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3,429 releases
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Gas customers must not be overlooked following 18.97% price rise - Allen
UUP MLA Andy Allen calls for urgent support for households most at risk after SSE Airtricity announced an 18.97% gas price rise from 1 October, affecting over 200,000 domestic customers in Greater Belfast and West networks. He urges the Executive to target help at gas-heated homes, and the Utility…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: SSE Airtricity 18.97% gas price increase from 1 October Original release: Gas customers must not be overlooked following 18.97% price rise - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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Unprecedented Environmental Destruction Deserves Unprecedented Response
People Before Profit's Pádraig Mac Niocaill calls for serious public investment to restore Lough Neagh, tackle pollution at source and fund water infrastructure, opposing Robin Swan's call to mutualise NI Water and urging fairer rates. Ahead of a rally in Antrim town.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh toxic algae blooms and pollution Original release: Unprecedented Environmental Destruction Deserves Unprecedented Response (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: "Efficiency Savings" a Cover for Cuts that Will Hurt Patients, Lowest Paid Workers
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says the proposed 12% health‑trust savings over three years are a cover for cuts that will damage patients and the lowest‑paid staff, urges a needs‑based budget funded by a wealth tax and pledges support for health‑worker action.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health Trust savings proposals and patient safety Original release: Carroll: "Efficiency Savings" a Cover for Cuts that Will Hurt Patients, Lowest Paid Workers (opens in a new tab)
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Patients and frontline services must be protected from health cuts – McGuigan
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA says patients and frontline staff must not bear the cost of British government underfunding, warning that savings demanded from health trusts could cut community and elective care. He calls for the Department of Health and trusts to publish the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health trust savings demands and funding pressures in Northern Ireland Original release: Patients and frontline services must be protected from health cuts – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn criticises Northern Ireland being left behind as plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, saying NIE Networks' G98/NI changes were promised to run in parallel. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to explain the delay and say when households here…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: plug-in solar launch in Great Britain Original release: Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Latest data shows urgent need to tackle the severe staffing shortages in healthcare – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan expresses concern over the latest HSC Active Recruitment and Quarterly Workforce Statistics, which show 2,005 nursing and midwifery posts under active recruitment. He calls on the new Health Minister to resolve the pay award dispute with the RCN and trade unions and…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Latest HSC Active Recruitment and Quarterly Workforce Statistics publication Original release: Latest data shows urgent need to tackle the severe staffing shortages in healthcare – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Health savings won’t be allowed to come at expense of patient safety – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says patient safety must come first as Health Trusts consider savings proposals, warning financial targets cannot dictate safe care. He blames the Executive's failure to agree a Budget and calls for Westminster to recognise funding pressures.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Trust savings proposals and patient safety Original release: Health savings won’t be allowed to come at expense of patient safety – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Heating Oil Support Scheme a welcome help for households: Cameron
DUP MLA Pam Cameron welcomes the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme, which offers £100 vouchers to around 340,000 Northern Ireland households, and urges eligible people to apply when applications open on 9 September.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Home heating oil £100 voucher support scheme announcement Original release: Heating Oil Support Scheme a welcome help for households: Cameron (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces opening date for Home Heating Oil Support Scheme
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces that applications for the £100 heating oil voucher scheme open on 9 September 2026 for about 340,000 eligible households, and urges people to check criteria beforehand. He says he will press for Warm Healthy Homes Strategy funding and will announce…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Home heating oil £100 voucher support scheme announcement Original release: Lyons announces opening date for Home Heating Oil Support Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Oil Payment welcome, but energy efficiency must remain a priority – Allen
East Belfast UUP MLA and Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE welcomes the start of £100 home heating oil payments from September but says the delay shows a framework is needed to deliver future support faster. He calls for energy efficiency measures and Warm Healthy Homes Strategy delivery to…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Home heating oil £100 voucher support scheme announcement Original release: Oil Payment welcome, but energy efficiency must remain a priority – Allen (opens in a new tab)
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Cullen calls for urgent action on Friedreich’s Ataxia drug and an all-island approach to healthcare
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls for urgent action so patients with Friedreich's Ataxia in the North can access Skyclarys, after the HSE approved its reimbursement in the South. She also urges an all-island approach to healthcare coordination and access to innovative treatments.
Health Disability and equality Issue: HSE approval of Skyclarys for Friedreich's Ataxia reimbursement Original release: Cullen calls for urgent action on Friedreich’s Ataxia drug and an all-island approach to healthcare (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Vindicated as UK Carbon Levy Hits Ferry Passengers
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says P&O Ferries' confirmation of a £10 surcharge on coach bookings between Cairnryan and Larne shows his earlier warnings about the UK carbon trading scheme extension to shipping were justified. He calls the costs unfair to Northern Ireland passengers and businesses and…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: P&O Ferries £10 coach surcharge linked to UK Emissions Trading Scheme Original release: Allister Vindicated as UK Carbon Levy Hits Ferry Passengers (opens in a new tab)
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Orchestrated campaign against Causeway Hospital continues
TUV leader Jim Allister, the North Antrim MP, accuses the Northern Trust of talking down to people who rely on Causeway Hospital and says it ignored a consultation where under 2% backed its plans. He also demands publication of staff response breakdowns and the data behind the proposal.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Orchestrated campaign against Causeway Hospital continues (opens in a new tab)
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Diana Armstrong is new AERA committee chair
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, says she will chair the Assembly's agriculture and environment committee, replacing Robbie Butler, and pledges to hold the Department to account on farm affordability, bovine TB, mental health and the Dilapidation Bill.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Diana Armstrong appointed chair of AERA committee Original release: Diana Armstrong is new AERA committee chair (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister Robbie Butler visits Bryson Charitable Group on first day in post
Health Minister Robbie Butler says he visited Bryson Charitable Group in Belfast on his first full day in post, hearing about its homecare work and anti-poverty efforts. He stresses the importance of community and voluntary sector partners to his Department's Neighbourhood Model of Care and says…
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Dodds: New Health Minister faces enormous challenges
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says incoming Health Minister Robbie Butler has a heavy workload and urges him to act quickly on pay, morale, GP strain, cancer waiting times and the Muckamore report. She also asks whether he will continue Mike Nesbitt's approach or reset it.
Health Original release: Dodds: New Health Minister faces enormous challenges (opens in a new tab)
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Robbie Butler MLA appointed Minister of Health
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says he has nominated Robbie Butler MLA to become Northern Ireland’s next Minister of Health, pledging full confidence and urging swift, patient‑focused reforms to improve access to care.
Health Issue: Robbie Butler appointed Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Robbie Butler MLA appointed Minister of Health (opens in a new tab)
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Butler cannot be yet another caretaker Health Minister, says McAllister
Alliance spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA congratulates Robbie Butler on becoming Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt's departure, but says he must not be a stopgap, urging him to prioritise health service reform and difficult decisions.
Health Issue: Robbie Butler appointed Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Butler cannot be yet another caretaker Health Minister, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Health service "fraying at the seams" while unionism turns in on itself
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says the UUP's turmoil over Mike Nesbitt's resignation reflects wider disarray in unionism while the health service is under strain. He criticises the Health Minister's reliance on for-profit healthcare and calls for a properly funded health service.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Carroll: Health service "fraying at the seams" while unionism turns in on itself (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan convenes urgent meeting of Health committee
Sinn Féin health spokesperson and Health committee Chair Philip McGuigan is convening an urgent Health committee meeting after the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. He says the committee will ask the Department of Health's Permanent Secretary to attend to understand the impact on health…
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: McGuigan convenes urgent meeting of Health committee (opens in a new tab)