Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Constitutional affairs: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
4,601 releases
-
McGrath: £20 million spent on restricted health procedures with no checks shows lack of oversight
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says an Audit Office report shows almost £22 million was spent on procedures that should have been restricted, with no monitoring by the Department or Health Trusts, and calls on the Minister for Health to explain the failure and ensure tighter s
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: McGrath: £20 million spent on restricted health procedures with no checks shows lack of oversight (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister has failed to prioritise value for money after an Audit Office report found no proof that Department of Health effective use of resources rules are being followed for 29 restricted procedures. She calls for urgent action…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: NI Audit Office report on Effective Use of Resources compliance for restricted procedures Original release: Health Minister failing to ensure value for money, says McAllister, following NIAO report (opens in a new tab)
-
Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy says reform of the Assembly and Executive is overdue and calls for a Citizens' Assembly to be explored, after the Assembly Executive Review Committee backed her proposal to examine how one could be set up. She argues no single party can deliver reform and that the public…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly Executive Review Committee backing for a Citizens' Assembly proposal Original release: Time for a Citizens' Assembly on reform of NI Institutions, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
-
Cullen welcomes end to flawed consultation but demands urgency on SWAH Vision Plan
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen welcomes the Western Trust's decision to end its consultation on permanently removing emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital, but urges an urgent update and clear timeframe for the final Future Health and Care Services Vision Plan for Fermanagh and West…
Health Issue: Western Trust ends consultation on permanent removal of emergency general surgery at SWAH Original release: Cullen welcomes end to flawed consultation but demands urgency on SWAH Vision Plan (opens in a new tab)
-
New Derry-Dublin flight another boost for the north west – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Irish government's announcement, made as part of its 2026 budget, of a new Derry to Dublin air route. He says the flight will boost the north west and support City of Derry Airport's role in the local economy.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Derry-Dublin air route announced in Irish government 2026 budget Original release: New Derry-Dublin flight another boost for the north west – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP secures proposal for First Ministers to give evidence on Stormont reform
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole says the First Ministers should appear before the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to give evidence on Stormont reform. The proposal, which he tabled at the committee, covers rules to prevent future collapses, equalising the First Minister titles…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Assembly and Executive Review Committee proposal to hear evidence from First Ministers on reform Original release: SDLP secures proposal for First Ministers to give evidence on Stormont reform (opens in a new tab)
-
Leaving the ECHR would be a strategic mistake, says Nesbitt.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt MLA criticises Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's plan to withdraw from the ECHR, arguing it would breach the 1998 Agreement's guaranteed access to the convention and that the real issue is domestic court interpretation.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Conservative plan to withdraw from ECHR if returned to government Original release: Leaving the ECHR would be a strategic mistake, says Nesbitt. (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce
Alliance's Danny Donnelly MLA, a health spokesperson and nurse, calls on the Health Minister to urgently publish the overdue Winter Preparedness Plan, which was due in August, warning delays are costing lives and straining health staff.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Derry unity is vital to delivery’ – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Padraig Delargy calls for parties across Derry and the North West to work together to sustain investment, citing the A6 road scheme, the regional cancer facility and Magee expansion as examples of past progress. He says regional balance is a shared goal of the economic strategy led…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: ‘Derry unity is vital to delivery’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the draft Disability and Work Strategy but says it will only succeed with concrete commitments on community rehabilitation access. He calls for the Department of Health to publish its Community Rehabilitation Framework alongside the strategy…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Disability and Work Strategy public consultation launch Original release: Durkan calls for joined-up approach between Ministers on Disability and Work Strategy (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA accuses the Health Minister of delaying a nurses' pay deal and says recent comments have added uncertainty as the RCN ballots members on industrial action. He calls on the Executive to act now and deliver a fair pay rise.
Health Economy and employment Issue: RCN ballot on nurses' pay strike action Original release: McGrath accuses Health Minister of ‘dithering’ on nurse's pay (opens in a new tab)
-
Time to build mother and baby unit – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn is bringing a motion, to be debated Tuesday, urging the Health Minister to set up a dedicated ward with trained staff for mothers while a mother and baby unit is developed. It also asks the Minister to work with the Irish government so the unit serves mothers and…
Health Issue: Mother and baby unit motion on postpartum mental health support Original release: Time to build mother and baby unit – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Aontú Pro-Life Conference: Building a Culture That Values Every Life
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly announces a pro-life conference in Newry's Canal Court Hotel and says Irish abortion policy has failed its promises. She calls for pain relief for unborn children in late-term terminations and care for babies born alive after procedures, and opposes assisted suicide.
-
Minister views construction work on £70m Queen’s Parade project,…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons visits Bangor to see construction under way on the £70m Queen's Parade regeneration, saying contractors have mobilised at the Marine Gardens site and praising the progress as transformational for the city centre and waterfront.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Queen's Parade regeneration construction start at Marine Gardens, Bangor Original release: Minister views construction work on £70m Queen’s Parade project,… (opens in a new tab)
-
Allister challenges Secretary of State on “misleading” Internal Market Guarantee
TUV MP for North Antrim Jim Allister KC writes to the Secretary of State, alleging that the UK Internal Market Scheme and its ‘Guarantee’ misrepresent goods movements as internal market trade when they still require EU customs and SPS paperwork, border checks and other burdens. He asks for truthful‑
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK Internal Market Guarantee green lane arrangements Original release: Allister challenges Secretary of State on “misleading” Internal Market Guarantee (opens in a new tab)
-
Catney: Residents concerned at proposed poultry farm
SDLP Lisburn North councillor Pat Catney says residents are concerned about a proposed poultry farm for up to 32,000 hens in the Tullynacross Road area, citing traffic, smell and manure transport to Sligo. He asks who will monitor the manure transfers.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Tullynacross Road poultry farm planning application Original release: Catney: Residents concerned at proposed poultry farm (opens in a new tab)
-
McNulty welcomes go-ahead for Dublin Airport rail link
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA welcomes the go-ahead for the €9.5bn Metrolink rail line to Dublin Airport, due in the early 2030s, and calls on the Executive to deliver its own rail commitments. He contrasts this with delays on the all-island rail review in the North.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Metrolink Dublin Airport rail link go-ahead Original release: McNulty welcomes go-ahead for Dublin Airport rail link (opens in a new tab)
-
Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke
UUP MLA Jon Burrows says prison officers in Northern Ireland should not have to endure second-hand smoke at work and calls on the Department of Justice and Prison Service to act now. He notes Northern Ireland lacks a prison smoking ban that applies elsewhere in the UK and says urgent questions…
Justice and policing Health Original release: Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke (opens in a new tab)
-
Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says he is deeply dismayed that the planned new children's unit at Altnagelvin has been paused pending a Department of Health review of capital spending. He calls for the Health Minister to explain his priorities and says his party will write to the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Altnagelvin Hospital children's unit plans paused pending capital spending review Original release: Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
-
McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA condemns continuing failures to meet cancer waiting time targets, citing quarterly figures for April to June 2025 showing fewer urgent GP-referred patients starting treatment within 62 days. She calls on the Health Minister to act.
Health Issue: Quarterly cancer waiting times statistics for April to June 2025 Original release: McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets (opens in a new tab)