Latest releases
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5,221 releases
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Hargey condemns suspected south Belfast racist attack
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey condemns a suspected racist assault on a young woman in Botanic, south Belfast, on Wednesday night, and urges anyone who saw it to contact police. She says the woman has been discharged from hospital.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Botanic, south Belfast suspected racist assault on young woman Original release: Hargey condemns suspected south Belfast racist attack (opens in a new tab)
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Brolly launches multi-step policy to support bereaved families of baby loss
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly launches an All-Ireland strategy calling for a cross-border paediatric pathology and bereavement service, so bereaved families in the North no longer have babies and children sent to Liverpool for post-mortems. The plan seeks a national bereavement care standard…
Health Issue: Aontú All-Ireland paediatric pathology and bereavement policy launch Original release: Brolly launches multi-step policy to support bereaved families of baby loss (opens in a new tab)
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Any reduction in patient waiting times step in the right direction but long-term planning and investment needed to ensure progress – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of the Health Committee, welcomes reductions in waiting lists noted by the Health Minister at the NICON '25 conference, but urges more progress on red flag cancer waits and long-term investment planning.
Health Issue: Health Minister's NICON '25 remarks on reducing waiting lists Original release: Any reduction in patient waiting times step in the right direction but long-term planning and investment needed to ensure progress – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Winter health plan confusion failing patients and staff
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA warns of a looming winter health crisis after the Health Minister's winter pressures plan remained unfinalised in mid-October, with trust-level plans still outstanding and the timeline unclear.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: O’Toole: Winter health plan confusion failing patients and staff (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes progress towards pay deal for health workers but warns there’s still more to be done
Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers welcomes Executive endorsement of a Health Minister proposal to align health and social care pay with UK colleagues, but says the £208m-cost 2025/26 award is only partly funded and criticises the First Minister's press conference remarks.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: Chambers welcomes progress towards pay deal for health workers but warns there’s still more to be done (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister provides cautious welcome for steps towards confirming pay awards for health workers
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA gives a cautious welcome to Executive steps towards funding health sector pay awards, but says the Health Minister needs the resources to match the offer and deliver the award he has promoted.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Executive funding of £100 million for nurses' pay uplift Original release: McAllister provides cautious welcome for steps towards confirming pay awards for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister should step up on Lough Neagh
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says Infrastructure Minister must step up on Lough Neagh and appear before the NI Affairs Committee, arguing sewage outflow is an overlooked factor alongside agriculture. He points to Action 12 of the Lough Neagh Action Plan as critical.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: NI Affairs Committee evidence session on Lough Neagh environmental situation Original release: Infrastructure Minister should step up on Lough Neagh (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes proposals to reform management of shared property
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's move to reform the management of shared property, such as public spaces in apartment blocks, which she says currently lack legislative underpinning in the North. She says residents deserve the same legal protections as others.
Housing Issue: Finance Minister O'Dowd shared property management reform announcement Original release: Dolan welcomes proposals to reform management of shared property (opens in a new tab)
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Mere Tinkering Will Not Suffice – Undemocratic Windsor Framework Must…
DUP peer Lord Dodds welcomes a House of Lords committee report finding the Windsor Framework overly complex and the democratic deficit unresolved, and calls for the framework to be dismantled and Northern Ireland's place in the UK restored.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords Northern Ireland committee report on Windsor Framework scrutiny Original release: Mere Tinkering Will Not Suffice – Undemocratic Windsor Framework Must… (opens in a new tab)
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Windsor Framework; A Broken System Failing Northern Ireland - Empey
The Ulster Unionist Party says the Windsor Framework creates unnecessary complexity and regulatory divergence, citing the Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee report. Lord Empey calls for divergent regulations to be listed in one constantly updated location and for the issue to be a priority…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords Northern Ireland committee report on Windsor Framework scrutiny Original release: Windsor Framework; A Broken System Failing Northern Ireland - Empey (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes demonstrable progress on tackling hospital waiting lists
UUP MLA and Health Committee member Alan Chambers welcomes falling hospital waiting lists, citing recent Department of Health figures showing reductions in the longest waits for colonoscopies, hip and knee replacements and tonsillectomies. He credits the Minister's focus on longest waiters and…
Health Issue: Department of Health hospital waiting list figures showing reductions in longest waits Original release: Chambers welcomes demonstrable progress on tackling hospital waiting lists (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party responds to Alliance Leaders' comments on Border Poll conditions
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA says Alliance's call for the Secretary of State to set out border poll conditions reveals a shifting constitutional position. He argues the Belfast Agreement already sets the framework, that defining electoral thresholds would entrench constitutional division…
Constitutional affairs Issue: Alliance call for Secretary of State to set border poll conditions Original release: Ulster Unionist Party responds to Alliance Leaders' comments on Border Poll conditions (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance remains committed to planting more trees, says Blair, following announcement of Tree Planting Action Plan
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says the party remains committed to planting more trees, after DAERA Minister Andrew Muir announced a Tree Planting Action Plan at a Woodland Trust event launching a report on Northern Ireland's woods and trees.
Environment and climate Issue: Tree Planting Action Plan announcement at Woodland Trust State of Woods and Trees report launch Original release: Alliance remains committed to planting more trees, says Blair, following announcement of Tree Planting Action Plan (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Health Minister's commitment to visit Woodlawn House in Dungannon after an Assembly debate he tabled on respite care. He says families have reported planned respite cancelled at short notice and calls for timely, well-planned services.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Woodlawn House Dungannon respite facility Assembly debate Original release: Gildernew welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to visit Dungannon respite facility (opens in a new tab)
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Finnegan raises concern over discovery of Asian hornet nest
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan expresses concern after an Asian hornet nest was found, the first confirmed sighting of the species in the north. She welcomes the Environment Agency's response and urges the public to report suspected sightings or nests.
Environment and climate Issue: Asian hornet nest discovery in Northern Ireland Original release: Finnegan raises concern over discovery of Asian hornet nest (opens in a new tab)
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Senator Conor Murphy leads Sinn Féin delegation at British Irish Parliamentary Assembly
Sinn Féin Leader in the Seanad Senator Conor Murphy, leading a six-strong delegation at the 67th BIPA plenary in Surrey, says constitutional change is firmly on the agenda and calls for discussion of a date for Irish Unity referendums at future meetings.
Constitutional affairs Original release: Senator Conor Murphy leads Sinn Féin delegation at British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomes the Executive's 2025–26 Legislation Programme, backing the Racial Equality Bill and the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill, which he says will protect vulnerable workers and be introduced by Minister Caoimhe Archibald next year.
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Executive 2025–26 Legislation Programme and 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill Original release: Job of Assembly to grasp opportunities to improve people’s lives – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan demands action from Executive to protect mental health services
SDLP MLA and Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says the closure of the Extern crisis service in Foyle, which supported people in mental health distress out of hours, reflects Executive failings. He calls for cross-departmental legislation and a new budgeting approach ahead of the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Closure of Extern crisis intervention service in Foyle Original release: Durkan demands action from Executive to protect mental health services (opens in a new tab)
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‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says Belfast City Council's dual-language street sign policy protects minority languages and follows international best practice, after a DUP Assembly motion seeking its replacement was defeated. He cites new Conradh na Gaeilge figures showing broad public support.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: ‘We must continue working to deliver on the rights of Gaeilgeoirí’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)