Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
1,999 releases
-
Slashing Apprenticeship Funding is a Political Choice. Reverse the Cuts.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the Economy Minister to reverse cuts to apprenticeship funding, arguing they will hit care workers, construction workers and international care staff and worsen health and social care recruitment and retention.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Stormont Executive apprenticeship funding cuts Original release: Slashing Apprenticeship Funding is a Political Choice. Reverse the Cuts. (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 23 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Sorca Clarke TD commends Nikki’s walking challenge and renews call for better dual diagnosis services
Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke TD commends advocate Nikki's walking challenge for highlighting gaps in services for people with dual diagnosis of mental ill-health and substance misuse. She says the Government rejected Sinn Féin's amendments to the Mental Health Act 2026 that would have recognised dual…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Mental Health Act 2026 dual diagnosis amendments rejected by Government Original release: Sorca Clarke TD commends Nikki’s walking challenge and renews call for better dual diagnosis services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Urgent need to improve early diagnosis and treatment for lobular breast cancer – Cullen
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen expresses support for the Lobular Moonshot Project, calling for urgent improvements in early diagnosis and targeted treatment of lobular breast cancer, and for investment in research on the condition on the first anniversary of Dr Susan Michaelis's death.
Health Original release: Urgent need to improve early diagnosis and treatment for lobular breast cancer – Cullen (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Cullen calls for immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls for the immediate, unconditional release of Palestinian surgeon Hussam Abu Safiya, held without charge since December 2024, warning his life is at grave risk and urging an independent medical assessment.
International affairs Health Original release: Cullen calls for immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
SDLP secures council support for restoring emergency general surgery to SWAH
SDLP secured Fermanagh and Omagh District Council backing for a motion urging Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to set a timetable to restore emergency general surgery at South West Acute Hospital, citing patient hardship and calling for political will.
Health Local government Issue: Restoring emergency general surgery at South West Acute Hospital Original release: SDLP secures council support for restoring emergency general surgery to SWAH (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 8 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Yet more waste of public resources within our health estate without long term plan inexcusable, says Donnelly
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the Department of Health has failed to maintain Northern Ireland's health estate properly, calling the waste of public money on it inexcusable given the absence of an overall plan.
Health Original release: Yet more waste of public resources within our health estate without long term plan inexcusable, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Strong evidence now supports a Regional Mental Health Crisis Service – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says the Health Minister should prioritise funding for a Regional Mental Health Crisis Service, citing a report that the crises cost over £45 million annually, emergency visits are up 74 % and could save £9 million each year.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Report on Regional Mental Health Crisis Service economics Original release: Strong evidence now supports a Regional Mental Health Crisis Service – Flynn (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Audit report confirms Health estate is not fit for purpose – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says the Comptroller and Auditor General's report shows years of underinvestment and poor strategic planning in the Health estate, citing Holywell in Antrim. He says vacant buildings worth nearly £40 million have sat unused and calls on the Minister to bring forward a…
Health Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on Health estate Original release: Audit report confirms Health estate is not fit for purpose – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Crumbling health estate threat to patients and staff
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the crumbling health estate threatens patients and staff after an Audit Office report found just 40% of buildings in acceptable condition. He calls for a long-term strategy and blames successive Health Ministers and the Executive for…
Health Issue: Comptroller and Auditor General report on Health estate Original release: McGrath: Crumbling health estate threat to patients and staff (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
DoH must get to grips with ‘shocking’ breast cancer waiting times, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Department of Health to redouble efforts on breast cancer waiting times after new statistics showed only 8% of urgent suspected-cancer referrals were seen within the 14-day target. She urges the Minister to increase system capacity and…
Health Issue: Breast cancer urgent referral waiting times statistics 2026 Original release: DoH must get to grips with ‘shocking’ breast cancer waiting times, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 5 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Families and children let down by Executive inaction
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA accuses the Executive of failing to establish a Regional Children and Families Authority, recommended by the 2023 children's social care review. He criticises the Health and Justice Ministers for shelving it and for announcing the decision…
Health Issue: Regional Children and Families Authority decision announced by Health and Justice Ministers Original release: McGrath: Families and children let down by Executive inaction (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath: Executive managing collapse of health service
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive is simply managing decline in health services, pointing to resident doctors' industrial action, high waiting lists and difficulty recruiting and keeping staff, and calls on the Executive and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to…
Health Issue: Resident doctors' industrial action and Health questions in the Assembly Original release: McGrath: Executive managing collapse of health service (opens in a new tab)
-
Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticises the funding for the lifespan gender identity service after Department of Health officials told the health committee the initial £806,000 is recurrent and will increase. He expresses concern for vulnerable young people and calls the spending astonishing given…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Department of Health lifespan gender identity service funding briefing to health committee Original release: Gaston Slams Growing Gender Identity Service as Officials Confirm Funding Will Increase (opens in a new tab)
-
Green Party Councillor Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis to Raise Awareness and Urge Early Detection
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall shares her breast cancer diagnosis to raise awareness of symptoms and urge women to seek prompt GP advice. She also says she waited six weeks for imaging and over 80 days for a treatment plan, and calls for more open conversations about breast health.
Health Issue: Councillor Lauren Kendall's breast cancer diagnosis Original release: Green Party Councillor Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis to Raise Awareness and Urge Early Detection (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
McGrath offers solidarity to striking doctors
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the party stands with striking specialist doctors and consultants, blaming the Executive’s failure to deliver promised pay parity and urging the Health Minister to engage unions and end the dispute to protect patients and waiting lists.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Specialist doctors strike over pay parity Original release: McGrath offers solidarity to striking doctors (opens in a new tab)
-
McGuigan welcomes launch of All-Island Public Health Knowledge Hub
Sinn Féin MLA and Health spokesperson Philip McGuigan welcomes the new All‑Island Public Health Knowledge Hub, praising the investment in cross‑border research and comparable health data to better tackle inequalities, mental health, chronic disease and demographic change across the island.
Health Issue: Launch of All-Island Public Health Knowledge Hub Original release: McGuigan welcomes launch of All-Island Public Health Knowledge Hub (opens in a new tab)
-
Cullen calls on Minister and Department to urgently engage with hospital doctors
Sinn Féin's Pat Cullen calls on the Health Minister and Department to engage quickly with hospital doctors ahead of the first of two strike days this month, set for Thursday 25 June. She says doctors seek better pay and conditions to retain staff and recruit the next generation.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA hospital doctors strike action over 3.5% pay offer Original release: Cullen calls on Minister and Department to urgently engage with hospital doctors (opens in a new tab)
-
Eastwood welcomes funding for North West Cancer Centre
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood welcomes €3.5 million from the Shared Island Fund for a new cancer support facility at Altnagelvin Hospital, which he says builds on the North West Cancer Centre's cross-border model.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Shared Island Fund investment for Altnagelvin cancer support facility Original release: Eastwood welcomes funding for North West Cancer Centre (opens in a new tab)
-
Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes an Assembly motion on IVF equality, calling for access to fertility treatment to be based on need rather than ability to pay and describing IVF as essential healthcare.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly motion on IVF equality and access to fertility treatment Original release: Ensuring greater access to IVF is about fairness and equality – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
-
Durkan: Executive must live up to commitments on IVF treatment
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says the Executive must deliver its commitment to fund three cycles of IVF treatment, noting only two NHS rounds are currently available and the New Decade, New Approach pledge is still unenacted. He will urge the Executive to fully fund the expansion ahead of his…