ae17 – Page 5 – Slugger O'Toole

Michelle O’Neill confirmed as Sinn Fein’s new leader in the North

David McCann on January 23, 2017, 2:08 pm

| Readers 3903

Michelle O’Neill has been confirmed as the new Sinn Fein leader in the North. The selection was ratified by the party’s Ard Chomhairle. In a crowded Long Gallery at Stormont, Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald thanked Martin McGuinness and confirmed Michelle O’Neill. Martin McGuinness spoke warmly about his relationship with the Paisley family and thanked Ian Paisley Jnr for his remarks on The View on Thursday night, referring to the wider Paisley family as supporters of the Peace Process. On …

“Sinn Fein’s northern operation risks becoming an under-performing branch office in a Dublin-led organisation”

Mick Fealty on January 23, 2017, 12:22 pm

| Readers 2599

Interesting piece by Patrick Murphy in the Irish News on Saturday (it’s well worth reading in full). Not least because he lays out some of the key assumptions of Sinn Fein’s plan to re-unite the island, some of which, like “cross-border bodies confirm the legitimacy of the border” demonstrate the party’s enduring disdain for a pragmatic to the matter. But I think this is the key passage: The party hopes that Stormont’s future style and content of governance will reflect …

So, erm, if everyone agrees on how to deal with #RHI, why is Northern Ireland spending £5M on an election?

Mick Fealty on January 20, 2017, 7:45 am

| Readers 3256

Sinn Fein, consummate news managers that they are, announced their massive U-turn on the form of inquiry needed for the RHI scandal little more than an hour after the media had recorded Martin McGuinness’s farewell interview. It was obvious which one was going to grab the lead, but the U-turn is the far bigger political news. What caused it? Almost certainly it was confirmation by Andrew McCormick on Wednesday’s PAC that Jonny Bell was ‘Minister for the Spike’. Indeed, he also confirmed …

Martin McGuinness to stand down at the next election

David McCann on January 19, 2017, 6:03 pm

| Readers 3068

The former Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness has announced he will stand down as an MLA at the next election. His statement is this; “Last year, Gerry Adams and I confirmed that we had a plan in place for transition to a new leadership. For my part, it was my intention to step aside in May this year which would have marked 10 years since I entered government with Ian Paisley as joint leader of the northern Executive. “Unfortunately, my …

Sinn Fein now back the call for a Public Inquiry

David McCann on January 19, 2017, 4:18 pm

| Readers 1555

Finance Minister, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has announced that he will be setting up a public inquiry under the 2005 Inquiries Act. This is a reverse of the Sinn Fein stance on this issue. Outlining his rationale he says; Throughout this week I have been continuing to focus on the RHI crisis. “As part of that work, I have been taking soundings and advice on the need for a no-hiding-place probe into the RHI scandal. “It is clear that, with time short …

Claire Sugden will seek re-election in March

David McCann on January 17, 2017, 5:50 pm

| Readers 2251

From the outgoing Justice Minister’s Facebook Page; Firstly, thank you for your kind wishes throughout this dreadful, political crisis. I am overwhelmed that you have taken time to contact me offering support and encouragement. It tells me there is hope. I never envisaged that less than a year into my mandate I would be defending my seat for East Londonderry. But I will, because last year I asked you to vote for me on the basis that I would work …

Irish Language Act debate

David McCann on January 17, 2017, 2:42 pm

| Readers 3341

This morning on Nolan a debate between Conor Murphy and Edwin Poots continued over the Irish Language Act .@audioBoom Here’s the Edwin Poots interview which is trending across UK on Twitter – let me know what you think . https://t.co/jCcfs3NVmw — Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) January 17, 2017 The provision within the agreement states that However, the DUP’s Edwin Poots says the party never agreed to this; At no point during the St Andrews talks was the issue of an Irish …

Executive Falls; Election likely to be on March 2nd

David McCann on January 16, 2017, 5:19 pm

| Readers 2999

The 5pm deadline has passed and the Executive has fallen after nearly a decade in office. The Secretary of Stare is due to speak within the next 30 mins but the election date is widely expected to be Thursday 2nd March. This gives us a 7 week campaign. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Seeley will not stand at the upcoming election

David McCann on January 16, 2017, 2:13 pm

| Readers 3426

Upper Bann Sinn Fein MLA, Catherine Seeley has announced she will not be seeking re-election. Speaking about her decision she said; “Serving the people of Upper Bann as a Sinn Féin MLA over recent months has been a huge honour and privilege. “After much consideration, I have now decided that I will not be putting my name forward as a candidate in this election. An opportunity has arisen for me to return to teaching and I want to pursue it. …

Ruane to step down at the next election

David McCann on January 15, 2017, 6:17 pm

| Readers 2627

The serving Principal Deputy Speaker and former Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane will be standing down at the next election. Speaking about her decision she said; “It has been an honour and privilege to represent the people of South Down in the Assembly for the last 14 years. “Over the years I have been involved in assisting the growth and development of the peace process to create a better society for all our citizens. “During that time I have had the pleasure …

Election an opportunity to break more glass ceilings

Daithi McKay on January 14, 2017, 2:27 pm

| Readers 3078

Just eight months ago we were celebrating the fact that the number of female legislators had increased by 50%. 30 women were elected compared to 20 in the 2011 elections. 28% of the 108 member legislature compared to 19% in the previous mandate. The Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin welcomed the change : “While we still have a long way to match the 51% of the population who are female, this is nonetheless a significant rate of progress.” If one looks at …

The varying costs of the last southern election per constituency…

Mick Fealty on January 13, 2017, 1:44 pm

| Readers 491

CHEAP SEATS: One of the advantages the big parties in #AE17 is how the scale of their operation drains costs. Karl Brophy has tweeted this fascinating breakdown of costs from the last Irish election… Spend per seat won in € for #ge16 AAAPBP 44,460FF 38,361FG 55,377SF 28,269Greens 73,396.Soc Dems 63,529Labour 154, 816 — Karl Brophy (@KarlBrophy) January 13, 2017 The Greens only won two, so at 73,396 those were a costly capture. But a desperate Labour party throw everything they …

Corbyn against @UKLabour’s sleeping base in Northern Ireland playing an official part in #AE17

Mick Fealty on January 13, 2017, 12:47 pm

| Readers 1186

Just in from the Labour Party in NI stalwart, Boyd Black… Jeremy Corbyn has said it is ‘extremely unlikely’ there will be official Labour candidates in the Stormont Assembly elections. This comment is unhelpful. It is also not surprising, as the promised official review by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has been disgracefully delayed, in part by last year’s party leadership election. Since it is the NEC that will make the decision about us fighting elections (albeit with a …

One up to Sinn Fein and two up to the Fresh Start parties for framing the media debate early…

Mick Fealty on January 13, 2017, 10:55 am

| Readers 4048

This is important, I think, if only as a portent for what’s about to come. I imagine both parties will be pleased with this: not least because at 23 minutes, aside from the commentator’s corner slot, this was the only feature on The View last night. Mairtin O Muilleoir’s channelling of his younger early eighties self as an angry young councillor on Belfast City Council will have been superbly exhilarating for his party’s support. Motivation will matter hugely in this …

Why institutional reform needs to be at the heart of the next election

David McCann on January 11, 2017, 1:18 pm

| Readers 1346

It looks almost certain now that we are heading to an early election. In the usual noise of a campaign there will be a variety of issues that will get people talking and hopefully voting. One issue that has been consistently coming up is reforming our system of government. The SDLP back in May with their jump into Opposition and now Sinn Fein have embraced the concept of reforming the system of government. We have heard slogans such as “no …

#ae17 in numbers

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on January 10, 2017, 8:51 am

| Readers 3349

SEVEN DAYS before institutions collapse; 5 MLAs per constituency means a minimum of 18 MLAs not returning to the Assembly; 30 is still the magic PoC number; £85,000 still the estimated daily cost to the tax payer of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.