Latest releases
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4,525 releases
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Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke
UUP MLA Jon Burrows says prison officers in Northern Ireland should not have to endure second-hand smoke at work and calls on the Department of Justice and Prison Service to act now. He notes Northern Ireland lacks a prison smoking ban that applies elsewhere in the UK and says urgent questions…
Justice and policing Health Original release: Burrows slams prison officers' exposure to second-hand smoke (opens in a new tab)
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Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says he is deeply dismayed that the planned new children's unit at Altnagelvin has been paused pending a Department of Health review of capital spending. He calls for the Health Minister to explain his priorities and says his party will write to the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Altnagelvin Hospital children's unit plans paused pending capital spending review Original release: Stall on plans for new Altnagelvin children's unit greatly disappointing, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA condemns continuing failures to meet cancer waiting time targets, citing quarterly figures for April to June 2025 showing fewer urgent GP-referred patients starting treatment within 62 days. She calls on the Health Minister to act.
Health Issue: Quarterly cancer waiting times statistics for April to June 2025 Original release: McAllister condemns continuing failure to meet cancer waiting time targets (opens in a new tab)
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Polasaí stairiúil Gaeilge aontaithe ag comhairleoirí Bhéal Feirste – Ó Néill
Sinn Féin councillor Tomás Ó Néill welcomes Belfast City Council's approval of a unified Irish language policy, including bilingual corporate branding and signage in council buildings, which he calls historic and aimed at strengthening Irish speakers' rights.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Polasaí stairiúil Gaeilge aontaithe ag comhairleoirí Bhéal Feirste – Ó Néill (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes new electric vehicle charging pilot scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's announcement of a six-month pilot testing electric vehicle charging across footways for households without driveway access. He says it will encourage more switching to electric vehicles as part of efforts to cut emissions.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Six-month pilot scheme for electric vehicle charging across footways Original release: Boylan welcomes new electric vehicle charging pilot scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes assessment appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes Belfast Trust appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to be assessed for Givinostat via an early access programme, and calls for families to be told urgently whether their child is eligible.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Belfast Trust Givinostat early access assessment appointments for DMD boys Original release: Dillon welcomes assessment appointments for boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (opens in a new tab)
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Hargey praises emergency services following Holylands incident
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey praises emergency services for making safe an incident in the Damascus Street area of south Belfast, after four people and several police officers were taken to hospital following possible contact with a suspected noxious substance.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Damascus Street south Belfast suspected noxious substance incident Original release: Hargey praises emergency services following Holylands incident (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Language policy must be fair and reasonable, says McDonough-Brown
Alliance Botanic Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown says Belfast City Council's new Irish Language policy should be fair, reasonable and balanced ahead of the council vote, calling for a regularly reviewed language framework. He opposes enforcing dual-language signage where there is significant…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council unified Irish language policy approval Original release: Irish Language policy must be fair and reasonable, says McDonough-Brown (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must get serious about improving public access to GP services, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to work with GPs on solutions to patient access problems, after the UK Government required GPs in England to offer online bookings throughout the day, which does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Health Issue: UK Government mandate for GP online booking in England Original release: Health Minister must get serious about improving public access to GP services, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Assembly backs Sinn Féin motion for onsite drug testing at festivals – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes Assembly backing for a party motion urging the Health Minister to bring in drug testing at festivals and concerts across the north, noting it is the only region without such a scheme.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion on onsite drug testing at festivals Original release: Assembly backs Sinn Féin motion for onsite drug testing at festivals – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: O'Dowd must be transparent on A5 funding future
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls on Finance Minister John O'Dowd to disclose how much of the £180 million A5 allocation for 2025-26 may be lost through reduced requirements after delays, saying the minister could not answer during Assembly questions.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: A5 dual carriageway funding at risk during Assembly questions Original release: O'Toole: O'Dowd must be transparent on A5 funding future (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Nurses deserve pay rise - excuses won’t pay the bills
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA criticises the Finance Minister for not clarifying when nurses will receive a cost of living pay rise. He says the Health and Finance Ministers are passing responsibility between them and calls on the Executive to make a decision now.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Nurses cost of living pay rise timing at Stormont Original release: McGrath: Nurses deserve pay rise - excuses won’t pay the bills (opens in a new tab)
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DFI must start taking active travel seriously, says McReynolds
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says the Department for Infrastructure must take active travel seriously after an Audit Office report found underspend and missed targets. He calls for a detailed timetable of aims and stakeholder involvement.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office active travel report Original release: DFI must start taking active travel seriously, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)
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Women and girls living with endometriosis must be supported – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes cross-party Assembly support for a motion backing specialist endometriosis diagnosis and treatment services. She calls on the Health Minister to act urgently and work with Dublin on an all-island approach.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion backing improved endometriosis care Original release: Women and girls living with endometriosis must be supported – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn calls for onsite drug testing at festivals
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls on the Health Minister to extend onsite drug testing at music festivals and concerts to Northern Ireland, ahead of a party motion due for debate on Tuesday. She says the north is the only part of Ireland without such a scheme.
Health Issue: Sinn Féin motion on onsite drug testing at festivals Original release: Flynn calls for onsite drug testing at festivals (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MP warns: vital community services at risk due to funding cliff edge
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood, with Alliance MLAs including Sian Mulholland, says 20 community and voluntary groups at a Stormont roundtable face closures and job losses as funding moves to the Local Growth Fund in 2026. She demands a bespoke Northern Ireland funding model.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Roundtable on community sector funding risk from Local Growth Fund transition Original release: Alliance MP warns: vital community services at risk due to funding cliff edge (opens in a new tab)
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Catherine Connolly will be a President who understands the immense opportunity of Irish Unity – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald says presidential candidate Catherine Connolly will bring a working‑class perspective to the presidency, recognising the huge chance Irish unity offers, defending Ireland’s military neutrality, championing human rights and backing Gaza and Palestine.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Sinn Féin Building for Unity Conference Original release: Catherine Connolly will be a President who understands the immense opportunity of Irish Unity – Mary Lou McDonald TD (opens in a new tab)
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Patients at the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre must be supported – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn urges the Health Minister and Belfast Trust to devise a plan so patients displaced by building damage at the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre, some sleeping on sofas, receive needed care. She also calls for mental health infrastructure investment and full strategy…
Health Issue: Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre building damage and patients sleeping on sofas Original release: Patients at the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre must be supported – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Ireland Against Racism Carnival
People Before Profit backs tomorrow's Ireland Against Racism Carnival, which it says has support from over 150 organisations, and calls for big, broad mobilisations against racism and the far right. It also blames the government, not immigrants, for housing and service failures.
Disability and equality Immigration Issue: Ireland Against Racism Carnival, 27 September 2025 Original release: Ireland Against Racism Carnival (opens in a new tab)
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United Against Racism 'Sports For All' Fun Day a Great Antidote to Division
People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin says Donald Trump, Tommy Robinson and the DUP stoked racist falsehoods that led to violent attacks, and promotes a United Against Racism 'Sports For All' fun day at Bready Cricket Club in Derry as an alternative to division.
Disability and equality Issue: United Against Racism 'Sports For All' fun day at Bready Cricket Club Original release: United Against Racism 'Sports For All' Fun Day a Great Antidote to Division (opens in a new tab)