Latest releases
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2,486 releases
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Communities budget will reduce support for most vulnerable, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the Department for Communities budget allocations will reduce support for vulnerable people, including the homeless, people with disabilities, addiction service users and domestic abuse victims. She cites cuts to new homes and rising homelessness spending, and…
Public finance and taxation Housing Issue: Department for Communities budget allocations for the forthcoming financial year Original release: Communities budget will reduce support for most vulnerable, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Lough Neagh ecosystem facing significant new challenges – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, raises concern about new ecological challenges in Lough Neagh after blue-green algae was confirmed in the Toome Canal and spread to fishing waters. He says he and Cllr Henry Cushinan will seek a meeting with DAERA.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Blue-green algae confirmed in Toome Canal and Lough Neagh Original release: Lough Neagh ecosystem facing significant new challenges – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey welcomes multi-million pound investment in West Belfast
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey says the multi‑million pound investment in West Belfast demonstrates confidence in local talent, delivering 169 new positions at the former Caterpillar site and offering apprenticeships, training and re‑skilling as part of a greener packaging venture.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Biopax investment creates jobs at former Caterpillar site Original release: Maskey welcomes multi-million pound investment in West Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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British government must support homeowners struggling with rising mortgage payments – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy calls on the British government to provide targeted support to homeowners whose mortgage rates have risen, as the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates again. He also urges lenders to be flexible with borrowers facing higher repayments.
Economy and employment Housing Issue: Bank of England interest rate rise and mortgage repayment increases Original release: British government must support homeowners struggling with rising mortgage payments – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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HRB report on addiction must be a wake-up call for government – Thomas Gould TD
Sinn Féin's Thomas Gould TD urges the government to address funding gaps in addiction and community services after an HRB report recorded over 12,000 people seeking support in 2022. He says Taskforces still face a €3 million shortfall against their 2010 budgets and calls the report a wake-up call.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Research Board report on addiction services in 2022 Original release: HRB report on addiction must be a wake-up call for government – Thomas Gould TD (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to help tackle growing crisis within children’s mental health services – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for the Executive to be restored to address rising waiting lists for children's mental health assessments, citing an increase of 1,255 children waiting and 1,086 waiting over nine weeks.
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Executive needs formed to address worsening crisis in health service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls for an Executive to be formed to tackle the worsening health service crisis, citing the worst waiting times across these islands and poor communication from Trusts with patients. She says political leadership and investment are needed.
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McGrath: Patients on waiting lists deserve better than silence
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath calls for patients on waiting lists to receive regular updates, after a Public Service Ombudsman report found systematic maladministration in how waiting lists are handled. He says the Ombudsman's recommendations should be carried out together with long-term…
Health Issue: Public Services Ombudsman report on health waiting list maladministration Original release: McGrath: Patients on waiting lists deserve better than silence (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes set up of five new cancer support centres
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the planned opening of five new regional cancer support centres by Cancer Focus NI and a rise to almost 400 patients receiving specialist radiotherapy by year end. She says the Cancer Strategy cannot progress without a functioning Executive, blaming the DUP for…
Health Issue: Cancer Focus NI five new regional support centres and radiotherapy expansion Original release: Dillon welcomes set up of five new cancer support centres (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes new Cancer Focus support centres
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes Cancer Focus's plan to open five regional cancer support centres over five years, aligned with the Northern Ireland Cancer Strategy. She says a Health Minister is needed to take the strategy forward swiftly.
Health Issue: Cancer Focus NI five new regional support centres and radiotherapy expansion Original release: Bradshaw welcomes new Cancer Focus support centres (opens in a new tab)
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Continued absence of Assembly and local ministers could see further damage done to our natural environment, warns Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection's commitment to holding public bodies to account after a meeting with it, and warns that the continued absence of a minister and devolved Assembly could endanger environmental progress. He blames the DUP for stepping away…
Environment and climate Original release: Continued absence of Assembly and local ministers could see further damage done to our natural environment, warns Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Department must step in to stabilise services at Daisy Hill – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy says the Department of Health must urgently step in to stabilise services at Daisy Hill Hospital in the short term and set out a clear plan for its future. He says he raised this with the Permanent Secretary after meeting the Daisy Hill Future group, blaming Southern…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital bed reduction from 107 to 40 Original release: Department must step in to stabilise services at Daisy Hill – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Backlog of cervical cancer testing must be dealt with as quickly as possible – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says she has written to the Department of Health seeking an update on the cervical cancer testing backlog and internal cervical smear reviews in each trust. She urges the department and trusts to clear the backlog quickly and asks how women are being told about the…
Health Issue: Cervical cancer testing backlog and cervical smear reviews Original release: Backlog of cervical cancer testing must be dealt with as quickly as possible – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Uncertain financial future for housing programme counterproductive and dangerous, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the uncertain financial future of the Housing Executive's Supporting People programme is counterproductive and dangerous, blaming the lack of a strategic Budget during the political impasse. She calls for a reformed Executive to be restored immediately to secure…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Supporting People programme funding uncertainty during Stormont political impasse Original release: Uncertain financial future for housing programme counterproductive and dangerous, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes move by Irish Government to fund student places
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Irish Government's one-year funding for student nursing and midwifery places at Northern Ireland universities, following a cut of 300 places. She criticises the DUP's refusal to take up government roles and calls for institutional reform…
Health Education Issue: Irish Government funding for 250 nursing student places Original release: Bradshaw welcomes move by Irish Government to fund student places (opens in a new tab)
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Irish Government intentions to fund nursing places welcome – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes reports that the Irish Government plans to provide €10 million to create 250 nursing and midwifery student places in Northern Ireland, calling it a highly positive step amid Tory cuts that removed many posts.
Health Education Issue: Irish Government funding for 250 nursing student places Original release: Irish Government intentions to fund nursing places welcome – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLAs call for services to be maintained at Daisy Hill Hospital
The DUP says its MLAs have written to the Southern Health Trust chair, Eileen Mullan, urging that services at Daisy Hill Hospital be kept in place and safeguarded.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital bed reduction from 107 to 40 Original release: DUP MLAs call for services to be maintained at Daisy Hill Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Canadian Fires: Climate Change Reaps A Deadly Toll
People Before Profit says massive Canadian forest fires, with around 400 ablaze, are sending toxic smoke over New York and warns that warming temperatures are making forests more fire-prone. It calls for urgent action to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees and argues governments are…
Environment and climate International affairs Issue: Canadian wildfires smoke reaching New York in June 2023 Original release: Canadian Fires: Climate Change Reaps A Deadly Toll (opens in a new tab)
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Campbell – “Northern Trust needs a long-term plan”
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell says health reform must follow a structured, long-term plan after the Northern Trust moved all births in its catchment from Causeway hospital to Antrim. He says staffing failures point to planning problems and calls for the Trust and Department to set out…
Health Issue: Northern Trust consolidating births at Antrim hospital from Causeway Original release: Campbell – “Northern Trust needs a long-term plan” (opens in a new tab)
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Honeyford pleased after Translink confirm it will review links with new health centre
Alliance MLA David Honeyford says he is pleased Translink has committed to review bus routes across Lisburn and look at connections past Lagan Valley Hospital to serve the new health centre, which lost its nearby bus stop after relocation.
Infrastructure and transport Health Issue: Translink review of bus links to Lagan Valley Hospital health centre Original release: Honeyford pleased after Translink confirm it will review links with new health centre (opens in a new tab)