Latest releases
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501 releases
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McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency department waiting times statistics September Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget (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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Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urging the UK Government to intervene over proposed BBC Northern Ireland cuts to Irish-language services, including a reported halving of its Irish-language unit staffing.
Disability and equality Issue: BBC NI Irish-language services proposed cuts announcement Original release: Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts (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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Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood backs home carers ahead of a Unison-organised public meeting in Derry, calling on Stormont to deliver the promised real living wage and help carers with rising fuel costs.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures (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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McGlone: BBC Cuts Demand Scrutiny
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone seeks an urgent meeting with BBC Northern Ireland leadership over reported job losses and restructuring, wanting clarity on effects for staff, local output and Irish language services. He also plans talks with Foras na Gaeilge.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: BBC Northern Ireland job losses and restructuring plans Original release: McGlone: BBC Cuts Demand Scrutiny (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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McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath accuses the Executive of drawing health workers into a dispute with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant over pay, after the BMA confirmed further doctors' strike action in November. He says the Executive should stop trading blame and act for patients and staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA resident, consultant and SAS doctors strike action announcement November 2026 Original release: McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game (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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SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation
SDLP Opposition challenges the Executive over delayed racial equality legislation after record race hate incidents and crimes in 2025/26, and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain the delay. Its Black History Month Opposition Day motion also recognised black communities.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Executive delay to racial equality legislation following record race hate figures Original release: SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation (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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McNulty presents 6,500-signature petition calling for CAR-T treatment closer to home
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty presents a petition of over 6,500 signatures to the Assembly calling for CAR-T cancer treatment to be available in Northern Ireland. He calls on the Executive to commission a local service and work with the Irish Government on all-island access in the…
Health Issue: CAR-T cancer treatment petition presented to Northern Ireland Assembly Original release: McNulty presents 6,500-signature petition calling for CAR-T treatment closer to home (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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McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath welcomes Newcastle's Bendy Tree being named UK Tree of the Year 2026 by the Woodland Trust, the first Northern Ireland tree to take the award. He has written to Newry, Mourne and Down Council asking for a permanent commemorative plaque beside it.
Environment and climate Issue: Newcastle Bendy Tree named UK Tree of the Year 2026 Original release: McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First (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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McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid says personal abuse aimed at female public representatives, both online and in person, has to end. She says challenging misogyny must apply even to politicians whose views one opposes, and that such abuse deters people from entering public life.
Disability and equality Original release: McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop (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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Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes the Education Minister’s move to permit girls to wear trousers in school uniform, calling the U‑turn overdue, demanding an explanation for the delay and urging consistent rollout across all schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls for an urgent Health Minister response to a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report showing rising infant mortality in the region. He says he will write to the minister seeking a funded plan for the College's recommendations…
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics State of Child Health 2026 report on infant mortality Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the DUP is using renewed Drumcree controversy to divert attention from the Executive's failure to pass a Budget, as public services face uncertainty. He calls on the DUP and Executive ministers to agree a Budget and address health, waiting…
Public finance and taxation Community relations and legacy Issue: Drumcree parading dispute and Executive Budget impasse Original release: O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must deliver on new approach to hospital reform
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA urges Health Minister Robbie Butler to act on his pledges for rural services and avoid centralisation in hospital reform, citing Daisy Hill, Downe, SWAH and Causeway as cases where communities must be protected first.
Health Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Proposed Independent Reconfiguration Committee for hospital reform Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must deliver on new approach to hospital reform (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain
Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn criticises Northern Ireland being left behind as plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain, saying NIE Networks' G98/NI changes were promised to run in parallel. He calls on Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to explain the delay and say when households here…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: plug-in solar launch in Great Britain Original release: Northern Ireland left behind as plug-in solar launches in Britain (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 12 October 2026 (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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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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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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Green councillor Anthony Flynn pledges clean water and better transport in North Down Assembly bid
Green Party NI announces Councillor Anthony Flynn as its North Down candidate for the 2027 Assembly election, pledging action on water quality, public transport, town centres, health waiting lists, animal welfare and Stormont reform.
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Original release: Green councillor Anthony Flynn pledges clean water and better transport in North Down Assembly bid (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 30 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: If nobody qualifies, what is Continuing Healthcare actually for?
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath says Assembly Question figures show no applicant across five years of Continuing Healthcare assessments in Health and Social Care Trusts was found eligible for funding. He asks the Department of Health to explain why the scheme appears inaccessible and what action it will…
Health Issue: Continuing Healthcare zero eligibility figures from Assembly Question Original release: McGrath: If nobody qualifies, what is Continuing Healthcare actually for? (opens in a new tab)
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Council must stop passing the buck on dumped car in River Lagan
Green Party Cllr Anthony Flynn says the response so far to a car dumped in the River Lagan in Lisburn has been unacceptable, and calls for its removal, agreed responsibility and a clean-up plan. The Greens, with Lagan Valley Greens, are running a petition.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Dumped car in River Lagan near Lisburn council chamber Original release: Council must stop passing the buck on dumped car in River Lagan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)