Gay rights campaigner Tatchell switches to support gay cake appeal

Peter Tatchell no less, who is second only  to Jeff Dudgeon as a gay rights campaigner, will have given some comfort to those who although they support gay rights have qualms about the legal finding against Asher’s the bakers. On the eve of the Asher’s appeal, Tatchell has changed his mind.  Jeff had reservations about the case from the start. When it comes to Ashers and the cake, I don’t think there was ever any intention to start that dispute. …

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Belfast City Council votes for a 1.48% increase

belfast city council logo

Belfast City Council tonight has agreed for the first time in four years to increase district rates by 1.48%. The council has for years made efficiencies of £20 million since 2006 and has set a target of £2 million a year for until 2019. The council says that the effect on ratepayers will be small arguing that on average the increase represents; 33p per month more for a terraced house. 50p for a three bedroom semi-detached house. £1.12p for four …

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#GE16 #Donegal: Big push from ‘the Cope’ should ensure Fianna Fáil takes one back…

Donegal Current TDs Donegal South West Pearse Doherty TD (Sinn Féin), Dinny McGinley TD (Fine Gael), Thomas Pringle TD (Independent) Donegal North East Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (Sinn Féin), Charlie Mc Conalogue TD, (Fianna Fáil), Joe Mc Hugh TD (Fine Gael) Total seats in 2016 General Election: 5 Donegal is a new 5 seat constituency which has been created by the amalgamation of two former three seat constituencies. Additionally, almost 9,000 people from south of the county have been unceremoniously dumped …

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The Executive needs to get its priorities straight

Craig Harrison writes for us about Executive and its priorities… With the dust settled around Parliament buildings after the Assembly voted to pass the Executive Budget 2016/17, now is a good time to reflect on the financial deal Northern Ireland is committed to for the next year. While there is much to be commended in the spending plan – particularly the additional monies allocated to the new Health Department – the Executive won’t be getting a pat on the back …

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Social media case study: How Translink sets the right tone on Twitter

A well-executed Twitter account can speak volumes about an organisation: telling people that, through fast responses and even an ability to lighten the tone with customers, this is a company unafraid to drop committee-thinking and go eye-to-eye with their public online. One of the busiest accounts in Northern Ireland, Translink’s six-year-old @translink_ni presence, can see as many as 3,600 tweets posted in a month and 2,9000 replies sent, using December 2015 as an example, by staff given the freedom to …

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What if tens of thousands of “Troubles” victims were to litigate?

This is an interesting development. One case is neither here nor there. But considering the death count of the Troubles is a fraction of those seriously injured the whole judicial system could face meltdown if others were to follow in any great number… “More than 300,000 servicemen and women served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles,” he said. “If every one of those made a complaint to the PSNI about attempted murders, how do you think the PSNI would manage? …

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Phil Flanangan re-selected in re-run convention, Michelle Gildernew not so much…

David noted the result of the re-run Sinn Féin selection convention for Fermanagh/South Tyrone. But, interestingly, given the allegation of unaccounted-for additional votes for Michelle Gildernew in the first selection convention [see comment zone] which promoted her above Phil Flanagan at the time, that re-run has seen notorious tweeter Phil Flanagan re-selected by the party, along with fellow sitting MLA Sean Lynch, and Councillor Sean Feeley. Neither the renewed candidate Bronwyn McGahan, MLA, nor former MLA, former MP, and current member of the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, …

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