Latest releases
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3,366 releases
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Thousands of Houses Empty and Thousands Homeless: Time for Action
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is using unreliable data on vacant properties to excuse inaction on housing, and calls on the Finance and Communities Ministers to ensure empty homes records are accurate and up to date.
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Thousands of Houses Empty and Thousands Homeless: Time for Action (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer welcomes new veterinary nursing degrees at Ulster University
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer welcomes Ulster University's announcement that its Coleraine campus will offer veterinary nursing degrees, and a part-time animal healthcare and practice degree for registered veterinary nurses. He hopes the courses will keep veterinary careers in Northern Ireland…
Agriculture and rural affairs Education Issue: Ulster University Coleraine veterinary nursing degree announcement Original release: McAleer welcomes new veterinary nursing degrees at Ulster University (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive inaction on empty homes is a missed opportunity after Department of Finance figures showed 21,081 vacant properties across the North. He calls for immediate action, including a review of the Empty Homes Strategy and a scheme similar to Scotland's Empty Home…
Housing Issue: Communities Minister comments on lack of data on vacant properties Original release: Durkan: Executive inaction sees Empty Homes rise to over 21,000 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes Irish Government commitment to Northern Ireland
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes the draft Irish Government Programme for Government, citing its reflection of SDLP proposals on a skills task force, cross-border environment and waterways, and Erasmus access, plus a €1bn-plus Shared Island Unit commitment and a John Hume Fund.
Constitutional affairs Infrastructure and transport Issue: Draft Programme for Government omits presidential voting rights for citizens abroad Original release: Hanna welcomes Irish Government commitment to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Corridor care can’t become the norm
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says corridor care cannot become the norm in hospitals, after an RCN report found some patients dying in corridors. He calls for proper workforce planning and health service transformation, and warns the situation in the North may be worse than…
Health Issue: Royal College of Nursing report on corridor care across Britain and Northern Ireland Original release: McGrath: Corridor care can’t become the norm (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive squabbling won’t solve health crisis
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls for an end to Executive infighting over the health service crisis, criticising Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's statement on the draft budget's equality impact assessment as a list of grievances. He urges parties to work together on solutions.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health Equality Impact Assessment of 2025‑26 budget Original release: McGrath: Executive squabbling won’t solve health crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges Infrastructure Minister to review winter services plan
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA calls on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to review the department's winter services programme, saying road gritting criteria and grit box provision are not serving all areas well. He says reviews should involve other agencies to…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Winter weather road gritting and grit box provision by DfI Original release: Durkan urges Infrastructure Minister to review winter services plan (opens in a new tab)
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McAleer encourages community participation in Dalradian inquiry
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer urges residents across the north west to take part in the additional consultation on Dalradian's proposed Sperrins goldmine and processing plant, after its planning inquiry was suspended. He calls the delay regrettable and stresses the project's possible environmental…
Environment and climate Issue: Dalradian Sperrins goldmine planning inquiry suspension Original release: McAleer encourages community participation in Dalradian inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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‘People’s Kitchen must have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out vital homelessness work’ – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says he and MLA Carál Ní Chuilín met Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with the People's Kitchen team, and calls on the minister to examine funding streams for the Belfast homelessness charity, which receives no public funding.
Housing Social security and welfare Original release: ‘People’s Kitchen must have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out vital homelessness work’ – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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Minister commends organisations working to tackle homelessness
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons praised frontline homelessness charities during a visit to a north Belfast support centre, highlighted the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy, announced an extra £6.7 m for the Housing Executive and a new 2025‑26 allocation for homelessness prevention, and thanked
Housing Issue: Housing Supply Strategy and homelessness funding boost Original release: Minister commends organisations working to tackle homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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Action required on dual market access and skills to maximise economic potential over rest of decade, says Honeyford.
Alliance Economy spokesperson David Honeyford calls on the Economy Minister to prioritise promoting dual market access in Invest NI's marketing and to improve alignment between education and business skills needs. He also urges the Infrastructure Department to speed up planning, including on…
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: ESRI report on a new economic model for the North Original release: Action required on dual market access and skills to maximise economic potential over rest of decade, says Honeyford. (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must accept responsibility for making tough decisions, says McAllister.
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the Health Minister must take responsibility for difficult choices and adopt a stronger stance on efficiency and reform after the Department of Health released its Equality Impact Assessment of the draft 2025‑26 budget.
Health Issue: Department of Health Equality Impact Assessment of 2025‑26 budget Original release: Health Minister must accept responsibility for making tough decisions, says McAllister. (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly deeply disappointed after proposed goldmine public inquiry delay
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly says he is deeply disappointed that the public inquiry into the proposed Co Tyrone goldmine has been suspended after the Department for Infrastructure was found to have failed to consult adequately on transboundary issues. He calls on the Department to carry…
Environment and climate Issue: Dalradian Sperrins goldmine planning inquiry suspension Original release: Donnelly deeply disappointed after proposed goldmine public inquiry delay (opens in a new tab)
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Nelson welcomes announcement of investment in Giant’s Park
Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson welcomes the £100 million investment announced for Giant’s Park by the city council and the park’s development company, praising the plan for an urban adventure park that will create jobs, boost tourism, improve public coastal access and enhance connectivity for North
Local government Economy and employment Issue: £100m investment in Giant’s Park Original release: Nelson welcomes announcement of investment in Giant’s Park (opens in a new tab)
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McReynolds questions lack of promotion around DfI consultation on taxis in bus lanes.
Alliance spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA criticises the Department for Infrastructure for insufficient promotion of its consultation on extending taxi use of bus lanes in Belfast city centre. He says the February 5 closing date is too short and urges the Minister to reverse the scheme.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: DfI consultation on taxi use of bus lanes Original release: McReynolds questions lack of promotion around DfI consultation on taxis in bus lanes. (opens in a new tab)
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Attack on nurse ‘shocking’ and ‘disgraceful’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn describes as disgraceful an assault on a young nurse from the Royal Maternity Hospital on Saturday evening, expressing her thoughts for the victim. She says nurses are the backbone of the health system and calls the attack shocking, and she urges a man who intervened…
Justice and policing Health Issue: Assault on nurse at Royal Maternity Hospital, Saturday evening Original release: Attack on nurse ‘shocking’ and ‘disgraceful’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed
DUP East Antrim MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes Communities Minister Gordon Lyons's commitment to reform the Housing Executive points system for intimidated applicants. She urges swift reforms so housing is allocated on genuine need rather than intimidation points, which she says criminals can abuse.
Housing Disability and equality Issue: Removal of Housing Executive intimidation points Original release: Communities Minister’s reform of housing points welcomed (opens in a new tab)
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Health and education ministers must improve mental health services in schools – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the health and education ministers to enhance mental‑health provision in schools, urging faster, compassionate support for children and youth clubs amid long waiting lists and suicide‑prevention concerns.
Health Education Original release: Health and education ministers must improve mental health services in schools – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Ambulance delays contributing to health service collapse
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says ambulance delays are adding to pressure on the health service, citing ambulances queuing outside emergency departments over Christmas and patients waiting in vehicles for hours. He calls on the Executive to implement health transformation.
Health Issue: Assembly debate on ambulance response times, January 2025 Original release: McGrath: Ambulance delays contributing to health service collapse (opens in a new tab)
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Plan needed to tackle unacceptable delays in ambulance services, says Donnelly, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls for a plan to tackle ambulance service delays ahead of an Assembly motion urging the Health Minister to bring forward proposals, including a workforce plan, to boost ambulance capacity.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on Northern Ireland Ambulance Service capacity and response times Original release: Plan needed to tackle unacceptable delays in ambulance services, says Donnelly, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)