Latest releases
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3,115 releases
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Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford
UUP leader Jon Burrows says the party has chosen Councillor Richard Smart, a Newtownards councillor and former Ards and North Down mayor, to contest Strangford at next May's Assembly election. Mike Nesbitt, the outgoing Strangford MLA, offers his backing.
Other Local government Issue: Ulster Unionist selection of Richard Smart for Strangford Assembly candidacy Original release: Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls for equitable access to Enhertu, a life-extending breast cancer drug now available on the NHS in England, for patients in Northern Ireland. She has written to Health Minister Robbie Butler seeking an urgent timetable for its availability locally.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Enhertu breast cancer drug availability in Northern Ireland Original release: Eastwood demands equitable access to new breast cancer treatment for patients in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on the Infrastructure Minister to pause commercial sand dredging on Lough Neagh until a review of permissions and environmental assessments is completed, citing evidence that dredging releases nutrients linked to algal blooms. He also urges…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lough Neagh sand dredging nutrient release and NIEA licence review letter Original release: Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Late Night transport a huge success for Belfast – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Cáral Ní Chuilín praises the Late Night transport pilot in Belfast, citing over 43,000 journeys and more than 100 major events supported. She credits Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and calls for the scheme to become permanent with Executive colleagues and the…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Late Night transport pilot project results Original release: Late Night transport a huge success for Belfast – Ní Chuilín (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Allister calls on minister to bridge the gaps in dental provision
TUV leader Jim Allister calls on health minister Robbie Butler to fund dental hygienist training in Northern Ireland and to create an NHS contract for hygienists, arguing it would save money long term. He also highlights a claimed gap in hygienist numbers compared with England and says the…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland dental hygienist training courses and NHS contract Original release: Allister calls on minister to bridge the gaps in dental provision (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needs fair and sustainable funding settlement – Hargey
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey says Executive budget pressures stem from the British Government's failure to provide a fair, sustainable funding settlement for the North, citing Independent Fiscal Council evidence that it would receive £1-3 billion more a year if funded above need.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Independent Fiscal Council report on Northern Ireland funding need Original release: Executive needs fair and sustainable funding settlement – Hargey (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP welcomes defeat of Assisted Suicide Bill
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart welcomes the Commons defeat of the Assisted Suicide Bill, saying Parliament chose protecting vulnerable people and calling for improved hospice and palliative care for everyone facing terminal illness.
Health Issue: Commons defeat of the Assisted Suicide Bill Original release: DUP welcomes defeat of Assisted Suicide Bill (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 20 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party selects Cllr Pete Wray as North Down candidate
Ulster Unionist Party selects Councillor Pete Wray as its North Down candidate for the May 2026 Assembly election; leader Jon Burrows lauds his council record and Wray says he will push for better road funding, NI Water fixes, Bangor regeneration, education and community safety.
Other Infrastructure and transport Issue: UUP selects North Down Assembly candidate Original release: Ulster Unionist Party selects Cllr Pete Wray as North Down candidate (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises issue of low pay for care workers directly with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has pressed the Health Minister for assurances that firms delivering publicly funded social care meet their duties to staff and pay them fairly. She also seeks an update on the promised Real Living Wage for independent sector social care workers.
Economy and employment Health Original release: Dillon raises issue of low pay for care workers directly with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has raised with the Health Minister new figures showing Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate, asking what action is being taken and how inequalities between deprived and affluent areas will be tackled.
Health Disability and equality Issue: New infant mortality figures showing Northern Ireland highest rate Original release: Dillon raises serious concerns over infant mortality with Health Minister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Organisations working on suicide prevention need greater support – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn, Chair of the All-Party Group on Suicide Prevention, calls for secure, sustainable core funding for community suicide prevention organisations and cross-departmental government action, ahead of the APG Inquiry report launch on 22 September.
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Allister slams delay in Ballymena GP practice scheme
TUV MP Jim Allister expresses disappointment that multi-disciplinary teams for primary care in Ballymena will not begin until 2029, while other areas get the scheme sooner, and urges decision makers to reconsider the timeline.
Health Issue: Ballymena primary care multi-disciplinary teams delayed until 2029 Original release: Allister slams delay in Ballymena GP practice scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hughes encourages support for Sherry family cancer services petition
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes urges people to sign a petition launched by the family of Catherine Sherry, who died in 2024, seeking all-Ireland access to CAR-T cell therapy. He says the treatment is unavailable in the north until the early 2030s and that he has raised the issue with health ministers…
Health Issue: Sherry family CAR-T cell therapy cancer services petition Original release: Hughes encourages support for Sherry family cancer services petition (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology families deserve accountability and demonstrable change – McGuigan
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA says the RQIA Neurology Deceased Patients Review findings are deeply concerning and calls on the Health Minister and Department to set out action, responsibility and evidence of change across all Trusts.
Health Issue: RQIA Neurology Deceased Patients Review findings Original release: Neurology families deserve accountability and demonstrable change – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls for an urgent Health Minister response to a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report showing rising infant mortality in the region. He says he will write to the minister seeking a funded plan for the College's recommendations…
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics State of Child Health 2026 report on infant mortality Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a £1.25million second-year Cancer Charities Grant Scheme with Macmillan Cancer Support, funding community wellbeing, rehabilitation, transport and practical support for people affected by cancer.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence
UUP Agriculture and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA, during Rural Crime Week, highlights barriers facing rural domestic abuse victims, including distance from refuges and farm ownership issues, and asks the Justice Minister to check whether rural victims get equal refuge and…
Justice and policing Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Armstrong: Rural isolation must never mean suffering in silence (opens in a new tab)
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Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed that only benefits named in the outgoing regulations will count for priority in next year's pre-school admissions, ending the reading-in of replacement benefits. He announced this alongside a public consultation on the Socially Disadvantaged…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Education Minister immediate changes to pre-school Socially Disadvantaged Circumstances criterion Original release: Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working… (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood welcomes trust purchase of St Columb’s Hall
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood welcomes National Lottery funding that will bring St Columb's Hall in Derry into the ownership of the St Columb's Hall Trust, allowing a substantial redevelopment to begin. He says the restored venue will return the whole building to public use.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: National Lottery funding for St Columb's Hall trust ownership Original release: Eastwood welcomes trust purchase of St Columb’s Hall (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the DUP is using renewed Drumcree controversy to divert attention from the Executive's failure to pass a Budget, as public services face uncertainty. He calls on the DUP and Executive ministers to agree a Budget and address health, waiting…
Public finance and taxation Community relations and legacy Issue: Drumcree parading dispute and Executive Budget impasse Original release: O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure (opens in a new tab)