Latest releases
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3,094 releases
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Durkan: Developer contributions won’t solve wastewater crisis
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Original release: Durkan: Developer contributions won’t solve wastewater crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP challenges the Government's proposed Personal Independence Payment changes, saying they will cause anxiety, fail to account for fluctuating mental health needs, and calls on the Government to rethink them and give assurances to those affected.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Welfare system should always support those who need it most – Robinson (opens in a new tab)
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‘Every day of delay risks another sad and avoidable death on the A5’ – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley attended a demonstration outside Belfast's High Court urging construction of the A5 road, as a legal challenge to the scheme was lodged. She says every day of delay risks another avoidable death and that the new road would save lives, create jobs and cut journey times…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road legal challenge at Belfast High Court Original release: ‘Every day of delay risks another sad and avoidable death on the A5’ – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood says Labour Government must stop balancing the books on backs of vulnerable people
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood accuses the UK Government of cutting welfare to balance the books, opposing proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility and support for those unable to work. She says the measures would push disabled people into hardship and add pressure on health and…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Proposed UK welfare cuts including Personal Independence Payment eligibility changes Original release: Eastwood says Labour Government must stop balancing the books on backs of vulnerable people (opens in a new tab)
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Progress on bilingual Gaeltacht Quarter road signage welcome – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes progress on a pilot scheme for bilingual road signs in west Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter, after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said work is advancing. She also praises the minister's engagement with Conradh na Gaeilge on the signage.
Disability and equality Infrastructure and transport Issue: Gaeltacht Quarter bilingual road signage pilot scheme progress Original release: Progress on bilingual Gaeltacht Quarter road signage welcome – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney welcomes major investment for completion of Staffordstown Road resurfacing
Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney welcomes an additional £365,000 from the Infrastructure Minister to complete resurfacing of Staffordstown Road in Randalstown, work due to start on 17 March with road closures and diversions planned.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Staffordstown Road Randalstown resurfacing completion funding Original release: Kearney welcomes major investment for completion of Staffordstown Road resurfacing (opens in a new tab)
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Devlin: Endometriosis Awareness Month should break taboos around women's health
SDLP Mournes councillor Laura Devlin calls for a funded Women’s Health Strategy, saying March’s Endometriosis Awareness Month should be used to break taboos around menstrual health and press the Health Minister to prioritise and fund the strategy.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Endometriosis Awareness Month women’s health strategy call Original release: Devlin: Endometriosis Awareness Month should break taboos around women's health (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan questions Infrastructure Minister on all-island rail progress
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins gave little detail on all-island rail when updating the Assembly on a recent North South Ministerial Council transport meeting. He calls for her to work with Irish Government counterparts so rail…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister's update on North South Ministerial Council transport meeting Original release: Durkan questions Infrastructure Minister on all-island rail progress (opens in a new tab)
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Respite provision failing families in need – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says health trusts across Northern Ireland lack a clear pathway for respite care, with over 800 unallocated cases and 500 in the South Eastern Trust. She calls for urgent action to cut waiting lists and deliver the respite beds promised by the £13 million investment.
Health Disability and equality Issue: BBC Spotlight ‘I am not OK’ documentary on respite care Original release: Respite provision failing families in need – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Long welcomes planned delivery of green bus stop roofs scheme
Alliance Lisnasharragh Councillor Michael Long welcomes plans to fit green roofs on bus stop shelters in East Belfast, following installations on the Shankill Road, with further stops on the Castlereagh, Cregagh and Holywood roads due next year.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Translink green bus stop roofs scheme East Belfast Original release: Long welcomes planned delivery of green bus stop roofs scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Harvey welcomes Ballynahinch bypass progress
DUP Strangford MLA Harry Harvey welcomes DfI's approval for the Ballynahinch Bypass to move to finalising its business case and procurement, with procurement expected in about two years. He says the timetable must be maintained and that Ballynahinch cannot afford further delays.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ballynahinch Bypass business case and procurement approval by DfI Original release: Harvey welcomes Ballynahinch bypass progress (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard welcomes progress on A24 Ballynahinch Bypass Scheme
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes the Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's announcement that the A24 Ballynahinch Bypass Scheme will move to the business case and procurement stage, with procurement expected in 2027/28. He says the bypass will ease town traffic, improve safety and cut journey…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ballynahinch Bypass business case and procurement approval by DfI Original release: Hazzard welcomes progress on A24 Ballynahinch Bypass Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Ballynahinch Bypass could have been delivered sooner, says Alliance representatives
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to progress and prioritise the Ballynahinch Bypass, but says it has been side-lined for too long due to stop-start government and calls for institutional reform. Colleague Kellie Armstrong pledges to hold the Minister to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ballynahinch Bypass business case and procurement approval by DfI Original release: Ballynahinch Bypass could have been delivered sooner, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Pan-UK approach to tackle drugs needed : Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell urges the UK Government to work with devolved administrations on a joined-up, pan-UK drugs strategy, prioritising prevention and reviewing enforcement, after raising the issue at Justice Questions in the Commons.
Justice and policing Health Original release: Pan-UK approach to tackle drugs needed : Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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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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Action, not words, needed on civil service reform - Forsythe
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe, vice-chair of the Finance Committee, says the UK Government's call for civil service reform is welcome but must lead to real change. She links NICS skills gaps to delayed infrastructure projects and overspends, and urges use of the skills exchange with the UK Home Civil…
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster civil service reform call Original release: Action, not words, needed on civil service reform - Forsythe (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.