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Campaigns Community Constituency Daisy Hill Government Health Newry Newry and Armagh Stormont Westminster

Daisy Hill Future Group Meet with Department of Health Permanent Secretary, Peter May

The Daisy Hill Future Group met with Peter May, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and his senior advisors on Wednesday 26th July to discuss the Southern Trust’s plans to stabilise the medical workforce and ensure continuity of services at Daisy Hill Hospital. The Future Group’s representatives sought this meeting with the leadership […]

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Community Constituency Council Government Health Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council Politics South Down

NMD Cllrs Call for New Minister for Conversion therapy Ban

By Donal McMahon Permanent secretaries of Stormont have stated the “next steps” for a ban on conversion therapy will lie at the door of a new Executive minister. The controversial ‘treatment’ is used as a means of trying to stop or suppress a gay person’s sexuality, or stop them from identifying as a different gender […]

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Community Constituency Council Dáil Éireann Government Infrastructure Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council

DFI Perm-Sec Won’t Engage With Shared Island Unit Over Southern Relief Road

By Donal McMahon The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) will not seek to engage with a Shared Island Unit over a proposed £50m Newry bridge design despite a council’s concerns. Plans for the Southern Relief Road bridge will look to link traffic from Warrenpoint harbour area to the A1 bypass for onward journeys to Belfast and Dublin. […]

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Community Crime Government Stormont

New Director General of NI Prisons Takes Up Post

Beverley Wall has today taken up position in the Department of Justice as the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Beverley has extensive experience working in a wide range of policy and operational leadership positions in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Permanent Secretary at the Department of Justice, Richard Pengelly CB said: “I […]

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Business Community Government Politics Stormont Westminster

SDLP: UK climbdown on Goods Quality Marks Underlines Indefensibility and Futility of DUP Boycott

The UK Government’s decision to indefinitely postpone a separate system of product quality marks is a welcome climbdown on Brexit fantasy economics, reducing the prospect of NI-GB divergence and making the DUP boycott ever more indefensible, SDLP Stormont leader and Brexit spokesperson Matthew O’Toole has said. The UK Government today confirmed that the UKCA safety […]

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Community Constituency Downpatrick Government Infrastructure South Down Stormont

McGrath Highlights Accident Blackspot

SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath has been highlighting an accident blackspot at the Bonecastle Road in Downpatrick. Mr McGrath received a huge response after highlighting a number of accidents in the area on social media. He has called on the Department for Infrastructure to implement additional safety measures on the road. South Down MLA […]

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Community Constituency Council Downpatrick Government Kilkeel Newcastle Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council South Armagh South Down Warrenpoint

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Working Through Bin Backlog

The two week period of industrial action short of strike by union members at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has concluded and Council are now working through the backlog of missed bin collections.   WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 31 JULY  If your Blue and Brown bin has not been collected on your normal collection day, please […]

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Community Dáil Éireann Government Lifestyle Louth Monaghan Seanad Éireann

New Podcast Hosted by Tánaiste Micheál Martin Drops

A new podcast presented by Tánaiste Micheál Martin has launched today (Monday, July 31st 2023).   ‘In Conversation’ with Tánaiste Micheál Martin is a new podcast with the Fianna Fáil leader adopting the role of interviewer instead of interviewee.   In his inaugural audiocast Mr Martin is in conversation with Dr Mark Henry, author of ‘In […]

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ABC Council Community Constituency Council Government Health Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

Cuts to Specialist GP Services Will Pile More Pressure on Health Service – O’Dowd

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said cuts to specialist GP services will put more pressure on the health service.  Mr O’Dowd said: “The GP Elective Care Service was helping to tackle some of the waiting lists in our health service by providing procedures in dermatology, gynaecology and minor surgery. “This cut in funding will […]

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Community Constituency Council Crime Government Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council

Savage Condemns Newry Arson Attack

Newry SDLP Councillor Michael Savage has condemned an arson attack in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning. A wheelie bin was pushed across the front door of the terraced home in Stream Street and set on fire and the couple inside were trapped upstairs and had to escape through a balcony at […]

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Community Constituency Government Health Lurgan Upper Bann Westminster

Support For Childhood Cancer Campaign Welcomed

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart has secured a commitment from the Prime Minister to work together on improving benefit support for children and families who face a childhood cancer diagnosis. Speaking after her PMQ Carla Lockhart said,  “I am greatly encouraged by the Prime Minister’s answer today where he recognises the stress and strains […]

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Armagh Community Constituency Government Infrastructure Newry and Armagh Politics Stormont

Executive Needed to Publish All-Ireland Rail Review – Boylan

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has said an Executive is needed now to publish and consider the all-Ireland rail review. The Newry/Armagh MLA said: “An efficient, reliable and frequent rail service is key to delivering a first-class transport system and to connecting towns and cities across the island, as is the norm across Europe.  “The […]