Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Housing: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
3,366 releases
-
Cervical screening resignations show need for a statutory public inquiry, say Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nuala McAllister call for a full statutory inquiry into the Southern Trust cervical screening failings, urging the Health Minister to act without delay after two senior medics resigned over concerns about the service.
Health Issue: Southern Trust cervical screening resignations of two senior medics Original release: Cervical screening resignations show need for a statutory public inquiry, say Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
-
Cautious Welcome to Draft Budget - Aiken
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA welcomes the draft 2025/26 budget going to public consultation but says it fails to tackle Health waiting lists after a £34m allocation was removed. He also says Education, Policing, Agriculture and infrastructure lack sufficient funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive agreement on draft budget 2025-26 Original release: Cautious Welcome to Draft Budget - Aiken (opens in a new tab)
-
Suspension of border checks
TUV leader Jim Allister MP welcomes DAERA's temporary suspension of inspections on freight vehicles carrying goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, caused by Holyhead port disruption, but argues it shows the Irish Sea arrangements can be paused for EU and Republic interests.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Suspension of border checks (opens in a new tab)
-
Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley welcomes DAERA's decision to temporarily suspend seal checks on lorries bound for Belfast, which followed the temporary closure of Holyhead port, and says it exposes EU and Irish claims about Irish Sea border checks as hypocritical.
Constitutional affairs International affairs Issue: DAERA suspension of seal checks on Great Britain to Northern Ireland lorries Original release: Hypocrisy and double standards of EU exposed - Buckley (opens in a new tab)
-
It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly.
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls for action on alcohol after new figures showed alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland rose 65 per cent over the past decade. He says intervention is needed to reduce harm and save lives.
Health Issue: Publication of alcohol-specific deaths statistics for Northern Ireland Original release: It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly. (opens in a new tab)
-
Kimmins welcomes pay deal for health workers
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes a newly reached pay settlement for health workers agreed between the health minister and trade unions. She says health and social care staff are the backbone of the service and deserve decent pay and safe conditions, and pledges continued pressure for fair deals…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health minister and trade unions pay agreement for health workers Original release: Kimmins welcomes pay deal for health workers (opens in a new tab)
-
Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine
DUP Infrastructure spokesperson Deborah Erskine welcomes the Infrastructure Minister's decision to let taxis use some Belfast city centre bus lanes, but asks why it came a week before Christmas. She says the interim measure could have been introduced earlier and calls for lessons to be learned…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast city centre bus lanes opened to taxis Original release: Bus lane announcement better late than never: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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)
-
‘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)
-
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)
-
‘Positive news’ that new social homes to be built in west Belfast – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly welcomes Belfast City Council Planning Committee approval of a 62-unit social housing development on the Whiterock Road in west Belfast. She says it will house people on the waiting list and includes parking, greenery, a children's centre and open space.
Housing Local government Issue: Whiterock Road social housing development approved by Belfast City Council Original release: ‘Positive news’ that new social homes to be built in west Belfast – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
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)
-
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.