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Frank Millar hints (Sub needed) that IRA nervousness about giving ground and then having to re-negotiate after elections, may have the effect of holding up the elections scheduled for May: …last Friday’s talks in Dublin revealed some shared concern among Irish and British ministers and officials about a perceived “lack of urgency” on the part of republican negotiators. And there is evident anxiety in London that the IRA may have determined to play its game long, with a definitive negotiation …

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By way of contrast from the at times desparate efforts to get NI PLC back on track, another CEO of devolved government, Jack McConnell, grabs himself a headline on the front page of the FT with his call to find ways to encourage greater immigration to Scotland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …

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The UDA spokesman Sammy Duddy, announced moves intended to help normalise Loyalist communities: These measures are designed to reduce tensions in these neighbourhoods and rebuild a sense of confidence within loyalist communities. I hope this step will be accepted as a positive gesture. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. …

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Bernadette McAliskey, former MP and republican activist seems to have fallen foul of the tighter immigration regulations following the 11th September attacks on the US. Blogger comment: Sean McCann believes her arrest is linked to her influence in Irish American circles. Found via Paul Dunne. Paul himself has had time to put down his own thoughts. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …

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It seems that the noises off have suddenly taken a more up-beat turn. The terms of an embryonic deal appear to include a licence for on-the-runs and a substantial reduction in troop numbers to pre-conflict levels. There is no indication as yet as to how the IRA might reciprocate, though it is unlikely that changes of such scale could be offered without a substantial move on their part. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

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We found two quite different reactions to a proposed deal near the top of Newshound this morning. One broad and welcoming from Maurice Hayes, who nevertheless warns: It is possible, on a clear day, to decry a package which David Trimble might be tempted to buy – and which would be a good bargain for unionism. It is much harder to envisage a package which Trimble could, or would be able to sell. However, the other is a trenchant view …

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A working class Englishman from the North East, Bert Ward has been involved with Irish issues since 1972, firstly with the Communist Party and latterly through independent inter-party initiatives like the New Dialogue group. Here he begins by describing his journey from being broadly supportive of the Sinn Fein view of Irish British relations, to becoming a proactive advocate of the Union. How did you first become involved Irish issues? In the Labour movement, we never heard anything from the …

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PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman Stephen Kingon possibly gave voice to some of the frustration felt by the local business community at the low priority given to the economy in the concerns of local polticians. foreign investment was currently 30% of what it was three years ago, adding that the region needed to, “paint a vastly more attractive picture to the few investors currently scouting EU locations. The economy should be on the top of the political agenda, but unfortunately it is not …

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As we suggested earlier last week the dumping of pipe bombs in North Belfast last week may have marked a sea change in UDA thinking. The Daily Telegraph today sees the follow-up moratorium on any violence by the same organisation as a deliberate move to increase pressure on the IRA to substantively disarm. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular …

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Eamonn MacDermott takes a dark view of the SDLP’s vote holding up in Derry, particularly given the absence of the huge personal vote for John Hume. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

The Irish News on Saturday felt sufficiently concerned about the remarks of two judges in the Republic whilst dealing with individuals from migrant communities to raise the issue in an editorial. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Jonathan Powell, probably Blair’s closest advisor, spent several days last week talking to the major players. Brian Rowan sketches out what Acts of Completion, amongst other things, might possibly mean. Meanwhile Sinn Fein has re-issued its demands on policing. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Newton Emerson has been busy. In the last week he has taken time out of his role as Ulster’s leading satirist, to become an anti-war protester. Now he tries his hand at political analysis in Fortnight magazine. It’s particularly interesting read in combination with this article written the day after what may yet prove to have been a fateful meeting of the UUC last September. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …

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Ruth Dudley Edwards runs a rule over the veteran leader of Republican Sinn Fein. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

We had lunch with moderate unionists, one of whom until recently, worked closely with David Trimble. Now training for the ministry, like many others in NI, he notes how theology has left its mark on how many Unionists view politics. There are two books in the Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament. I sometimes suspect that some of our people have read the first very well but have never read the second. They tend to draw all their …

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Liam Kennedy is an historian who has worked at Queens University Belfast for 25 years. He was born and educated in the Irish Republic. Though a nominal Nationalist, he values the link with Britain highly. Here, he talks to Slugger about some of the ways in which a pro Union agenda might appeal across the traditional religious and political divides. What does the Union mean to you? What matters most to me is being within the United Kingdom state and …

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It seems that Slugger has piqued the interest of none other than The Guardian, which suggests that we provide everything you need to know about Northern Ireland. In fact the site attempts to cover most aspects of Northern Ireland politics and culture. It is updated several times a day during the working week with news and comment from all parts of the political spectrum. At the moment we are running a special investigation into Unionism: what it means to individuals …

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Despite some apparent wobbles amongst some of those we spoke to last week, it seems Paul Murphy is still talking (sub needed) in terms of an election in May. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Breda O’Brien draws on the American post September 11th experience and wonders if the assumption that many of us have routinely made, that increased material wealth necessarily means growing secularisation of society is actually true. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

The second part of the QUB/Rowntree poll report in the Belfast Telegraph confirms support for a re-negotiation of the agreement. Pat Doherty of Sinn Fein has accused David Trimble of ‘negative leadership’. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty