Latest releases
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3,542 releases
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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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Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says the Education Minister's special educational needs transformation plan must be fully funded, noting the Executive has earmarked no money for it in its latest budget. She welcomes proposals including a child development passport.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Hunter: SEN plan must be fully funded (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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Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting
DUP Justice Spokesperson Joanne Bunting MLA asks Justice Minister Naomi Long how she will keep Hydebank Wood women's prison exclusively for biologically female prisoners after a High Court ruling allowed a transfer from Maghaberry. She says the Minister must set out a plan and warns that admitting…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: High Court ruling on transfer of prisoner to Hydebank Wood Original release: Rationale for female only prison spaces is clear - Bunting (opens in a new tab)
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Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the education minister’s announcement on overhauling provision for children with special educational needs, urging the minister to promptly release a SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan and to adopt a ‘SEN first’ placement policy.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education minister's SEN transformation statement Original release: Commitment to SEN first approach a welcome step – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a reform agenda and five-year delivery plan for special educational needs support, moving away from one-to-one adult support toward more flexible school-led models. He also plans a bespoke early-years programme for toddlers aged two and three, including…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Givan: Reform begins for children with special educational needs (opens in a new tab)
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Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives.
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the Education Minister's statement on SEN transformation offered only empty words, with no finalised action plan, costings or success measures. They call for a clear plan and outcome framework.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special Educational Needs Reform Agenda and five-year delivery plan Original release: Time for action on SEN education crisis, not more empty words says Alliance representatives. (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin and SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter call for urgent action on violence against women and girls, citing 25 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. Their Opposition Day motions cover new victim-protection laws, online abuse, RSE and gender-based budgeting.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: SDLP Opposition Day motions on violence against women and girls Original release: SDLP Opposition Day to focus on violence against women and girls (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)
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Gregory Campbell MP Welcomes Ulster University’s Decision to Revise…
DUP MP Gregory Campbell welcomes Ulster University's decision to revise promotional imagery for its new sports science degree in Derry, after he raised concerns that the original images were exclusive. He urges the university to consider diverse backgrounds in future marketing.
Community relations and legacy Education Issue: Ulster University revising sports science course promotional imagery Original release: Gregory Campbell MP Welcomes Ulster University’s Decision to Revise… (opens in a new tab)
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DUP representatives meet hospital staff to discuss pressures and…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says she visited Craigavon Area Hospital's Emergency Department and met staff and management about patient flow, long waits and corridor care. She calls for further investment in domiciliary care, citing 700 outstanding care packages, and says she will press the Minister on…
Health Issue: Craigavon Area Hospital Emergency Department visit on patient flow pressures Original release: DUP representatives meet hospital staff to discuss pressures and… (opens in a new tab)
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NI patients waiting a decade for orthopaedic and plastic surgery treatment
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Assembly answers show some patients have waited over a decade for orthopaedic inpatient or daycase treatment, with longer waits than published data suggests. He criticises the Programme for Government on the issue and says waiting times have grown since devolution…
Health Issue: Assembly answers on orthopaedic and plastic surgery waiting times Original release: NI patients waiting a decade for orthopaedic and plastic surgery treatment (opens in a new tab)
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Amount of money spent in health system without value for money checks staggering, warns McAllister.
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA warns that £619 million a year spent on independent care homes in Northern Ireland escapes procurement and value for money checks. She calls on the Health Minister to answer questions on how the money is spent and what outcomes it buys.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £619 million independent care home spending outside procurement processes Original release: Amount of money spent in health system without value for money checks staggering, warns McAllister. (opens in a new tab)
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Egan welcomes vital funding for ending violence against women and girls, stating it must be co-ordinated effectively.
Alliance spokesperson Connie Egan MLA welcomes the Executive Office's launch of the £2 million Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Local Change Fund, administered through councils. She says the funding must be co-ordinated across areas and agencies to avoid a siloed approach and to target…
Justice and policing Local government Issue: Executive Office launch of EVAWG Local Change Fund Original release: Egan welcomes vital funding for ending violence against women and girls, stating it must be co-ordinated effectively. (opens in a new tab)
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Public inquiry needed for full truth on cervical screening
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes the Health Minister's plan for NHS England to review the PHA's cervical screening quality assurance, but says only a public inquiry would reveal the full truth for affected women, citing 17,500 women affected and calling for victims to be heard.
Health Issue: Health Minister's announcement on cervical screening quality assurance review Original release: Public inquiry needed for full truth on cervical screening (opens in a new tab)
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Executive parties to blame for Emergency Department crisis - Gerry Carroll MLA
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll blames Executive parties for the Emergency Department crisis, saying years of underinvestment in community and domiciliary care leave patients waiting hours or days in ambulances and hospitals. He calls for proper investment in health and social care services…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Executive parties to blame for Emergency Department crisis - Gerry Carroll MLA (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health crisis must be top of Executive agenda
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the whole Executive must make the health crisis its top priority, criticising Executive parties for not preparing for winter pressures and for seeking to blame Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at an emergency Health Committee meeting. He calls…
Health Issue: Health Committee emergency meeting on Emergency Department waiting times Original release: McGrath: Health crisis must be top of Executive agenda (opens in a new tab)
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Racist signs appalling, says Tennyson
Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson condemns racist signs tied to railings outside a Lurgan school as appalling and urges anyone with information to contact police. PSNI is investigating the incident on Pollock Drive as a hate crime.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist signs outside Lurgan school on Pollock Drive Original release: Racist signs appalling, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan questions delay to Troubles pension payments
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says Assembly answers show slow progress on the Troubles victims' disability payment scheme, with under a quarter of applications decided. He calls on the Executive to work with the Payment Board to conclude the process quickly.
Community relations and legacy Social security and welfare Issue: Troubles Permanent Disability Payment scheme progress figures Assembly answer Original release: McCrossan questions delay to Troubles pension payments (opens in a new tab)