Latest releases
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4,114 releases
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McGuigan welcomes appointment of Clinical Director for Elective Care
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomes the Health Minister's appointment of Professor Mark Taylor to the newly created post of Elective Care lead, and says he will work with the minister to cut waiting lists using £215 million in this year's budget.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: McGuigan welcomes appointment of Clinical Director for Elective Care (opens in a new tab)
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Resolution needed to GP dispute to ensure patients get the care they need – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to meet GP representatives urgently and seek a quick settlement of the GP dispute with the Department of Health, which has led to collective action this week. He says pressure on GPs is limiting patients' access to appointments.
Health Issue: GP collective action over Department of Health dispute Original release: Resolution needed to GP dispute to ensure patients get the care they need – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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TUV write to Health Minister raising issues with gender identity service and demanding full transparency
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston writes to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt raising safeguarding concerns about the Department's new gender identity service, which he says appears to accept referrals without a lower age limit. He demands full disclosure of the policy's development, consultees and…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: TUV write to Health Minister raising issues with gender identity service and demanding full transparency (opens in a new tab)
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Hard Border ‘Cements-in’ the Division of the United Kingdom from Today – ‘Permanent’ Border Control Posts Operationalise
TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP says the permanent Border Control Post at Larne, opening today, cements a hard Irish Sea border that cuts Northern Ireland off from the UK Internal Market for Goods, with Belfast following on 11 August.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Larne permanent Border Control Post opening Original release: Hard Border ‘Cements-in’ the Division of the United Kingdom from Today – ‘Permanent’ Border Control Posts Operationalise (opens in a new tab)
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Trump/EU trade deal brings more challenges than opportunities for Windsor Framework stifled Northern Ireland - Aiken
Ulster Unionist Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken MLA says the 15% EU-US tariff avoids a 30% cliff edge but the Irish Sea Border will add bureaucracy for Northern Ireland imports from the United States. He says the Secretary of State has not taken a firm stance on tariff variations and…
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: US tariff announcement affecting Ireland Original release: Trump/EU trade deal brings more challenges than opportunities for Windsor Framework stifled Northern Ireland - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcome new emphasis on waiting times
Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers welcomes the Health Minister’s creation of a senior role for Professor Mark Taylor to drive recovery of waiting times in Northern Ireland, calling the move a highly welcome decision that will help patients after long delays.
Health Issue: Professor Mark Taylor appointment to tackle Northern Ireland waiting lists Original release: Chambers welcome new emphasis on waiting times (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister reiterates call for the Health Minister to engage with GPs
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to immediately engage with GPs after the BMA announced collective action over a Department of Health funding settlement GPs voted against. She says the imposed package offers 50p against a stated £39 per patient requirement.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: GP collective action over Department of Health dispute Original release: McAllister reiterates call for the Health Minister to engage with GPs (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín welcomes investment for Brackenburn Clinic
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes Department of Health investment in the Brackenburn Clinic, saying it is long overdue and will help trans people access timely, consent-based medical care. She urges the minister to ensure the clinic meets their needs.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health investment in Brackenburn Clinic Original release: Ní Chuilín welcomes investment for Brackenburn Clinic (opens in a new tab)
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Long pays tribute to early intervention counsellors in Nexus NI pilot project
Justice Minister Naomi Long pays tribute to counsellors delivering the Crisis De-escalation Service, a pilot early intervention scheme run by Nexus NI for survivors of sexual violence and abuse. She says it helps survivors while they wait for longer-term counselling.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Nexus NI Crisis De-escalation Service pilot visit Original release: Long pays tribute to early intervention counsellors in Nexus NI pilot project (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Unity, tariffs and genocide in Gaza raised during US trip – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, on a two-day US visit, says she pressed Washington contacts and Capitol Hill figures on Irish unity referendums, American trade duties and Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and urging the Irish government to prepare for a border poll.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Mary Lou McDonald US visit on Irish unity, tariffs and Gaza Original release: Irish Unity, tariffs and genocide in Gaza raised during US trip – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister’s priorities misplaced - Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the Health Minister's £800,000 allocation to a gender identity service reflects misplaced priorities while patient waiting times and cancer pathways are under strain. She has written to the Health Committee Chair requesting officials appear to explain the service's…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's £800,000 gender identity service allocation Original release: Health Minister’s priorities misplaced - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Taoiseach needs to spend additional Shared Island NDP funding on planning for constitutional change – Senator Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin Seanad leader Conor Murphy calls on the Taoiseach to commit the additional €0.99 billion NDP allocation to the Shared Island Initiative to establishing a Citizens' Assembly on Irish unity and planning for constitutional change.
Constitutional affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: Additional €0.99 billion NDP allocation to Shared Island Initiative Original release: Taoiseach needs to spend additional Shared Island NDP funding on planning for constitutional change – Senator Conor Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Statutory public inquiry into cervical screenings only way to rebuild trust, says Guy
Alliance Lagan Valley MLA Michelle Guy calls for a statutory public inquiry into cervical screening after Public Health Agency data showed underperformance incidents across all Northern Ireland trusts. She urges the Health Minister to act urgently.
Health Issue: Public Health Agency cervical screening underperformance data across all trusts Original release: Statutory public inquiry into cervical screenings only way to rebuild trust, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Stop Stealth Privatisation of Ambulance Service
People Before Profit's Harkin says a council motion in Derry City and Strabane calls on the Health Minister to halt privatisation of NI ambulance services, citing over £10m paid to private ambulance firms in 2024 and nearly £50m over five years.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Private ambulance company spending figures and NIAS privatisation concerns Original release: Harkin: Stop Stealth Privatisation of Ambulance Service (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must take responsibility and address the crisis in autism services – Brogan
Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Nicola Brogan says the autism services crisis in the Western Trust is due to inaction by the Health Minister, citing over 3,000 people waiting for assessment, including 2,686 children, and calls for immediate, targeted investment in diagnostic capacity and staff.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Western Trust autism assessment waiting lists figures Original release: Health Minister must take responsibility and address the crisis in autism services – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Public need answers on Ulster Hospital Emergency Department roof failure
SDLP MLA and Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls for immediate transparency on why the roof of the newly opened Ulster Hospital Emergency Department failed after a leak, forcing patients to be told to stay away unless life-threatening. He says he will write to the Health Minister on…
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ulster Hospital Emergency Department roof failure and patient diversion Original release: McGrath: Public need answers on Ulster Hospital Emergency Department roof failure (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon Encourages responses to Breastfeeding Bill Consultation
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon launches a public consultation on her proposed Private Members Bill to give statutory protection to breastfeeding in public spaces and require businesses and service providers to be breastfeeding-friendly. The consultation runs until 24 October 2025.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Linda Dillon Private Members Bill breastfeeding consultation launch Original release: Dillon Encourages responses to Breastfeeding Bill Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Other parties must step up and support Minister on tackling Lough Neagh crisis, says Blair following suspension of eel fishing
Alliance AERA spokesperson John Blair MLA says other parties must step up and support the Minister in tackling the Lough Neagh crisis, following the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-Operative Society's decision to suspend commercial eel fishing for the 2025 season.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh commercial eel fishing suspended for remainder of 2025 season Original release: Other parties must step up and support Minister on tackling Lough Neagh crisis, says Blair following suspension of eel fishing (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone urges support after eel fishing suspended
SDLP AERA spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA asks Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir for an immediate support package for businesses and seasonal workers hit by the suspension of eel fishing on Lough Neagh, which he blames on years of pollution and political inaction.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh commercial eel fishing suspended for remainder of 2025 season Original release: McGlone urges support after eel fishing suspended (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must urgently establish financial support scheme for commercial fishermen – Kearney
SDLP... no, Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney urges the Agriculture Minister to set up a crisis support fund for eel fishermen after commercial eel fishing on Lough Neagh was suspended for the rest of the 2025 season. He also says the Irish government must engage directly, including meeting local…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Lough Neagh commercial eel fishing suspended for remainder of 2025 season Original release: Minister must urgently establish financial support scheme for commercial fishermen – Kearney (opens in a new tab)