Diane Dodds

A challenge to the decision to stop the Drumcree parade made by Chris Bryant returns to court today. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson (centre), along with leading members of the Portadown District of the Orange Order, arrive at the High Court in Belfast for an earlier hearing.

Bryant’s decision to halt Drumcree parade to be challenged in court

Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson took questions from across the Assembly on his bill to outlaw 'conversion practices'.

'Parents would need a KC at the kitchen table' under conversion law - UUP

A major trade union and political parties across the spectrum have expressed concern that proposed cuts for the health service will impact on staff and patient safety.

Trade union and parties express 'real fear' over scale of health cuts

UUP Health minister Mike Nesbitt paused Northern Ireland's involvement in a puberty blocker trial in February. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

UUP won't support NI involvement in controversial puberty blocker trial

Health minister Mike Nesbitt paused Northern Ireland's involvement in a puberty blocker trial in February. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP say Northern Irish children should not be part of puberty blocker trials

The pro-Palestinian march under protection of officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) passes closes the village of Scarva, Co Down as it travels from Lurgan to Newry

DUP to seek answers from PSNI over handling of Scarva march and rival demo

Northern Ireland’s Comptroller and Auditor General Dorinnia Carville says nurses are leaving the NHS due to pressures of work, not feeling valued, and wanting more pay - with many opting to work for agencies instead.

Spending on nursing agencies trebles to £162m in six years

Statistics have shown more than 26% of adults in Northern Ireland are now prescribed antidepressants. Photo: Syda Productions - stock.adobe.com

Quarter of NI on antidepressants

DUP MLA Diane Dodds.

Rising tariffs in Republic limits cross-border health scheme applications

DUP Health Committee member Diane Dodds has said the 'continuing crisis' in Northern Ireland’s Emergency Departments requires immediate action to improve patient flow and strengthen consultant cover over weekends.

DUP flags 'continuing crisis' in EDs - Nesbitt acknowledges 'immense pressure'

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said making hospital parking free is a "legitimate and a compassionate aim" but the financial situation facing the health and social care sector has "changed significantly".

MLAs backed three-year deferral of legislation on free hospital parking

MLAs have backed a three‑year deferral of legislation on free hospital parking.

Hospital parking charges to continue after Assembly backs delay

Health minister Mike Nesbitt wanted to up the price of low cost high strength alcohol. Photo: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

DUP accused of 'pure deflection' as plan to clamp down on cheap booze is shelved

Mike Nesbitt's officials have now confirmed the prescription of controversial drugs was stopped in Northern Ireland last month. Photo credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

NI stopped prescribing controversial hormones to teens last month

Mike Nesbitt's health ministry has dodged questions about whether it will follow an NHS England trans drug ban. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Nesbitt urged to give 'clear answers' on latest NHS trans drugs ban

The car park of Craigavon Area Hospital. PT40-228.

Hospital car park charges to stay as ban paused: Scrapping fees 'means £7m hole'
Hospital car park charges are now likely to stay until 2029, after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt put a move to ban them on hold.
Iain Gray

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston.

Stormont incapable of living within its means - TUV's Gaston

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is set to defer free hospital car parking - saying the money could be better spent on services. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

'Honesty needed' from politicians as Minister set to defer free hospital parking

DUP MLA Diane Dodds has hit out at rivals' attitudes to hormone blockers being given to children.

DUP in fresh criticism of Ulster Unionists over trans drugs for kids

Trans rights activists support access to puberty blocking drugs for children - what they call 'gender affirming care'. Photo: Lesley Martin/PA Wire

Children aren’t 'test subjects' for controversial trans drugs trial - MLA

Health minister Mike Nesbitt. Photo: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

Pay hike means NI health chiefs paid more than the Prime Minister - MLA

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt signed off an "unpublicised" backdated pay rise for health trusts chiefs. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Nesbitt’s ‘unpublicised’ back-dated pay rise for NI's health chiefs

A CGI image of the Enniskillen Bypass. On the cards since 2006, it's now on hold again.

Brakes hit on £190m of road projects while minister appeals A5 verdict

DUP MLA Diane Dodds.

EU member states raise objections to NI smoking ban legislation

Diane Dodds MLA has hit out at yet more delays to a £130m improvement scheme for the A1 dual carriageway from Hillsborough to Loughbrickland.

Brakes put on delayed £130m road scheme yet again due to Stormont court appeal

Trans rights groups were involved in a 'co-design' of NI gender identity services. Photo credit should read: Lesley Martin/PA Wire

MLAs call for transparency over Nesbitt gender clinic report

UUP health minister Mike Nesbitt.

Nesbitt warns against 'staying in hospital longer than you need'
Stormont’s health minister has ‘reminded the public’ that timely discharge from hospital is vital to protect the health service this winter – after fresh concerns were raised about “bed blockages”.
David Thompson

MLAs took evidence from 15,000 GP patients, over half of whom said their experience of GP care was ‘poor’

Assembly finds GP services 'in crisis' and calls for radical action

Planning for any future pandemics must include the impact on the economy, former Stormont economy minister Diane Dodds has said. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

'Planning for future pandemic must include economy'

The BMA's Northern Ireland chief has called for a 'debate' on having an all-island GP system (photo by STEPHANE OUZOUNOFF/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Royal College of GPs stands by free care after BMA Northern Ireland chief's call

Dr Alan Stout has suggested a conversation needs to be had about an all-island GP model

Unionist parties rubbish BMA chief's all-Ireland GP services suggestion

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirmed this week that pay parity with NHS workers in England has been restored. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Unions say NHS pay parity should never have been broken

Health minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a pay rise for healthcare workers. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Health minister announces 'deserved' pay rise for health workers

Diane Dodds has asked the First Minister whether her and her husband were innocent victims after being targeted by the IRA

Were my husband and I innocent victims?, Diane Dodds asks First Minister

Erika Kirk speaks during the memorial service for her husband Charlie at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona (photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Unionist youth figure hails 'very moving' forgiveness for Charlie Kirk killer

Diane Dodds says a "debunked" BMA claim about GP appointments "undermines the ability to highlight real issues impacting on GP surgeries". Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

BMA claim that 200,000 people see their GP each week 'debunked' - DUP MLA

Diane Dodds, the DUP's health spokeswoman, condemned what she called transgender 'experimentation' on children

Diane Dodds condemns 'transgender experimentation on children'

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has been accused of making a 'political' decision over the sacking of a senior health official - because he was "uncomfortable answering questions before the health committee". Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Sacked Trust boss accuses health minister of using him as a 'scapegoat'

A general view of the new maternity hospital at the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast, which was due to open a decade ago.

Belfast's new maternity hospital facing delay of 28 months

'Substantial risk' was found at Ward 4 and Ward 7 in the Royal Victoria Hospital after a fire safety audit was carried out on June 4

Fire safety inspection finds ‘substantial risk’ at two RVH wards

Northern Ireland has lost more than one-eighth of its GP practices since 2014.

One in eight GP practices lost in last decade

Health minister Mike Nesbitt appearing before the Stormont health committee at assembly. Mr Nesbitt told the health committee that his department was "on standby" for other whistleblower claims after the contents of a report about the behaviour of some heart surgeons at the unit was made public by the media

Nesbitt not surprised if ‘devastating’ culture in RVH report repeated elsewhere

The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Image: Belfast Health Trust

Behaviour of some RVH heart surgeons unacceptable, says Minister after report

Traffic queues at a level crossing on William Street, Lurgan. INLM2211-142gc

Lurgan traffic chaos from Enterprise trains will take five years to fix

Health chiefs still do not know the cause of an outbreak of a potentially dangerous bacteria which has delayed the opening of Belfast’s new maternity hospital by years, MLAs have been told.

Health chiefs still do not know cause of maternity hospital bacteria outbreak

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced radical changes to how the health service is run, by scrapping NHS England with plans for more quangos to go. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Local health service bureaucracy questioned amid NHS reforms in England

Diane Dodds is the DUP's health spokesperson. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Clinical negligence costing NI health service £99,000 per day - DUP's Dodds

Upper Bann DUP MLA Diane Dodds - a former Stormont economy minister - has hit out at the NI Secretary over his description of her party's mutual enforcement policy as 'magical thinking'. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

DUP's Diane Dodds hits out at NI Secretary over 'magical thinking' comment

Part of the Royal Victoria Hospital complex

DUP MLA discovers millions of pounds 'squandered' on mothballed energy plant

Cross-community voting in the Northern Ireland Assembly didn't apply for Tuesday's landmark vote on the Windsor Framework

Stormont backs continued trade barriers within the UK

The new Belfast hospital

'Totally shocking' new problem discovered at maternity hospital

DUP MLA Diane Dodds has launched a motion calling for a full independent inquiry into delays to the new maternity and children’s hospital projects in Belfast

Pseudomonas bacteria found in 459 water outlets of new maternity unit – Dodds

Jonathan Buckley says assisted dying legislation "risks undermining the value of human life" and "places undue pressure on vulnerable individuals".

MLAs to give views on assisted suicide in weeks

More than 7,000 children are currently using mental health services in Northern Ireland.

One in 10 people on mental health care books are kids

An artist's impression of the Banbridge intersection's new layout, with traffic travelling north and south giving way to vehicles going east and west.

Banbridge road revamp this weekend: MLA's grave concerns over traffic chaos

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