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Community Election 2022 Government Health Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

O’Dowd Supports Parental Bereavement Bill

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has hailed progress on putting into law the right to paid leave following the death of a child, stillbirth or miscarriage. Mr O’Dowd, who spoke and voted in favour of the Bill in the Assembly, said: “This legislation will ensure workers whose child dies or who suffer stillbirth have the right […]

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Armagh Election 2022 Government Health Newry South Armagh Stormont

Irwin Welcomes Update on Health Care Payment

Newry & Armagh DUP Assemblyman William Irwin MLA has welcomed an update from the Health Minister on the Health & Social Care Staff Recognition payment for those in the independent sector in light of efforts in the fight against Covid19. Mr Irwin said he had been contacted by staff who qualified for the payment but […]

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Business Election 2022 Government Newry Stormont

Those Verified for Spend Local Card Should Have Opportunity to Spend It – Kimmins 

Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has called on the DUP Economy Minister to ensure those who were verified for a Spend Local card but didn’t receive it, will get the £100 card and opportunity to spend it.  The Newry and Armagh MLA said:  “While the majority of those who applied for the Spend Local scheme […]

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Dáil Éireann Election 2022 Government Politics

Good Friday Agreement Committee Calls on Each other Dáil Committee to Allow Northern Representation – Aontu

The Good Friday Agreement Committee in the Oireachtas is to write to each of the other Oireachtas Committees to request that they allow elected MPs from the North of Ireland speaking rights on their Committees. Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín made the proposal at the Good Friday Committee. He stated; “Currently the […]

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Armagh Campaigns Community Daisy Hill Election 2022 Health Newry South Armagh

“𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥!” – 𝐊𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞 TUV

Newry and Armagh TUV representative Keith Ratcliffe has called for the protection of services at Daisy Hill hospital following the removal of emergency surgery at the hospital. Speaking on the issue Mr Ratcliffe said: “I am very concerned about the recent announcement that all emergency surgeries at Daisy Hill hospital will be halted for the […]

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Community Election 2022 Government Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

Kelly: Hargey Must Issue Fuel Support Payment Before Next Planned Gas Hike!

The SDLP has written to Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, urging her to take the plight of people here seriously in the face of yet another price hike.   Gas suppliers have contacted customers this week warning of a 33.57% tariff increase in addition to already record high energy costs. SDLP Upper Bann MLA […]

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Community Education Election 2022 Government Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

Kelly Highlights Challenges Facing Local Schools 

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has highlighted a number of issues facing schools across the area. Mrs Kelly invited Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to the constituency last week to show her first hand the good work going on in the schools and highlight the need for further funding. Mrs Kelly took Minister McIlveen to […]

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Armagh Education Government Newry Politics South Armagh Stormont

Access to Period Products – Just Do It! – Campbell

The Stormont Executive seems determined to add to the pressures and the indignity already experienced by thousands of women and girls every month. Instead of getting on with placing free period products in schools, colleges, universities and other public places government departments are fighting amongst themselves over who should be responsible for it.More than a […]

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Armagh Banbridge Community Lurgan Portadown Upper Bann

Send a card, deliver a smile!

A pilot project in conjunction with the ABC Loneliness Network has created a ‘Kindness Post Box’ in the Southern Trust area. The original idea for the ‘Kindness Post Box’ came from Fermanagh woman Nuala O’Toole at the start of the pandemic. A community focussed venture, across generations, the idea is for children to write a […]

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Downpatrick Government Health Kilkeel South Down Stormont

McGrath Urges Those Bereaved Through Contaminated Blood Scandal to Apply for Financial Support

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has urged those bereaved as a result of the contaminated blood scandal to come forward and apply for financial support. Those eligible must apply before March 31 2022 or they will lose out on payments being backdated to April 2019. The payments to the bereaved range from £14,000 to £34,000 […]

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Banbridge Community Government Politics Upper Bann Westminster

Chancellor Should Shelve National Insurance Increase! – Lockhart

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart has called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to shelve plans to raise National Insurance Contributions scheduled to take effect from 1st April 2022. The MP made the call in a letter to the Chancellor, urging the change in policy to support working families and ‘squeezed middle’ […]

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Education Lurgan Upper Bann

Each Rural School Has Its Own Unique Story-O’Dowd

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said there cannot be a blanket approach to rural schools from the Education Authority and the Department of Education when it comes to Area Planning. The former Education Minister said: “Rural schools are the heartbeat of local communities in Upper Bann and further afield, and the Education Authority shouldn’t […]