Latest releases
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3,438 releases
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Farmers Have Found Their Voice – The Minister Must Listen or Go
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says farmers at the NAP consultation event in Greenmount rejected proposals that must be withdrawn, criticising Minister Muir's absence and Department officials' lack of answers on water quality and food security.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: NAP consultation event at Greenmount Original release: Farmers Have Found Their Voice – The Minister Must Listen or Go (opens in a new tab)
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Suicide Prevention Training Bill will ensure support and timely intervention – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn announces a proposed bill that would impose a legal duty on public employers to train frontline staff in suicide prevention, citing high suicide rates and higher risk in deprived areas.
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Chambers welcomes publication of further waiting list plans
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the publication of a funded plan to tackle hospital waiting lists and the reopening of the £10m reimbursement scheme for patients waiting two years or more to have surgery in the Republic. He criticises DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA's…
Health Issue: Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme reopening and waiting list implementation plan Original release: Chambers welcomes publication of further waiting list plans (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Trusts response to leaked Cardiac Hub report will be measured in demonstrable actions and not words alone – Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says the Belfast Trust's response to a leaked report on bullying at the Royal Victoria Hospital Cardiac Hub will be judged on demonstrable actions, not words. He welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's push for answers and urges urgent cultural change.
Health Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital cardiac unit external review publication Original release: Belfast Trusts response to leaked Cardiac Hub report will be measured in demonstrable actions and not words alone – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh remains a critical priority for Sinn Féin – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney, with party leader Michelle O'Neill MLA, says they met Lough Neagh commercial fishermen and families about the latest crisis facing the industry, following a recent eel fishing moratorium. He says fishermen stressed the need for urgency to secure the lough's future…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh eel fishing moratorium and commercial fishing crisis Original release: Lough Neagh remains a critical priority for Sinn Féin – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Culture in Belfast Trust must change – Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds raises concerns about workplace culture in the Belfast Trust after a cardiac unit report at the Royal Victoria Hospital, calls for an independent investigation, and says the Minister appeared unaware of wider problems. She also criticises the Minister's claim…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital cardiac unit external review publication Original release: Culture in Belfast Trust must change – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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OEP evidence indicates pressing need to reduce our impact on natural environment, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says Office for Environmental Protection evidence to the agriculture committee shows wastewater infrastructure and the agri-food sector are placing unsustainable pressure on the environment. He calls for cross-sector collaboration, including on the…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: OEP evidence to Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on environmental pressures Original release: OEP evidence indicates pressing need to reduce our impact on natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must intervene at Belfast Trust
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to step in and assume greater authority over the Belfast Trust after alarming reports from the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Cardiac Unit, calling for direct ministerial control to address systemic failures.
Health Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital cardiac unit external review publication Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must intervene at Belfast Trust (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister cuts first sod at Kilronan Special School
Education Minister Paul Givan cuts the first sod on a £4.9 million School Enhancement Programme at Kilronan Special School, Magherafelt, announcing a single‑storey extension with specialist classrooms and support facilities, and saying the investment will benefit pupils, staff and local families and
Education Disability and equality Issue: Kilronan Special School SEP project start Original release: Education Minister cuts first sod at Kilronan Special School (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds welcomes promise to publish damning report into RVH cardiac unit
DUP MLA Diane Dodds welcomes the Health Minister's agreement to publish an external review of the Royal Victoria Hospital cardiac unit, which found bullying, poor behaviour and a significant risk to public safety. She calls for demonstrable action to restore trust in the Trust.
Health Issue: Royal Victoria Hospital cardiac unit external review publication Original release: Dodds welcomes promise to publish damning report into RVH cardiac unit (opens in a new tab)
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Lavery welcomes Pride approval for Lurgan Park
Alliance Lurgan Councillor Peter Lavery welcomes the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council vote, passed 16 to 14, allowing Lurgan Pride to hold its August event in Lurgan Park. He criticises DUP and TUV opposition as shameful and discriminatory.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Lurgan Pride event approval in Lurgan Park by ABC Council Original release: Lavery welcomes Pride approval for Lurgan Park (opens in a new tab)
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Follow up action needed by Health Minister to avoid continued crisis in dental sector, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA welcomes the Health Minister's funding for general dental services, including support for dentists treating NHS patients and a fee increase, but says further action is needed to prevent the sector's crisis from deepening.
Health Issue: Health Minister's general dental services funding announcement following Alliance Assembly motion Original release: Follow up action needed by Health Minister to avoid continued crisis in dental sector, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister’s painfully slow progress on delivery frustrating, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA says the Communities Minister's slow progress on social strategies, including anti-poverty, disability and LGBTQI+ plans, is delaying their outcomes. She questions the 'phased approach' used and calls for urgency before the multi-year budget.
Disability and equality Original release: Communities Minister’s painfully slow progress on delivery frustrating, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Lack of clear CAMHS waiting list data is unacceptable
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA expresses serious concern that incomplete data on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services waiting times, linked to the encompass system rollout, is hindering planning. He calls on the Health Minister to lead urgent action.
Health Issue: NISRA quarterly CAMHS waiting list figures publication May 2025 Original release: McGrath: Lack of clear CAMHS waiting list data is unacceptable (opens in a new tab)
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Patsy McGlone: Incentives and clarity for farmers needed amid nutrients action programme changes
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA calls on DAERA to match nutrients action programme regulation with increased financial support and a realistic lead-in time for farmers. He cites Irish Government low-emission slurry spreading and advisory supports as a model.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Patsy McGlone: Incentives and clarity for farmers needed amid nutrients action programme changes (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter Applauds Landmark Vote by Camogie Association
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter welcomes the Camogie Association special Congress vote, which overwhelmingly backed letting players choose between shorts and skorts in matches. She calls it a long-overdue win for camogie players and for women in sport.
Disability and equality Issue: Camogie Association special Congress vote on shorts or skorts Original release: Hunter Applauds Landmark Vote by Camogie Association (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: “We are nearing 100,000 attacks on healthcare staff”
SDLP MLA for South Down Colin McGrath says a written Assembly answer shows nearly 90,000 physical attacks on healthcare staff over the last decade, calling this a stain on society. He will press the Health and Justice Ministers for a coordinated strategy on prevention, protection and accountability.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Written Assembly answer on physical attacks against healthcare staff Original release: McGrath: “We are nearing 100,000 attacks on healthcare staff” (opens in a new tab)
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Dental care is an essential form of healthcare and shouldn’t be considered luxury, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to draft a fresh oral health plan and address the dentistry funding shortfall, arguing dental care is essential rather than a luxury and warning that the situation will deteriorate without action.
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Nutrient Action Programme proposals unworkable – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer says the Nutrient Action Programme proposals – cutting the P balance to 8 kg/ha from 2029 and mandating Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment by 2030 – are unworkable, could force farmers out of business and ignore local conditions, and urges the Minister to listen and
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrient Action Programme proposals unworkable – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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Latest EU Rules threaten treatments for minor conditions
DUP North Down MLA Peter Martin expresses serious concern at EU proposals that could reclassify common anti-viral and anti-fungal treatments, such as those for dandruff, athlete's foot and cold sores, as prescription-only. He says this would add strain to GP services and calls for certainty on…
Health International affairs Issue: EU proposals to reclassify anti-viral and anti-fungal treatments as prescription-only Original release: Latest EU Rules threaten treatments for minor conditions (opens in a new tab)