Latest releases
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3,094 releases
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McGrath: Health crisis must be top of Executive agenda
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the whole Executive must make the health crisis its top priority, criticising Executive parties for not preparing for winter pressures and for seeking to blame Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at an emergency Health Committee meeting. He calls…
Health Issue: Health Committee emergency meeting on Emergency Department waiting times Original release: McGrath: Health crisis must be top of Executive agenda (opens in a new tab)
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Minister must come to Committee with plans not platitudes
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Health Minister must bring plans rather than apologies to an emergency Health Committee meeting on Emergency Department waiting times and delayed hospital discharges. She calls for a dedicated team to address delayed discharges now, not only for…
Health Issue: Health Committee emergency meeting on Emergency Department waiting times Original release: Minister must come to Committee with plans not platitudes (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan welcomes progress on Newry Southern Relief Road
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Boylan welcomes progress on Newry Southern Relief Road (opens in a new tab)
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It's essential we get to root problems in NI's public services, says Eastwood, ahead of NIAC session.
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says getting to the root of problems in Northern Ireland's public services is essential, ahead of a Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence session on funding and delivery. She urges people to share their views.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee public services funding and delivery inquiry evidence session Original release: It's essential we get to root problems in NI's public services, says Eastwood, ahead of NIAC session. (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive must take responsibility for health service crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says all Executive parties must share responsibility for the health service crisis, citing ignored warnings, a late winter preparedness plan and failure to implement transformation before an emergency Health Committee meeting.
Health Issue: Health Committee emergency meeting on Emergency Department waiting times Original release: McGrath: Executive must take responsibility for health service crisis (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition publishes New Year resolution list for bleary-eyed Executive
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA calls on the Executive to adopt five urgent New Year priorities, including a costed health service rescue plan, construction at Casement Park and action on Assembly motions passed in 2024.
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MLA’s Playing Politics with Winter Health Pressures is Despicable – Chambers.
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers urges MLAs not to play politics over winter hospital pressures, criticises DUP and Alliance for scoring points, and blames the inadequate health budget for lacking long-term investment. He also urges eligible people to take up the flu jab.
Health Issue: Winter hospital pressures and MLA comments on health service Original release: MLA’s Playing Politics with Winter Health Pressures is Despicable – Chambers. (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly calls on Minister to address Assembly on winter pressures in health system
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to appear before the Assembly on its return to set out plans for winter pressures, citing New Year's Eve A&E figures showing over half of nearly 900 attendees waited more than 12 hours.
Health Issue: New Year's Eve A&E waiting times and winter pressures in health system Original release: Donnelly calls on Minister to address Assembly on winter pressures in health system (opens in a new tab)
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Robinson - we call a spade a spade
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson MP, in his New Year message, sets out 2025 priorities including the childcare subsidy scheme and broadband completion, and rejects new taxes to fix health pressures, calling instead for accountability and better management in the health service.
Constitutional affairs Health Original release: Robinson - we call a spade a spade (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds - winter pressures plan is woeful
DUP Stormont Health Committee member Diane Dodds says Christmas hospital waiting times reflect a woeful winter pressures plan, which she claims copies last year's failed plan. She cites A&E waits of over 13 hours at Craigavon and over 12 at Causeway, and calls for systemic reform.
Health Issue: Winter pressures plan and hospital A&E waiting times over Christmas Original release: Dodds - winter pressures plan is woeful (opens in a new tab)
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Let's make our roads safer
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who chairs the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, calls for more action on road safety in 2025 after the number of road deaths in Northern Ireland in 2024. She urges DfI to fund and implement the road safety strategy to 2030, asks PSNI to keep enforcing laws on speeding…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: Let's make our roads safer (opens in a new tab)
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New Year Message from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, now Health Minister, uses his New Year message to call for change in health and social care and for every Executive party to commit to never collapsing the institutions again.
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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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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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Suspension of border checks
TUV leader Jim Allister MP welcomes DAERA's temporary suspension of inspections on freight vehicles carrying goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, caused by Holyhead port disruption, but argues it shows the Irish Sea arrangements can be paused for EU and Republic interests.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Suspension of border checks (opens in a new tab)
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Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley welcomes DAERA's decision to temporarily suspend seal checks on lorries bound for Belfast, which followed the temporary closure of Holyhead port, and says it exposes EU and Irish claims about Irish Sea border checks as hypocritical.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley (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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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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Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine
DUP Infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes, but asks why it came a week before Christmas. She says the interim measure could have been introduced earlier and calls for lessons to be learned…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine (opens in a new tab)