DUP – Page 54 – Slugger O'Toole

Simon Coveney to address the DUP…

Mick Fealty on November 19, 2012, 10:39 am

| Readers 56

And here’s a first, a Fine Gaeler, indeed a southern Minister of any description, is to address the DUP party conference for the first time ever… The rational is intesting, a commonality of interests in Europe around CAP: Diane Dodds MEP said it was important to engage with “all actors within the Common Agricultural Policy reform process . . . Simon Coveney has over the last number of months prepared himself for the task ahead. He has visited other parts …

DUP leaflet accuses Alliance Party of ‘ununionist activities’…

Mick Fealty on November 13, 2012, 7:34 pm

| Readers 192

So, the DUP even up the councillor score on Belfast City Council and now there’s a leaflet specifically attacking the Alliance party. Anyone feel a heave coming on? Here’s an interesting detail: The UUP has also confirmed its councillors were involved in distributing the leaflets and said flag policy was an emotive issue for unionists. The leaflets are printed in the Alliance party’s distinctive yellow colours and include the telephone numbers for its headquarters and east Belfast office. Over the …

Frank McCoubrey comes in from the cold…

Mick Fealty on November 13, 2012, 3:05 pm

| Readers 257

And in other council news, Frank McCoubrey – formerly of the UDA aligned UDP – comes into the DUP on Belfast City Council. The UDP disbanded some years ago of course, when someone forgot to re-register the party with the Electoral Commission. His defection, as Squinter calls it is from the UUP whip, which he rather surreptitiously took up at some point before 2009. It’s an interesting ‘acquisition’ for the DUP, which has struggled in the past to garner enough …

Kearney of Sinn Fein’s “reconcilation” pitch deserves a considered response

Brian Walker on October 25, 2012, 1:28 am

| Readers 152

The pitch made within the precincts of Westminster last night by Declan Kearney the up and coming Sinn Fein chairperson, for “national reconciliation within Ireland through uncomfortable conversations” was more than the usual rally cry for exiles and republican sympathisers. It was a pull-together of the Sinn Fein package for the future, carefully and not unattractively wrapped. Cynics will dismiss it as a cracked record and it can be pulled apart (and no doubt duly will be). But cumulatively and …

“The peace process was always intended to be about more than an absence of violence…”

Pete Baker on October 22, 2012, 2:16 pm

| Readers 35

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s criticism of the Irish Government’s ‘complacency’ over Northern Ireland echoes that of the Labour Party’s Vernon Coaker in regard to the UK Government. And that was more a disagreement on strategy, rather than a difference of opinion on the problems with the NI administration – as outlined in July by former NI Secretary of State, Owen Paterson. All of which somewhat undermines Louth TD Gerry Adams’ attempted defence of the northern wing of his party. ANYhoo… the Irish …

When cherishing equal citizenship falls short on equality

Stephen Glenn on September 29, 2012, 12:03 am

| Readers 57

Patrick Corrigan wrote on Slugger yesterday asking “Equal marriage – how long will Northern Ireland’s gay couples have to wait?”. Today the DUP lodged a Petition of Concern against the motion which is to be debated in Stormont on Monday. As Steven Agnew tweeted ” Legislation designed to protect minorities used to prevent the passing of a motion to enhance minority rights”. This on the same day that the DUP were happily celebrating the Ulster Covenant, a document which calls on …

“…this DUP attempt to shift responsibility to Dublin, is a fiction too far.”

Mick Fealty on September 25, 2012, 8:31 am

| Readers 67

Fascinating OpEd in yesterday’s Irish News from Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin. It’s the first time since I remember that a senior political leader in the Republic has taken the gloves off with anyone in Northern Ireland, let alone the First and deputy First Minister. So what is it that’s got his goat? Nothing less than the DUP’s motion in the Assembly (hot on the heels of the SDLP using the same mechanism to embarrass both ‘ruling parties’) criticising the …

Welcome to Northern Ireland!

Pete Baker on August 6, 2012, 6:46 pm

| Readers 276

With a little local difficulty exposing something of a north/south divide within his own party, Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has decided to have an argument about road signs. “Welcome to Northern Ireland” road signs… Apparently, he’s concerned about the cost. The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said: “The erection of these signs has angered many living in border communities who suffer the negative impact of partition on a daily basis and a large proportion of are completely opposed to the unnatural division …

Cameron: “it’s local politicians who have to deliver on that”.

Pete Baker on August 1, 2012, 9:37 pm

| Readers 57

Prime Minister David Cameron was in Northern Ireland today, as part of a UK-wide tour to promote the Olympics. But despite their recent complaints, neither the NI First and deputy First Ministers appear to have been able to schedule a meeting. According to Martina Purdy, The first and deputy first ministers were not on hand to meet the prime minister as both are on holiday. [Both!? At the same time? – Ed] Indeed. And, as I said in slightly different circumstances, that’s why you …

A new take on pride and prejudice…

Belfast Gonzo on August 1, 2012, 10:26 am

| Readers 47

SO fair play to Lord Mayor of Belfast Gavin Robinson for being the first from the DUP to take a seat on the panel of Belfast Pride Talks Back debate. I’m sure he doesn’t feel any less straight the morning after the night before, and the move certainly upstaged the rest of the panel. Whether it actually means anything in terms of their policies remains to be seen. As a mayor for everyone, will Gavin be at the Gay Pride parade, …

Shotgungate: a visual comment

Brian Spencer on July 28, 2012, 1:58 am

| Readers 69

With the news that DUP Health Minister Edwin Poots sent a few shotgun rounds across the bow in order to warn off a few no good intruders doing the round I had to put this riveting imagery to cartoon. I further felt the shotgun imagery was readily applicable to the Poots blood donor controversy that went on a few months ago and I quickly put together a cartoon on that, as you can see below: Brian SpencerBrian is a writer, …

“they demonstrate clearly their disdain for the democratic process”

Pete Baker on July 19, 2012, 5:06 pm

| Readers 61

The semi-detached polit-bureau are at it again. Whatever ‘it’ is… [Headline-grabbing? – Ed] Possibly… There’s certainly a lack of detail. In the absence of a sitting Northern Ireland Assembly to question them, and with no NI Executive meeting for them to jointly chair until September, the NI First and deputy First Ministers issued a statement last night. [It’s a Queens’ Speech! – Ed] Indeed. From the OFMDFM statement Commenting, Ministers said: “We are pleased to be able to give some detail on …

National Trust: “To ensure that no further misunderstanding or misrepresentation of this exhibit can occur, we have decided to review the interpretive materials in this section.”

Pete Baker on July 18, 2012, 2:05 pm

| Readers 96

As the BBC report, after a fortnight of stonewalling and denials, and temporarily closing comments at their press blog, the National Trust has announced that they intend “to review the interpretive materials” in the controversial section of their Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre. [Have the Geological Society had a word in their shell-like? – Ed] They’re still blaming everyone else. However, one small part of the visitor centre’s interpretive display has caused mixed reactions, mainly from people reacting to media coverage and …

Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre: “The National Trust fully supports the scientific explanation for the creation of the stones 60 million years ago”

Pete Baker on July 6, 2012, 4:07 pm

| Readers 210

Which is fine, but misses the point. The National Trust continues to try to defend its decision to give in to the lobbying of the Caleb Foundation and include young-Earth creationist beliefs in the Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre. [Are they after the crank pound? – Ed] Maybe… and maybe not. Yesterday’s NT press office blog carried this quote A National Trust spokesperson said: “The interpretation in the visitor centre showcases the science of how the stones were formed, the history of …

Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre: “This is, as far as we are aware, a first for the National Trust anywhere in the UK, and it sets a precedent for others to follow…”

Pete Baker on July 5, 2012, 2:27 pm

| Readers 202

John’s professed concern is misplaced. As the National Trust press release on the “new state-of-the-art visitor centre” at the Unesco World Heritage Site Giants’ Causeway noted New interactive displays and activities inside the visitor centre include an animation of the legend of Finn McCool and an innovative hand-held audio guide. Such distractions aside, and without access to the material at issue, the quotes in the UTV report from the National Trust raise serious questions. The trust said that the exhibit gives …

As the UUP continues its long gentle journey downwards…

Mick Fealty on June 22, 2012, 2:25 pm

| Readers 61

Who would be in the poor UUP? Alex Kane noted in the Belfast Telegraph on Wednesday, it is the gift to journalists that just keeps on giving, regardless of who is in charge. And the new leader does not have his troubles to seek: The problem is that there is no sign of the better policies, better organisation, or the better communications. Indeed, an opinion poll in the Belfast Telegraph last week put the UUP – at 11% – on …

DUP sending signals to the Conservative parliamentary party?

Mick Fealty on June 14, 2012, 2:45 pm

| Readers 66

This morning the Conservatives launched in Northern Ireland [what, again? – Ed] Yes, they’re NI Conservatives now rather than Conservatives NI. Now, where was I? Oh yes. There were a few names there, many of them former (unelected) supporters of the UCU-NF. Yesterday however it was the DUP rather than the local Tories who caught the attention of Conservative Home when four of their number voted with Conservatives on a vote of no confidence (and against Labour and the Lib …

Robinson and the DUP’s anti power sharing past: revision or transformation?

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2012, 4:50 pm

| Readers 100

It was only in seeing Peter Robinson on Hearts and Minds that I realised how little he’s been in public evidence recently. There seems to be a principle here that like the Queen, the less you see of him the greater the impact when he does speak. For my money not enough of the 18 minutes of his very last Hearts and Minds interview was devoted to the party’s relationship with the past. And in particular his recently expressed view …

“For much of the time, the Stormont Assembly looks more like a talking-shop.”

Pete Baker on May 29, 2012, 1:58 pm

| Readers 99

With the announcement on Girdwood [and any other business? – Ed] as a stark example of the semi-detached polit-bureau back in action, Ed Curran looks ahead The mark of the Stormont Executive has been its ability to take longer than could be imagined to arrive at decisions on many important issues. No agreed legislation means little, or nothing, to debate in the Assembly chamber. MLAs have been hard-pressed to stretch out debates in plenary sessions in recent months. For much of the …

“I do apologise for anyone who misunderstood the way I was using the metaphor…”

Pete Baker on May 16, 2012, 8:34 pm

| Readers 215

Two days after the DUP’s Jonathan Bell’s rapid apology for the Northern Ireland Junior Minsters’ two-handed assault on golf clubs. …speaking at the Community Relations Week conference, Mr Bell said: “Many communities may not paint their kerb stones or put out flags, but scratch the surface and you find the prejudice and the hate whispered behind closed doors or joked about in golf clubs or over dinner parties.” However, speaking later on BBC NI ‘s Stormont Today, he said it …