Latest releases
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3,062 releases
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Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy backs Irish language groups ahead of a Wednesday walkout protesting cuts to their funding, urging a fair, long-term resolution to Foras na Gaeilge funding disputes.
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Irish language organisations strike over Foras na Gaeilge funding cuts Original release: Irish language organisations deserve fair funding – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy
DUP peer Lord Browne says the draft gambling levy regulations are too low to meaningfully address gambling harm, citing 2.5% of adults affected and costs possibly near £5 billion, and urges the Minister to raise rates, including to at least 5% for the most harmful remote licences.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Draft gambling harm levy regulations for Great Britain Original release: DUP Peers welcome Gambling Levy (opens in a new tab)
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Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Secretary of State’s decision to start the fourth section of the Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022, which clarifies the repeal of the ban on non‑English languages in courts, and urges the First and deputy First Minister to promptly
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Commencement of Section 4 of the Identity and Language Act Original release: Repeal of ban on languages other than English in courts needs follow-up action from First and deputy First Minister, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Health and Education departments to act urgently on support for children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools, after a joint committee meeting. She says there is no clear picture of allied health professionals in the sector and calls for…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Joint Health and Education Committees meeting on SEN support in Irish-medium schools Original release: Children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools must not be left behind – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Department of Health’s Core Grant scheme "exploitative" - Cllr Kendall
Green Party NI Councillor Lauren Kendall says the health department's core grant programme is exploitative, with only 25 of 259 applicants receiving £1.8m for 2025/26 – half the previous allocation – and urges an immediate restoration of funding for community wellbeing services.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Department core grant funding cuts 2025/26 Original release: Department of Health’s Core Grant scheme "exploitative" - Cllr Kendall (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly expresses concern over disparity in cancer death rates between areas
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA expresses concern over a Cancer Research UK report showing cancer death rates about 45% higher in Northern Ireland's most deprived areas. He urges the Department of Health to introduce lung cancer screening for high-risk people aged 55 to 74 and…
Health Issue: Cancer Research UK report on cancer mortality and deprivation in Northern Ireland Original release: Donnelly expresses concern over disparity in cancer death rates between areas (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Children’s Hospital project needs close monitoring as one of world’s most expensive – Brolly
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls for intensive monitoring of the Belfast Children's Hospital build to keep it on time and within budget, citing costs rising from an initial £250m to £671m and comparisons with the Dublin National Children's Hospital.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Children's Hospital cost increase and build delay Original release: Belfast Children’s Hospital project needs close monitoring as one of world’s most expensive – Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Immediate action needed to address gaps in community SEN services – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges health and justice officials to coordinate so young people and adults with complex needs are not held in the justice system. She cites a teenage girl remanded in custody despite being bail-eligible, citing gaps in respite and residential provision.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Remand of teenage girl with complex needs due to lack of support services Original release: Immediate action needed to address gaps in community SEN services – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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‘On-site nurse must be restored to Knockevin Special School’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Departments of Education and Health to work with the South Eastern Trust to quickly reinstate the on-site nurse at Knockevin Special School, after the Trust withdrew that support. She says the school was not consulted.
Health Education Issue: Knockevin Special School on-site nurse withdrawal by South Eastern Trust Original release: ‘On-site nurse must be restored to Knockevin Special School’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna pays tribute to Bríd Rodgers on 90th birthday
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP marks 90th birthday of party president Bríd Rodgers, praising her as an inspiration and recognising her role in the civil rights movement, the Good Friday Agreement and early Stormont Executive. A birthday event in her honour is due in Derry.
Other Disability and equality Original release: Hanna pays tribute to Bríd Rodgers on 90th birthday (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive’s concern should be with delivering long-delayed Children’s Hospital
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive should focus on delivering the Belfast Children's Hospital, which he says was first proposed in 2013 and is now years behind schedule with costs more than doubled. He claims it will not open until 2030 at the earliest and…
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive approval of new children's hospital at Royal Victoria Hospital Original release: McGrath: Executive’s concern should be with delivering long-delayed Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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A day of hope, and for lessons to be learned – Dodds
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: A day of hope, and for lessons to be learned – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan welcomes ‘groundbreaking investment’ in new children’s hospital
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Assembly's Health Committee, welcomes the Executive's approval of a new children's hospital at the Royal Victoria site, calling it a major step for child healthcare with construction set to start shortly.
Health Issue: Executive approval of new children's hospital at Royal Victoria Hospital Original release: McGuigan welcomes ‘groundbreaking investment’ in new children’s hospital (opens in a new tab)
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‘New children’s hospital will be transformative for north’s healthcare’ – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes the Executive's approval of a new children's hospital at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, estimated at £671 million, with construction expected to begin within days. He says it will be a game-changer for families and transformative for healthcare in the north.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive approval of new children's hospital at Royal Victoria Hospital Original release: ‘New children’s hospital will be transformative for north’s healthcare’ – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
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Current vacancies in NI health service concerning, says Donnelly, stating Safe and Effective Staffing legislation must be delivered
Alliance health spokesperson and Health Committee deputy Chair Danny Donnelly MLA voices concern over unfilled posts in nursing and midwifery across the health service, citing Department of Health figures showing 22 percent of vacancies in those roles, and urges swift delivery of Safe and…
Health Issue: Department of Health recruitment and workforce statistics February 2025 Original release: Current vacancies in NI health service concerning, says Donnelly, stating Safe and Effective Staffing legislation must be delivered (opens in a new tab)
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Sign Language Bill will deliver positive change for deaf community – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Assembly's vote to move the Sign Language Bill to the next stage of scrutiny, saying it will recognise Irish and British Sign Language and improve deaf people's access to education, health and justice services.
Disability and equality Issue: Sign Language Bill second stage Assembly vote Original release: Sign Language Bill will deliver positive change for deaf community – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan meets BMA on issues facing GP practices
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls for action on pressures facing GP practices after meeting the British Medical Association, urging the Health Minister to prioritise GP core funding and resolve indemnity negotiations quickly.
Health Original release: McGuigan meets BMA on issues facing GP practices (opens in a new tab)
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McAteer names Eastside Greenways one of High Sheriff charities
Alliance Councillor Fiona McAteer, now High Sheriff of Belfast, says she will support Eastside Greenways during her term, praising its work on the Connswater Community Greenway in east Belfast.
Environment and climate Local government Original release: McAteer names Eastside Greenways one of High Sheriff charities (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath welcomes Minister’s commitment to explore access to muscular dystrophy drugs
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's pledge to engage the Belfast Trust on getting Givinostat, a drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to young patients such as 12-year-old Alfie Pentony from Newry.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Givinostat access for Duchenne patients raised in Assembly topical question Original release: McGrath welcomes Minister’s commitment to explore access to muscular dystrophy drugs (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds: Health budget must prioritise patients
DUP MLA Diane Dodds criticises the Belfast Trust's spending of over £130 per teacher on an RSE course, arguing the money should go to waiting lists, cancer diagnosis and emergency care. She says she pressed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on the matter in committee.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Trust spending on teacher RSE training course Original release: Dodds: Health budget must prioritise patients (opens in a new tab)