Latest releases
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3,094 releases
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Baker welcomes decision to allow taxis into some bus lanes in Belfast city centre
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes over the coming weeks, saying it will ease festive congestion and encourage shoppers to visit.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Baker welcomes decision to allow taxis into some bus lanes in Belfast city centre (opens in a new tab)
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Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth criticises DFI Minister John O'Dowd's decision to allow private taxis in Belfast bus lanes, calling it desperate and warning it puts cyclists at risk and confuses drivers. He calls for a walking, cycling and public transport-focused transport strategy.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Private taxis in bus lanes "an act of desperation with little regard for the wider consequences" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Taxis in bus lanes will not solve congestion issues, says McReynolds.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA says allowing taxis in several Belfast city centre bus lanes over the festive period will not ease congestion. He urges the Infrastructure Minister to reverse the measure and pursue alternatives that reduce car use and support public…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Taxis in bus lanes will not solve congestion issues, says McReynolds. (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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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)
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Brogan welcomes funding for waterways in border communities
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes a €32 million PEACEPLUS investment aimed at improving water in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay. She says it will also upgrade wastewater treatment for cross-border communities, benefiting up to 6,000 people.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: PEACEPLUS €32 million cross-border waterways investment Original release: Brogan welcomes funding for waterways in border communities (opens in a new tab)
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Where is Minister’s pilot scheme to “help ease traffic”?
DUP infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine questions why the consultation on legislation for a pilot allowing some taxis to use Belfast city centre bus lanes during Grand Central Station roadworks has not started. She says a response indicated an announcement would come "in the near future"…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre taxi bus lane pilot consultation delay Original release: Where is Minister’s pilot scheme to “help ease traffic”? (opens in a new tab)
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Rise in patient deaths while waiting for an ambulance ‘deeply worrying and totally unacceptable’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls increased patient deaths while waiting for an ambulance worrying and unacceptable, pointing to rising demand and handover delays caused by staff shortages and A&E pressures. She urges the Health Minister and department to take urgent action.
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Time for statutory public inquiry following cervical screening reports, says Guy, speaking alongside Ladies with Letters.
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy calls on the Health Minister to order a statutory public inquiry after reports on the Southern Trust cervical screening failings, saying serious questions remain unanswered and accountability is needed. She also backs the Ladies with Letters campaign group's call for an…
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Time for statutory public inquiry following cervical screening reports, says Guy, speaking alongside Ladies with Letters. (opens in a new tab)
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Public inquiry call repeated after findings of cervical screening review
TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe says the party was first to call for a public inquiry into the cervical screening scandal and that MLA Timothy Gaston will press Health Minister Nesbitt before the Christmas break to answer outstanding questions and explain how long he has held draft answers from…
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Public inquiry call repeated after findings of cervical screening review (opens in a new tab)
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Will anyone be held accountable for cervical screening failings? –…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds, Party Health Spokesperson, says the review into cervical screening misreads at the Southern Trust raises accountability questions and calls for a public inquiry to establish the full truth and restore confidence.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Will anyone be held accountable for cervical screening failings? –… (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey encourages public to join organ donor register
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey urges people not yet on the organ donor register to sign up, citing the 18 months since Dáithí's law took effect and the MacGabhann family's awareness work. He says joining takes two minutes and can help those waiting for transplants.
Health Original release: Maskey encourages public to join organ donor register (opens in a new tab)
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Conclusion of Southern Trust smear test review ‘important step’ – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the end of the Southern Trust’s review of about 17,500 smear tests marks a key progress point, and she will meet the trust, push for a swift independent expert assessment, request a health‑minister update on HPV testing and urge women to attend cervical screening.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening review findings Original release: Conclusion of Southern Trust smear test review ‘important step’ – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Local residents’ concerns demand multi-agency engagement – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls for a round table meeting between DfI Rivers Agency, NI Water, Antrim and Newtownabbey Council planners and residents of Riverside and Massereene Street over flooding, sewerage capacity and a proposed Alpha housing development at Bridge Street.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Riverside and Massereene Street flooding and sewage overflow Original release: Local residents’ concerns demand multi-agency engagement – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Frew welcomes movement on Duty of Candour
DUP MLA Paul Frew welcomes the Health Minister's willingness to consider an individual duty of candour alongside an organisational one, and says the DUP backs a statutory duty for healthcare that targets deliberate withholding of information. He prefers the Department of Health to bring it forward…
Health Issue: Health Minister's shift on individual duty of candour in healthcare Original release: Frew welcomes movement on Duty of Candour (opens in a new tab)
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Public must have confidence in cervical screening procedures – Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes the Health Minister's pledge to look urgently into cervical screening concerns at the Belfast Trust, and wants reassurance across all Trust areas, including the new centralised screening lab contract.
Health Issue: Belfast Trust cervical screening lab accreditation withdrawal Assembly statement Original release: Public must have confidence in cervical screening procedures – Dodds (opens in a new tab)