Latest releases
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2,987 releases
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Aontú: Brennan ‘exclusion zone’ case may be pivotal in balancing rights
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly backs pro-life campaigner Claire Brennan, fined £750 for praying near Coleraine Area Hospital in a buffer zone, and says the case could help overturn the zones Aontú opposed in the Assembly.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Claire Brennan fined over Coleraine hospital buffer zone prayer Original release: Aontú: Brennan ‘exclusion zone’ case may be pivotal in balancing rights (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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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)
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Kimmins asks health minister to consider signing up to early access programme for treatment for DMD
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the health minister to consider joining the early access programme for Givinostat, a drug she says could ease severe symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and asks him to do all he can to secure access for patients.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Kimmins asks health minister to consider signing up to early access programme for treatment for DMD (opens in a new tab)
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Brownlee – Disclosing of private sexual materials a societal issue…
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee says PSNI figures showing over 170 reports of disclosing private sexual images since 2020 show a societal issue that cannot be ignored. She calls for stronger prevention, support systems, enhanced legislation and awareness campaigns.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: Brownlee – Disclosing of private sexual materials a societal issue… (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party reacts saying puberty blocker decision turns failure of our community into betrayal
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn calls on the Executive to release the evidence behind its puberty blocker decision, now made indefinite after a temporary ban. He accuses the Executive parties of failing LGBTQ+ people over an equality strategy promised since 2007, and singles out Sinn Féin and…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive vote on indefinite ban on puberty blockers Original release: Green Party reacts saying puberty blocker decision turns failure of our community into betrayal (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister's three-year plan seriously lacks detail, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister's three-year health and social care plan, announced in the Assembly, lacks detail and new content. She calls for a clear roadmap on delivering better outcomes and says reform of the health service is necessary.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's three-year health and social care plan announcement Original release: Health Minister's three-year plan seriously lacks detail, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health plan must be deliverable
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Health Minister's new three-year health plan must be deliverable, warning it risks being a wish list given the Executive's trajectory and Department of Health funding. He calls for concrete, fully funded, time-bound measures and…
Health Issue: Health Minister's three-year health and social care plan announcement Original release: McGrath: Health plan must be deliverable (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon thanks Nexus on their 40th anniversary
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the Assembly's passing of a motion marking Nexus's 40th anniversary, praising its support for those affected by sexual abuse. She says she will keep working with the health minister and Nexus on a long-term plan to sustain specialist counselling.
Health Issue: Assembly motion marking Nexus 40th anniversary Original release: Dillon thanks Nexus on their 40th anniversary (opens in a new tab)
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Parties can make position clear on life-changing drugs
DUP MLA Peter Martin says an Executive vote to indefinitely extend the temporary ban on prescribing puberty blockers to children gives local parties a chance to state their position. He calls the move a cautious choice backed by medical experts and urges parties to show whether they follow expert…
Health Issue: Executive vote on indefinite ban on puberty blockers Original release: Parties can make position clear on life-changing drugs (opens in a new tab)
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Egan presents petition on diagnosis and management of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes with Ehlers Danlos Support UK
Alliance MLA Connie Egan presented a petition to the Assembly, backed by Ehlers Danlos Support UK, urging the Health Minister to set up a dedicated diagnostic and treatment pathway for Ehlers‑Danlos syndromes across Northern Ireland.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Petition for Ehlers‑Danlos syndrome care pathway in NI Original release: Egan presents petition on diagnosis and management of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes with Ehlers Danlos Support UK (opens in a new tab)
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7 in 7 Challenge congratulated through Commons motion
DUP MP Gregory Campbell congratulates rugby league player Kevin Sinfield on his 7 in 7 challenge of seven ultramarathons in seven days, raising money for Motor Neurone Disease, and says he has tabled a Commons motion marking it.
Other Disability and equality Original release: 7 in 7 Challenge congratulated through Commons motion (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew welcomes confirmation that Executive agrees to extend welfare mitigations
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Executive's agreement to extend welfare mitigations to 2028, citing support for DLA-to-PIP transition, the benefit cap and bedroom tax. He calls on the Labour government to build a fairer benefits system.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Executive agreement to extend welfare mitigations to 2028 Original release: Gildernew welcomes confirmation that Executive agrees to extend welfare mitigations (opens in a new tab)
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So-called 'conversion' practices have no place in society, says Tennyson, launching Private Members' Bill.
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson, the Upper Bann MLA, launches a consultation on a Private Members' proposal to criminalise so-called conversion practices in Northern Ireland, open until 20 March 2025, saying such practices cause lasting harm.
Disability and equality Issue: Consultation launch on banning conversion practices in Northern Ireland Original release: So-called 'conversion' practices have no place in society, says Tennyson, launching Private Members' Bill. (opens in a new tab)
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Transparency and accountability needed from Health Committee meeting:…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds calls for an urgent, independent inquiry into the Belfast Trust's handling of the new Regional Maternity Hospital ahead of the Trust's appearance before the Health Committee. She says the Health Minister's late-notified issue shows the need for scrutiny, and…
Health Issue: Belfast Trust and Department of Health appearance before Health Committee on maternity hospital Original release: Transparency and accountability needed from Health Committee meeting:… (opens in a new tab)
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Legacy of HMS Caroline lives on in Belfast – Little-Pengelly
Emma Little-Pengelly, the DUP’s deputy First Minister and MLA, honoured the more than 1,500 Northern Irish and island sailors who died serving in the Royal Navy at a ceremony marking HMS Caroline’s centenary in Belfast, and welcomed the National Museum of the Royal Navy’s plan to create a memorial –
Other Issue: National Museum of the Royal Navy memorial at Alexander Dock Original release: Legacy of HMS Caroline lives on in Belfast – Little-Pengelly (opens in a new tab)