Latest releases
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4,779 releases
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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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School uniform guidelines are another attempt to pull the wool over parents’ eyes – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls the DUP Education Minister's new school uniform guidance a 'sham' that will leave families paying too much. He says Sinn Féin's proposals to cap branded items, allow generic alternatives and allow girls to wear trousers were squandered.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new school uniform guidance Original release: School uniform guidelines are another attempt to pull the wool over parents’ eyes – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Residents’ Parking: Time for the Minister to Stop Delaying and Get On With Delivery
TUV MP Jim Allister calls on the Infrastructure Minister to speed up delivery of residents' parking schemes across Northern Ireland after a Department reply offered only further process. He says the Department's own review found the schemes work and that the Minister is still only considering next…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department reply on residents' parking bays rollout Original release: Residents’ Parking: Time for the Minister to Stop Delaying and Get On With Delivery (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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Minister Cannot Hide Behind “Resource Limitations” to Avoid Acting on Sinn Fein Billboard
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is deeply dissatisfied with Infrastructure Minister's written answer on an unauthorised billboard outside Newry bearing Sinn Fein branding, which cited resource limitations and a focus on road safety risks. He calls the response unacceptable and says the Minister…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Newry unauthorised Sinn Fein billboard enforcement written answer Original release: Minister Cannot Hide Behind “Resource Limitations” to Avoid Acting on Sinn Fein Billboard (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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Education Minister must refuse invite to Israel – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan urges Education Minister Paul Givan to turn down a fresh invitation to travel to Israel, criticising his earlier trip and the use of departmental resources for a school visit there. He says Israel is committing genocide and calls for the minister to focus on school crises…
International affairs Education Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new invitation to visit Israel Original release: Education Minister must refuse invite to Israel – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton welcomes delivery of DUP manifesto commitment on school…
DUP MLA Gary Middleton welcomes Education Minister Paul Givan's issuing of new school uniform guidance, which he says delivers a DUP manifesto commitment. He says the guidance aims to ease cost pressures on families by favouring affordable, generic items and consultation with parents.
Education Issue: Education Minister Paul Givan's new school uniform guidance Original release: Middleton welcomes delivery of DUP manifesto commitment on school… (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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Brogan welcomes confirmation that minister can intervene in A5 appeal
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a court decision allowing the Agriculture and Environment Minister to join an appeal against a ruling that blocked the A5 road. She says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who lodged the appeal in August, is determined to find a way forward.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road appeal court permission for Agriculture and Environment Minister to join Original release: Brogan welcomes confirmation that minister can intervene in A5 appeal (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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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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Durkan: 3,000 drop in free school meal approvals deepens pressure on families
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says a drop of over 3,000 free school meal and uniform grant approvals in two years, linked to Universal Credit eligibility thresholds, deepens hardship for families. He calls on Ministers to communicate clearly so parents can reapply.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Free school meal and uniform grant approvals fall by 3,000 Original release: Durkan: 3,000 drop in free school meal approvals deepens pressure on families (opens in a new tab)
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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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We must continue working together to build the A5 – Boggs
Sinn Féin councillor Paul Boggs says his party remains determined to see the A5 road built, pledging to work with the A5 Enough is Enough campaign, other parties and the Infrastructure Minister after the A5/N2 Cross‑Border Working Group meeting.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: A5 road delivery pledge Original release: We must continue working together to build the A5 – Boggs (opens in a new tab)