proposals to support small businesses
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's plan to bring forward enhanced rate relief for small businesses, announced in the Assembly alongside a wider rates review. She urges all Executive ministers to back the proposals.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Finance Minister's small business rate relief proposals and rates review Original release: Dolan welcomes Finance Minister’s proposals to support small businesses (opens in a new tab)
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An all-Ireland health system would deliver better services – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen says two separate healthcare systems on the island are failing people and calls for an all-island national health service. He urges the Irish government to start preparing for such a system, which would make specialist care available north and south based on need.
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The NHS was built on the principle of universal access, free at the point of delivery
The Ulster Unionist Party rejects a suggestion that Northern Ireland replace its NHS-based GP model with a Republic-style medical card system, arguing health inequalities stem from wider socioeconomic factors. It backs Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's £12 million GP pay award and says it will never…
Health Issue: Suggestion to replace NHS GP model with all-island model Original release: The NHS was built on the principle of universal access, free at the point of delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister formally opens new MRI scanner unit at Causeway Hospital
UUP Health Minister Mike Nesbitt inaugurated a state‑of‑the‑art MRI scanner at Causeway Hospital, saying it will boost the Northern Health & Social Care Trust’s imaging capacity and cut patient waiting times by ending transfers to Antrim Area Hospital.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital new MRI scanner installation Original release: Health Minister formally opens new MRI scanner unit at Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Legacy Bill delivers progress but cannot be done on the cheap, says Bradshaw
Alliance spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says the UK Government's new legacy legislation makes progress, welcoming the removal of the Troubles amnesty and resumed inquests, but warns it will be undermined without adequate funding for the Department of Justice. She also criticises the national…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: UK Government Legacy Bill debate at Westminster Original release: Legacy Bill delivers progress but cannot be done on the cheap, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Focus should be on realistic solutions to health service challenges
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says Northern Ireland's health service needs practical investment and reform, and calls proposals for an all-Ireland healthcare system unnecessary and unrealistic. She says General Practice pressures should be tackled locally through workforce stability and…
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Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter criticises the Education Authority over its handling of repairs at Sandelford School in Coleraine, where deteriorating classrooms and unsuitable mobile units have disrupted pupils with complex needs. She calls for faster repairs, clearer communication and a commitment that…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Sandelford School Coleraine classroom repairs and mobile unit closures Original release: Hunter criticises EA's handling of Sandelford School repairs (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Minister must live up to carers’ pay promise
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Health Minister must honour his pledge to pay social care workers the Real Living Wage, after they were left out of the latest pay uplift for health staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Real Living Wage funding for independent sector homecare workers Original release: McGrath: Minister must live up to carers’ pay promise (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark Durkan MLA urges the Health, Communities and Finance Ministers to cooperate so health staff on Universal Credit can receive the backdated 2025/26 NHS pay award without losing benefit payments. He calls for a phased payment approach, warning single parents, mainly…
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Health Minister confirms backdated 2025 healthcare pay award Original release: Durkan: Health staff on Universal Credit deserve fairness on ‘rightfully earned’ pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA expresses concern that 353 special needs school support staff posts were filled without Access NI checks, according to an FOI response from Unite. She calls on the Education Minister to urgently set out plans to end temporary engagement forms…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Access NI checks for special needs school support staff Original release: Hunter concerned at lack of Access NI checks in special needs schools (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must reset relations with GPs, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the BMA's backing of a no-confidence vote in the Health Minister is extremely concerning, urging the minister and GPs to resume talks and repair ties to protect access to primary care.
Health Issue: BMA endorsement of no-confidence vote in Health Minister Original release: Health Minister must reset relations with GPs, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)