Latest releases
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622 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 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 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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O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments
SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Belfast section of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 is long on aspiration and short on firm delivery commitments, questioning how the north-south Glider will be funded without an agreed budget. He also raises concerns about cuts to cycling…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Eastern Transport Plan 2035 Belfast portion publication Original release: O’Toole: Belfast transport plan long on aspiration, short on delivery commitments (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 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 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: Stormont handling of health service pay disputes 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)
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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 Original release: Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin. (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 Original release: Doctors strike and nurses ballot highlights failure of Minister to prioritise pay awards, says Nuala McAllister MLA (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 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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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 Original release: Neurology Services must be properly funded, says McReynolds (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 Original release: If John O’Dowd can condemn abuse, why can’t the First Minister? –… (opens in a new tab)
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At £200m the A5 is a Catalogue of Failures - Erskine and Buchanan
DUP MLAs Deborah Erskine and Tom Buchanan say the Court of Appeal's decision overturning the A5 ruling is a milestone and call on the Infrastructure Minister to explain its impact on delivery and set a realistic timetable. They claim £200 million has been spent with no new road built and urge fair…
Infrastructure and transport Original release: At £200m the A5 is a Catalogue of Failures - Erskine and Buchanan (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 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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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 Original release: O'Neill's silence on abuse of DUP women is breathtaking - McIlveen (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 Original release: The Strategy of Drumcree March is to Save a Unionism that is in Crisis – Tóibín (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…
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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 let maternity services at Daisy Hill collapse, despite earlier warnings about staffing and workforce pressures across the region.
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MLAs Pocket Pay Rises While Workers Wait
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns proposed further MLA pay rise after their 27% increase, contrasting it with public sector workers still awaiting pay awards and the Executive's lack of budget. He says Executive parties cannot blame the Remuneration Board and urges MLAs to refuse the…
Economy and employment Health Original release: MLAs Pocket Pay Rises While Workers Wait (opens in a new tab)