Latest releases
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3,431 releases
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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)
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Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows
UUP leader Jon Burrows thanks Mike Nesbitt for his service as Health Minister after his resignation, says the party will nominate a successor soon, and calls for reform to be engaged with communities, citing concerns around Causeway.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows (opens in a new tab)
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Allister urges Minister to reject Trust proposals for Causeway Hospital
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, has written to the health minister urging him to reject the Northern Trust's plan to move emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim Area Hospital. He calls for the Trust to publish the data behind its decision, citing claimed…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Allister urges Minister to reject Trust proposals for Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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UUP cannot maintain fiction that there is a separation of party and policy on future of Causeway Hospital
North Antrim MP Jim Allister calls on UUP leader Jon Burrows to clarify whether his party backs his stated position on the future of Causeway Hospital, and whether Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is committed to the Causeway. He says the UUP cannot separate party and policy on the issue.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital future and UUP party position Original release: UUP cannot maintain fiction that there is a separation of party and policy on future of Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says families affected by sodium valproate deserve recognition, support and redress. She calls on the British Government to clarify its response to the Cumberlege Review and Hughes Report, and on the Northern Ireland Department of Health to gather data on those harmed.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt shows the Executive lacks a serious approach to government, and calls it an insult to healthcare workers and patients. He links it to the failure to agree a Budget and to internal party disputes.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive (opens in a new tab)
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Leadership means more than making speeches: Bradley
DUP East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley says the UUP must show its opposition to ending emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital is more than rhetoric. He challenges UUP leader Jon Burrows to use his leadership influence, and asks why the UUP health minister remains in post if Burrows lacks…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Leadership means more than making speeches: Bradley (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes HSC Chief Executives' plans to speed up cutting agency staffing in the health service. He calls on the Health Minister and Executive to sustain the progress and plan permanent workforce recruitment and retention to avoid a return to…
Health Economy and employment Issue: HSC Chief Executives plan to accelerate reduction of agency staffing Original release: McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good (opens in a new tab)
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Parker delighted to see progress on car removal from River Lagan
Alliance Lisburn Councillor Nicola Parker welcomes progress on removing a long-stranded car from the River Lagan, after she liaised between council and the Community Rescue Service, which carried out a partial removal operation today.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Parker delighted to see progress on car removal from River Lagan (opens in a new tab)
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Egan condemns racist graffiti in Holywood
Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan condemns racist graffiti found in the Seapark area of Holywood, saying there is no place for hatred or racism in the community. She says Alliance will engage with police to have the graffiti removed and those responsible held to account.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Racist graffiti found in Seapark area of Holywood Original release: Egan condemns racist graffiti in Holywood (opens in a new tab)
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Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn and Lagan Valley Greens Co-chair Richard Gill call for the car dumped in the River Lagan to be removed and the site checked for contamination, such as a battery leaching heavy metals. They also demand written confirmation that the river will be clear next summer, and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Dumped Car in River Lagan 40 Years On (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Causeway Hospital needs words translated into action: Bradley
DUP MLA Maurice Bradley calls on the Health Minister to end uncertainty over Causeway Hospital and respond positively to the message from an open meeting in Coleraine Town Hall. He says the Trust has sought to remove services and that words must now become action.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital open meeting in Coleraine Town Hall Original release: Causeway Hospital needs words translated into action: Bradley (opens in a new tab)
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Blair denounces failure of leadership from UFU
Alliance AERA spokesperson John Blair MLA dismisses the Ulster Farmers' Union's no-confidence vote in Minister Muir and DAERA officials as a stunt, saying it pre-empts an independent review into the Fivemiletown operation.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: UFU no confidence vote in Andrew Muir and DAERA officials Original release: Blair denounces failure of leadership from UFU (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein hypocrisy on victims’ payments is breathtaking – Brett
DUP MLA Phillip Brett says Sinn Fein is hypocritical for urging the Secretary of State to reopen the closed claims process for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, a programme the DUP helped create for innocent victims.
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Sinn Fein request to reopen Troubles Disablement Payment scheme Original release: Sinn Fein hypocrisy on victims’ payments is breathtaking – Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín urges British Secretary of State to reconsider closing applications to Troubles Permanent Disability Payment Scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says she is disappointed by the British government's plan to end applications to the Troubles permanent disability scheme at the close of August. She has written to the Secretary of State asking him to reconsider, arguing the deadline leaves many applicants at a…
Community relations and legacy Disability and equality Issue: Sinn Fein request to reopen Troubles Disablement Payment scheme Original release: Ní Chuilín urges British Secretary of State to reconsider closing applications to Troubles Permanent Disability Payment Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Will activist groups distance themselves from ‘coloniser’ comments
DUP MLA David Brooks challenges Irish language campaign groups, including Conradh na Gaeilge, to say whether they agree that erecting bilingual signs is "decolonisation" and who the colonisers are, after an activist's remarks at a Féile an Phobail concert.
Disability and equality Issue: Féile an Phobail concert remarks on bilingual signs as decolonisation Original release: Will activist groups distance themselves from ‘coloniser’ comments (opens in a new tab)
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Fleadh shows Belfast’s potential, now lets make pedestrianisation of city centre permanent and accessible, say Alliance reps
Alliance representatives across Belfast call on Belfast City Council, the Department for Infrastructure, the Department for Communities and Translink to commission a comprehensive review of city centre pedestrianisation, building on the Fleadh Cheoil. South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl says…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Fleadh Cheoil pedestrianisation of Belfast city centre review call Original release: Fleadh shows Belfast’s potential, now lets make pedestrianisation of city centre permanent and accessible, say Alliance reps (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party position on puberty blockers "remains firmly unchanged"
Ulster Unionist Party reiterates its opposition to prescribing puberty blockers to anyone under 18 and to any future involvement in the planned clinical trial, citing weak evidence and unknown long‑term risks, and welcomes the 2024 ban introduced by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt.
Health Issue: Northern Ireland suspension of puberty blocker trial participation Original release: Ulster Unionist Party position on puberty blockers "remains firmly unchanged" (opens in a new tab)
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Clarity and leadership needed on puberty blockers trial: Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says children from Northern Ireland should not be included in a Kings College London puberty blocker trial and calls on the Health Minister to state his position after nearly six months of delayed Assembly question answers. She also asks whether the UUP, led by Mike Nesbitt…
Health Issue: Kings College London puberty blocker trial and Northern Ireland participation Original release: Clarity and leadership needed on puberty blockers trial: Dodds (opens in a new tab)