Latest releases
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3,956 releases
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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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Position on ‘reasonable numbers’ in Integrated Education published
The DUP publishes the Department of Education's position paper on 'reasonable numbers' in Integrated Education, which sets expectations that Transformation proposals attract at least 10% of minority-tradition pupils in Year 1 or Year 8, or 15% if Transforming.
Education Issue: Department of Education position paper on 'reasonable numbers' in Integrated Education Original release: Position on ‘reasonable numbers’ in Integrated Education published (opens in a new tab)
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Overreliance on AI technology could have devastating impact on graduates seeking employment – Donna McGettigan TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Donna McGettigan TD warns AI could severely harm graduates' job prospects and questions Minister Lawless over backing a bid for a European AI Factory Antenna, citing graduate hiring cuts at firms including KPMG.
Economy and employment Education Original release: Overreliance on AI technology could have devastating impact on graduates seeking employment – Donna McGettigan TD (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Education Minister is undermining integrated education despite his legal duty to promote it
Alliance's Michelle Guy MLA accuses the Education Minister of undermining integrated education through a statement on new thresholds for pupil mix in integrated schools, saying it is confused and may hinder schools seeking integrated status. She urges transforming schools and parents not to be…
Education Issue: Department of Education position paper on 'reasonable numbers' in Integrated Education Original release: DUP Education Minister is undermining integrated education despite his legal duty to promote it (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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Givan launches new induction programme to support newly qualified…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces an expanded early career teacher induction programme for 2025/26, co-ordinated by the Education Authority, with online and face-to-face training on SEN, literacy, numeracy and behaviour management.
Education Issue: Expanded early career teacher induction programme 2025/26 announcement Original release: Givan launches new induction programme to support newly qualified… (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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Armstrong relieved Education Minister not permitted to run roughshod over legal requirements for integrated education
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says she is relieved the Education Minister cannot ignore the Integrated Education Act, after a High Court ruling that the Department's integrated education strategy was unlawful for lacking benchmarks and targets. She urges the revised strategy be implemented in full…
Education Issue: High Court ruling on Department of Education integrated education strategy Original release: Armstrong relieved Education Minister not permitted to run roughshod over legal requirements for integrated education (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)