Government – Page 11 – Slugger O'Toole

As the gate closes on roughneck Brexonomics, this is roughly the space in which any NI deal can be done.

Mick Fealty on February 28, 2023, 7:14 am

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child, soccer, playing

There are a number of important signals from yesterday’s publication of the Windsor Framework document that have little enough to do with Northern Ireland per se but rather mark the beginning of the end of a Brexiteer fantasy Brexit. There will be many concerns arising and not all of them are being expressed by unionists. Using a mechanism like the petition of concern, which has been subject of a lot of controversial issues for a close to final arbiter has raised …

Micheál Martin’s statesmanlike generosity is key to getting this nascent “framework” to work…

Mick Fealty on February 27, 2023, 7:27 pm

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construction, high voltage pylon, electricity

On the RTÉ Six One News just now, Tanaiste Micheál Martin has said that credit is due to the DUP for raising key flaws within the previous Northern Ireland Protocol. It’s a rare admission from the wider nationalist leadership, but an important one. As someone who usually keeps schtum about his own private views of Irish politics in favour of a more connected analysis of what we know at any one time it took Brexit to drive me off the …

WATCH: QUB Post-Brexit Clinic

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 25, 2023, 8:00 am

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Picture of four Queen's University academics: Prof David Phinnemore, Dr Billy Melo Araujo, Prof Katy Hayward and Dr Lisa Whitten

The latest in regular Post-Brexit Clinics run by Queen’s University was run on Friday morning. If you missed it, here’s a chance to catch up with both the opinion polling that the academics have been using to track sentiment and reaction to Brexit and the Protocol, and to get an update on legal action around the Protocol, and dynamic regulatory alignment. Clinic regulars Professors David Phinnemore and Katy Hayward were joined by Dr Billy Melo Araujo and Dr Lisa Whitten. …

DUP likely to be weighing the desirability of striking a deal before May’s elections…

Mick Fealty on February 24, 2023, 11:24 am

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pixel cells, protocol, exchange

Newton Emerson points out in the Irish Times yesterday… Bad news for everyone exhausted by the DUP’s protocol drama: there are at least three more months to go. Northern Ireland has council elections on May 18th, two weeks later than originally scheduled to avoid clashing with the coronation of King Charles. The DUP is strongly motivated to take no definitive stance on a protocol deal, let alone return to Stormont, before this date. In Conservative Home, former SpAd to Arlene …

The DUP and its Decisions, Decisions ….

Ian Clarke on February 22, 2023, 11:34 am

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No matter how we look at it, or from what community perspective we look at it, the next few days are likely to be pivotal ones. I want to look at the next few days from an unapologetically pro-union perspective and what I think the DUP leader needs to do to secure the strongest possible outcome for unionism and for Northern Ireland. It’s hard for anyone to argue that the DUP hasn’t had a decent few weeks. Whether by design …

Sinn Féin faces serious questions on party funding…

Mick Fealty on February 20, 2023, 8:31 am

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money, profit, finance

Interesting story on Sinn Féin’s unique approach to managing its own political expenses in the Irish Times this weekend. This time it’s blown up in the south, where SIPO is investigating several well off-centre anomalies. Pat Leahy sets the context for the story in the party’s own reaction to a number relatively minor (compared to SF’s own odd arithmetic in this case) infringement by Fine Gael’s Pascal Donohoe discovered in a whirl of controversy earlier this year: When Minister for …

Sunak’s flying visit to Belfast smacks more of a reality check than harbinger of a deal…

Mick Fealty on February 17, 2023, 9:10 am

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flower, life, yellow flower

Rishi Sunak is in Belfast to brief party leaders this morning. There’s been rumours circulating for weeks that a deal is done. Unlike Boris Johnson, the current PM has not been spraying promises around the place or playing high stakes in the media. It’s thought he’s kept the nature of the deal tight amongst a very small group within his own cabinet, so that what the party leaders hear this morning is pretty fresh. There’s an understanding in Dublin at …

Sixth opportunity to elect an Assembly Speaker fails as Dáithí watches from the public gallery

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 14, 2023, 1:28 pm

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SF vice president Michelle O'Neill looks on as press photographers snap pictures of Daithi Mac Gabhann in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings

With the morning mist still lingering over east Belfast, the Northern Ireland Assembly met at noon. The first item of business was – as always in this long series of recalls – the election of the Speaker and (at least two) Deputy Speakers. Letters from Speaker Alex Maskey ahead of the sitting had reminded MLAs that their order, language and debate should be constructive and that Points of Order should not be abused. Many MLAs walked down the steps into …

The Act of Disunion?

Sarah Creighton on February 11, 2023, 11:42 am

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The latest ruling from the Supreme Court should surprise no-one. The justices affirmed previous precedent and confirmed what was obvious: the Protocol was lawfully implemented. Since the ruling, there have been calls to ditch the Good Friday Agreement. Anti- Agreement unionists say the consent principle isn’t worth the paper it’s written on because it didn’t stop the Protocol If the Agreement should go because it’s useless, what does that say about the Act of Union? In its ruling, the Supreme …

The on-again off-again Assembly election is currently “off” unless it is turned back “on”

Michael Hehir on February 9, 2023, 3:44 pm

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black and silver nissan steering wheel

As Jayne McCormack reports for the BBC, the legal obligation to call another Assembly election if no Executive is formed will be put back for another year. But he will still have the power to call one earlier if he chooses. Stormont election deadline delayed by a year – BBC News With the opinion polling telling us that a new election now would achieve nothing – leaving the parties in a broadly similar position to now – it was obvious …

Early reversal of previous Minister’s policy as fares rise scheduled

Andy Boal on February 8, 2023, 12:55 pm

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Enterprise crossing Craigmore Viaduct near Bessbrook

It shouldn’t actually surprise us in the slightest, and for once I can’t entirely blame the DUP’s collapse of the Assembly. On 25th October, John O’Dowd announced as Infrastructure Minister that Translink fares would “remain frozen for another year”, but today it was announced that they would rise by an average of 7% from 6 March. The Secretary of State made a statement to the House of Commons on 24 November 2022 saying he recognised “that steps will also need …

The Forgotten Tribe – British MEPs

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 6, 2023, 11:46 am

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Watch back the recent panel discussion about the work and legacy of Northern Ireland’s MEPs, organised by IACES on the back of the publication of “The Forgotten Tribe – British MEPs”. Jim Nicholson, Giada Lagana, David Harley and Carl Whyte, chared by Viviane Gravey.

Slugger TV looks at Ground Hog Day in Politics

David McCann on February 3, 2023, 2:38 pm

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Sarah Creighton talking on Slugger TV from the nvTv studio

February 2 was Groundhog Day. Sarah Creighton joined Alan Meban in the studio to discuss whether there are any signs of change in the political stalemate that’s gripped Northern Ireland for last year, and they looked ahead to how the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement will be marked in April and the upcoming local government elections in May. You can come along to the next Slugger TV recording at the Look North! The North Belfast Festival by booking your space here David …

UK government proposes to raise state pension age to 68…

Brian O'Neill on January 24, 2023, 10:55 am

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two persons sitting on grass facing the lake

From The Sun: Millions born in the 1970s and later are likely to be told they must work for longer as early as the March Budget. The state pension age is already due to rise from 66 to 67 by 2028. The next increase — to 68 — was not due to happen until 2046, but an upcoming review is set to say it should be brought forward. 🚨 | BREAKING: The Government has PRIVATELY agreed to raise the state …

Childcare is in crisis and parents are paying the price. There is no time to waste.

Soapbox on January 17, 2023, 5:29 pm

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Sinead McLaughlin is an SDLP MLA in Foyle Tune into the radio most mornings and chances are that you will hear a debate underway on access to some of the most vital elements of our public services. From patients struggling to access GP surgeries to commuters facing the latest delay to progress on crucial road and rail projects, these stories are unacceptably common. Yet, one element of our social infrastructure is discussed far less on our airwaves, the early years …

Republic using productivity boom to invest public infrastructure and housing

Mick Fealty on January 17, 2023, 12:35 pm

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house, structure, real estate

A typically spunky piece from the New Statesman’s new columnist Wolfgang Münchau starts with a great quote from Otto von Bismarck: “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” He has Angela Merkel in his sights. He notes that despite the appearance of economic success, her austerity policies have led to a public investment shortfall in public investment of some half-a-trillion pounds, with the dire consequences only leeching up from the …

New air of seriousness about EU/UK negotiations promises to defuse the NI Protocol for Unionists

Mick Fealty on January 12, 2023, 1:43 pm

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explosive, explosion, bomb

John Manley reported earlier in the week that whilst the timetable may not coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, there seems a seriousness about EU/UK talks that was entirely missing under the Boris Johnson administration. In today’s Irish News Newton Emerson notes that even the Restoring Northern Ireland’s Place in the Union report from a new think tank Centre for the Union, and coauthored by Jamie Bryson and Ethan Thoburn, editor of the Bruges Group… Unionism’s practical concerns …

NI politics still mired in fear and loathing largely because it remains stubbornly unaccountable…

Mick Fealty on January 6, 2023, 3:43 pm

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Have you noticed how weird the democratic world is getting (yes, outside Northern Ireland)? The UK has had three PMs in as many months, and now the US Congress is being to ransom by a caucus of no more than 5% of Representatives. The world (not just the UK) is getting more and more like Northern Ireland where we’re never sure what we want but we are sure as clear about what we don’t want. One common link between all …

Ireland’s grand coalition (that Micheál Martin built) throws its job share switch half way through…

Mick Fealty on January 3, 2023, 11:08 am

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We live in a world where fewer journalists chase fewer and fewer stories. The change of Taoiseach just before Christmas has come with a flurry in the southern press chasing a newly refreshed PR initiative from the less-than-shy Leo Varadkar. The contrast with his predecessor Micheál Martin is stark. Martin’s love of and focus on policy means rather than the press there’s been very little in the media about what has been the most active period in central government in …

Nuclear Fusion power – how long will we have to wait ?

Brendan Heading on December 29, 2022, 2:42 pm

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Atom

Just before Christmas, it was announced for the first time that researchers at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US had successfully achieved “ignition” within a nuclear fusion reaction. This generated a lot of excitement in the press, not all of it well-informed, so I thought it might be interesting to explore this topic in more detail. What is nuclear fusion ? Why was this news so significant ? When will we begin to benefit …