Latest releases
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3,926 releases
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Shameful that SEN children remain without appropriate school placement, says Guy, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says it is shameful that children with special educational needs still lack an appropriate school placement, ahead of an Assembly motion calling on the Education Minister to clarify how many children are affected and set timescales for the SEN…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Shameful that SEN children remain without appropriate school placement, says Guy, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Efforts to divide communities will fail, we all must stand against racism – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes says equality and solidarity will defeat current efforts to stoke division, responding to fresh attempts by small groups to turn people against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. He cites migrant workers' role in stabilising services at Daisy Hill Hospital and blames…
Immigration Health Original release: Efforts to divide communities will fail, we all must stand against racism – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises issue of firearms licensing at Policing Board
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon raised firearms licensing at the Policing Board, asking what powers police have to remove guns from people accused of domestic abuse. She says police confirmed they can seize all firearms in a household where abuse is alleged, and urges anyone aware of such cases to…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Dillon raises issue of firearms licensing at Policing Board (opens in a new tab)
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Racist attacks on Trust employees are “deplorable” – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen condemns recent racist attacks on Western Trust employees as unacceptable and calls for them to be dealt with through the courts, stressing that everyone has a right to feel safe at work.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Racist attacks on Western Trust employees Original release: Racist attacks on Trust employees are “deplorable” – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
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Why Has Dr Hilary Cass Been Brought in After Minister Nesbitt Has Already Made His Decision?
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston questions why Baroness Hilary Cass was brought in to assess Northern Ireland's gender identity services after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt had already allocated £806,000 for expansion. He calls on the Minister to explain the sequence and whether her review can shape policy…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Baroness Cass review of Northern Ireland gender identity services Original release: Why Has Dr Hilary Cass Been Brought in After Minister Nesbitt Has Already Made His Decision? (opens in a new tab)
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"We do not need another review, we need healthcare" - Ash Jones
Green Party representative Ash Jones calls the Health Minister's decision to commission Hilary Cass to review local Gender Identity Services a betrayal of trans patients. Jones says the review is unnecessary given recent local reviews, criticises the Cass Review's use for puberty blocker…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Baroness Cass review of Northern Ireland gender identity services Original release: "We do not need another review, we need healthcare" - Ash Jones (opens in a new tab)
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Cullen meets Health Minister about SWAH consultation ‘pause’
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen says his meeting with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt underlines the need for a rapid vision plan and a patient‑centred revised consultation on emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital, urging the Trust to base decisions on public input and clinical evidence.
Health Issue: Pause of emergency surgery consultation at SWAH Original release: Cullen meets Health Minister about SWAH consultation ‘pause’ (opens in a new tab)
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McKay condemns ‘abhorrent’ racist graffiti directed at council employee
Sinn Féin councillor Conor McKay condemns racist graffiti in Donegall Pass, south Belfast, directed at a Belfast City Council employee. He calls for a full criminal investigation by the PSNI and has requested an urgent meeting with the council's Chief Executive to support the worker.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Racist graffiti targeting Belfast City Council employee in Donegall Pass Original release: McKay condemns ‘abhorrent’ racist graffiti directed at council employee (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must clarify what he knew about cases settled within Belfast Trust – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chairperson of the Health Committee, says he will question the Health Minister and his department about money paid in settlements to former Belfast Trust employees, including legal fees. He calls for clarity on what the Minister knew about settled cases and what…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust staff settlements and legal fees reports Original release: Health Minister must clarify what he knew about cases settled within Belfast Trust – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister expresses concern at consistently long waiting times
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister expresses concern at long waiting times after quarterly figures showed the Belfast, South Eastern and Northern Trusts missed the Department of Health's target. She calls on the Health Minister to take a different approach and listen to clinicians.
Health Issue: Quarterly waiting times statistics for Belfast, South Eastern and Northern Trusts Original release: McAllister expresses concern at consistently long waiting times (opens in a new tab)
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Cross-Party Support needed for Hospital - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell urges all elected representatives to back Causeway Hospital across party lines, after an FOI response showed only three public representatives, including DUP colleagues, responded to the consultation on surgery service changes.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital surgery services consultation responses FOI Original release: Cross-Party Support needed for Hospital - Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister marks start of construction at new Crawfordsburn…
Education Minister Paul Givan marks the start of construction on a £7.3 million Department of Education project to build a new school on the existing Crawfordsburn Primary School site, with completion due in March 2027.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Crawfordsburn Primary School new build construction start Original release: Education Minister marks start of construction at new Crawfordsburn… (opens in a new tab)
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Patients waiting more than a decade for initial outpatient…
DUP Health Spokesperson and Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds says Health Minister's Assembly answers show children waiting over ten years for a first paediatric surgery outpatient appointment in Belfast, and calls for full referral-to-treatment waiting time publication without further delay. She also…
Health Issue: Paediatric waiting times revealed in Health Minister's Assembly written answers Original release: Patients waiting more than a decade for initial outpatient… (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont Report Reveals What We Already Knew: the Executive isn’t Delivering
TUV South Antrim representative Mel Lucas says a Pivotal Tracker report shows the Executive is not delivering, citing failing essential services, health waiting lists, GP access, housing costs and unresolved wastewater and productivity plans.
Constitutional affairs Health Issue: Pivotal Tracker report on Northern Ireland Executive performance Original release: Stormont Report Reveals What We Already Knew: the Executive isn’t Delivering (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan slams those responsible for racists attacks in Ballymena
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan condemns racist attacks in Ballymena after six vehicles were burned outside a property on Lisnevenagh Road. He calls for unity and strong leadership and urges anyone with information to contact the police.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Ballymena Lisnevenagh Road racist attack vehicles burned Original release: McGuigan slams those responsible for racists attacks in Ballymena (opens in a new tab)
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Questions around DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride raised by Freedom of Information disclosures
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure says FOI responses show a contradictory picture on DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride, noting the Executive Office holds a record of a deputy First Minister comment that the Department of Finance does not. She questions whether the…
Disability and equality Issue: FOI disclosures on DUP opposition to Civil Service Belfast Pride participation Original release: Questions around DUP opposition to Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride raised by Freedom of Information disclosures (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns an attack on a home in Donegall Avenue, south Belfast, in which residents were injured, calling it unacceptable and urging anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Donegall Avenue home attack in south Belfast Original release: Hargey condemns racist attack as ‘disgraceful and disgusting’ (opens in a new tab)
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Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth
TUV Equality Spokeswoman Ann McClure accuses Translink of overcharging bands and Loyal Orders for Twelfth buses while providing a dedicated Pride bus for Belfast Pride, and says its £20,000 Pride-linked spending should go to services instead.
Community relations and legacy Infrastructure and transport Original release: Translink Free Ride for Pride, High Price for the Twelfth (opens in a new tab)
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"Drug testing at festivals and large scale events is a no brainer" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth criticises the Public Health Agency for poor communication after a Republic of Ireland health warning about high-dose MDMA ahead of the Electric Picnic festival. He calls for drug testing facilities at large events, an overdose prevention centre in Belfast and…
Health Issue: Republic of Ireland high-dose MDMA warning ahead of Electric Picnic Original release: "Drug testing at festivals and large scale events is a no brainer" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA says many SEN children with school placements cannot start full-time education in September, citing an FOI response showing 48 children across 14 schools unable to start and around 100 more across 23 schools possibly not attending full-time.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority FOI response on SEN places crisis for September 2025 Original release: SEN children unable to start full-time education in September unacceptable, says Guy (opens in a new tab)