Latest releases
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2,853 releases
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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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New homes for north Belfast a positive announcement – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes Belfast City Council's plan to turn car parks and disused land near Little Donegall Street, Library Street and Kent Street into mixed housing, shops and meeting spaces, and says it will help cut housing waiting lists.
Housing Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Little Donegall Street housing regeneration announcement Original release: New homes for north Belfast a positive announcement – Ní Chuilín (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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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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‘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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Affordable rent scheme to deliver 300 homes
DUP Housing Minister Gordon Lyons announces funding to Maple & May to deliver 300 Intermediate Rent homes at below-market rents, with some construction starting within a year and first tenancies targeted from late 2026.
Housing Issue: Maple & May Intermediate Rent funding for 300 homes Original release: Affordable rent scheme to deliver 300 homes (opens in a new tab)
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Protections for private renters must go further, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says protections for private renters must go further after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced rent increases limited to once a year. She calls for legislation banning inflation-busting rent rises and a new Housing Ombudsman.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister rent increase limit regulations for private tenancies Original release: Protections for private renters must go further, says Armstrong (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)
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Dolan welcomes funding to help transform key public services
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes £129m in funding for six proposals to transform public services, including £61m for multidisciplinary primary care teams and £27.5m for Special Educational Needs support. Dolan also highlights justice, infrastructure and digital allocations.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: £129m Executive transformation funding for six public service proposals Original release: Dolan welcomes funding to help transform key public services (opens in a new tab)
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£129m investment in transforming public services an important first step, says Tennyson
Alliance Finance spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA welcomes the £129m Transformation Programme allocation to six projects as an important first step. He calls on the Finance Minister to make the Public Sector Transformation Board permanent and to release the remaining £102.5m quickly.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: £129m Executive transformation funding for six public service proposals Original release: £129m investment in transforming public services an important first step, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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Overdue Programme for Government Shows Executive Out Of Touch
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says the final Programme for Government is vague and lacks detail on delivery, and calls for a People's Housing Bill, a no-fault eviction ban and rent control to tackle homelessness.
Housing Issue: Final Programme for Government publication Original release: Overdue Programme for Government Shows Executive Out Of Touch (opens in a new tab)
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Spreagann Gildernew daoine chun páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew encourages people to take part in local Seachtain na Gaeilge events, which run until 17 March, and calls for fair funding to sustain the Irish language revival.
Disability and equality Education Original release: Spreagann Gildernew daoine chun páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)