Latest releases
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442 releases
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Allister welcomes dental hygiene course proposal – but gaps in preventive care remain
North Antrim MP Jim Allister welcomes the consideration of a dental therapy degree at Queen’s University Belfast but urges the Health Minister to fund an NHS contract for hygienists and close the preventive‑care gap highlighted by GDC statistics.
Health Education Issue: Queen’s University Belfast dental therapy course proposal Original release: Allister welcomes dental hygiene course proposal – but gaps in preventive care remain (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Working together for better health: Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’
Health Minister Robbie Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’, a partnership setting out four initial HSC commitments on appointments, waiting times and cancellations, plus actions the public can take, shaped by 11,000 responses.
Health Issue: ‘The Health Deal’ launch following ‘This is Our Health’ public engagement Original release: Working together for better health: Butler launches ‘The Health Deal’ (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows invites unionists to join a revitalised UUP
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA makes a "big, broad offer" inviting unionists across Northern Ireland, including elected representatives from other unionist parties, to join the Ulster Unionist Party as it builds a new leadership team. He says unionism needs change and cites Health Minister Robbie…
Other Health Original release: Burrows invites unionists to join a revitalised UUP (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler welcomes the conclusion of GP contract negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee, including £17.384million for 2026/27 and an extra £40m over two years to improve patient access. He says NIGPC has committed to easier access and to the Neighbourhood…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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8 Years 9 Months wait for urgent dermatology appointment in Northern Trust
TUV MP Jim Allister says the Northern Trust has confirmed an 8 years 9 months wait to see a dermatologist for an urgent referral in a constituency case. He calls the situation a catastrophic failure, encloses redacted correspondence, and says he will press the Trust's chief executive on it next…
Health Issue: Northern Trust dermatology service wait times criticism Original release: 8 Years 9 Months wait for urgent dermatology appointment in Northern Trust (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong calls for investment in rural fire services after farm fire costs rose 73% in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025 statistics release Original release: Armstrong: Farm fire costs rose four times faster here than across the UK (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services
TUV councillor Anna Henry welcomes the £1.95 million funding for endometriosis services across Northern Ireland, including £250,000 for the Northern Trust and a new Regional Endometriosis Pathway. She says more work is needed to cut waiting times and improve diagnosis.
Health Disability and equality Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces £1.95 million for endometriosis care, with £700,000 for the regional centres in the Belfast and Western Trusts and £1.25 million across all five trusts to support a new regional pathway.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister: 'Let’s work together to protect our Health Service this winter'
Health Minister Robbie Butler urges the public to help protect Health Service capacity this winter, ahead of Winter Surge plans published by the six HSC Trusts and the Public Health Agency. He encourages vaccination, early care from GPs and pharmacists, and patience with staff.
Health Issue: Winter Surge plans publication Original release: Health Minister: 'Let’s work together to protect our Health Service this winter' (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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Armstrong: Full story on Enniskillen Bypass delay still untold
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong calls on the Infrastructure Minister to publish a clear timetable for the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass, detailing the High Court procurement challenge, its impact on start dates and the availability of the £6.6 million budget.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: High Court challenge to Enniskillen bypass procurement Original release: Armstrong: Full story on Enniskillen Bypass delay still untold (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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Swann calls on Treasury to scrap Air Passenger Duty in Northern Ireland
UUP MP Robin Swann writes to the Chancellor urging HM Treasury to consider abolishing or substantially, gradually reducing Air Passenger Duty for flights from Northern Ireland airports ahead of the Budget, arguing Dublin Airport gains a competitive edge.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Air Passenger Duty reform for Northern Ireland airports ahead of Budget Original release: Swann calls on Treasury to scrap Air Passenger Duty in Northern Ireland (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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Minister Butler thanks ambulance staff ahead of busy winter period
Health Minister Robbie Butler thanks Northern Ireland Ambulance Service staff after visiting its Belfast Integrated Clinical Hub, praising telephone and on-scene treatment models that cut demand on emergency departments before winter. The release cites 2025-26 figures of 44,064 incidents resolved…
Health Original release: Minister Butler thanks ambulance staff ahead of busy winter period (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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Armstrong marks International Day of Rural Women with call for action on women in farming
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA asks DAERA what progress it has made since the Breaking the Grass Ceiling report on women in agriculture, four years on. She calls for recognition of women's farm work, support for women without legal stake in family farms, and rural service provision.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Armstrong marks International Day of Rural Women with call for action on women in farming (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Flexibility, not radio ultimatums, needed to end budget deadlock – Aiken
UUP finance spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA urges the Secretary of State and Executive to drop public sparring and agree a budget, warning that nurses and health workers face continued pay delays and an RCN ballot on industrial action.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Northern Ireland budget deadlock and health pay award delay Original release: Flexibility, not radio ultimatums, needed to end budget deadlock – Aiken (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Diesel up 60p a litre since February with no end in sight
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA calls on the Chancellor to rule out any fuel duty rise in this month's Budget, citing diesel prices averaging over 194p a litre in Fermanagh and Tyrone and the heavier impact on rural households and farm businesses.
Economy and employment Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: Diesel up 60p a litre since February with no end in sight (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ratcliffe supports Ladies with Letters’ demand for truth and accountability
TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe backs Ladies with Letters' call for an independent statutory public inquiry into the cervical screening scandal, after letters were delivered to MLAs at Stormont. He urges the Health Minister to reverse the May refusal of an inquiry.
Health Issue: Ladies with Letters cervical screening inquiry demand at Stormont Original release: Ratcliffe supports Ladies with Letters’ demand for truth and accountability (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Ulster Unionist Party responds to A5 judgment
UUP Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA responds to the Court of Appeal judgment clearing the A5 Western Transport Corridor, blaming departmental failures for years of delay. He calls on the Infrastructure Minister to publish a realistic timetable, an updated cost figure, funding plans…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: Court of Appeal ruling overturning A5 road judgment Original release: Ulster Unionist Party responds to A5 judgment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 7 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong seeks clarity for A5 landowners following Court of Appeal judgment
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong urges the Department for Infrastructure and Land and Property Services to specify the valuation date, reinstatement cost settlement and payment timetable for farmers whose land along the A5 will be vested after the Court of Appeal judgment.
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Court of Appeal ruling overturning A5 road judgment Original release: Armstrong seeks clarity for A5 landowners following Court of Appeal judgment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: A5 farmers to be paid 2024 prices for land taken in 2026
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture spokesperson Diana Armstrong says A5 route farmers are being shortchanged, as the Infrastructure Minister confirmed land taken for the scheme will be valued at November 2024 prices. She calls for the valuation law to be changed and asks what discretion exists over…
Agriculture and rural affairs Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 land vesting compensation valued at November 2024 prices Original release: Armstrong: A5 farmers to be paid 2024 prices for land taken in 2026 (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal
UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA urges the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Herron, to refer two rape sentences to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, arguing a three-year custodial term is inadequate. He also asks whether deportation notices have been issued against both men.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Unduly lenient rape sentences referral request to Director of Public Prosecutions Original release: Burrows asks Director of Public Prosecutions to refer unduly lenient rape sentences to Court of Appeal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)