Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
4,116 releases
-
‘New children’s hospital will be transformative for north’s healthcare’ – Maskey
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes the Executive's approval of a new children's hospital at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, estimated at £671 million, with construction expected to begin within days. He says it will be a game-changer for families and transformative for healthcare in the north.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive approval of new children's hospital at Royal Victoria Hospital Original release: ‘New children’s hospital will be transformative for north’s healthcare’ – Maskey (opens in a new tab)
-
Current vacancies in NI health service concerning, says Donnelly, stating Safe and Effective Staffing legislation must be delivered
Alliance health spokesperson and Health Committee deputy Chair Danny Donnelly MLA voices concern over unfilled posts in nursing and midwifery across the health service, citing Department of Health figures showing 22 percent of vacancies in those roles, and urges swift delivery of Safe and…
Health Issue: Department of Health recruitment and workforce statistics February 2025 Original release: Current vacancies in NI health service concerning, says Donnelly, stating Safe and Effective Staffing legislation must be delivered (opens in a new tab)
-
McGuigan meets BMA on issues facing GP practices
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan calls for action on pressures facing GP practices after meeting the British Medical Association, urging the Health Minister to prioritise GP core funding and resolve indemnity negotiations quickly.
Health Original release: McGuigan meets BMA on issues facing GP practices (opens in a new tab)
-
British-Irish parliamentary links post reunification mutually beneficial – Rose Conway-Walsh TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD welcomes an Irish Times and ARINS Project survey finding most people North and South want the east-west link maintained after reunification. She calls for British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meetings to be regularised and prioritised.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Irish Times and ARINS Project east-west link survey Original release: British-Irish parliamentary links post reunification mutually beneficial – Rose Conway-Walsh TD (opens in a new tab)
-
McAteer names Eastside Greenways one of High Sheriff charities
Alliance Councillor Fiona McAteer, now High Sheriff of Belfast, says she will support Eastside Greenways during her term, praising its work on the Connswater Community Greenway in east Belfast.
Environment and climate Local government Original release: McAteer names Eastside Greenways one of High Sheriff charities (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath welcomes Minister’s commitment to explore access to muscular dystrophy drugs
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's pledge to engage the Belfast Trust on getting Givinostat, a drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to young patients such as 12-year-old Alfie Pentony from Newry.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Givinostat access for Duchenne patients raised in Assembly topical question Original release: McGrath welcomes Minister’s commitment to explore access to muscular dystrophy drugs (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds: Health budget must prioritise patients
DUP MLA Diane Dodds criticises the Belfast Trust's spending of over £130 per teacher on an RSE course, arguing the money should go to waiting lists, cancer diagnosis and emergency care. She says she pressed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on the matter in committee.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Trust spending on teacher RSE training course Original release: Dodds: Health budget must prioritise patients (opens in a new tab)
-
Magical Thinking in Whitehall and Brussels
TUV leader Jim Allister, writing in the News Letter, argues that the Official Control Amendment Regulations remove the justification for the Irish Sea border by allowing checks away from border control posts, and calls on the Government to explain why it accepts this arrangement.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Official Control Amendment Regulations and Irish Sea Border checks Original release: Magical Thinking in Whitehall and Brussels (opens in a new tab)
-
Alliance position on health funding becoming increasingly confused – Chambers
UUP MLA Alan Chambers accuses the Alliance Party of disregarding pressures on patients and health workers, saying Alliance MLA Nuala McCallister gave incorrect figures at a Health Committee session on the January Monitoring Round allocation to health.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: January Monitoring Round health funding allocation Health Committee exchange Original release: Alliance position on health funding becoming increasingly confused – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
-
Lack of access to respite care absolutely unacceptable, says Mathison.
Alliance Strangford MLA Nick Mathison says it is unacceptable that only 13 of 85 eligible people in the South Eastern Trust receive residential respite, and presses the Health Minister for clarity on how a £13 million short-break investment is being spent and how many young people await a social…
Health Disability and equality Issue: South Eastern Trust residential short breaks access figures Original release: Lack of access to respite care absolutely unacceptable, says Mathison. (opens in a new tab)
-
Flynn welcomes progress on Belfast mother and baby unit
Sinn Féin’s mental health spokesperson, MLA Órlaithí Flynn says she welcomes the Health Minister’s indication that a mother‑and‑baby mental health unit at Belfast’s City Hospital will be built this financial year, a project the party has long called for.
Health Issue: Announcement of Belfast mother and baby mental health unit Original release: Flynn welcomes progress on Belfast mother and baby unit (opens in a new tab)
-
Delargy welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to progressing new Altnagelvin emergency department
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Health Minister's intention to press ahead with a replacement emergency unit at Altnagelvin, announced after a Health Committee meeting. He says the existing unit, the oldest in the north, needs rebuilding to cut waiting times.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Altnagelvin emergency department rebuild announced by Health Minister Original release: Delargy welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to progressing new Altnagelvin emergency department (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds Questions Ballooning Costs of RVH Children's Hospital
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds says she is shocked by escalating projected costs for the RVH children's hospital, noting estimates rose from £250 million in 2013 to over £600m, with Committee papers suggesting over £1bn. She calls for clearer oversight and financial control.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: RVH children's hospital cost estimate rise raised at Health Committee Original release: Dodds Questions Ballooning Costs of RVH Children's Hospital (opens in a new tab)
-
Foyle Pride highlight incompatibility of public bodies participating…
Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton says a Foyle Pride statement backs up the DUP's long-standing view that police, the BBC and other public bodies are incompatible with taking part in the Pride Parade, which he calls a protest. He also calls for health services to focus on helping young people harmed by…
Disability and equality Health Issue: Foyle Pride statement on public sector involvement in Pride Parade Original release: Foyle Pride highlight incompatibility of public bodies participating… (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan to bring forward legislation to protect environment
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says he is bringing a Private Member’s Bill to Stormont that would set binding air, water, soil and biodiversity targets for government bodies, impose a duty to conserve and create Nature Recovery Networks, and urge DAERA to set long‑term and interim environmental goals.
Environment and climate Issue: SDLP Private Member’s Bill on environmental targets Original release: Durkan to bring forward legislation to protect environment (opens in a new tab)
-
Lockhart - “What a waste of a PMQ!”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood wasted her Prime Minister's Question Time slot on an anti-DUP soundbite. She argues Alliance should instead back removing trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, which she says would protect jobs.
Economy and employment International affairs Issue: Sorcha Eastwood's question at Prime Minister's Question Time Original release: Lockhart - “What a waste of a PMQ!” (opens in a new tab)
-
Senator Conor Murphy appointed Sinn Féin Seanad Leader
Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy, newly appointed Sinn Féin Seanad leader, sets out priorities including the all-Ireland economy, extending presidential voting rights to northern and overseas Irish citizens, and preparing for a Irish unity referendum.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Conor Murphy appointed Sinn Féin Seanad leader Original release: Senator Conor Murphy appointed Sinn Féin Seanad Leader (opens in a new tab)
-
Government must be more robust in defending the national interest
DUP peer Lord Dodds calls on the UK Government to be much more robust in defending the national interest, including Northern Ireland, after a Lords question revealed eight ongoing EU infringement proceedings against the UK, five relating to Northern Ireland.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: Lords question on EU infringement proceedings against the UK Original release: Government must be more robust in defending the national interest (opens in a new tab)
-
Boylan welcomes Minister’s ‘innovative thinking’ to deliver better wastewater infrastructure
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's commitment to better water and wastewater infrastructure, and says ageing wastewater systems must be a top priority. He blames austerity and British Government underfunding and points to an extra £19.5 million for NI Water…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Infrastructure Minister's Assembly statement on water and wastewater infrastructure Original release: Boylan welcomes Minister’s ‘innovative thinking’ to deliver better wastewater infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
-
NI Scrutiny Committee has important role to play to address Windsor Framework - Empey
UUP peer Lord Empey welcomes his selection to the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee, which considers Protocol and Windsor Framework implementation, and says it is needed now. He flags veterinary medicines, the Stormont Brake and possible US tariff effects on Northern Ireland goods…
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee first meeting Original release: NI Scrutiny Committee has important role to play to address Windsor Framework - Empey (opens in a new tab)