devolution – Page 3 – Slugger O'Toole

Time to bring the citizen back in?

Soapbox on November 7, 2017, 1:03 pm

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As Steven Agnew of the Green Party calls for a Citizens Assembly for Northern Ireland, Robin Wilson writes about the idea which has been under development by a group of citizens and voluntary sector organisations facilitated by the Building Change Trust over the past 6 months. Northern Ireland seems once again to have reverted to a default state of political dysfunctionality, with months and potentially years of further reluctantly-assumed direct rule from Westminster looming, with its associated ‘democratic deficit’. While …

Continued Devolution or Direct Rule? Some Scenarios

Nat O'Connor on November 3, 2017, 12:27 pm

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parliament_Buildings_Stormont.jpg

Since 1707, Northern Ireland has had roughly 160 years of devolution/home rule and 151 years of unitary government/direct rule. The long time perspective helps to put the current difficulties over forming an Executive into context. First the history in brief, followed by some scenarios for what might happen next for the governance of Northern Ireland. Since the 1998 Belfast Good Friday Agreement there has been one long period of ‘Direct Rule’, lasting for nearly five years, from 14 October 2002 to …

We have no Executive but we need to face electoral realities

David McCann on November 2, 2017, 4:57 pm

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Since January 2017, Northern Ireland has been in a process of debate about bringing down the government, who is to blame and how our politicians are failing the public. Often I have heard that the fact we have no Executive is seeing failure, which ignores the fact that when we had a devolved administration the constant refrain from most quarters was how it was too populist in its approach and not taking the “difficult decisions” in a whole host of …

Stormont Talks End in Failure

David McCann on November 1, 2017, 5:06 pm

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The current round of Stormont talks have ended in failure today. I will leave it to the comments section below to debate the finer points but here is a summation of the parties statements and comments. NI Secretary, James Brokenshire; I am not therefore in a position to introduce the legislation necessary for an Executive to be formed this week though I must stress we are continuing to work with the parties as they proceed with ongoing talks. “As I …

Brokenshire buys parties some more time

David McCann on October 30, 2017, 9:43 pm

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BREAKING: Statement from Northern Ireland Secretary. #Stormont pic.twitter.com/GJuI1NUR5s — David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) October 30, 2017 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

To solve the Catalan crisis, pay homage to Britain

Brian Walker on October 29, 2017, 11:25 am

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The Catalonian campaign for independence is a phenomenon of our times, like the Scottish. They both claim they are ancient entities enjoying sufficient cohesion to go it alone and find their own balance between globalisation (the great big world now closer to all of us than ever) and self sufficiency ( provided it comes under the safety blanket of the EU). They seem to think they deserve as of right, easy acquiescence and the blessing of a good deal from …

Slugger TV debates is it game over for mandatory coalition?

David McCann on September 28, 2017, 12:06 pm

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We debate the role of mandatory coalition in our devolved institutions with our own Chris Donnelly and Statagem’s Grainne Walsh. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

British Government rule out Joint Authority

David McCann on September 5, 2017, 10:46 pm

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This is what Simon Coveney’s predecessor, Patrick Hillery would have a called a “courteous brush off.” David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Coveney “There can be no British-only direct rule. That is the Irish Government’s position”

David McCann on September 5, 2017, 9:58 pm

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The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney met representatives from the main parties at Stormont today in order to resolve the current impasse between the main parties. His comments are noteworthy as the focus turns towards Direct Rule. From an RTE report; Mr Coveney said there were still grounds for optimism and direct rule should still be avoided. “There can be no British-only direct rule. That is the Irish Government’s position.” Mr Coveney added: “It would be very difficult to …

Soapbox: Steven Agnew argues it’s time to look at voluntary coalition

Soapbox on September 5, 2017, 8:45 am

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Soapbox: Steven Agnew argues that it’s time to look at voluntary coalition. He says “no party should have the power to tear the devolved institutions down and leave the electorate in Northern Ireland powerless”, adding “that’s why a voluntary coalition can usher in an era of fresh politics and politicians that put people first”.

Is it too late to transfer James Brokenshire?

Daithi McKay on September 4, 2017, 1:04 pm

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Schools back. There is much talk already about the inevitability of Direct Rule and the fact that the talks are “going nowhere”. Let’s just wait for the parties to get their feet back under the desks and see how the land lies now that the summer is over. Something does need to change though, if the same formula is applied over and over why expect a different result? The management of the talks by James Brokenshire has hardly been Premier …

Adams says no Assembly without an Irish Language Act

David McCann on August 30, 2017, 2:13 pm

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The Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams was speaking at an event organised by Conradh na Gaeilge. Also at the event supporting an act were the SDLP, Alliance, PBP and Green parties (combined they make up 50/90 MLAs). In the lead up to remarks expected by the DUP Leader, Arlene Foster tomorrow night about the future of devolution, Adams said; “The British Government and Unionist parties have failed to fulfil their commitment to an Acht Gaeilge and to the full implementation of …

Do we want Westminster to impose uniform UK standards? On abortion and same sex marriage? How about an indemnity for soldiers?

Brian Walker on June 24, 2017, 10:55 am

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Social reform – on abortion and same sex marriage – is not only a bone of contention in the Stormont talks. It’s creating a clash with MPs across party at Westminster at a precarious time for the future of both legislatures. The Supreme Court’s rejection of the appeal against the decision of the Health Secretary for England Jeremy Hunt not to allow Northern Ireland women to have free abortions on the NHS in England may now become entangled in Westminster’s …

UK Supreme Court rules narrowly against free abortions in England for Northern Ireland women. But in Scotland?

Brian Walker on June 17, 2017, 10:13 am

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Support for abortion reform in Northern Ireland becomes all the more relevant after the decision of the Supreme Court last Wednesday narrowly to reject the appeal against Jeremy Hunt the Health Secretary for England, refusing to exercise his discretion to allow women from Northern Ireland to have abortions free of charge on the NHS in England. A triumph of democracy, opponents would say. From the Guardian report The judges were ruling on the case of a woman identified only …

Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland should have a say in the Brexit negotiations- Labour

Brian Walker on June 3, 2017, 12:07 am

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Keir Starmer the former English director of public prosecutions who is Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary has written an “ exclusive “ for the New European paper headlined, “We’ll give Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales their say on Brexit’ says Keir Starmer. It sounded great when I heard about it but it took me took me a couple of reads to find what turned out to be an anticlimax. ..we will have the confidence to bring Parliament into the Brexit process, …

Northern Ireland still languishing at political ground zero and far from “self-actualisation”…

Mick Fealty on April 21, 2017, 9:58 am

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For all the protests from Colum Eastwood and Michelle O’Neill over the calling of this election, Theresa May is not ignoring Northern Ireland. She’s merely taking care of business according to her own political version of Maslow’s pyramid of needs. So where does Northern Ireland (our periodical losses of political power and will largely spring from the internal prohibitions of our covetous and beggarly political culture) fit in? Sadly for us, perhaps, in these post-conflict days, Northern Ireland is no longer an …

New powers for Stormont? That’ll get’em going!

Brian Walker on March 31, 2017, 3:52 pm

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James Brokenshire has solemnly warned that if Stormont is to receive new powers as result of Brexit, power sharing must be restored. This blatantly original statement puts him in line for a Nobel Peace Prize or a slot on Pointless. It’s just the sort of threat that will have them rushing to the conference table next Monday. It puts a small cart before a big horse that is out there somewhere roaming the range. Who cares about powers when what …

Theresa May challenged over her “tin ear” to the interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Brian Walker on March 20, 2017, 9:04 am

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Theresa May is in Swansea today at the start of a four nation tour to the devolved administrations , declaring; “I want every part of the United Kingdom to be able to make the most of the opportunities ahead.” As the Guardian reports she’ll face demands from the Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones to radically rethink her approach to the union. as she begins a four-nation tour before beginning Britain’s exit from the EU “Theresa May to visit Wales as …

The Supreme Court rules that devolved assembly consent is not legally required for Brexit. But the political battle is only just beginning

Brian Walker on January 24, 2017, 11:26 am

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. So the Westminster Parliament must vote on triggering Article 50 – but on what exactly and how often until Brexit is achieved? The battle has only just begun. It’s bad news for nationalists everywhere. The Court ruled that the consent of the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly of Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly is not legally required. The argument put forward by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and in the courts by Raymond McCord that under the GFA the …

Whichever way you vote, in Northern Ireland, the Government always does get in…

Felicity Huston on January 23, 2017, 3:10 pm

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Tony Benn was, in my opinion, as mad as a March Hare, but this quote of his is truly insightful in the context of our own very particular [Nay, peculiar? – Ed] democratic experiment: “In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person–Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates–ask them five questions: “What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? …