Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Community relations and legacy: remove filter
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
4,550 releases
-
Environment and Nature Restoration Bill Consultation Responses
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says his Private Member's Bill would set binding environmental targets for air, water, soil and biodiversity, and calls for DAERA to set long-term and interim targets that public authorities must meet. He cites high air pollution levels.
Environment and climate Issue: Environment and Nature Restoration Bill public consultation responses Original release: Environment and Nature Restoration Bill Consultation Responses (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole urges Minister Muir to step up on asbestos bonfire
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole questions why Environment Minister Andrew Muir has not intervened at a bonfire site near Meridi Street in south Belfast containing asbestos. He calls on Muir to direct the NIEA to remove the risk before the bonfire is lit this week.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Asbestos at bonfire site near Meridi Street, south Belfast Original release: O’Toole urges Minister Muir to step up on asbestos bonfire (opens in a new tab)
-
Flags erected at St Comgall’s Chapel Corner in Antrim should be removed immediately – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for the immediate removal of flags erected near St Comgall's Chapel Corner in Antrim, describing them as sectarian provocation and intimidation ahead of the Twelfth. He urges political, civic and public agencies to uphold community relations.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Flags erected near St Comgall's Chapel Corner, Antrim Original release: Flags erected at St Comgall’s Chapel Corner in Antrim should be removed immediately – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
-
McAlpine condemns sinister graffiti in Millisle
Alliance Ards Peninsula representative Alderman Lorna McAlpine condemns racist graffiti daubed overnight on a residential property in Millisle, saying it does not reflect local people. She says the incident has been reported to police and urges anyone with information to contact them.
Disability and equality Issue: Millisle racist graffiti on residential property Original release: McAlpine condemns sinister graffiti in Millisle (opens in a new tab)
-
GP dispute must be resolved to ensure patients get the care they need – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to meet GP representatives urgently and work towards a swift resolution to the dispute, after GP partners voted in favour of collective action over funding. He says pressure on GPs is affecting patients' access to appointments.
Health Issue: GP partners vote for collective action over funding dispute Original release: GP dispute must be resolved to ensure patients get the care they need – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
-
European Parliament recognises that Irish environment knows no borders
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan welcomes the European Parliament's Environment Committee adopting her amendment recognising the island of Ireland as a single ecological unit. The amendment, part of an opinion on the post-Brexit EU-UK trade agreement, also calls for more cooperation through Good Friday…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: European Parliament Environment Committee adopts Boylan amendment on Ireland's ecology Original release: European Parliament recognises that Irish environment knows no borders (opens in a new tab)
-
‘Time for decisive action to end foul odour at Warrenpoint Port’ – Ennis
Sinn Féin South Down MLA Sinéad Ennis says the party is resigning from the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority board over the foul odour from Refuse Derived Fuel storage and handling at Warrenpoint Port. She says concerns raised on the board were ignored and calls for a complete, permanent end to RDF…
Environment and climate Health Issue: Sinn Féin resignation from Warrenpoint Harbour Authority board over RDF odour Original release: ‘Time for decisive action to end foul odour at Warrenpoint Port’ – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
-
McAllister urges Minister to get round the table with GPs to ensure delivery of services to public
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA urges the Health Minister to hold urgent talks with GPs after their overwhelming vote for industrial action, which the BMA says followed the minister's imposed funding settlement and contract. She warns patient services are at risk.
Health Issue: GP partners vote for collective action over funding dispute Original release: McAllister urges Minister to get round the table with GPs to ensure delivery of services to public (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Fundamental change needed at Belfast Trust
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Belfast Trust needs systemic reform after its chair's departure, citing a Cardiac Unit workplace culture scandal and the delayed maternity hospital. He urges the Health Minister to appoint a new chair quickly.
Health Issue: Belfast Trust chair departure Original release: McGrath: Fundamental change needed at Belfast Trust (opens in a new tab)
-
The problems that have led to the initial service collapse at SWAH have not been fully addressed – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen says he is deeply concerned by the Western Trust’s plan to launch a consultation on permanently removing Emergency General Surgery at South West Acute Hospital, noting that the problems that caused the 2022 service collapse have not been fully addressed and urging a thorough,
Health Issue: Western Trust consultation on removing Emergency General Surgery at SWAH Original release: The problems that have led to the initial service collapse at SWAH have not been fully addressed – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
-
Communities Minister must bring forward Irish language strategy – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew criticises the Communities Minister for not committing to a timeline for an Irish language strategy, following questioning in committee and a judicial review lodged by Conradh na Gaeilge.
Disability and equality Issue: Communities Minister Irish language strategy timeline delay Original release: Communities Minister must bring forward Irish language strategy – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
-
“The Days of Dumping and Disappearing Must End” – Butler Demands Urgent Action on Waste Crime Crisis
UUP MLA Robbie Butler calls for immediate action after a Northern Ireland Audit Office report on waste crime, citing about £34 million in annual costs and only £1 million in court fines since 2019. He urges tougher penalties, asset seizure, cross-border enforcement and a Ministerial Statement from…
Environment and climate Justice and policing Issue: Northern Ireland Audit Office report on waste crime Original release: “The Days of Dumping and Disappearing Must End” – Butler Demands Urgent Action on Waste Crime Crisis (opens in a new tab)
-
British internment decision vindictive – Gerry Adams
Former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams criticises the British government's plan for new legislation to block compensation for internees wrongfully imprisoned in the 1970s, after a 2020 Supreme Court ruling found almost 400 were unlawfully detained.
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: British government plan to block internee compensation legislation Original release: British internment decision vindictive – Gerry Adams (opens in a new tab)
-
International community must step up and support children of Gaza – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, calls on Britain to issue visas so children from Gaza can receive life-saving medical treatment, after a London briefing on evacuating them and on the damage to Gaza's healthcare system.
International affairs Health Issue: London briefing on evacuating Gaza children for medical treatment Original release: International community must step up and support children of Gaza – Cullen (opens in a new tab)
-
Belfast to host Hunger Strike Commemoration
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan announces that Belfast will host this year's National Hunger Strike Commemoration on Sunday 24 August, urging republicans and activists from across Ireland to attend and honour the 1981 hunger strikers.
Constitutional affairs Community relations and legacy Issue: Belfast National Hunger Strike Commemoration 2025 announcement Original release: Belfast to host Hunger Strike Commemoration (opens in a new tab)
-
EU must continue support for Peace Programme – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South Kathleen Funchion says the upcoming EU Budget must continue funding Ireland's Peace Programme, and has written to Commissioner Fitto seeking support for a successor to Peace Plus. She calls for the in-principle agreement by the Irish and British governments to…
Community relations and legacy International affairs Original release: EU must continue support for Peace Programme – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
-
Targeted intimidation will not silence Ballymena Pride
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite condemns what he calls a targeted intimidation act after slurry was laid along the route of Ballymena's first Pride parade. He praises organisers and volunteers for continuing the event and welcomes two arrests linked to the incident.
Disability and equality Issue: Slurry spread ahead of Ballymena Pride parade Original release: Targeted intimidation will not silence Ballymena Pride (opens in a new tab)
-
Cara Hunter MLA: No child should lose their mother to violence
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter calls for urgent support for the children of a woman killed in Donaghadee and for a coordinated government response to violence against women and girls. She says the strategy's funding is at risk and calls for the Executive to work with the UK Government on online…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Donaghadee woman killing and violence against women strategy Original release: Cara Hunter MLA: No child should lose their mother to violence (opens in a new tab)
-
O’Toole: First Minister must do better on poor delivery record
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says First Minister Michelle O'Neill must improve the Executive's delivery record, citing failures on the A5, Casement Park, Lough Neagh, social housing targets and waiting lists before summer recess.
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Original release: O’Toole: First Minister must do better on poor delivery record (opens in a new tab)
-
Paralympic hero meets SDLP Opposition to drive disabled sport change
SDLP Councillor Declan Norris calls for urgent action to improve disabled people's access to sport in schools, communities and elite competition, citing an 18% fall in participation over five years according to Disability Sport NI figures. The SDLP urges the Executive to work with schools…
Disability and equality Issue: Disability Sport NI report on falling disabled participation in sport Original release: Paralympic hero meets SDLP Opposition to drive disabled sport change (opens in a new tab)