Artificial Mechanisms Killing Assembly
Belfast Telegraph London Editor, Brian Walker outlines benefits of non-mandatory coalition, and list system for electing Assembly. Philip Weir
Negotiations
Adams calls for end to negotiations?
Apparently Gerry Adams wants the British to impose a solution, on the DUP. 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
DUP says prepare for change…
Interesting statement just issued by Gregory Campbell, in which he tells Sinn Fein and the SDLP to prepare for change. It’s primarily noteable as a nicely weighted inversion of an earlier nationalist narrative that Unionists were naturally averse to change? 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
DUP want governments to bolt decomm down
The DUP delegation is off to Dublin this morning to meet the Ahern boys, Bertie and the new broom at the DFA, Dermot. The main theme for the meeting from a DUP perspective is to find out how secure the decommissioning deal is likely to be. 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 …
Murphy: is plan B new legislation?
After getting a look at Paul Murphy’s intended speech from last night, it looks like plan B may be simply to enact legislation that may not be agreed to by one or other of the two contending parties. Sinn Fein is not happy. However such a hopping movement has been a theme of the process so far (think IMC). It’s an not entirely left field proposal. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …
Peace process: slow burning success
The peace process is slow and frustrating, but the Jimmy Burns at the FT reckons that the two governments have set their sights on Christmas as a target for political agreement. Of course there is no promise on a timeframe for restoring institutions, but that may emerge as part of a deal done by Christmas. As one seasoned observer told Slugger recently, “we’re looking at September, next year”! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …
Nationalists looking for totalitarian rule?
Bob McCartney argues that much of the governments’ line after last week’s talks pushed the idea that the IRA had in principle agreed to decommission and that all that remained were a number of minor details raised by the DUP.Accountablity he argues is much more central to a fair and honest long term settlement. He further adds that “…it is Sinn Fein and the SDLP who want, not majority rule, but totalitarian rule in their chosen departments. The reason is …
Dr Paisley goes to Dublin…
It’s a measure of how relaxed the DUP has become in its relations with Dublin that a delegation from its party is to visit Bertie Ahern and whoever his new Minister for Foreign Affairs is on Thursday. With Brian Cowen being tipped for a move in tomorrow’s cabinet reshuffle, the Doc is scheduled to make his first ever visit to an Irish government building in the Republic itself. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …
Negotiations: close to substance of deal…
Interesting and thoughtful analysis from someone on the Independent staff. In particular it notes the presence of a group of academics last week who “…were amazed that parties should get so near agreement and fail to make the final connection”. 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
SDLP throws spotlight onto DUP…
THE SDLP has published a document in an attempt to rubbish the DUP’s proposals for restoring devolved government. Thanks to Ciaran.I got asked for a password after clicking on this link, but it seems to work fine if you ‘Cancel’ it. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Trimble wants spotlight back on republicans…
THE UUP have released a paper of proposals which aims to throw the political spotlight back onto republicans. Fred Cobain has his own ideas, involving the UUP in official opposition – leaving the DUP in an Executive with the SDLP and Sinn Fein. Probably a non-runner though. In other Ulster Unionist news, Dermot Nesbitt has announced he will stand against Iris Robinson in Strangford in the next Westminster election. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
It’s about the DUP not the IRA
Harry Browne, a former Irish Times journalist and lecturer at Dublin Institute of Technology, wonders why the focus remains entirely on when the IRA is going to decommission, when most of the substantive points not agreed on revolve around the DUP’s objections to the current Belfast Agreement. 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, …
Groundhog Day: afraid of moving on to tomorrow?
Noel Whelan was in close and personal on the latest rounds of talks at England’s luxurious Leeds Castle. He believes that there’s a danger the two lead party’s are getting too comfortable in the high profile position of not making a deal. 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: …
Solution is in the hands of main players
This will no doubt have Andrew at A Tangled Web fuming this morning. In yesterday’s column, Brian Feeney taunts the DUP with that perennial old chestnut that it simply doesn’t want to share power. He also argues that it has nowhere left to go.It’s a safe line for any nationalist commentator to take, as although the DUP may have de facto shared power with Catholics in Stormont, they have not yet been privy to any deal that publicly legitimises powersharing. …
Two dogs that didn’t bark
Interesting reference to a Sherlock Holmes classic (is this a UUP thing?) – the dog that didn’t bark – from Steven King. By which he means the absence of anti Agreement rhetoric from the DUP at Leeds Castle, and the no show from the IRA on decommissioning. Remember Steven’s in Dublin on Friday. 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 …
Accountability still under discussion…
A SIZEABLE chunk of the discussions in Stormont have continued to focus on the issue of ministerial accountability. Accountability is not necessarily a ministerial straitjacket. Proper accountability is a democratic norm in most liberal democracies, but the Agreement precludes liberal democracy. What we ended up with was a system whereby ministerial sanctions were completely ineffective.The Agreement states that “Ministers will have full executive authority in their respective areas of responsibility”, something that the SDLP and Sinn Fein have, understandably, defended …
De Chastelain still in Ireland and still waiting
Barney Rowan, the BBC’s security editor, believes that rumours of an IRA act of decommissioning this week were premature and that in effect there’s little progress to be expected until future political arrangements are agreed amongst the review parties. 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
DUP working on response paper
Peter Robinson has promised that his party will be working overtime to produce its own paper to meet it objects in the Government’s proposals obtained by the BBC yesterday. 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
Code to reign in ministers?
According to a paper obtained by the BBC, the Governments have laid out new proposals that would allow a limited form of censure by the Assembly for individual ministers. It also contains a number of safeguard measures for continuity in the future running of the Assembly by repealing the suspension legislation the Northern Ireland Act of 2000, and allowing individual ministers the right to attend meetings of cross border bodies. So far we’ve not seen any party comment. Mick FealtyMick …
A wider angle needed
While much of the media has narrowed its optimistic focus to concentrate on the minutiae of the mechanisms of accountability, Frank Millar in the Irish Times takes a wide-angle look at the aftermath of the Leeds Castle talks, and sees a shadow on the image.In Millar’s view the dancing leading up to the talks, and the various statements that have folowed, has left the DUP and Sinn Féin in a position to continue to blame the other for any failure …