Latest releases
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2,940 releases
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McGuigan concerned by Ambulance Handover waiting times
Sinn Féin Health Committee Chair Phillip McGuigan, North Antrim MLA, expresses concern at an Audit Office report on ambulance handovers, calling on the Health Department to act on its recommendations and review ambulance workforce and hospital and social care capacity.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: McGuigan concerned by Ambulance Handover waiting times (opens in a new tab)
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End the self-sabotage of our Health Service: Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds, MLA for Upper Bann, calls the Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays devastating and urges an end to what she calls self-sabotage in the health system. She says she has pressed the Health Minister for months to name a senior lead with a dedicated team…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: End the self-sabotage of our Health Service: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Patients will continue to suffer without action to fix crisis in ambulance service, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Department of Health must take definitive action on the ambulance service crisis, citing an NIAO review that found handover delays cost NIAS £50 million and could have harmed over 3,800 patients. He criticises repeated DoH strategies that…
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: Patients will continue to suffer without action to fix crisis in ambulance service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Audit Office report underlines ambulances crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says an Audit Office report showing a dramatic rise in ambulance handover times – over 11,000 took more than three hours in 2023/24 – highlights a crisis and calls for fundamental change, welcoming the Health Minister’s willingness to discuss the
Health Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on ambulance handover delays Original release: McGrath: Audit Office report underlines ambulances crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna pushes for increase in maternity pay
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says she has tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill proposing that statutory maternity pay be raised to the real living wage. The party also calls on the UK government to support small firms adapting to the reforms and urges the Executive to match the…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Employment Rights Bill returns to the Commons Original release: Hanna pushes for increase in maternity pay (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Disability cuts ‘immoral and unethical’
SDLP MP Colum Eastwood says proposed British Government plans to freeze personal independence payments and tighten criteria are immoral and unethical, will leave vulnerable families worse off, and pledges to oppose any legislation cutting disability support.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK government proposal to freeze PIP payments Original release: Eastwood: Disability cuts ‘immoral and unethical’ (opens in a new tab)
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Amplification of women’s voices crucial in constitutional discussion – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD says a feminist analysis is crucial to the constitutional debate, welcoming the National Women's Council's Women's Assembly report and urging the Irish government to begin planning a referendum on Irish Unity.
Constitutional affairs Disability and equality Issue: National Women's Council Women's Assembly report launch Original release: Amplification of women’s voices crucial in constitutional discussion – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
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‘Time for British government to move beyond austerity’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on the British government to move beyond austerity towards investment in public services, after reports suggested a £5 billion welfare cut. He has written to the Communities Minister seeking clarity on the impact on disability benefit recipients in the north.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Reported £5 billion welfare budget cuts by British Labour government Original release: ‘Time for British government to move beyond austerity’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP launches plan to reduce pressure on ambulance service and emergency departments
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA launches 'Help Can't Wait', a plan to ease ambulance and emergency department pressure by adopting London's W45 45-minute patient handover policy, which he says could cut handover times by 50% and free up 60,000 operational hours.
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Transparency and accountability needed on hospital building projects
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds calls for an independent review of new Belfast Trust building projects after rot and black mould were discovered in the Acute Mental Inpatient centre, urging the Minister to provide details on repairs, costs, timelines and patient impact.
Health Issue: Rot and black mould found in Belfast Trust Acute Mental Inpatient centre Original release: Transparency and accountability needed on hospital building projects (opens in a new tab)
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DUP delivering on yet another Republican demand
TUV vice chairman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle says the Executive Office's start of recruitment for an Irish language commissioner gives Sinn Féin a route to directions over the role, and contrasts it with a weaker Ulster Scots commissioner, which he says the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly…
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Irish Language Commissioner application process opening announcement Original release: DUP delivering on yet another Republican demand (opens in a new tab)
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Dickson welcomes Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland appointment
Alliance spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA welcomes the Executive Office's appointment of Siobhan Casey as Older People Commissioner for Northern Ireland, starting 7 April, and says she has shown a commitment to championing older people's needs.
Disability and equality Issue: Older People Commissioner for Northern Ireland appointment of Siobhan Casey Original release: Dickson welcomes Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland appointment (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Every area should benefit from community healthcare funding
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says all parts of the North should receive multidisciplinary care teams, welcomes the £61 m funding for five new GP Federation areas but urges the Health Minister to fund and roll out MDTs to the remaining five areas lacking the service.
Health Issue: Finance Minister announces £61m MDT funding for five GP Federation areas Original release: McGrath: Every area should benefit from community healthcare funding (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone welcomes overdue progress on Irish Language Commissioner
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA welcomes the start of recruitment for language commissioners but says the move is long overdue. He questions the timing of the announcement and says he has asked the First and deputy First Ministers for a timescale and budget.
Disability and equality Issue: Recruitment launch for language commissioners announced March 2025 Original release: McGlone welcomes overdue progress on Irish Language Commissioner (opens in a new tab)
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‘Fógra ar Choimisnéir Gaeilge céim eile chun cinn don chomhionannas’ – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes The Executive Office's announcement that applications for the Irish Language Commissioner role will open in the coming days, calling it another step forward for equality and for Gaeilgeoirí.
Disability and equality Issue: Irish Language Commissioner application process opening announcement Original release: ‘Fógra ar Choimisnéir Gaeilge céim eile chun cinn don chomhionannas’ – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Minister should bring forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy without delay – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges the Communities Minister to prioritise an Anti-Poverty Strategy after a High Court ruling found the Executive Committee breached its statutory duty to adopt one. He says campaigners should not have had to go to court.
Social security and welfare Issue: High Court ruling on Executive Anti-Poverty Strategy breach Original release: Minister should bring forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy without delay – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan says her first Assembly speech at the International Women’s Day debate reaffirms her commitment to gender equality for all and urges upgrading rural schools, including a new programme for St Patrick’s Primary in Crossmaglen.
Disability and equality Education Issue: International Women’s Day Assembly debate Original release: ‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech (opens in a new tab)
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Department needs to agree new contract with local GPs, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to agree a new GP contract in Northern Ireland, citing the recent England deal worth an extra £889 million a year for general practices and a cut in red tape.
Health Issue: England GP contract deal with UK Government and BMA Original release: Department needs to agree new contract with local GPs, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Drug-related death figures highlight urgent need for public health intervention, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA expresses concern over NISRA figures showing 169 drug-related deaths registered in 2023, up 47% on ten years ago. He calls for urgent investment in prevention, treatment and harm reduction, and for the Health Minister to strengthen addiction services.
Health Issue: NISRA drug-related deaths figures for 2023 Original release: Drug-related death figures highlight urgent need for public health intervention, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne urges support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne backs the March fundraising drive for Marie Curie, praising its end-of-life care and staff and urging people to donate, wear a daffodil pin or raise awareness.
Health Original release: Dunne urges support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal (opens in a new tab)