Latest releases
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4,523 releases
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GP dispute must be resolved urgently – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to re-engage with GPs and reach a swift settlement, following a no-confidence motion passed at the Local Medical Committees conference in Belfast. He says patient access to appointments is suffering and that he will raise the matter directly…
Health Issue: GP no-confidence motion in Health Minister at Belfast LMC conference Original release: GP dispute must be resolved urgently – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Minister must heed GPs vote to consider leaving NHS
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says Health Minister Mike Nesbitt must heed a NILMC Conference motion from GPs exploring alternatives to the NHS. He urges the minister to return to talks with GPs on a funding model and plan, and says he does not back the Conference's approach.
Health Issue: Local Medical Committees conference GP decisions on NHS and industrial action Original release: McGrath: Minister must heed GPs vote to consider leaving NHS (opens in a new tab)
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GP Conference Decision was Reckless and ill Judged
UUP spokesperson calls the weekend Local Medical Committees conference decisions reckless and ill-judged, criticising GP proposals to ramp up action, including on vaccination programmes, and a vote to explore moving outside the NHS. The party urges GP leaders to return to responsible engagement.
Health Issue: Local Medical Committees conference GP decisions on NHS and industrial action Original release: GP Conference Decision was Reckless and ill Judged (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says Sinn Féin joined the DUP to defeat his trans rights solidarity motion at Derry City and Strabane District Council, after Sinn Féin called the motion divisive. The motion opposed Stormont transgender policies including the puberty blocker ban and school…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane council vote on trans rights solidarity motion Original release: Sinn Féin Unites With DUP To Vote Down Trans Rights Solidarity Motion In Derry City and Strabane District Council (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan highlights urgent need to address men’s health across our island
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan calls for more attention to men's and boys' health across the island, following an event at Stormont, and stresses better mental health access in rural areas and tackling stigma. He also urges cross-departmental working, policy reform and improved healthcare access.
Health Issue: The Invisible Man event at Stormont on men's health Original release: Boylan highlights urgent need to address men’s health across our island (opens in a new tab)
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Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirms he remains committed to funding the Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers, saying it will be a priority in 2026/27 planning despite a recent £209million pay direction not covering it.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Real Living Wage funding for independent sector homecare workers Original release: Minister remains committed to funding Real Living Wage for independent sector homecare workers (opens in a new tab)
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Health Committee urges Minister to establish full public inquiry into cervical screening scandal, following Alliance proposal
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Assembly Health Committee has unanimously backed a call for the Health Minister to set up a full statutory public inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening scandal, following an Alliance proposal from Nuala McAllister MLA.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening scandal public inquiry call Original release: Health Committee urges Minister to establish full public inquiry into cervical screening scandal, following Alliance proposal (opens in a new tab)
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Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Queen's University Belfast's initiative training nursing students to identify warning signs of abuse affecting women and girls, arguing frontline staff help protect at-risk people. She says Sinn Féin will keep backing measures that strengthen protections.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Queen's University Belfast nursing students abuse-recognition training initiative Original release: Training nurses to spot signs of violence and abuse will help save lives – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says everyone must do better to reduce plastic waste on beaches after the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report found 84% of beach litter is plastic. He commends DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's work on producer responsibility and a…
Environment and climate Issue: Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Marine Litter Report beach plastic findings Original release: We must all do better to reduce plastic waste on our beaches, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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£48.8m NICS sick leave bill demands action from DoF - Forysthe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe says rising NICS sick leave costs, up to £48.8m in 2024/25 from £44m, show a failure of leadership at the Department of Finance. She calls on it to set a plan, investigate root causes and introduce absence reduction targets.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: NISRA figures showing NICS sick leave cost £48.8m in 2024/25 Original release: £48.8m NICS sick leave bill demands action from DoF - Forysthe (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan urges the Executive Office to speed up applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme before its August 2026 closure to new applications. Citing figures he obtained, he says 2,476 applications have succeeded and 1,758 awards total nearly…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme application figures Original release: McCrossan urges progress ahead of Troubles payment scheme deadline (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin and the SDLP, including the First Minister, of hypocrisy for welcoming the Londonderry to Dublin air route while backing the 2050 net-zero target. She cites environment minister Andrew Muir's confirmation that international aviation…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Londonderry to Dublin air route resumption Original release: Armstrong Slams Hypocrisy Over Londonderry-Dublin Flight And Climate Commitments (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly calls for stronger action on flu as hospital admissions double and winter pressures mount
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA warns of mounting winter strain on health services after new figures show emergency hospital admissions from flu in the community have doubled. He urges the Department of Health to boost vaccine take-up, publish a winter preparedness plan and say…
Health Issue: New figures showing doubling of flu-related emergency hospital admissions Original release: Donnelly calls for stronger action on flu as hospital admissions double and winter pressures mount (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed now on environmental and biodiversity crisis – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for urgent North-South intergovernmental action on Northern Ireland's environmental and biodiversity crisis, citing Lough Neagh pollution and only 63 fines from 4,202 NIEA-recorded water pollution incidents between 2020 and 2024, and demands an independent…
Environment and climate Original release: Action needed now on environmental and biodiversity crisis – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance’s latest quango proposal an attempt to pass the buck -…
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA says the SDLP's motion for a new independent environmental body is a costly distraction that will not improve Lough Neagh water quality or accountability. She argues DAERA cannot fund existing structures and places blame on the Minister.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly motion on Independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: Alliance’s latest quango proposal an attempt to pass the buck -… (opens in a new tab)
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Child Benefit u-turn welcome, but more needed – Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes welcomes HMRC's U-turn on letters suspending Child Benefit payments, but calls for all payments to be reinstated immediately, back payments guaranteed and the errors never repeated.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: HMRC Child Benefit suspension letters U-turn Original release: Child Benefit u-turn welcome, but more needed – Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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Pat Cullen confirms panel for ‘Delivering Rural Health and Care in a New Ireland’ event in Enniskillen
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen announces the speakers for a November 26 Enniskillen event on rural healthcare across the island, with Mary Lou McDonald as guest speaker and Cullen chairing a panel including Paula Leonard, Fr Brian D'Arcy and Denzil McDaniel.
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McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the health service is still heading for a winter crisis despite the staff pay award, blaming Executive dysfunction and a Winter Preparedness Plan published amid delay and criticism. He calls for year-round resilience building and long-term…
Health Issue: Health and social care staff pay award and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: AERA Minister must outline plans for independent EPA
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA says the Minister must set out how he will advance an independent Environmental Protection Agency, after the DUP rejected the SDLP’s Opposition Day motion supporting the proposal.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly motion on Independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: McCrossan: AERA Minister must outline plans for independent EPA (opens in a new tab)
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Independent environmental regulator crucial to tackling pollution – Finnegan
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan says an independent environmental regulator is key to tackling environmental damage, ahead of an Assembly motion calling for an Independent Environmental Protection Agency. She says it would reduce pollution and work alongside Executive departments.
Environment and climate Issue: Assembly motion on Independent Environmental Protection Agency Original release: Independent environmental regulator crucial to tackling pollution – Finnegan (opens in a new tab)