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According to Malachi O’Doherty, if it doesn’t suit the interests of Northern Ireland’s two big parties, there will be no resolution to the Parade’s dispute. Echoing the thoughts of Davy Adams, that negotiation is now being played purely for the advantage of its two main players, he suggests that: “Completion may be indefinitely deferred if the contenders feel that they can go on scoring points against each other and winning concessions for their own side as a price for their …

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Carol Coleman, RTE’s Washington correspondent has caused something less than an international incident and more than a little spat, with the White House lodging a complaint with the Irish Embassy for her aggressive style in interviewing (recording) the president last week. 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

I took a day off yesterday, and things got a little overheated. So I’m temporarily suspending comments on new stories. This is to give us time to install the new software, and to allow tempers to cool. In the meantime, we’ll continue to bring you stories. When the new version comes you will be welcome to comment annonymously (if you wish) but you’ll have to give an undertaking to stay within the Slugger Rules and provide us with a verifiable …

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ACCORDING to the Sunday Times, the DUP requires Sinn Fein go through a six-month ‘quarantine’ to prove their democratic credentials before sharing power with them again. It was, however, expected that the DUP would try and drag things out until the next elections. If the real talks are to start in September, and the Government is anxious to get the institutions going before the next Westminster election, that would point towards a possible restoration in February or March – although …

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According to the usually solid and reliable Frank Millar, the DUP believes it can foresee newly devolved institutions by Spring next year if the certain conditions are met by Sinn Fein and all paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, including the IRA. It comes in the wake of Tony Blair’s apparent admission that his government would consider a plan B, if the parties cannot come to some kind of working arrangements in September. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

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According to a report in the Irish Independent, the Orange Order are due to suspend Portadown No 1 District Lodge and effectively ban next weeks parade to Drumcree Parish Church. The suspension seems to be on the grounds that Portadown Orangemen attended a Parades Commission Forum in South Africa which is against the official policy of Grand Lodge. One can`t help wondering if this is a move aimed at removing a thorn in the side of Northern Ireland and in …

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After a short hiatus Paul Donovan is back writing for the London based Irish World. He catches up with the state of play over the November the fifth burning of an effigy of the Pope in the affluent Sussex town of Lewes. In response to a letter from Anne Widdecombe the local MP has backed the four hundred year old tradition in the interests of striking “a balance between freedom of expression on the one hand, and potential offence caused …

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Peter at the BBC Talk blog is keen to get a debate going amongst sports fans on the plans for a new mixed code stadium for Northern Ireland. Some good links included. 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

Maria Farrell is pro Irish language, but makes a compelling case against making the language official in the EU. The huge additional costs implied alone, she argues, can only serve to weakening the organisation’s increasingly mistrusted superstructure and add to the impression of tokenism around the language. Frank McGahon with some Spanish/African perspectives. 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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It appears that September is the latest deadline set by the two governments for a deal. Given the length of time an effective decommissioning is reported to take to effect and report on, are they contemplating the institution of the DUP’s corporate assembly model? Slugger tip: don’t bet the farm! 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 …

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The Parades Commission has reversed it`s decision to ban Orangemen from walking down part of the Springfield Road this Saturday. The Commission said it had considered a number of changes surrounding the organisation of the parade. Let us hope that lessons have been learned and that Orangemen will have the parade well marshalled. In particular it might be a good idea to try to ensure that “hangers-on” do not squander this opportunity to build community relations by causing trouble during …

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The Republic’s modest defence force is concentrating around the environs on Shannon airport for a visit from President Bush. This is considered in some areas of the media to be good for Bush, particularly with the once powerful Irish American vote at home. Though judging by the thoughts of one former US diplomat (Irish American and Catholic) on RTE yesterday, many American Irish will be dreading the expected public expression of viseral anti American sentiment. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor …

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IS this for real? According to the Indo, the political wing of the Continuity IRA yesterday issued a warning to the public about the dangers of transporting explosives! Bizarre… “There is a danger associated with moving explosives through a city and indeed through towns and villages,” said Sean O’Neill, community affairs spokesman for Republican Sinn Fein. “It is a tragedy waiting to happen and we are now calling for all explosives to be moved during the night or indeed a …

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NATIONAL Review contributor David Frum notes some of the lessons for peace processes he has learned from the new Trimble biography. In part one, Frum writes: “British politicians who entered the process intending to protect the union between northern Ireland and mainland Britain–a union cherished by a large majority of the population of northern Ireland–ended by inventing a new kind of multinational structure in which northern Ireland would somehow be jointly governed by Britain and the Republic of Ireland together. …

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AS unionists take the top positions in Lisburn City Council, the Irish Government fails to appear at the AGM, as predicted by Sinn Fein. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

ONE of our favourite gripes in Northern Ireland is the high cost of insurance, especially when compared to the cost in the rest of the UK. However, many GB companies refuse to deal with NI customers, blaming the security situation, the ‘claims culture’ and a hundred other things. Here’s another explanation – and an honest, if coded, admission – they simply can’t be bothered with NI. Incredible! It’s something the Federation of Small Business is trying to change. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Robert Saulters, has issued an unprecedented plea to all Orangemen to uphold the Christian principles of the Institution, particulalrly during public processions. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

DR JOHN COULTER is a Northern political columnist with the Irish Daily Star. He analyses what steps need to be taken to get Northern Irish Unionism singing from the same hymnsheet, and suggests that a united Ireland may be the bitter pill which Unionists have to swallow to attain the Holy Grail of Protestant unity. This is the first in a short series to introduce the concept he calls Revolutionary Unionism. By Dr John Coulter Urgent shock treatment is required …

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AS concern grows over the Whiterock parade this weekend, a new loyalist lobby group has emerged and claims it will talk directly to nationalists, who oppose the parade going past nationalist homes on the Springfield Road. It would appear that the Orange Order’s unsuccessful policy of not talking to residents’ groups is under pressure, as the presence of Orangemen on the new parades forum would seem to indicate a different approach. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

A group of former Loyalist and Republican prisoners have launched a joint reconcilliation project. The Messines Association aims to offer courses to community groups and individuals. Messines was the location during WW1 in which men of the 36th Ulster Division and the 16th Irish Fusiliers fought alongside each other. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk