Weekly Bulletin
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What you need to know this week Long-awaited Anti-Poverty Strategy met with widespread criticism On Tuesday (17 June), Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA published the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy 2025-2035, 17 years after the Executive first committed to introducing a strategy. Speaking in the …
The route to power. Why Nigel has his eyes on Northern Ireland…
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Forget the notion that Reform UK is merely “gauging interest” for organising in Northern Ireland. The Belfast Telegraph quotes a Reform officer as saying, “we’re simply trying to identify individuals who may be interested in… helping set up interim branches, …
President Eastwood?
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With President Higgins term in office drawing to a close, people have been looking ahead to the election for his successor which must take place by the 11th of November of this year. After months of fevered speculation, the bearded …
A Time to Die: Reclaiming Dignity at the End of Life…
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Fr. William/Conswater is an Anglican Priest in England, but was born and educated in Belfast. In April (28th) of this year Donna Moore contributed a piece here on the subject of assisted dying. It was a very useful contribution to …
Reflections on the Lough Neagh Nutrient Action Plan (NAP) Debate…
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As the manager of the Lough Neagh Partnership, I attended the Nutrient Action Plan (NAP) debate in Stormont and what I witnessed was unfortunately hugely disappointing and, if I am honest, a bit depressing. Firstly there seemed to be no …
When in Doubt, Launch a Task Force: The Art of Saying Nothing in Public Life…
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We are living through a golden age of nonsense. Not in our music, or our fashion, or even our politics (though it tries). No, the real masterclass in modern gibberish comes from the language of government and public administration. Our …
Bounced cheques. People want their investment back…
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The Department for Infrastructure produced their Bicycle Strategy 10 years ago. It promised a revolution in transport. It’s delivered nothing. It now feels like a rather large bounced cheque – some people are angry and want their investment back. Government …
Immigration to Ballymena & Palestine…
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Last week many unionists were genuinely horrified by the violence directed against immigrants living in Ballymena and other parts of N. Ireland. Several unionist spokespeople from both the TUV and the DUP spoke out to condemn the violence, but also …
Trump administration wants to Make Asbestos Great Again…
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More madness from across the water. From the New York Times: The Trump administration plans to reconsider a ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the United States, according to a court filing on Monday. The move, …
The dishonourable system of honours…
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Slogger is a North Antrim retiree and latecomer to political discourse. As I’m a total curmudgeon, this article could be part one of a series of Room 101 rants about the things that bug me the most. So I shall …