Conall A massive swing to YES has seen the Lisbon Treaty referendum pass by 67.1% to 32.9%. Its the highest margin for a European referendum since Maastricht in 1992. Over on O’Conall St I argue this is a good result for the North and a bad one for David Cameron. Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Addressing the ‘Phil’ at Trinity College Dublin tonight Mark Durkan (full speech here) has said nationalists throughout Ireland have the right to ask all their parties how they intend now to advance unity while underpinning and respecting the Good Friday Agreement. He has also argued for the retention of a regional Assembly in the North. All of us who are nationally minded democrats on this island should develop and agree an attitude about unity which can be neither dismissed as …
It’s like a really bad soap opera, the type that goes on forever with apparently the same plot. You can not watch it for a year and tune in knowing nothing much will have changed. Martin McGuinness says he is trying and the DUP say they are committed to devolution. Yet SF went on a 150 day work to rule last year and now the DUP are briefing that people need more house training for government. Another war of words …
SDLP MLA Margaret Ritchie has said she is receiving calls from inside and outside the party to enter the race to succeed Mark Durkan. Speaking on The Politics Show, Ms Ritchie said she would make her mind up soon but was very heartened by the number of people asking her to run. Alasdair McDonnell, the other likely contender is also expected to be a candidate paving the way for the first ever contest for leader in the SDLP’s history. Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Today’s Sunday Tribune (not online yet) reports internal rifts within Sinn Fein over the party’s opposition to the Lisbon Treaty. In another story the paper also reports on a cash crisis within the party. Martin McGuinness is reported to be unhappy at republicans continued opposition to the European Treaty as he is acutely aware of the importance of EU funding for the North’s economy. He likley also to be uncomfortable at the way SF is being cast as an ally …
A group of fifteen prominent business, academic and NGO figures from the North have united to call for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Referendum. In a letter published in today’s Irish Times the signatories which include Baroness May Blood, Nuala O’Loan, Sir Desmond Rea, Seamus McAleavey , Fearghal McCormack, Dr Gerard O’Hare, Colm Larkin and Jane Morris argue: Our common membership of the European Union since 1973 has been crucial to the achievement of reconciliation and political stability in …
I have written and article for today’s Irish News looking six issues which are likely to shape that SDLP leadership contest. As well as needing to firm up the proposal on the Forum for Unity and provide the electorate with an alternative to the DUP-SF coalition, renewal is need within the party. The acid test of a good leader is her/his ability to build a talented and ambitious team. This means having people on board who are going to challenge …
The BBC has got its hands on an internal memo suggesting £370 million in savings need to be identified by the Northern Ireland Executive by Christmas. He [Sammy Wilson] said cuts of £200m were required from current expenditure, as well as £172m from capital spending. Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Mark Durkan has said he will step down as SDLP Leader after next year’s Westminster election. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster at lunchtime he said he intends to remain at Westminster as long as the people of Foyle wish him to. Durkan is fulfilling a promise he made during the European Election campaign to remove dual mandates in the SDLP. [Given Pete has already got a thread started can I suggest focus debate on his post] Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
I blogged the other day about a big question facing the DUP and Sinn Fein; cooperate or defect? Is there any incentive for both parties to coalesce around a shared vision for this region or is the greater return to be found in thwarting each others ambitions for short term selfish gain? Back in 2002 Mick Fealty and Trevor Ringland analysed this dilemma within unionism. Nationalism is now in a similar situation. To date short term defection for selfish gain …
First Minister Peter Robinson MP, MLA has warned of public spending cuts for Northern Ireland and said the DUP will be publishing proposals in the coming weeks to reduce the number of departments. His call follows papers from the SDLP and UUP highlighting the public finance crisis. SF are yet to enter the debate. Speaking in Belfast today Robinson said: “I believe with the likely cuts to the Northern Ireland block (grant from the Treasury) that the public will lose …
Pete has brought us the sad news that the BBC is seeking to shut down his YouTube account if he continues to post BBC clips there. This is a very unfortunate development. BBC journalists here in NI are privately very supportive of the way in which Slugger allows the debate on Stormont Live, Hearts and Minds and the Politics Show to continue on-line. It also allows readers in the Republic of Ireland and around the globe who cannot watch through …
SDLP councillor, Tim Attwood, has proposed a Belfast Bike Scheme similar to the one launched in Dublin on Sunday. He has tabled a motion for debate at next month’s City Council meeting. Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Today’s papers report the SDLP’s verdict on the Executive’s performance to date. The party has also claimed the black hole in Northern Ireland’s budget will grow to more than £2bn by 2011 (details below the fold). This from the Bel Tel: The ‘report card’ from the party, whose sole representative on the Executive is Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, is severely critical of the level of achievement and performance — and makes unfavourable comparisons to the last power-sharing regime which …
The Alliance Party and the Conservative Party are not exactly political bedfellows. Ian Parsley woke up on Friday and Alliance Councillor and went to bed a Tory one. They say a week is a long time in politics but in just one day Ian has had to buy a new wardrobe and change his mind on some big political issues for this region. The Cereal bar on Thursday morning was full of commitment to the devolution of policing a justice …
The Irish Labour Party is backing the campaign for civil gay marriage in the Republic of Ireland. Their website links to the marriage equality campaign which poses this basic question: How would you like to ask 4 million people for permission to marry? Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Despite Sammy Wilson’s valiant efforts to make sure Northern Ireland had a seat at the NAMA table, Dublin has said no. Over on O’Conall Street I argue this highlights the need for Northern representation in the Irish Senate. Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Speaking to reporters in Dublin yesterday Gerry Adams MP, MLA, President of Sinn Fein said: “What we want is change; we’re not interested in managing the economy.” Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
Brian Crowe (Burkes Corner), Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) and myself (O’Conall Street) were invited into the NVTV studio last week to record the ‘pilot’ for Blogtalk NI . Here’s the show. I know the Carl Boyle down at NVTV would like to make Blogtalk NI a regular thing. Adds: Carl would like to hear from any bloggers interested in being part of future programmes. Email: [email protected] . Blogtalk NI from Northern Visions on Vimeo. Conallwww.oconallstreet.com
The BBC is reporting that DUP leader Peter Robinson wants to change the way the Northern Ireland Assembly makes its decisions as soon as possible. Mr Robinson said ending the veto that parties can exercise is as important as devolving policing and justice powers. The first minister signalled there could be a delay in transferring these powers due to problems around finance. He added there was no need to wait until 2015 to change voting rules and end community designation. …
