Dodds and Farren debate on Slugger

The internet is clearly coming to be seen as a legitimate venue for debate amongst political players in NI. In the early summer the Guardian hosted two email debates amongst Unionists (here and here). Slugger O’Toole then played host to a cross community discussion between two leading political players in Northern Ireland, the SDLP’s former Minister of Finance Sean Farren and the DUP’s former minister for Social Development.

The conversation was sparked by Dodds’ speech suggesting ground rules his party would follow, in seeking a renegotiation of the Belfast Agreement. Farren chose to counter Dodds on his argument that the committee system set up to scrutinise the all party cabinet government had proved itself impotent.

Dodds returns to the importance of having an intercommunal agreement that is seen to be legitimate in the eyes of both communities. He goes on to contrast the collective responsibilty of cabinet in Scotland with the politically factionalised cabinet in Northern Ireland.

Farren’s final reply, dismisses Dodd’s concerns as mainly procedural and issues an invitation for him and his party to join a constitional review of arrangements under the current Agreement rather than looking for a new one.

The last word went to Dodds, reiterated his party’s belief that direct rule is not in the interests of any constituency in Northern Ireland. And finally returning to his largely unanswered, original theme that any lasting Agreement must have the support of both communities.

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty