Latest releases
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3,441 releases
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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)
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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)
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Protecting Women and Girls' Spaces.
DUP MLA Peter Martin praises the Northern Ireland Women's Rights Network for its evidence to the Executive Office Committee and says the party will continue to protect women and girls' spaces, criticising other Assembly parties' stance.
Disability and equality Issue: Northern Ireland Women's Rights Network evidence to Executive Office Committee Original release: Protecting Women and Girls' Spaces. (opens in a new tab)
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Gabhann Reilly comhghairdeas le Kneecap
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly congratulates the rap group Kneecap on their success in film, after their IFTA and BAFTA wins, and praises their work promoting the Irish language on the global stage. She also links their success to awareness of political and social causes, including Palestine.
Disability and equality Original release: Gabhann Reilly comhghairdeas le Kneecap (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP has a problem with common sense – Brooks
East Belfast DUP MLA David Brooks says the SDLP's reaction to DUP Leader Gavin Robinson's comments on diversity quotas shows it puts ideology ahead of common sense, and accuses the party of intolerance towards differing views.
Disability and equality Issue: DUP Leader Gavin Robinson comments on woke diversity quotas Original release: SDLP has a problem with common sense – Brooks (opens in a new tab)
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Congratulations to Andy Allen at the Invictus Games
UUP Leader Mike Nesbitt MLA congratulates Andy Allen, his colleague, on winning four medals at the Invictus Games in Whistler, and says he has asked the Speaker to host a welcome home event for him.
Other Disability and equality Issue: Andy Allen Invictus Games medals in Whistler Original release: Congratulations to Andy Allen at the Invictus Games (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Representative police service not about ‘woke quotas’
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says a representative police service is not about 'woke quotas', responding to DUP Leader Gavin Robinson's email to members. He says the PSNI falls far short of reflecting the community and calls for more recruitment from nationalist backgrounds, women and minority groups…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: DUP Leader Gavin Robinson comments on woke diversity quotas Original release: Durkan: Representative police service not about ‘woke quotas’ (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Weir marks Holocaust Memorial Day
DUP Peer Lord Weir, speaking in the House of Lords on Holocaust Memorial Day, marks the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau's liberation and warns that genocide and antisemitism remain relevant today, including in Northern Ireland. He highlights Millisle's refuge and Millisle Primary's memorial…
Disability and equality International affairs Original release: Weir marks Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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SDLP Opposition urges action on Universal Credit five-week wait and ties to illegal lending
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan warns that the five-week Universal Credit wait is pushing vulnerable people into debt and towards illegal lending. He calls for the Contingency Fund to be renamed, promoted and expanded, and criticises Minister Lyons over a lack of research and plans.
Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit five-week wait and illegal lending link Original release: SDLP Opposition urges action on Universal Credit five-week wait and ties to illegal lending (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter questions Minister’s top marks on Irish language
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA questions Education Minister Paul Givan's self-assessed 'A' grade on Irish language education, citing mobile classrooms, unimplemented 2008 review recommendations, Foras na Gaelige funding cuts and a lack of Irish language representation on a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister Givan's Irish language education performance grade in Assembly Original release: Hunter questions Minister’s top marks on Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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‘There should be no further delays to Anti-Poverty Strategy publication’ – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Communities Committee chair, calls on the Communities Minister to bring forward the Anti-Poverty Strategy without further postponement, after the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group presented its priorities at Stormont.
Social security and welfare Issue: Anti-Poverty Strategy Group priorities launch at Stormont Original release: ‘There should be no further delays to Anti-Poverty Strategy publication’ – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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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)
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McGuigan welcomes medical and dental pay deals
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA welcomes approval of the medical and dental pay deals, which are to be backdated to April 2024. He says the party will continue to stand in solidarity with resident doctors and dentists in training, whose pay negotiations are ongoing.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Medical and dental pay deals approved and backdated to April 2024 Original release: McGuigan welcomes medical and dental pay deals (opens in a new tab)