David McCann 
BREAKING: Statement from Northern Ireland Secretary. #Stormont pic.twitter.com/GJuI1NUR5s — David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) October 30, 2017 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
A legal challenge to the £1 billion confidence and supply agreement between the Conservative government and the DUP has failed in the High Court. Speaking about the verdict the DUP Deputy Leader, Nigel Dodds said; This was a ludicrous case which has been rightly rejected at the first stage. The agreement between the DUP and the Conservative party is good for the United Kingdom as a whole and for Northern Ireland in particular. The agreement saw pensioners across the UK …
Slugger TV is back for October looking at the Unionist Party conference and the approach of the UUP and DUP towards a deal. Going through all of this we have Alex Kane (Commentator), Sam McBride (Political Editor of the News Letter) & Allison Morris (Irish News Security Correspondent). David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
Lucid Talk released a poll on Irish Unity and a Border Poll this morning. You can listen to the results here on U105 The poll found that more than 60% of respondents thought a poll should be held within the next 10 years. One of the more interesting findings was that 56% of the 18-44 year old respondents said they would vote Yes in a potential referendum. Overall around 55% of respondents favour Northern Ireland staying within the UK. …
DUP Leader, Arlene Foster was speaking to party supporters this evening making the following comments On devolution: “Northern Ireland has now been without an effective government since the start of the year. Since the March Assembly election we have been engaged in several rounds of discussions with Sinn Fein and the other Northern Ireland parties to re-establish the local Executive. In recent weeks those discussions have intensified and while solid progress has been made in some areas differences do remain …
The View presenter Mark Carruthers has taken a look into the complexities of identity in Northern Ireland. In his 30 minute documentary for Radio Ulster he speaks with academics, politicians and members of the clergy about their experiences with identity and what makes up a Northern Irish identity. As the radio programme starts, Carruthers points out the difficulties that people have in being able to actually pin point what actually makes up Northern Irishness or does such an identity even …
BREAKING: Michel Barnier says he will NOT recommend to EU leaders next week that talks will move to the trade issue — Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) October 12, 2017 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
The following is a joint statement on behalf of the leaders of the DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP, Alliance Party and the Green Party; We as political leaders condemn all forms of sectarianism, intolerance and threats of violence. Four families have been forced to leave their homes in South Belfast. This is wrong. Any threat to these families should be lifted immediately. There is also an onus on the PSNI and the statutory agencies to provide immediate and appropriate support …
Last Friday for Culture Night, Translink extended their bus services from 11pm until midnight. I have always been incredibly frustrated that even on weekends our services end at 11pm, leaving people dependent on taxis or walking to get home. Belfast is a relatively small city, but I have always been a firm believer that even on the main arterial routes there was a case for continuing the bus services onto midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. On Culture Night, I …
We debate the role of mandatory coalition in our devolved institutions with our own Chris Donnelly and Statagem’s Grainne Walsh. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
Today is National Poetry Day and I thought it would be nice to share my favourite poem and in the comments section encourage all of you to do the same. “For A Leader” by John O’Donohue May you have the grace and wisdom To act kindly, learning To distinguish between what is Personal and what is not. May you be hospitable to criticism. May you never put yourself at the center of things. May you act not from arrogance but …
South Belfast MLA, Clare Bailey is to step down as Deputy Leader of the Green Party. Clare has been deputy leader since November 2014 and will remain an MLA within the party. Speaking about her decision she said; “I have been given and gained so much as Green Party deputy leader across the past three years. “The time is right for me to step aside and allow another person to develop the role of deputy leader. “It’s also right that …
Nichola Mallon has become the new Deputy Leader of the SDLP, the position was vacant after the former Deputy Leader, Fearghal McKinney lost his seat at the 2016 Assembly Election. Speaking about her election she said; “This is a critical moment for our politics. “The challenge we all face is to forge a society based on a positive accommodation of difference and diversity. “That challenge is made all the more important following the Brexit Bill vote last night. “I’m delighted …
This is what Simon Coveney’s predecessor, Patrick Hillery would have a called a “courteous brush off.” David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney met representatives from the main parties at Stormont today in order to resolve the current impasse between the main parties. His comments are noteworthy as the focus turns towards Direct Rule. From an RTE report; Mr Coveney said there were still grounds for optimism and direct rule should still be avoided. “There can be no British-only direct rule. That is the Irish Government’s position.” Mr Coveney added: “It would be very difficult to …
Key bits of Gerry Adams remarks to the Sinn Fein think in this morning indicating the start of a leadership transition within the party Sinn Féin is currently finalising our ten-year plan. This has been the focus of much internal discussion for the last year. It is about preparing the party for the next ten years and to ensure that we are better able to achieve our strategic objectives. At this event in this venue last year Martin McGuinness made …
There has been some debate doing the rounds about how new the proposal from the DUP Leader was last night about a parallel process. Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill argued this morning that such an offer is not new from the DUP and had been proposed before. On the core of the proposal, she is actually right as the lead negotiator for the party Edwin Poots proposed in June the following Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday evening, Edwin Poots, the …
Sinn Fein Leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill has rejected Arlene Foster’s proposal outlined earlier tonight; Sinn Féin is entirely committed to making the political institutions work for all citizens. “ For over ten years Martin McGuinness maintained the Executive while seeking to have the outstanding commitments of the agreements implemented with respect and equality for all. “Over this period the DUP and the British government refused to honor the agreements and operate powersharing on the basis of equality. On …
The DUP Leader, Arlene Foster has made a pitch to Sinn Fein in a bid to restore devolution with a proposal to deal with the Irish Language Act. Speaking tonight she said; How then do we resolve these issues and establish the Executive and have the Northern Ireland Assembly sitting to do the business the people elected us to do? Well we can enter into another round of talks. Parties can state and restate their positions. All the while waiting …
The Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams was speaking at an event organised by Conradh na Gaeilge. Also at the event supporting an act were the SDLP, Alliance, PBP and Green parties (combined they make up 50/90 MLAs). In the lead up to remarks expected by the DUP Leader, Arlene Foster tomorrow night about the future of devolution, Adams said; “The British Government and Unionist parties have failed to fulfil their commitment to an Acht Gaeilge and to the full implementation of …
