Latest releases
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2,853 releases
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Alliance Party backs dentists' call for urgent action on Health Service dentistry
Alliance backs a letter from 720 dentists urging action to save NHS-funded dentistry, with South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw saying the party will meet dentists next month and watch Department proposals on contract reform. East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly welcomes the dentists' concerns about…
Health Issue: Dental Practice Committee open letter on NHS dentistry sustainability Original release: Alliance Party backs dentists' call for urgent action on Health Service dentistry (opens in a new tab)
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Still much more to do on reducing smoking and vaping, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says a NI Audit Office report on smoking shows significant progress but a widening gap in deprived areas, and calls for targeted programmes, further interventions and effective enforcement, including on vaping.
Health Issue: NI Audit Office report on smoking and public health Original release: Still much more to do on reducing smoking and vaping, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland must act quickly to match England on disposable vape ban, says Bradshaw
Alliance health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA urges Northern Ireland to quickly enact its already drafted disposable vape ban so it does not lag behind the UK Government's planned sales ban in England, and calls for an Assembly to be restored to progress the legislation.
Health Issue: UK Government announcement of disposable vape ban in England Original release: Northern Ireland must act quickly to match England on disposable vape ban, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure investment reduction could jeopardise housing supply targets, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong raises concern that a reduced NI Water budget from the Department for Infrastructure could stop new builds connecting, threatening social housing supply. She urges the Civil Service head to require departments to publish impact reports on cross-departmental effects of…
Housing Infrastructure and transport Issue: Department for Infrastructure NI Water budget reduction and housing connections Original release: Infrastructure investment reduction could jeopardise housing supply targets, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Trust must ensure women are kept updated during smear test review
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon urges the Southern Trust to keep women informed about delays in the cervical smear test review, noting over 16,000 are still awaiting results. She calls women's health services unfit for purpose and demands a restored Executive and health minister to deliver a women's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Southern Trust cervical smear test review delays and notification backlog Original release: Trust must ensure women are kept updated during smear test review (opens in a new tab)
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Rise in childhood obesity caused by pandemic reinforces need for preventative action - Bradshaw
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Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight
People Before Profit says the Thursday public sector strike was the largest and best-coordinated since at least 2015 and calls for longer, more sustained strikes, with unions and communities preparing for further coordinated action such as a week or two of strikes. It urges the DUP to end the…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Giant Strike Recharges Workers’ Fight (opens in a new tab)
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Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Alliance Chief Whip Andrew Muir MLA says the Holocaust should warn against allowing antisemitism and prejudice to go unchecked, speaking after an exhibition he sponsored at the Assembly to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. He warns that refugees are increasingly met with hostility and pledges Alliance…
Disability and equality International affairs Issue: Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition at the Assembly sponsored by Andrew Muir Original release: Muir sponsors exhibition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (opens in a new tab)
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Dementia services must be urgently updated to capture new breakthroughs in treatment, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA calls for dementia treatment pathways in Northern Ireland to be urgently reformed to reflect new drugs and blood tests enabling earlier intervention, warning the region risks falling behind.
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Fire safety measures in high rise buildings will not be delivered without a minister, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says new Department for Communities safety plans for high rise buildings cannot be delivered without a minister in post. She calls for buy-back or financial support options for flat owners needing costly fire safety adaptations, noting related legislation…
Housing Issue: Department for Communities high rise building safety plans following Grenfell-linked report Original release: Fire safety measures in high rise buildings will not be delivered without a minister, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Addressing the Challenges Facing Our Public Sector Workers: A Call for Devolved Action - Beattie
UUP leader Doug Beattie says public sector workers' pay concerns, including the recent day of action, are damaging health, education and the economy, and urges devolved politicians to act now rather than blame the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Thursday public sector strike 2024 Original release: Addressing the Challenges Facing Our Public Sector Workers: A Call for Devolved Action - Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance secures first step in plans for Belfast Covid memorial
Alliance councillors in Belfast call for a special Covid memorial in the city to honour those who died in the pandemic and those living with long Covid. Councillor Christine Bower says a dedicated shared space would help the community recover from the trauma and grief.
Local government Health Issue: Belfast Covid memorial proposal receives cross-party support Original release: Alliance secures first step in plans for Belfast Covid memorial (opens in a new tab)
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Now EU dictating to NI on tooth fillings
TUV leader Jim Allister says the Protocol will force Northern Ireland to follow an EU ban on dental amalgam from January 2025, warning the British Dental Association has flagged a disproportionate impact on local oral health services.
Health International affairs Issue: EU dental amalgam ban applying in Northern Ireland under the Protocol Original release: Now EU dictating to NI on tooth fillings (opens in a new tab)
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Health staff and patients need an Executive now – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon, after visiting Craigavon Emergency Department, says staff and patients face extreme pressure from delayed discharges. She calls for a new Executive to deliver a health plan, criticises the DUP's boycott, and urges the British Secretary of State to award health workers a…
Health Issue: Craigavon Emergency Department pressures after RQIA delayed discharges report Original release: Health staff and patients need an Executive now – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024
Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O'Neill MLA says the DUP's boycott is jeopardising public services and a 170,000-worker strike, and calls on the DUP to join Executive formation, warning the Assembly may be near its final sitting.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly sitting to elect Speaker and form Executive, 17 January 2024 Original release: REMARKS BY SINN FÉIN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA, ASSEMBLY SITTING 17 JANUARY 2024 (opens in a new tab)
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Championing Pay Parity and Defending Our Health Service: A Pledge from the Ulster Unionist Party - Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA backs Robin Swann's pay parity pledge ahead of Thursday's public sector strike, calling DUP and UK Government positions on Stormont funding and pay settlements heartless and shameful.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Planned public sector strike next Thursday Original release: Championing Pay Parity and Defending Our Health Service: A Pledge from the Ulster Unionist Party - Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Low vaccination rates were another demonstration of Health Service crisis - Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw warns that a Lancet study finding nearly half of Northern Ireland was not fully vaccinated against Covid in mid-2022 reflects and worsens the region's health service crisis. She says it led to avoidable hospital admissions and calls for a shift toward…
Health Issue: Lancet study on Covid vaccination rates in Northern Ireland Original release: Low vaccination rates were another demonstration of Health Service crisis - Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw welcomes equity of access to treatment for PKU patients in Northern Ireland
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw welcomes the Department of Health’s use of its powers to allow Kuvan (Sapropterin) for treating hyperphenylalaninaemia in PKU patients over 21, bringing Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales.
Health Issue: Kuvan approval for PKU patients over 21 in NI Original release: Bradshaw welcomes equity of access to treatment for PKU patients in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Impact on health services can still be prevented – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and allow a pay rise for health and social care workers, ahead of Thursday's strike action. She urges a Speaker be elected at Wednesday's Assembly recall and an Executive formed.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care strike action over pay in January 2024 Original release: Impact on health services can still be prevented – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Health Trusts left in impossible position by political inaction on pay and transformation, says Alliance Health representatives ahead of strike action.
Alliance Health spokespeople say Health and Social Care Trusts are left in an almost impossible position by political inaction on restoring the Assembly and healthcare reform, ahead of Thursday's strike. East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly, a nurse, calls for an Assembly to deliver fair pay and safe…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care strike action over pay in January 2024 Original release: Health Trusts left in impossible position by political inaction on pay and transformation, says Alliance Health representatives ahead of strike action. (opens in a new tab)