Robbie Butler

UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA (third from left), has appealed to rival unionists to join his party. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Burrows: Unionism faces defining moment after decades of 'strategic gaffes'

A funding boost of £40m agreed as part of a deal with GPs should make it easier to get appointments, the Health Minister says. Photo: Lightfield Studios - stock.adobe.com

New deal with GPs should make it easier to get appointments: Health Minister

(Left to right) Finance Minister John O’Dowd, First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald speaking to the media as they arrive at Hillsborough Castle ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to discuss the budget. Picture date: Thursday November 5, 2026. Liam McBurney/Press Association

Bryant ‘not amenable to reality’, says McDonald as budget deadlock drags on

Health Minister Robbie Butler speaking to the media as he arrives at Hillsborough Castle ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to discuss the budget

Budget talks at ‘pinch point’ as strike threat looms, says minister

People across Northern Ireland are being urged not to ignore their bowel screening test kits as the age at which they are first invited for screening is lowered to 59

‘Don’t ignore your test kit’: Bowel screening age lowered to 59

Inpatient maternity services will now be moved from Newry to Craigavon due to a shortage of consultants.

Trust Board confirms date to move inpatient maternity from Newry to Craigavon

Health Minister Robbie Butler announced the investment

New £1.95m investment to tackle endometriosis diagnosis delays

Eddie Curtis from SOS Daisy Hill speaks to crowds in Newry on Sunday about the closure of maternity services. NM264370

College says Daisy Hill maternity crisis reflected across UK

Eddie Curtis from SOS Daisy Hill speaks to crowds in Newry on Sunday about the closure of maternity services. NM264370

Trust still moving maternity services - mothers face two hour drive

Waiting times at Northern Ireland's emergency departments are worsening (photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Patients now waiting over twice as long to be treated in A&E than 10 years ago

In February supporters of Co Fermanagh campaigners Save Our Acute Services deliver letters to Stormont demanding the restoration of emergency surgery at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Rural hospital campaigners across NI demand Stormont action

Nurses Sarah Donnelly (left) and Nicola Joyce on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in 2022, as nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland took industrial action over pay. Picture date: Tuesday December 20, 2022.

Royal College of Nursing ballots members for strike action over pay award delays

David Burns has been appointed permanent chief executive of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Northern Trust appoints Lisburn council chief as new CEO

Health Minister Robbie Butler confirmed the successful implementation of the service during a visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Stroke Unit, where he met patients and the specialist teams delivering the service.

NI first part of UK to provide 24/7 stroke treatment for entire population

The future of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry is under threat because of staff shortages

Petition call to save maternity services

Stormont Health Minister Robbie Butler

Butler says UUP leader has not set ‘red lines’ over running of health department
Health Minister Robbie Butler has said UUP party leader Jon Burrows has set him “no red lines” over how he runs his department.
Claudia Savage

Some 1,400 people contact the Department of Health every year seeking help to access emergency dental treatment, it has been revealed.

Dental care crisis: 1,400 people ask Department for emergency help each year

Following a £4million investment, Radius Housing has reopened its fully refurbished Glenalina Lodge residential care home on the Springfield Road in west Belfast. Pictured is Health Minister Robbie Butler MLA with Belfast Lord Mayor Roís-Maíre Donnelly. Also pictured are Radius staff and Glenalina Lodge residents

£4m refurbishment transforms NI care home into state-of-the-art facility

Health Minister Robbie Butler joins Aidan Jennings, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer and Paula White, Director of Finance and Support Services to welcome a £16m investment in new NIFRS appliances and equipment.

Fire service to get 31 new fire appliances as part of £16m investment

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant

Bryant to meet parties as MLAs return to Stormont from summer break

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

Jon Burrows handled the fallout of Mike Nesbitt’s resignation well

Owen Polley: Burrows must make sure row doesn’t become part of pattern

UFU President John McLenaghan urged incoming Stormont Agriculture Committee Chair, Diana Armstrong, to hold the Department to account.

UFU urges Armstrong to hold 'out of touch' DAERA to account at Stormont

Surgeons have written to UUP minister Robbie Butler to raise concerns over “significant challenges” facing surgical services in Northern Ireland

Surgeons raise concerns over services in letter to Health Minister

Mike Nesbitt pictured last year at the Pan American Health Organisation headquarters in Washington, during St Patrick's week.

David Thompson: Health is political, and a Nesbitt–Burrows clash was inevitable

A row over proposed changes at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine resulted in the resignation of the health minister this week.

DUP's Frew questions 'perverse' delays in reaching Causeway Hospital decision

New AERA committee chair Diana Armstrong MLA.

Armstrong to be guided by her father's principles in new role
Diana Armstrong will take over from Robbie Butler as the chair of Stormont’s agriculture committee, after his appointment to the role of Minister of Health.
David Thompson

Jon Burrows has appointed Robbie Butler as the new UUP health minister.

Lyons urges focus on ‘delivery’ for new Health Minister Robbie Butler

Robbie Butler signing in as the new minister at the Speaker’s Office in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, and is pictured with party leader Jon Burrows and Speaker Edwin Poots. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Quicker NHS care is Butler’s priority but stays silent on hospital row

Morning View

Editorial: Tough calls lie ahead for Stormont's new health minister

Dr Alan Stout of the British Medical Association.

Minister's top priority should be above inflation increase for all doctors - BMA

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler (left) with Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows after he signed the pledge of office at Stormont Buildings, Belfast, following his appointed as new Health Minister. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

New health minister Robbie Butler dodges Causeway issue

New health minister faces full in-tray, committee told

Breaking Robbie Butler set to be appointed Stormont’s health minister

Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows speaks to the media in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, accompanied by deputy leader Diana Armstrong. Mr Burrows has pledged to name his party's new Stormont Health Minister on Thursday following the resignation of Mike Nesbitt from the post.

Robbie Butler in line to be appointed new health minister later today

Both the TUV and UUP have demanded Daera minister Andrew Muir resign.

Muir must go, say UUP and TUV: 'Farmers no longer trust their minister'

Stormont's farming minister Andrew Muir will face questions over a cattle cull at a farm in June. Photo: NI Assembly/PA Wire

Muir to face questions on Fivemiletown cattle cull controversy

The UUP want farming minister Andrew Muir to appear in front of the Daera committee. Pic: NI Assembly/PA Wire

UUP demand answers over 'deeply disturbing' farm incident

UUP's Robbie Butler says new figures are "a stark reminder of the hidden victims of domestic abuse”. Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

'Domestic abuse does not discriminate' - UUP's Robbie Butler

Families enjoying the sunshine at Sea Park near Holywood yesterday 15 July 2026. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

Dairy farmers are ‘feeling the heat’ warns UUP

From 2015, politicians, their staff and Assembly officials were allowed to charge their electric vehicles (EVs) free of charge at parliament buildings.

Revealed: The MLAs who booked Stormont's free car chargers the most

UUP MLA Alan Chambers. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

UUP MLAs keep schtum on reasoning behind child crime vote

UUP MLA Robbie Butler. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

UUP MLAs who signed petition of concern back bid to raise child crime age

Morning View

Morning View: Latest in free fuel fiasco typical of Stormont dysfunction

Reform of Stormont would be disastrous for unionists. Many supporters of reform did not advocate it when unionists were in a majority as recently as 2017

Ben Lowry: Petition of concern vital to stop nationalist domination at Stormont

There had reportedly been recent friction between Alan Chambers and the party leadership

UUP MLAs signing petition of concern followed reports of friction within party

Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood says politicians like colleague David Honeyford may not fully realised the situation around claiming twice for fuel.

MP not sure Alliance energy spokesman 'fully realised' he'd had fuel paid twice

Robbie Butler says Assembly travel expenses are “intended to contribute towards the general costs of travel”.

UUP MLA says Stormont travel expenses are not a 'direct repayment' for fuel

UUP MLA Robbie Butler. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Burrows orders MLA on £79,200 salary to 'reimburse' Stormont over free charging

UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. He has yet to speak publicly about the resignation of Doug Beattie from the party. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Anonymous Ulster Unionist MLAs criticise Jon Burrows leadership

Countryside Alliance held a protest outside Stormont against the hunting with dogs bill.

MLAs set to back hunting bill as SF and Ulster Unionists offer qualified support

Councillor Kate Evans, an ally of former leader Doug Beattie, has quit the Ulster Unionist Party. Pic: Kate Evans / X

Close Beattie ally quits UUP amid ongoing speculation about his political future

Legal opinion obtained by the Countryside Alliance warns using a dog when shooting rabbits for recreation or food could be outlawed. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Alliance bill 'would ban shooting with dogs and make dog ownership dangerous'

Pacemaker Press Belfast 03-02-2024: The Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont is meeting following a two-year hiatus after the collapse of power-sharing.
Michelle O'Neill, Sinn FŽin's deputy leader, is set to make history as the first nationalist to hold the role of first minister at the assembly.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie and members of his party pictured in the Great hall in Stormont.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. :Images from Parliament Buildings at Stormont on Saturday, February 3 2024

Doug Beattie could be picked to run as one of two UUP candidates

A gundog pictured on the shores of Lough Neagh. Their use would be restricted under plans to ban hunting with dogs, the Countryside Alliance says. Pic: Gary McCartney, Countryside Alliance.

SF urged to 'think carefully' over hunting ban's implications for rural life

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