Latest releases
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3,366 releases
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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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New homes for north Belfast a positive announcement – Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomes Belfast City Council's plan to turn car parks and disused land near Little Donegall Street, Library Street and Kent Street into mixed housing, shops and meeting spaces, and says it will help cut housing waiting lists.
Housing Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Little Donegall Street housing regeneration announcement Original release: New homes for north Belfast a positive announcement – Ní Chuilín (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.
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Transparency and accountability needed on hospital building projects
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds calls for an independent review of new Belfast Trust building projects after rot and black mould were discovered in the Acute Mental Inpatient centre, urging the Minister to provide details on repairs, costs, timelines and patient impact.
Health Issue: Rot and black mould found in Belfast Trust Acute Mental Inpatient centre Original release: Transparency and accountability needed on hospital building projects (opens in a new tab)
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‘Extension will help motorists stay on the road legally’ – Boylan
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's decision to extend Temporary Exemption Certificates for a further year, saying the scheme has helped cut MOT waiting times to 30 days. He also points to extra staff recruitment and Sunday and bank holiday testing.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Extension of MOT Temporary Exemption Certificates for a further year Original release: ‘Extension will help motorists stay on the road legally’ – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Reducing MOT backlog must remain a priority, says McReynolds, welcoming extension of TECs
Alliance infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA welcomes the extension of Temporary Exemption Certificates to continue reducing the MOT backlog. He credits DVA staff for weekend and bank holiday appointments and recruitment of more vehicle examiners, and says Alliance supports exploring…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Extension of MOT Temporary Exemption Certificates for a further year Original release: Reducing MOT backlog must remain a priority, says McReynolds, welcoming extension of TECs (opens in a new tab)
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It’s time we start recognising the benefits of renewable energy, says Honeyford
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA says Department for Economy figures showing a decline in renewable electricity use in Northern Ireland are shocking. He calls on the Economy Minister to deliver faster on renewables and meet the 2030 target of 80 percent renewable electricity.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Department for Economy electricity consumption and renewable generation report 2025 Original release: It’s time we start recognising the benefits of renewable energy, says Honeyford (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Every area should benefit from community healthcare funding
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says all parts of the North should receive multidisciplinary care teams, welcomes the £61 m funding for five new GP Federation areas but urges the Health Minister to fund and roll out MDTs to the remaining five areas lacking the service.
Health Issue: Finance Minister announces £61m MDT funding for five GP Federation areas Original release: McGrath: Every area should benefit from community healthcare funding (opens in a new tab)
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Affordable rent scheme to deliver 300 homes
DUP Housing Minister Gordon Lyons announces funding to Maple & May to deliver 300 Intermediate Rent homes at below-market rents, with some construction starting within a year and first tenancies targeted from late 2026.
Housing Issue: Maple & May Intermediate Rent funding for 300 homes Original release: Affordable rent scheme to deliver 300 homes (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes Minister’s commitment to tackling water pollution in South Antrim
Alliance MLA John Blair says he met DAERA Minister Andrew Muir and angling clubs from South Antrim to discuss recurring pollution on local rivers flowing into Lough Neagh. He says the Minister reaffirmed his commitment to tackling water pollution and pledged ongoing engagement with the angling…
Environment and climate Issue: South Antrim angling clubs meeting with DAERA Minister on river pollution Original release: Blair welcomes Minister’s commitment to tackling water pollution in South Antrim (opens in a new tab)
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Protections for private renters must go further, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says protections for private renters must go further after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced rent increases limited to once a year. She calls for legislation banning inflation-busting rent rises and a new Housing Ombudsman.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister rent increase limit regulations for private tenancies Original release: Protections for private renters must go further, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Department needs to agree new contract with local GPs, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to agree a new GP contract in Northern Ireland, citing the recent England deal worth an extra £889 million a year for general practices and a cut in red tape.
Health Issue: England GP contract deal with UK Government and BMA Original release: Department needs to agree new contract with local GPs, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Drug-related death figures highlight urgent need for public health intervention, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA expresses concern over NISRA figures showing 169 drug-related deaths registered in 2023, up 47% on ten years ago. He calls for urgent investment in prevention, treatment and harm reduction, and for the Health Minister to strengthen addiction services.
Health Issue: NISRA drug-related deaths figures for 2023 Original release: Drug-related death figures highlight urgent need for public health intervention, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Dunne urges support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne backs the March fundraising drive for Marie Curie, praising its end-of-life care and staff and urging people to donate, wear a daffodil pin or raise awareness.
Health Original release: Dunne urges support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal (opens in a new tab)
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‘Huge potential ahead to continue transforming north west’ – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy says huge potential exists to keep transforming the north west through job creation and cross-border co-operation, citing a Derry-Letterkenny economic corridor, the Magee campus expansion and City of Derry Airport after an Assembly motion.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Original release: ‘Huge potential ahead to continue transforming north west’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes funding to help transform key public services
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes £129m in funding for six proposals to transform public services, including £61m for multidisciplinary primary care teams and £27.5m for Special Educational Needs support. Dolan also highlights justice, infrastructure and digital allocations.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: £129m Executive transformation funding for six public service proposals Original release: Dolan welcomes funding to help transform key public services (opens in a new tab)