Latest releases
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3,335 releases
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Alliance representatives pay tribute to former Alliance Councillor David Reid
Alliance figures including leader Naomi Long MLA, MEA Group Leader Councillor Lauren Gray and North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland mourn David Reid, a former Braid councillor in Mid and East Antrim, who has died aged 35 after a cancer battle.
Other Local government Original release: Alliance representatives pay tribute to former Alliance Councillor David Reid (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister is the one with questions to answer - Buckley
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, must answer questions over the £800,000 allocated to gender identity services and will be challenged when the Assembly returns in September. He claims the Minister is avoiding scrutiny and says the spending is poor prioritisation…
Health Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: Health Minister is the one with questions to answer - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
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Criminal Probe Into Asbestos in South Belfast Raises Serious Questions for NIEA and Landowners — Issues Gaston Highlighted in a Letter Last Month
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says a NIEA criminal investigation into asbestos at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, is overdue and calls for answers on the site's history. He questions why the land owner's links were given little attention and demands transparency over NIEA action since 2018.
Environment and climate Issue: NIEA criminal investigation into asbestos at Meridi Street, South Belfast Original release: Criminal Probe Into Asbestos in South Belfast Raises Serious Questions for NIEA and Landowners — Issues Gaston Highlighted in a Letter Last Month (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed to eliminate foul odour – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges Environment Minister Andrew Muir to hold an urgent meeting on foul odours from the Sawgrass/Northway factory, after the smell forced a local GAA summer camp to move and caused vomiting among children, calling for swift action by the minister and the Environment Ag
Environment and climate Issue: Sawgrass/Northway factory foul odour affecting GAA summer camp Original release: Action needed to eliminate foul odour – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly condemns racially motivated hate crimes in Larne
Alliance Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly condemns racially motivated criminal damage to two houses in Larne, where police are investigating graffiti and property damage in Hampton Crescent and Doric Way. She urges anyone with information to contact police immediately.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Larne racially motivated criminal damage to two houses investigation Original release: Donnelly condemns racially motivated hate crimes in Larne (opens in a new tab)
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Finnegan calls for long-term local fishing support
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan welcomes the £3.25m Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund from the environment department but says it must become long-term funding beyond a one-year offer. She also presses the British government to clarify local fisheries support under its May Fishing and Coastal…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund £3.25m support announcement Original release: Finnegan calls for long-term local fishing support (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls for urgent scrutiny of the Irish medium sector after Assembly answer figures showed just 20 newcomer pupils in Irish medium primary schools and none in post-primary. He says the sector should take its fair share of newcomer children.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly answer on newcomer pupil enrolment in Irish medium schools Original release: TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Launch Public Petition Calling for Funding to Gender Identity Service to be Stopped
Traditional Unionist Voice launches an online petition urging Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to reverse the £800,000 approval for a new “lifespan” gender identity service with no lower age limit, arguing the evidence is insufficient, it endangers children and misuses public money.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: TUV Launch Public Petition Calling for Funding to Gender Identity Service to be Stopped (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart Secures High-Level Meeting with Airport Chiefs Over…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Belfast International Airport senior executives have agreed to meet her and constituents over reports of humiliating security screening experiences involving stoma bags. She also says she has contacted Belfast City Airport about sharing training, and will work with…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Belfast International Airport meeting over stoma bag security screening complaints Original release: Lockhart Secures High-Level Meeting with Airport Chiefs Over… (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Mike Nesbitt, Leader Ulster Unionist Party and Health Minister, on nurses pay rise
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, also Health Minister, says he shares the RCN's frustration that 2025-26 recommended nurse pay rises remain unimplemented, noting his May Ministerial Direction decision is stuck with the wider Executive.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses 2025-26 pay award Ministerial Direction delay Original release: Statement from Mike Nesbitt, Leader Ulster Unionist Party and Health Minister, on nurses pay rise (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive disrespect for nurses risks strike action
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA warns the Executive is courting nurses' industrial action by not paying the agreed 3.6% pay rise, after the RCN declared a trade dispute. He says the RCN's June letter to the First and deputy First Ministers went unanswered and calls for urgent…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses 2025-26 pay award Ministerial Direction delay Original release: McGrath: Executive disrespect for nurses risks strike action (opens in a new tab)
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Ann Graves TD hosts meeting for families affected by drug addiction in Leinster House
Sinn Féin spokesperson Ann Graves TD says a meeting with Families Addiction Recovery Ireland highlighted concerns, and criticises a government diversion scheme for drug possession as a shortsighted move that undermines a health-led approach. She calls for families to be central to any new National…
Health Justice and policing Issue: Government diversion scheme for people caught with drugs Original release: Ann Graves TD hosts meeting for families affected by drug addiction in Leinster House (opens in a new tab)
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Tree Protection Bill
Alliance Party calls for a Tree Protection Bill to strengthen legal protections for single trees, groups of trees and ancient woodland, citing a NIPSO report finding only one of 369 reported tree protection breaches led to enforcement action. The bill would reinforce Tree Preservation Orders…
Environment and climate Issue: Tree Protection Bill consultation and NIPSO tree protection breaches report Original release: Tree Protection Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Banning Conversion Practices
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson proposes a Private Members' Bill to ban conversion practices in Northern Ireland, creating two new offences: engaging in conversion practice, and removing a person from Northern Ireland for that purpose.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Private Members' Bill to ban conversion practices in Northern Ireland Original release: Banning Conversion Practices (opens in a new tab)
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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly is introducing a Bill that would require public authorities in Northern Ireland to give statutory due regard to the rights set out in the UN disability treaty, UNCRPD, when developing and reviewing policies and decisions.
Disability and equality Issue: UNCRPD public authorities due regard Bill introduction Original release: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Obligation on Public Authorities) Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes DAERA Minister’s commitment to key environmental decisions
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's commitment to a series of environmental strategies this Assembly mandate, citing a written answer. He calls for political will across the chamber and reform of the Executive approval process, which he says is…
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's environmental strategies commitment for remainder of mandate Original release: Blair welcomes DAERA Minister’s commitment to key environmental decisions (opens in a new tab)
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Councillor Truesdale welcomes decision by DAERA Minister to reject gondola proposal due to environmental concerns
Alliance Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale welcomes DAERA's rejection of a proposal to site a gondola in Kilbroney Forest Park, Rostrevor, saying it would threaten wildlife and the surrounding landscape. She says Alliance and local residents have long opposed the project over economic and…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: DAERA rejection of Kilbroney Forest Park gondola proposal Original release: Councillor Truesdale welcomes decision by DAERA Minister to reject gondola proposal due to environmental concerns (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Waiting list crisis demands concrete response
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA questions why it took so long to appoint Professor Mark Taylor to lead efforts on health waiting lists, and calls for concrete action and clearer detail on his role rather than recycled funding figures.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Waiting list crisis demands concrete response (opens in a new tab)
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Renewed focus on waiting lists needed - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the appointment of Professor Mark Taylor to drive down waiting lists across Northern Ireland, saying patients need visible progress and hoping his role brings fresh urgency to waiting times and access to care.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: Renewed focus on waiting lists needed - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan welcomes appointment of Clinical Director for Elective Care
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes the Health Minister's appointment of Professor Mark Taylor to the newly created post of Elective Care lead, and says he will work with the minister to cut waiting lists using £215 million in this year's budget.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: McGuigan welcomes appointment of Clinical Director for Elective Care (opens in a new tab)