arlene foster – Page 4 – Slugger O'Toole

Arlene Foster begins discussions with Irish Language Groups

David McCann on April 26, 2017, 11:15 pm

| Readers 1638

Arlene Foster began the DUP’s outreach to sections of the Irish Language speaking community today by visiting Our Lady’s, Newry to meet with pupils and staff about the language. From a BBC report; But speaking during her visit to the school, Mrs Foster said she was on a “journey” when it came to the Irish language and people have “nothing to fear from engaging with another culture”. Her visit had been an opportunity to “sit back and listen”, she said, …

I firmly believe that an Irish language act can be in the vanguard of progress.

Soapbox on April 19, 2017, 2:34 pm

| Readers 3222

Linda Ervine is an Irish Language Development Officer at the East Belfast Mission Arlene Foster’s decision to engage with Irish language groups could have positive outcomes for both the DUP and the Irish language sector. As the largest elected party within Northern Ireland the DUP is a major policy maker. In my opinion, it can only be beneficial for the party to acquire a greater knowledge of a sector on which its decisions have so immediate an impact. I am …

The warm welcome Arlene Foster received at the funeral of Martin McGuinness came as a surprise to many. But not to those who know Derry well.

Steve Bradley on March 27, 2017, 2:19 pm

| Readers 7022

“Of all the ‘moments’ in my 27 years of journalism, applause for Arlene Foster at the funeral of Martin McGuinness is right up there”. So remarked Sky News’s Ireland correspondent, David Blevins, after one of Northern Ireland’s most important funerals in years. Blevins wasn’t alone in being wrong-footed by this turn of events. This was, after all, the funeral of a former IRA commander – held in a staunchly nationalist city during the uncertain aftermath of a landmark and divisive …

Gerry Adams ups the ante on Unity, just as it comes under fresh critical examination

Brian Walker on March 16, 2017, 12:48 pm

| Readers 3463

Gerry Adams knows exactly how to deploy sweet reasonableness as a weapon and end up with a perfect circle of obstruction. He had had several “businesslike, friendly engagements” with DUP leader Arlene Foster since the talks began, and he had “no reason to doubt” she was innocent of accusations over the “cash for ash” Renewable Heat Initiative which precipitated this month’s Northern Assembly election. However, the affair needed to be “properly scrutinised”. Why block a resolution of the impasse if …

Theresa May’s fightback to support the Union through Brexit is only work in progress. The Irish are creating a benign vision of a United Ireland. Do the British want to match it?

Brian Walker on March 15, 2017, 1:21 pm

| Readers 2721

The imminence of triggering Article 50 has at last woken up the British government to the reality of the threat to the Union. In a reported forthcoming tour of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to explain a negotiating position that has seemed to ignore them, propping up support for her “beloved Union” has become Theresa May’s priority. Her first line of defence will be to convince the massed ranks of critics that a “hard Brexit” is a misnomer which does …

#SluggerReport – If you want to do the highest job you got to take the bricks with the accolades…

Mick Fealty on March 10, 2017, 4:44 pm

| Readers 2689

Last #SluggerReport for a while in which I look at various of the dilemmas facing the political parties after another deadlocked Assembly. Unionism has some legitimate grievances, not least over how the core story of RHI was handled (sins of omission largely) but as Eilis O’Hanlon notes here, getting grumpy and slagging off nationalist culture is a game with limited returns: …the only surprise about DUP leader Arlene Foster’s apology for referring to supporters of an Irish Language Act* as …

Skids under Arlene?

Brian Walker on March 6, 2017, 10:07 am

| Readers 4988

Will she be gone by tonight? Temporarily or permanently? No one better than historian Eamonn Phoenix to put it into context. The resulting loss of a Unionist majority at Stormont for the first time has shocked Unionism to its core. The political and, especially, the psychological implications of this as the centenary of Partition approaches in 2021, should not be underestimated. Is there any more to say except wait on events? And perhaps spare a thought for Mike Nesbitt. Did he …

The pendulum swings – time not for Unionist panic nor inaction

Turgon on March 4, 2017, 11:30 am

| Readers 5287

So the elections results are in: a sea change has occurred. The bark of unionism’s boat is near overflowed. All may not yet be lost but all is about to be. Wail, lament, tear clothes, put on sack cloth or more realistically start surfing rightmove to find a nice house in the North of England or Midlands or maybe Wales (house prices preclude the south and Scotland will soon be gone). Well maybe and only a naïve unionist would dismiss …

DUP set out their battle lines in a question less manifesto launch

David McCann on February 20, 2017, 7:03 pm

| Readers 1339

The DUP launched their manifesto at Stormont Hotel today. The document which is basically an appendix to their 2016 Manifesto sets out some of the party’s approach towards the negotiations that are likely to follow this election. Arlene Foster set out 10 principles; 1. We will work to avoid Direct Rule and get local government back at Stormont as quickly as possible. That means we will work with all of those who have a mandate to see if it is …

“is Gerry the Genius sure he has thought all this through?”

Pete Baker on February 18, 2017, 4:22 pm

| Readers 4221

In today’s Irish News, Newton Emerson asks the impertinent question… Remarks by Mike Nesbitt about cross-community voting distracted from what should have been the major story of the week. Northern Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill has said her party will not return to the executive with Arlene Foster as first or deputy first minister until the DUP leader has been cleared by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry. O’Neill added this was a red line issue – something Sinn Féin …

UTV Leaders’ Debate #vote17 – squabbling politicians talk in clichés #ae17

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 16, 2017, 9:55 pm

| Readers 3967

If there was a winner of tonight’s debate it was Cliché. Though Lothario might be a close runner up. There were no knock out blows. Few punches caused any leader to wobble towards the ropes. Instead they parried them away with relative ease. While the lack of a studio audience eliminated oohs and ahs and mischievous clapping, it did also mean that the questions could be crisply delivered by Marc Mallett who kept the rough and tumble in the playground as well-behaved as could be expected.

Foster open to getting rid of the Petition of Concern

David McCann on February 14, 2017, 8:04 pm

| Readers 2733

Speaking to the BBC she said; “We talk a lot about the petition of concern and our opponents talk a lot about the petition of concern,” she said. “We would actually like to see the petition of concern got rid of for everything, but I think our opponents would like to keep it for the things they want to to use the petition of concern for and not allow us to use it.” The Alliance Party Leader, Naomi Long made …

Arlene Foster seems to know what is already in an Irish Language Act

Kris Nixon (Belfast Barman) on February 14, 2017, 3:10 pm

| Readers 2941

Arlene Foster spoke today at the 5 Leaders, 5 Days event, and covered a bit of controversial ground on the Irish Language. John Manley of the Irish News captured this interesting little back-pedal from the DUP leader, failing to remember that she accepted some of the blame for the perception that she was anti nationalist or anti republican (from her Irish News article published only four days previous). Mrs. Foster turned the question from John around to reference the Irish …

Arlene’s partial withdrawal will not close the crocodile’s jaws. Remember what happened after a previous DUP leader said “never?”

Brian Walker on February 11, 2017, 11:16 am

| Readers 2991

I would contextualise David McCann’s well- balanced report of Arlene Foster’s partial climbdown a little differently. How will she now follow through? Gerry Adams is bursting to know. He or Michelle O’Neill and will challenge her shortly. All the other parties will join in the chorus. When columnist Eilis O’Hanlon, a keen debunker of Sinn Fein positions joins the club of critics and accuses Arlene Foster of lack of commitment to “the long term interests of unionism” we know the …

Foster “Once again we stand at the political crossroads”

David McCann on February 11, 2017, 10:27 am

| Readers 2696

Arlene Foster has taken the Irish News to write a platform piece seeking to debunk myths about her relationship with Sinn Fein On the Irish Language Act she said; Let me say from the outset I respect those who have different cultural interests to me. Those who genuinely want to learn and speak the Irish language are entitled to do so as part of the increasing diversity of our society. However there can be no escaping the fact that some …

Theresa May is unmoved by Celtic frustrations over her Brexit stance

Brian Walker on January 30, 2017, 11:22 am

| Readers 1740

After Trump and Turkey week for Theresa May but with the aftershocks still shaking the bones, Brexit week with the Celts must seem like an anti- climax. Despite all the warms words there is no sign that Mrs May is taking the pro-EU positions of two and half of the three devolved administrations even slightly seriously. The briefings before today’s Cardiff meeting could hardly be more underwhelming. We will not agree on everything, but that doesn’t mean we will shy …

The unionist lens: RHI or no RHI, who’s best placed to keep the Shinners in check?

Mark Petticrew on January 26, 2017, 5:07 pm

| Readers 2332

Soon after Martin McGuinness’ resignation as deputy First Minister, we saw the DUP sign up to a public inquiry, call for party talks, and reverse the cut to the Líofa scheme. If this episode has taught us anything, it’s that despite all their intransigence, when their hand is forced, the DUP are quite capable of being sound. However, by the time of this newfound pragmatism, the ship of any “window of opportunity” touted by Charlie Flanagan had long since sailed. …

#AE17 Snippets: All Change within the DUP

David McCann on January 25, 2017, 9:02 pm

| Readers 3239

Today has seen more movements within the DUP David Douglas (son of Sammy) will stand for the DUP in East Belfast. The party have also confirmed that the current Speaker Robin Newton is also running again which means the party are aiming to retain their 3 seats. The Education Minister, Peter Weir is on the move as he is standing in the place of Jonathan Bell in Strongford, moving from his old constituency of North Down. DUP Councillor, Jonathan Buckley …

The glimmer of light seen in Martin McGuinness’s departure can become a beacon of hope

Brian Walker on January 20, 2017, 11:20 am

| Readers 2052

So the political establishment and the media are in rare unison praising Martin McGuinness. Illness and the shadow of death – ordinary decent, natural sickness and intimations of mortality – bring out the sentimentalist in all types of the Irish people. Let’s not be too starry eyed. In a longish apologia for the different phases of his career, Martin McGuinness had no apology to make for the armed struggle. It was left to Gregory Campbell from across the Foyle – …

The Irish language hasn’t gone away you know

Concubhar on January 11, 2017, 8:58 am

| Readers 2321

I’m back at work though suffering with a cold, flu or ‘man-flu’. I don’t like feeling congested at the best of times. Being back at work at the start of a cold and wet January doesn’t brighten my mood. This is all put in perspective by Martin McGuinness who has serious health issues, it seems. I wish him a speedy recovery. Nara fada go raibh tú ar do shean léim! In the light of his …