Latest releases
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1,998 releases
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McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes HSC Chief Executives' plans to speed up cutting agency staffing in the health service. He calls on the Health Minister and Executive to sustain the progress and plan permanent workforce recruitment and retention to avoid a return to…
Health Economy and employment Issue: HSC Chief Executives plan to accelerate reduction of agency staffing Original release: McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Causeway Hospital needs words translated into action: Bradley
DUP MLA Maurice Bradley calls on the Health Minister to end uncertainty over Causeway Hospital and respond positively to the message from an open meeting in Coleraine Town Hall. He says the Trust has sought to remove services and that words must now become action.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital open meeting in Coleraine Town Hall Original release: Causeway Hospital needs words translated into action: Bradley (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Demands Recognition Payment for Fleadh Workers
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll calls for a gratitude payment for workers who kept the Fleadh running, including bar, retail, council and Translink staff. He argues the week showed transport changes and pedestrianisation were possible, and says the city needs multi-year cultural investment…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Fleadh 2026 workers recognition payment Original release: Carroll Demands Recognition Payment for Fleadh Workers (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 13 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party position on puberty blockers "remains firmly unchanged"
Ulster Unionist Party reiterates its opposition to prescribing puberty blockers to anyone under 18 and to any future involvement in the planned clinical trial, citing weak evidence and unknown long‑term risks, and welcomes the 2024 ban introduced by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland suspension of puberty blocker trial participation Original release: Ulster Unionist Party position on puberty blockers "remains firmly unchanged" (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 14 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Clarity and leadership needed on puberty blockers trial: Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says children from Northern Ireland should not be included in a Kings College London puberty blocker trial and calls on the Health Minister to state his position after nearly six months of delayed Assembly question answers. She also asks whether the UUP, led by Mike Nesbitt…
Health Issue: Kings College London puberty blocker trial and Northern Ireland participation Original release: Clarity and leadership needed on puberty blockers trial: Dodds (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Green councillor Anthony Flynn pledges clean water and better transport in North Down Assembly bid
Green Party NI announces Councillor Anthony Flynn as its North Down candidate for the 2027 Assembly election, pledging action on water quality, public transport, town centres, health waiting lists, animal welfare and Stormont reform.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Original release: Green councillor Anthony Flynn pledges clean water and better transport in North Down Assembly bid (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 30 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DAERA Minister Concedes Mobuoy Superdump Health Impact Assessment
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says DAERA Minister Andrew Muir agreed to support a health impact assessment for residents near the Mobuoy superdump, but concerns over remediation timetable, strategy and funding remain. Harkin says he will follow up with the Minister and officials.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Mobuoy superdump health impact assessment agreed by DAERA Minister Original release: DAERA Minister Concedes Mobuoy Superdump Health Impact Assessment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: If nobody qualifies, what is Continuing Healthcare actually for?
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath says Assembly Question figures show no applicant across five years of Continuing Healthcare assessments in Health and Social Care Trusts was found eligible for funding. He asks the Department of Health to explain why the scheme appears inaccessible and what action it will…
Health Issue: Continuing Healthcare zero eligibility figures from Assembly Question Original release: McGrath: If nobody qualifies, what is Continuing Healthcare actually for? (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ambassadors’ briefing highlights extent of current the crisis in Cuba – Kearney
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA says the US blockade and an oil import ban have worsened a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, with electricity cut to around four hours daily, and calls on the US to end the blockade and engage in dialogue.
International affairs Health Original release: Ambassadors’ briefing highlights extent of current the crisis in Cuba – Kearney (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows calls for tougher laws and sentencing powers in care abuse cases
UUP Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows calls for tougher laws, a review of the maximum sentence and a power for the DPP to refer such cases to the Court of Appeal, after the non-custodial sentence in the Corvan care abuse case.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Ciara Corvan care abuse sentence and DPP Court of Appeal referral limits Original release: Burrows calls for tougher laws and sentencing powers in care abuse cases (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 19 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister admits he cannot give ‘absolute assurance’ men won’t get female screening invites
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says he is deeply concerned after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said he cannot guarantee men will not receive invitations for female-specific screening. Gaston calls for screening to be administered by biological sex and asks how many males have been invited.
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt admits no assurance on male screening invitations Original release: Minister admits he cannot give ‘absolute assurance’ men won’t get female screening invites (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Calls for Local Training of Dental Hygienists to Tackle Workforce Shortages
TUV MP Jim Allister KC calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to address the lack of any local university course for dental hygienists and therapists, after writing to him over workforce shortages. He asks whether the Department has assessed demand and is considering commissioning a local degree.
Health Education Issue: Lack of local dental hygienist and therapist training in Northern Ireland Original release: Allister Calls for Local Training of Dental Hygienists to Tackle Workforce Shortages (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Vulnerable Patients Deserve Better Justice
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA writes to the Director of Public Prosecutions urging a review of Ciara Corvan’s sentence in the Bluestone abuse case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Mechanism, arguing that the offence warrants custodial punishment rather than community service.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Bluestone abuse case sentencing Original release: Vulnerable Patients Deserve Better Justice (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 15 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard demands urgent action on e-scooter and scrambler crisis
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard writes to Justice Minister Naomi Long urging a joint taskforce of the Department of Justice, PSNI and local policing partnerships, and calls for police powers, training and drone support to seize illegal high‑powered e‑scooters, e‑bikes and scramblers after a sharp rise in
Justice and policing Health Issue: Children’s Health Ireland e‑scooter injury report Original release: Hazzard demands urgent action on e-scooter and scrambler crisis (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must prioritise patient experience - Wilson
DUP MLA Gareth Wilson calls on the Health Minister to investigate the sharp rise in complaints across NI Health and Social Care Trusts, identify common themes and take steps to improve patient experience and restore confidence.
Health Issue: Record high complaints to NI Health and Social Care Trusts Original release: Minister must prioritise patient experience - Wilson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite calls for all-island rollout of meningitis B vaccination programme
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite urges Health Ministers North and South to coordinate a single island-wide rollout after the JCVI advised a meningitis B jab for secondary-school-age young people.
Health Issue: JCVI meningitis B vaccination recommendation for secondary school age Original release: De Faoite calls for all-island rollout of meningitis B vaccination programme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 8 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Yet again NI tenants miss out on key protections, says Armstrong
Alliance Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Communities Minister to urgently examine introducing a Northern Ireland version of Awaab's Law, after England's extension to cover wider serious hazards from 30 November 2026.
Housing Issue: England's Awaab's Law extension to wider housing hazards Original release: Yet again NI tenants miss out on key protections, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Dáithí receives the gift of a new heart – Maskey
Paul Maskey MP welcomes news that Dáithí Mac Gabhann has had a heart transplant after more than seven years on the waiting list, and wishes him a swift recovery. He also thanks the donor's family and credits the Donate4Dáithí campaign and Dáithí's Law for changing organ donation across the North.
Health Issue: Dáithí Mac Gabhann heart transplant Original release: Dáithí receives the gift of a new heart – Maskey (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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West Tyrone MP calls for the Department of Health to follow England’s lead on newborn SMA screening
West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley urges the Department of Health to adopt newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy, citing England’s recent rollout and arguing early diagnosis can dramatically improve outcomes for affected children.
Health Disability and equality Issue: England introduces newborn SMA screening programme Original release: West Tyrone MP calls for the Department of Health to follow England’s lead on newborn SMA screening (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Slashing Apprenticeship Funding is a Political Choice. Reverse the Cuts.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the Economy Minister to reverse cuts to apprenticeship funding, arguing they will hit care workers, construction workers and international care staff and worsen health and social care recruitment and retention.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Stormont Executive apprenticeship funding cuts Original release: Slashing Apprenticeship Funding is a Political Choice. Reverse the Cuts. (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 23 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)