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3,366 releases
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Services will suffer until Mental Health Strategy taken seriously
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan for 2024-25 lacks ambition, with few concrete actions set out, and says services such as ADHD and autism assessment are under strain. She will urge the Health Minister and Department to prioritise the strategy at…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan 2024-25 publication Original release: Services will suffer until Mental Health Strategy taken seriously (opens in a new tab)
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Progress welcome but still long way to go in embracing renewable energy, says Honeyford.
Alliance energy spokesperson David Honeyford MLA welcomes 46% renewable electricity in the Department for the Economy's consumption and generation report but says progress has practically stopped. He calls for urgent planning reform to stop investment being lost to delays.
Environment and climate Issue: Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation of Northern Ireland report 2024 Original release: Progress welcome but still long way to go in embracing renewable energy, says Honeyford. (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood calls for further investment in blood cancer treatment, following Blood Cancer UK’s report
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood calls for further investment in blood cancer treatment after Blood Cancer UK's Action Plan report, urging better facilities, workforce and patient support across the UK. She also says she has asked the current and former Health Ministers for a regional blood cancer and…
Health Issue: Blood Cancer UK Action Plan report on blood cancer survival Original release: Eastwood calls for further investment in blood cancer treatment, following Blood Cancer UK’s report (opens in a new tab)
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Public still none the wiser on Executive plans after staged press conference: O’Toole
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole says the Executive has still not published clear Programme for Government plans or targets after a staged press conference on outline aspirations. He calls for specific targets, actions and timescales, including on reducing waiting lists.
Health Issue: Executive Programme for Government outline aspirations press conference Original release: Public still none the wiser on Executive plans after staged press conference: O’Toole (opens in a new tab)
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Austerity a political choice we cannot inflict on our people, says Eastwood, during maiden speech.
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood, in her maiden Westminster speech, says austerity is a political choice people should not be forced to bear, and pushes for cancer survival rates to be prioritised after her husband's diagnosis.
Social security and welfare Health Issue: Sorcha Eastwood maiden speech in UK Parliament Original release: Austerity a political choice we cannot inflict on our people, says Eastwood, during maiden speech. (opens in a new tab)
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Young expresses condolences following death of care worker in Newry.
Alliance Slieve Croob Councillor Helena Young expresses condolences over the death of Anu Okusanya, a care worker who died in hospital after fleeing an assault near her home in Newry. Young says she had reported being targeted with abuse on earlier occasions and calls the situation shameful.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Death of care worker Anu Okusanya after Newry attack Original release: Young expresses condolences following death of care worker in Newry. (opens in a new tab)
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McMurray alarmed by NI Water discharging waste along NI’s coast
Alliance Infrastructure Spokesperson Andrew McMurray MLA expresses alarm at NI Water discharging large volumes of untreated sewage into coastal bathing waters, citing high E. coli levels near Newcastle, and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to present a plan to upgrade wastewater systems.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: NI Water coastal sewage discharges near bathing sites Original release: McMurray alarmed by NI Water discharging waste along NI’s coast (opens in a new tab)
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The OEP report is an opportunity to turn the tide towards enhancing the quality of NI’s waterways, says Blair
Alliance's John Blair MLA says the OEP report on waterways is unsurprising and should be used to reverse declining water quality, pointing to Lough Neagh and other waterways. He credits DAERA Minister Andrew Muir with the Lough Neagh Action Plan and calls for interdepartmental action, NI Water…
Environment and climate Issue: Office for Environmental Protection report on Northern Ireland waterways Original release: The OEP report is an opportunity to turn the tide towards enhancing the quality of NI’s waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Long and Muir open solar panel farm at Hydebank Prison.
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long and DAERA Minister Andrew Muir switched on a solar installation at Hydebank Wood Secure College and Female Prison, with 668 panels generating 356 kWp – about 15% of the site’s electricity and saving roughly £60,000 a year. They said the project shows the justice‑
Environment and climate Justice and policing Issue: Solar farm inauguration at Hydebank Wood Prison Original release: Long and Muir open solar panel farm at Hydebank Prison. (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Executive must get serious on water quality
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone says the Executive must act urgently to improve water quality in the North after an OEP report showed environmental laws are not being implemented, citing the ongoing ecological crisis at Lough Neagh and urging stronger leadership and a new approach.
Environment and climate Issue: Office for Environmental Protection report on Northern Ireland waterways Original release: McGlone: Executive must get serious on water quality (opens in a new tab)
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MIPIM conference "Belfast is not for sale" - Cllr Groogan
Green Party Cllr Aine Groogan says the Green proposal that Belfast City Council not send a delegation to MIPIM, the Cannes real estate fair, was voted down by Sinn Féin, the DUP, Alliance, UUP and TUV. She criticises attending the event and calls for the money to be spent on housing instead.
Housing Local government Issue: Belfast City Council MIPIM delegation vote Original release: MIPIM conference "Belfast is not for sale" - Cllr Groogan (opens in a new tab)
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‘Plan needed to tackle unacceptably long waiting times’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for the health minister to set out a plan to tackle unacceptably long waiting times, reacting to the latest waiting times figures released by the Department of Health. She also calls on the British government to properly fund the Executive.
Health Issue: Department of Health latest waiting times figures release Original release: ‘Plan needed to tackle unacceptably long waiting times’ – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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McAuley hails Charlotte Street progress
TUV Ballymoney councillor Jonathan McAuley welcomes confirmation that Charlotte Street in Ballymoney will be resurfaced and its kerbs and footpaths relaid, after the public realm scheme in the town centre, expected before Christmas or early 2025. He says the street's potholes are unacceptable and…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Charlotte Street Ballymoney resurfacing and footpath relaying confirmed Original release: McAuley hails Charlotte Street progress (opens in a new tab)
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Leadership and transformation key to tackling shocking health waiting times, says McAllister.
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister calls for strong political leadership and transformation to tackle health waiting times, responding to Department of Health figures showing outpatient waits in the Northern, Southern and Western Trusts rose nearly 10% in a year. She urges the Health…
Health Issue: Department of Health latest waiting times figures release Original release: Leadership and transformation key to tackling shocking health waiting times, says McAllister. (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Stormont Failing Statutory Responsibility Of ‘Ensuring Availability Of Good Quality And Affordable Housing’
People Before Profit's Cllr Shaun Harkin says Stormont is failing its statutory duty to ensure good quality, affordable housing, and urges a response to the EQIA consultation on the DfC's 2024/25 budget. He calls for a mass social and affordable housing build, rental cost regulation and an end to…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: 2024/25 Department for Communities budget consultation Original release: Harkin: Stormont Failing Statutory Responsibility Of ‘Ensuring Availability Of Good Quality And Affordable Housing’ (opens in a new tab)
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Clarity demanded from Alliance on puberty blockers
TUV vice chairman Allister Kyle calls on the Alliance Party to state its position on the medical advice regarding puberty blockers for children. He cites the Alliance Lord Mayor of Belfast attending a protest against the ban and asks whether leader Naomi Long supports the claim that the Executive…
Health Issue: Puberty blockers ban protest in Belfast and Alliance position Original release: Clarity demanded from Alliance on puberty blockers (opens in a new tab)
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Allen Writes to PM Following Winter Fuel Payment Regulation Announcement
UUP MLA and Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE says he has written to the Prime Minister urging a review of Pension Credit eligibility criteria, arguing the Winter Fuel Payment changes for England and Wales put pressure on the Northern Ireland Executive's budget. He calls on the Department…
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: Winter Fuel Payment Regulations for England and Wales Original release: Allen Writes to PM Following Winter Fuel Payment Regulation Announcement (opens in a new tab)
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We want the best medical support for children and young people who need trans healthcare – O’Neill
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill says children and young people needing trans healthcare should receive the best possible medical support, backing a temporary three-month suspension of puberty blockers on Chief Medical Officer advice pending review. She stresses that clinical decisions must rest on…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Three-month suspension of puberty blockers for trans young people Original release: We want the best medical support for children and young people who need trans healthcare – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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People in crisis deserve appropriate mental health care – Mark Ward TD
Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward calls for 24/7 community crisis services, such as crisis cafés, de‑escalation teams with mental‑health professionals and paramedics, liaison psychiatrists in every emergency department and new funding for the National Clinical Programme for Suicide Intervention, after the roll
Health Issue: Sinn Féin Mental Health Action Plan launch Original release: People in crisis deserve appropriate mental health care – Mark Ward TD (opens in a new tab)
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Extension of puberty blocker ban a sensible decision: Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds welcomes the extension of the puberty blocker ban to Northern Ireland, arguing it reflects expert medical advice and cautious international reviews. She says it also prevents the province being used as a route to obtain the drugs.
Health Issue: Extension of puberty blocker ban to Northern Ireland Original release: Extension of puberty blocker ban a sensible decision: Dodds (opens in a new tab)