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4,071 releases
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Labour's Red Hand Slaps Farmers in The Face, says Butler
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says he is deeply disappointed after UK Farming Minister Angela Eagle confirmed planned inheritance tax changes affecting farms will go ahead in the coming Budget. He accuses Labour of closing the door on farmers and vows the party will keep lobbying…
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Confirmation of farm inheritance tax changes in Budget Original release: Labour's Red Hand Slaps Farmers in The Face, says Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood ramps up campaign to support local cafes, pubs, and restaurants ahead of Budget
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood has launched a UK-wide parliamentary petition urging a VAT cut for pubs, cafes and restaurants ahead of the Autumn Budget, citing rising costs facing hospitality businesses in Lagan Valley.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Eastwood ramps up campaign to support local cafes, pubs, and restaurants ahead of Budget (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan praises work of Finance Minister to help deliver nurses’ pay uplift
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's securing of £100 million toward a nurses' pay rise, announced after an Executive meeting. He calls on the Health Minister to find the remaining funding quickly.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: McGuigan praises work of Finance Minister to help deliver nurses’ pay uplift (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns suspected south Belfast racist attack
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns a suspected racist assault on a young woman in Botanic, south Belfast, on Wednesday night, and urges anyone who saw it to contact police. She says the woman has been discharged from hospital.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Botanic, south Belfast suspected racist assault on young woman Original release: Hargey condemns suspected south Belfast racist attack (opens in a new tab)
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Brolly launches multi-step policy to support bereaved families of baby loss
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly launches an All-Ireland strategy calling for a cross-border paediatric pathology and bereavement service, so bereaved families in the North no longer have babies and children sent to Liverpool for post-mortems. The plan seeks a national bereavement care standard…
Health Issue: Aontú All-Ireland paediatric pathology and bereavement policy launch Original release: Brolly launches multi-step policy to support bereaved families of baby loss (opens in a new tab)
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Any reduction in patient waiting times step in the right direction but long-term planning and investment needed to ensure progress – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of the Health Committee, welcomes reductions in waiting lists noted by the Health Minister at the NICON '25 conference, but urges more progress on red flag cancer waits and long-term investment planning.
Health Issue: Health Minister's NICON '25 remarks on reducing waiting lists Original release: Any reduction in patient waiting times step in the right direction but long-term planning and investment needed to ensure progress – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Winter health plan confusion failing patients and staff
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA warns of a looming winter health crisis after the Health Minister's winter pressures plan remained unfinalised in mid-October, with trust-level plans still outstanding and the timeline unclear.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: O’Toole: Winter health plan confusion failing patients and staff (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes progress towards pay deal for health workers but warns there’s still more to be done
Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers welcomes Executive endorsement of a Health Minister proposal to align health and social care pay with UK colleagues, but says the £208m-cost 2025/26 award is only partly funded and criticises the First Minister's press conference remarks.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: Chambers welcomes progress towards pay deal for health workers but warns there’s still more to be done (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister provides cautious welcome for steps towards confirming pay awards for health workers
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA gives a cautious welcome to Executive steps towards funding health sector pay awards, but says the Health Minister needs the resources to match the offer and deliver the award he has promoted.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: McAllister provides cautious welcome for steps towards confirming pay awards for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes demonstrable progress on tackling hospital waiting lists
UUP MLA and Health Committee member Alan Chambers welcomes falling hospital waiting lists, citing recent Department of Health figures showing reductions in the longest waits for colonoscopies, hip and knee replacements and tonsillectomies. He credits the Minister's focus on longest waiters and…
Health Issue: Department of Health hospital waiting list figures showing reductions in longest waits Original release: Chambers welcomes demonstrable progress on tackling hospital waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to visit Woodlawn House in Dungannon after an Assembly debate he tabled on respite care. He says families have reported planned respite cancelled at short notice and calls for timely, well-planned services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Assembly debate Original release: Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
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Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Executive 2025–26 Legislation Programme and 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan demands action from Executive to protect mental health services
SDLP MLA and Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says the closure of the Extern crisis service in Foyle, which supported people in mental health distress out of hours, reflects Executive failings. He calls for cross-departmental legislation and a new budgeting approach ahead of the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Closure of Extern crisis intervention service in Foyle Original release: Durkan demands action from Executive to protect mental health services (opens in a new tab)
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‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Belfast City Council's dual-language street sign policy protects minority languages and follows international best practice, after a DUP Assembly motion seeking its replacement was defeated. He cites new Conradh na Gaeilge figures showing broad public support.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: ‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes Conradh na Gaeilge survey data finding that only 2.9% of residents on 536 approved streets opposed bilingual signage in Belfast. He points to the DUP's Assembly motion seeking to condemn the policy.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: New figures prove Belfast’s bilingual signage policy enjoys widespread support – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Swann Welcomes Signs of Treasury Rethink on Family Farm Tax
UUP MP Robin Swann welcomes rumours that the Treasury is considering changes to the Family Farm Inheritance Tax, citing a possible 'minimum share rule' with relief tiers up to £10 million, but urges caution until the Chancellor's Budget announcement.
Public finance and taxation Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Treasury consideration of changes to Family Farm Inheritance Tax Original release: Swann Welcomes Signs of Treasury Rethink on Family Farm Tax (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister questions why the DUP brought a Belfast City Council Irish language signage motion to the Assembly, which Alliance opposed. She says Stormont should focus on health and education, and calls on the DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approaches.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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World Mental Health Day brings to light the dire need for better mental health services across the North – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls on the Health Minister to clarify plans for tackling the mental health crisis, saying progress on the 2021 Mental Health Strategy is falling far short. She urges a regional mental health crisis centre and cites her Suicide Prevention Bill requiring training for…
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McGrath: Executive must get serious about mental health
SDLP's McGrath says the Executive needs to take mental health far more seriously, though the release gives no specific policy, figure or decision behind the call.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Executive must get serious about mental health (opens in a new tab)