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I have been on the search for Frank Millar’s interview (subscription only) with Peter Robinson in last Wednesday’s Irish Times. Although Millar is the London Editor of the Irish Times, he was for several years in the 80’s a leading member of the UUP. It’s clear that, at times, Robinson treats this as a conversation between two old political rivals, rather than between an ‘impartial’ journalist and a politician. This important piece is the first hint of a ‘plan B’. …

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Interesting piece from Quentin Davies, the Tory spokesman on Northern Ireland. Having spent some time amongst families on both sides of the peaceline, he has some remarkable candid stories to reveal, not least this particular conversation: “A few IRA men described how they had been captured by the RUC. They had been hooded and beaten. “If I had been captured by you as a British soldier,” I said, “I would not just have been hooded and beaten, I would have …

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Mitchell McLaughlin in a speech in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, challenged Unionists to declare whether they support the transference of sovereignty in the event that a majority in the North vote for it. On the face of it, it is hard to see the relevance of this concern. Particularly since the Belfast Agreement states in its first clause: “The participants endorse the commitment made by the British and Irish Governments that, in a new British-Irish Agreement replacing the Anglo-Irish Agreement, they …

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Former shadow Northern Ireland spokeman Kevin McNamara has had a bid to repeal the Act of Settlement, which prevents Catholics or members of the royal family who marry Catholics from succeeding to the throne, rejected by Tony Blair. 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 points out an important anomaly in the public perception over whether ex-prisoners should be allowed to take their places on the new police partnership boards: “While this background may be generally associated with Sinn F�in, it is worth pointing out that it is a provision which has also been utilised by the DUP. Indeed, one former loyalist prisoner has also been endorsed as a DUP candidate in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections scheduled for next year. Former …

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Democratic Dialogue is in the news again, defending its attack on the high staffing levels of the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister in it latest bulletin. 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 Republic’s sports minister outlines how Croke Park is crucial to the success of the joint Ireland-Scotland bid for the European Football Championship. 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

Another subscription-locked Irish News story. James Stinson interviews Graham Gudgin on the once much heralded ‘peace dividend’: �If peace has made a difference we should expect our share of UK employment and GDP to rise. Northern Ireland�s share of the UK total in terms of employment and GDP was fairly flat until about 1990. From 1990 to 1994, Northern Ireland�s share of UK GDP and UK employment surged. After 1994, when the first ceasefire occurred that new level was maintained. …

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In playful response to yesterday’s piece, reader Donald Matheson writes: “The Bond worlds have a curious number of connections with Irishness. There’s Brosnan (and Connery’s from not so far away across the water), Sidney Reilly, the pseudonym of the man reputedly the origin of the bond character, Kevin McClory, the Irish Bond film screenwriter, then there’s your Q reference, then (according to Google) in From Russia with Love, there’s a half-Irish psychotic out to kill Bond.” “What it probably means …

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A interesting description of the weblog phenomenon, from the Sydney Morning Herald. Thanks to the main subject of the piece Instapundit. 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

Jeffrey Dudgeon speculates in his latest book, Roger Casement: the black diaries to be launched on Thursday, that Ian Fleming based his character Q on Ulsterman Major Frank Hall. Hall became Military Secretary of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) formed to resist Home Rule for Ireland in 1912. Gudgeon’s main premise seems to be based around the fact Hall went under the codename Q when he became chief of MI5 in Belfast two years later. Update: According to reader …

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In a recent issue of Ha’aritz, David Trimble gave an extensive interview to Sharon Sadeh. He began by making the political case for the process, and then quantifying some of the gains of the transition from war to peace. He admitted his own mixed feelings about dealing with his former enemies. Identifying two issues yet to be resolved, he explained why these were crucial to moving the next stage. After giving his appraisal of Clinton’s role in the process, he …

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But apparently none of the rest of his attack on the Republic of Ireland at a meeting of the UUC last March. In fact he’s gone one better: If you took away Catholicism and anti-Britishness, the state [Republic of Ireland] doesn`t have a reason to exist. Though many took great affront at the original remark, it also had some humorous spin-offs: here and here. Update: Local reaction to the renewed insult. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

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Hugh Jordan, is shortly to publish a book called Milestones in Murder, which apparently discloses details of murdered journalist Martin O’Hagan’s early life as an Official IRA volunteer. Barrie Penrose reports in the Spectator – via Newshound. 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

Here’s the BBC report. 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

Newshound has now made Brian Feeney’s article available. 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

There’s a discussion coming up on the BBC. 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

Love him or loathe him, the former politician and one time editor of The Observer Conor Cruise O’Brien was 85 yesterday. He took a break from writing to let an interesting range of folk pay him tribute. 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

John Reid is to move to Labour party chairman, where his strongman credentials will, no doubt, be useful stock-in-trade. His replacement is to be Paul Murphy who was until today the secretary of state for Wales. He is no stranger to Northern Ireland having already spent some time there as a minister and as a shadow cabinet spokesman. Early reactions from local politicians are mixed, with Ian Paisley junior reading it as as sign that direct rule is settling in …

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Looks like Westminster is expecting a long negotiation period. 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