Brian O'Neill 
The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …
In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …
From the BBC: For five years, the Independent Financial Review Panel (IFRP) set wages and expenses for politicians in the assembly. But the terms of the three panel members ended in 2016 and they were never replaced. The Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill proposes setting up a new independent board. It is backed by the Assembly Commission, which includes representatives of the main parties. MLAs are already set to receive a small increase in their salaries this April. An assembly …
Grand Poobah Hilary Benn has hurt the feelings of some of our local politicians by pointing out that it’s up to them to make some, what do you call them? I think decisions?? From the BBC: In a speech in Belfast, marking one year since power-sharing was restored, Hilary Benn said it had been a “great start”, but that difficult decisions were now unavoidable. He said that over many years, decisions necessary to improve the health service and other public …
The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …
In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …
I confess to no longer following UK politics or, frankly, the news in general. For the past year or two, I have been on a mission to quiet the 10,000 monkies in my head. I am concluding that most of the modern world’s ills are down to too much information and endless stimulations and distractions. I have yet to reach a state of blissful nirvana, but as we all know, it’s not the destination; it’s the journey that is important. …
The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …
In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …
You may have noticed that it’s a bit windy out. How are you coping with the big storm? Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not stuck in front of a screen, I am a parkrun Run Director.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is in the news, asking for 200 million to help increase police numbers from 6300 to 7000. The PSNI is starting a recruitment drive tomorrow should any of you fancy a career change. As I have said before, being a peeler must be one of the worst jobs in Northern Ireland. You spend half your time babysitting drunks and drug addicts, getting involved in tedious neighbour disputes, getting caught in the middle of warring couples, waking …
As President Trump embarks on his second term, the world watches with bated breath. His unparalleled political acumen, unwavering determination, and visionary leadership promise to usher in an era of prosperity and strength for the United States. Undoubtedly, America will soar to new heights under his guidance, reaffirming its position as a beacon of hope and freedom. Or not ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯ Good luck with anyone trying to predict Donald Trump, all I can say is he will be predictably unpredictable. …
The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …
In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …
A good exclusive from Connla Young in from the Irish News: An English career criminal has claimed he was recruited to murder five people on behalf of MI5 in the early days of the Troubles. The startling hit-man admission has been made in a sworn affidavit by convicted killer Paul Cleeland. The 82-year, who lives in England, claims he was recruited to MI5 in the late 1960s and was later flown to the north on five occasions to murder both …
Michelle O’Neill is saying turn that frown upside down. From the Irish News: Michelle O’Neill has defended the Stormont executive’s performance in its first year since restoration, claiming it has a “very strong track record of delivery”. She said the executive had “made huge strides forward”. “I only have to point to things like a strategy to end violence against women and girls, public sector pay being settled, the A5 announcement, the Good Jobs bill, a huge, vast array of …
The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …
In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …
Ah, Christmas, a time of tradition. Carol services, Slade on the radio, stressed shoppers in M&S and the BBC’s Marie-Louise Connolly standing in a hospital A&E unit expressing grave concern as trolleys of patients on trollies pile up around her. At this stage, the annual A&E crisis is darkly farcical. I mean, who could predict winter? You know that season that happens every year? There has been a winter A&E crisis for at least the last 10 years, and we …
You may remember that after being bucked out by the ungrateful voters of North Down, Stephen Farry got himself a new gig as Co-Director of the new Ulster University’s Strategic Policy Unit. He also got the title of professor, which I am sure the hard-working academics of UU who have to toil for years to get to that level will definitely not resent. Anyhoo, the first fruit of the new Think Tank Tree is a report entitled “A Focus on …
