Latest releases
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623 releases
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DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA says the DUP's Petition of Concern against an Assembly bill on Irish-medium education punishes children and schools. He calls for reform of Stormont so no single party can block progress.
Education Disability and equality Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: DUP punishing children and schools through latest Petition of Concern, says Tennyson (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan slams the DUP's plan to veto his Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill via a petition of concern, saying it would harm children learning through Irish. He calls on the DUP to abandon the move and let the Assembly vote, describing the opposition as anti-Irish bigotry.
Education Disability and equality Issue: DUP petition of concern against Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill Original release: Sheehan slams plans by DUP to veto Irish-medium Education Workforce Plan Bill (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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Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -…
DUP MLA Pam Cameron says a Committee for Communities survey shows 93.55% of 1,379 respondents opposed the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill, and calls on the Alliance Party to heed the public and halt the Bill. She argues prosecutors flagged vague harm thresholds and reach into family…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Alliance Conversion Practices Bill Original release: Overwhelming opposition to Alliance Conversion Practices Bill -… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey
Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey says the Drumcree standoff has backfired on republicans, criticising Gerry Adams’s intervention and Sinn Féin’s involvement, and argues the dispute exposes threats to the Orange tradition and highlights demographic changes in a united Ireland.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Parades Commission Garvaghy Road ruling Original release: Drumcree proving to be a pyrrhic victory for republicans – Empey (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: 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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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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Harkin: DUP Incitement of Sectarian Tensions Must be Challenged
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says sectarian attacks on young people in Belfast must be condemned, and accuses the DUP of inflaming sectarian and racist tensions to deflect from its political crisis, linking this to Stormont cuts and housing failures.
Community relations and legacy Economy and employment Original release: Harkin: DUP Incitement of Sectarian Tensions Must be Challenged (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Health Minister's decision not to build a new Altnagelvin Emergency Department shows regional disparity against Derry and the North West. He announces a Guildhall deputation on 26 October by UNISON, UNITE, NIPSA and the RCN on A&E pressures and cuts.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister decision against new Altnagelvin Emergency Department Original release: Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin. (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Doctors strike and nurses ballot highlights failure of Minister to prioritise pay awards, says Nuala McAllister MLA
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says the announced BMA strike involving consultants, SAS doctors and resident doctors, plus the Royal College of Nursing's planned ballot of its members, reflects the Health Minister's failure to prioritise pay awards.
Health Economy and employment Issue: BMA strike announcement and RCN strike ballot in Northern Ireland Original release: Doctors strike and nurses ballot highlights failure of Minister to prioritise pay awards, says Nuala McAllister MLA (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 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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Budget does little for a justice system in crisis – Matt Carthy TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, says Budget 2027 will do little to address crises across the justice system, criticising the Minister over the criminal legal aid dispute and the planned withdrawal of Gardaí from Dublin overtime.
Justice and policing Immigration Issue: Budget response on justice system and criminal legal aid dispute Original release: Budget does little for a justice system in crisis – Matt Carthy TD (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds
Alliance East Belfast MLA Peter McReynolds says £2.3 million in new neurology funding, announced alongside a Neurology Delivery Team, falls far short of the over £65m the Department's Regional Review said is needed. He calls on the Health Minister to act urgently to fully fund neurology services.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister's Neurology Delivery Team and £2.3m funding announcement Original release: Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –…
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine challenges First Minister Michelle O'Neill to condemn abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA, contrasting her refusal with John O'Dowd's condemnation and urging her to tell those responsible to stop.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Abuse and threats against Carla Lockhart MP and Diane Dodds MLA Original release: If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Neill's silence on abuse of DUP women is breathtaking - McIlveen
DUP Deputy Leader Michelle McIlveen MLA accuses First Minister Michelle O'Neill of double standards for refusing to condemn intimidation and misogynistic abuse aimed at party colleagues Lockhart and Dodds during an Assembly sitting on the Garvaghy Road.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: First Minister's Assembly appearance over Garvaghy Road events Original release: O'Neill's silence on abuse of DUP women is breathtaking - McIlveen (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 5 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must act on empty homes
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing to tackle empty homes, citing Finance Minister figures of 22,817 vacant properties as of 30 June 2026 and calling for concrete action as homelessness rises.
Housing Issue: Finance Minister figures on vacant properties across Northern Ireland, June 2026 Original release: Durkan: Executive must act on empty homes (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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Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive parties' failure to deliver the Programme for Government pledge to prevent homelessness is a betrayal of 65,000 people, after the Communities Minister confirmed the First Minister refused to table a paper prioritising homelessness prevention funding.
Housing Issue: Executive refusal to table homelessness prevention funding paper Original release: Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention (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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The Strategy of Drumcree March is to Save a Unionism that is in Crisis – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says the DUP and Sinn Féin benefit from community division over the Drumcree-linked Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road, claiming it distracts from hospital closures, housing and cost of living. He calls the decision to allow the march the most destabilising since…
Community relations and legacy Health Issue: Orange Order application to march down Garvaghy Road Original release: The Strategy of Drumcree March is to Save a Unionism that is in Crisis – Tóibín (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the Health Minister must deliver on promised transparency after he failed to answer questions at the Health Committee on the youngest puberty blocker recipient and the Maternity Hospital handover review. She claims bowel screening and thrombectomy announcements were hard…
Health Issue: Health Committee questioning of Health Minister on transparency and communication Original release: Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:… (opens in a new tab)
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Political inaction allowed collapse of maternity services at Daisy Hill, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says political inaction has allowed maternity services at Daisy Hill to collapse, blaming long-term workforce planning failures, training places and pay. She calls on a Health Minister to act on the Renfrew Maternity Review recommendations…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Political inaction allowed collapse of maternity services at Daisy Hill, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)