Latest releases
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2,489 releases
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Dodds calls for further details on tens of millions for professional…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA calls for further details after revealing over £29 million has been paid in professional fees for the Children's Hospital before construction has begun, noting this is over three times the fees for the completed Maternity Hospital.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Children's Hospital professional fees spending figures Original release: Dodds calls for further details on tens of millions for professional… (opens in a new tab)
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Further delay to Climate Change Commissioner appointment is unacceptable, says Bradshaw.
Alliance's Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for urgent clarity from the FM and dFM over the delay in appointing a Climate Change Commissioner, despite regulations having all-party consent and being in force. She says the dFM hinted at further legislative problems during questions on a British-Irish…
Environment and climate Issue: Climate Change Commissioner appointment delay despite approved regulations Original release: Further delay to Climate Change Commissioner appointment is unacceptable, says Bradshaw. (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes removal of intimidation points and planned review of Primary Social Needs.
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes the Communities Minister's plan to scrap intimidation points in social housing applications and review the Primary Social Needs section. She says moving away Troubles-era measures aids peacebuilding and urges action against perpetrators of violence.
Housing Community relations and legacy Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Armstrong welcomes removal of intimidation points and planned review of Primary Social Needs. (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance Belfast City councillors welcome funding for local community and environmental initiatives.
Alliance councillors Sam Nelson and Jenna Maghie welcome Belfast City Council funding agreed by the Strategic Policy & Resources Committee for more street litter bins, an enhanced alleyways scheme and urban wildflower projects, subject to full council ratification.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Strategic Policy & Resources Committee funding for litter bins, alleyways and wildflowers Original release: Alliance Belfast City councillors welcome funding for local community and environmental initiatives. (opens in a new tab)
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People's Housing Bill Consultation
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll introduces the People's Housing Bill, aiming to ease the North’s housing crisis affecting nearly 48,000 households. The plan would cap rents, convert vacant homes into dwellings, set up a Rental Board, tighten landlord duties and enforce basic housing standards
Housing Issue: People's Housing Bill proposal Original release: People's Housing Bill Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins calls for transparency and accountability on cervical screening failures
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for greater transparency and accountability over past cervical screening failures in the Southern Trust, saying many questions remain unanswered after a committee briefing on the review of 17,500 women's tests. She urges women to keep attending smear tests.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening failures review briefing Original release: Kimmins calls for transparency and accountability on cervical screening failures (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance representatives emphasise importance of regular cervical screenings during Cervical Screening Awareness Week.
Alliance MLAs Nuala McAllister and Michelle Guy urge women to attend regular cervical screenings during Cervical Screening Awareness Week. They call for a Department of Health response to Southern Trust misread screening results and back a statutory public inquiry.
Health Issue: Cervical Screening Awareness Week Original release: Alliance representatives emphasise importance of regular cervical screenings during Cervical Screening Awareness Week. (opens in a new tab)
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Gender inequalities a stark reality in health, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to explore expanding robotic-assisted surgery to other specialties, after Health Minister figures showed 513 of 599 such surgeries since 2019 were on males. She says the split reflects unequal access to…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Minister's figures on gender split in robotic surgery Original release: Gender inequalities a stark reality in health, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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DUP will oppose unlimited public funds to assisted suicide legislation
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP says the party will vote against a money resolution in the House of Commons giving uncapped public spending for developing the assisted suicide legislation. He argues it risks diverting scarce resources from palliative care and mental health support, and calls for…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Commons money resolution on assisted suicide bill uncapped spending Original release: DUP will oppose unlimited public funds to assisted suicide legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn welcomes support for reducing stigma surrounding mental ill-health
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes backing from across parties for a motion aimed at reducing stigma around mental ill-health. She credits the Health Minister's work so far, while urging further practical steps and more accessible mental health services under the Mental Health Strategy.
Health Issue: Cross-party motion on reducing stigma around mental ill-health Original release: Flynn welcomes support for reducing stigma surrounding mental ill-health (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes cross-party support for improved autism mental health support
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes cross‑party support for a motion urging the health minister to devise specialist autism mental health services, saying many with ASD lack needed care and the minister must work with families to deliver fully accessible support.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion calling for specialist autism mental health services Original release: Kimmins welcomes cross-party support for improved autism mental health support (opens in a new tab)
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Thousands of Houses Empty and Thousands Homeless: Time for Action
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is using unreliable data on vacant properties to excuse inaction on housing, and calls on the Finance and Communities Ministers to ensure empty homes records are accurate and up to date.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Thousands of Houses Empty and Thousands Homeless: Time for Action (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer welcomes new veterinary nursing degrees at Ulster University
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer welcomes Ulster University's announcement that its Coleraine campus will offer veterinary nursing degrees, and a part-time animal healthcare and practice degree for registered veterinary nurses. He hopes the courses will keep veterinary careers in Northern Ireland…
Agriculture and rural affairs Education Issue: Ulster University Coleraine veterinary nursing degree announcement Original release: McAleer welcomes new veterinary nursing degrees at Ulster University (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive inaction on empty homes is a missed opportunity after Department of Finance figures showed 21,081 vacant properties across the North. He calls for immediate action, including a review of the Empty Homes Strategy and a scheme similar to Scotland's Empty Home…
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Corridor care can’t become the norm
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says corridor care cannot become the norm in hospitals, after an RCN report found some patients dying in corridors. He calls for proper workforce planning and health service transformation, and warns the situation in the North may be worse than…
Health Issue: Royal College of Nursing report on corridor care across Britain and Northern Ireland Original release: McGrath: Corridor care can’t become the norm (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive squabbling won’t solve health crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls for an end to Executive infighting over the health service crisis, criticising Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's statement on the draft budget's equality impact assessment as a list of grievances. He urges parties to work together on solutions.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health Equality Impact Assessment of 2025‑26 budget Original release: McGrath: Executive squabbling won’t solve health crisis (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer encourages community participation in Dalradian inquiry
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer urges residents across the north west to take part in the additional consultation on Dalradian's proposed Sperrins goldmine and processing plant, after its planning inquiry was suspended. He calls the delay regrettable and stresses the project's possible environmental…
Environment and climate Issue: Dalradian Sperrins goldmine planning inquiry suspension Original release: McAleer encourages community participation in Dalradian inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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‘People’s Kitchen must have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out vital homelessness work’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he and MLA Carál Ní Chuilín met Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with the People's Kitchen team, and calls on the minister to examine funding streams for the Belfast homelessness charity, which receives no public funding.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: ‘People’s Kitchen must have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out vital homelessness work’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Minister commends organisations working to tackle homelessness
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons praised frontline homelessness charities during a visit to a north Belfast support centre, highlighted the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy, announced an extra £6.7 m for the Housing Executive and a new 2025‑26 allocation for homelessness prevention, and thanked
Housing Issue: Housing Supply Strategy and homelessness funding boost Original release: Minister commends organisations working to tackle homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must accept responsibility for making tough decisions, says McAllister.
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister must take responsibility for difficult choices and adopt a stronger stance on efficiency and reform after the Department of Health released its Equality Impact Assessment of the draft 2025‑26 budget.
Health Issue: Department of Health Equality Impact Assessment of 2025‑26 budget Original release: Health Minister must accept responsibility for making tough decisions, says McAllister. (opens in a new tab)