Latest releases
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2,853 releases
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‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has asked to meet the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urge the immediate restoration of funding for the NI Rural Women’s Network, whose grant was suspended over a small HMRC matter, stressing the need to protect rural women’s services.
Disability and equality Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Funding suspension for NI Rural Women’s Network Original release: ‘Funding for NI Rural Women’s Network must be restored’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Answers needed over cervical screening concerns – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds urges Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to act urgently over cervical screening, citing resignation letters from two senior medics and questioning the Belfast Trust's continued bid for the regional HPV testing contract while its accreditation was suspended. She calls for full…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust cervical screening accreditation and HPV contract concerns Original release: Answers needed over cervical screening concerns – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she met Home Office Minister Jess Phillips to urge a comprehensive UK-wide strategy on violence against women and girls, citing the murders of Natalie McNally and Karen Cummings and calling for tougher sentencing and better victim support.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Urgent action needed to tackle violence against women and girls -… (opens in a new tab)
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Cervical screening resignations show need for a statutory public inquiry, say Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nuala McAllister call for a full statutory inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening failings, urging the Health Minister to act without delay after two senior medics resigned over concerns about the service.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening resignations of two senior medics Original release: Cervical screening resignations show need for a statutory public inquiry, say Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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Cautious Welcome to Draft Budget - Aiken
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the draft 2025/26 budget going to public consultation but says it fails to tackle Health waiting lists after a £34m allocation was removed. He also says Education, Policing, Agriculture and infrastructure lack sufficient funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive agreement on draft budget 2025-26 Original release: Cautious Welcome to Draft Budget - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
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Labour should deliver justice for WASPI women – DUP
DUP MPs Sammy Wilson and Jim Shannon call on the Labour Government to deliver redress for WASPI women after it announced it would not pay compensation, saying Labour campaigned for redress while in opposition.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Labour should deliver justice for WASPI women – DUP (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly.
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls for action on alcohol after new figures showed alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland rose 65 per cent over the past decade. He says intervention is needed to reduce harm and save lives.
Health Issue: Publication of alcohol-specific deaths statistics for Northern Ireland Original release: It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly. (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: UK Government has failed Waspi women
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP says the UK Government has let down Waspi women by refusing compensation over poor communication of state pension age changes. She says the decision ignores maladministration findings and will push campaigners back to court.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Hanna: UK Government has failed Waspi women (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls for urgent action following report on Violence Against Women and Girls
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Executive to act decisively after a Executive Office report found high rates of sexual, psychological and online abuse among adults and concerning attitudes towards harassment. She calls for faster delivery and proper funding of the Ending Violence…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Executive Office research on attitudes to gender-based violence and VAWG Original release: McLaughlin calls for urgent action following report on Violence Against Women and Girls (opens in a new tab)
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Kimmins welcomes pay deal for health workers
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes a newly reached pay settlement for health workers agreed between the health minister and trade unions. She says health and social care staff are the backbone of the service and deserve decent pay and safe conditions, and pledges continued pressure for fair deals…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health minister and trade unions pay agreement for health workers Original release: Kimmins welcomes pay deal for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood condemns Government decision to deny WASPI women compensation
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood condemns the UK Government's refusal to pay compensation to WASPI women after the Ombudsman recommended it, calling the decision a cruel betrayal and a blatant disregard for justice.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: UK Government rejects PHSO compensation remedy for WASPI women Original release: Eastwood condemns Government decision to deny WASPI women compensation (opens in a new tab)
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Latest murder highlights need for co-ordinated strategy
DUP representatives Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds say the murder of Karen Cummings in Banbridge shows the need for a co-ordinated strategy on violence against women and girls. They call for a joined-up UK-wide approach, note Northern Ireland's seventh female murder this year, and urge action…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder inquiry into Karen Cummings's death in Banbridge Original release: Latest murder highlights need for co-ordinated strategy (opens in a new tab)
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‘Together we must unite and end violence against women and girls’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon expresses condolences to the family of Karen Cummings after police opened a murder investigation into her death. She says it is the seventh woman killed in the North in 2024 and urges anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder inquiry into Karen Cummings's death in Banbridge Original release: ‘Together we must unite and end violence against women and girls’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle hails actions of local siblings to raise money for good cause
Traditional Unionist Voice vice‑chair Allister Kyle, a Causeway councillor, welcomes the effort of siblings Leo (11) and Evie (8) McKeowen, who have baked and sold treats to raise almost £800 for the Friends of Cancer Centre and calls on the public to support them before Christmas.
Other Health Issue: McKeowen siblings fundraising for Friends of Cancer Centre Original release: TUV Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle hails actions of local siblings to raise money for good cause (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood tables amendment to protect NI Health and Voluntary sectors from employer National Insurance hike.
Alliance Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood tables a unique amendment to shield NI health, hospice and voluntary services from the government’s proposed employer National Insurance rise, seeking exemptions for care homes, home‑care providers, GP and dental practices, pharmacists, charities and other社区
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Employer National Insurance increase announced in Autumn Budget Original release: Eastwood tables amendment to protect NI Health and Voluntary sectors from employer National Insurance hike. (opens in a new tab)
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Murder of Banbridge woman a devastating and tragic loss, says Alliance representatives.
Alliance's Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson and Banbridge councillor Joy Ferguson express condolences over the death of Karen Cummings, found dead in a Banbridge property, and urge anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers. Tennyson links it to the seventh woman killed in Northern…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Murder inquiry into Karen Cummings's death in Banbridge Original release: Murder of Banbridge woman a devastating and tragic loss, says Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA writes in An Phoblacht that the 2024 Irish general election has realigned Dáil politics, ending the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael duopoly, and argues left republican and progressive parties should cooperate as an opposition.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: 2024 Irish general election result and realignment of Dáil politics Original release: Hope and change: Left republican cooperation is the way forward – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Time to pull public funding to body promoting illegal drug use and dangerous messages on consent
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says he is disappointed that neither the Justice nor Health Minister appears concerned about Rainbow Project website advice on illegal drug use and consent, and calls for public funding to the organisation to be withdrawn.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Rainbow Project website drug use and consent content Original release: Time to pull public funding to body promoting illegal drug use and dangerous messages on consent (opens in a new tab)
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‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes news that NI Water will have capacity to connect 2,300 new properties to wastewater infrastructure, following Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd’s £19.5 million allocation, and says Sinn Féin will press the British government for fairer funding.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: ‘Welcome news that 2300 new properties can be connected to wastewater infrastructure’ – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andy McMurray MLA says a further £19.5m for NI Water from the October Monitoring round falls well short of its £266m capital shortfall. He calls for the Minister to explore alternative funding models, including mutualisation.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Issue: NI Water capacity for 2,300 new property connections Original release: Additional funding for NI Water won't address housing and environment issues, warns McMurray (opens in a new tab)