In contrast to the stand-off that preceded them, again in the Irish Times, the SDLP came out of the meeting with the Irish Government talking about proposals to move forward – SDLP puts forward own proposals – “We surely now have come to the end of the line of a process of trying to manage the problems surrounding the agreement focusing exclusively on one or two parties.“Mark Durkan seemed equally concerned to emphasise that the ‘old game’ is over, saying …
Bear with me, I’ll try to get to everyone. More than one party had discussions with Bertie Ahern yesterday. David Trimble led a UUP delegation to meet with the Taoiseach and his Ministers at Government Buildings. The Irish Times has a thorough report on what was said by Mr Trimble both before the meeting and afterwards – “there is no question now of the old game continuing“Before the meeting, the Irish Times reports David Trimble setting out his reasons for …
A little aside from the agitated world of Northern Irish high politics, to something entirely petty. Can someone clarify the wording in the URL of this page? Is it just me, or is someone at SDLP HQ having a laugh at the expense of the party’s security spokesman, with prattwoodwelcomesclosure… etc.. 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 …
GERRY Adams tells the Village that after the talks collapsed, the Government intended to implement those parts of the Agreement that it could without a deal being in place. He says that it was in the context of discussions about those aspects that could implemented, that the robbery of the Northern took place.Adams’ implication is that the IRA would not have had the motive for collapsing talks, while others would be happy to blame them to prevent further implementation. And …
Eoghan Harris, in the Sunday Independent has some provocative advice for the political parties – “Want to defeat Sinn Fein? Then slaughter a few sacred cows” – just as, he argues, Justice Minister Michael McDowell did when Mitchel McLaughlin asked him if he considered Bobby Sands a criminal, “Any member of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael would have ducked and dithered rather than dent the halo of Saint Bobby Sands, and lost the audience at home.”He expands on the “leaky …
YOU have to take them with a pinch of salt, but a poll carried out after the Northern Bank robbery has indicated that Gerry Adams’ personal approval rating has dropped nine points – from 51% to 42% – since last October. “Significantly, 38% of those polled say they are dissatisfied with Mr Adams,” says the Examiner. A better barometer of opinion will be the results of upcoming by-elections in the south, including one in Meath where the candidate has backed …
Veteran MP and former Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Martin Smyth is to step down as MP in the next Westminster election. Former Culture Minister Michael McGimpsey has thrown his hat into the ring early. But whoever gains the nomination, it will be a tough fight for the seat with the DUP, and moderate nationalist voters will be squeezed hard behind Alisdair McDonnell’s tough battle against former BelfastMayor Alex Maskey. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …
Martin Smyth has announced that he will not be standing for re-election in South Belfast – the DUP can barely conceal their glee at the prospect of going up against a pro-Agreement unionist. Meanwhile, in the Irish News (subs req.), the independent MLA, Kieran Deeny, is reported to have scheduled a press conference for Monday and is expected to announce his candidacy for the West Tyrone constituency. Pete Baker
The results of an mrbi poll in today’s Irish Times (subs needed) show a slight drop in support for Sinn Fein, from 12% to 11% although party leader Gerry Adams’ approval rating has plummeted 9 points to 42%. Core support for the party remains unchanged at 9%.Disapproval of Adams’ leadership of his party has also risen a whopping 14 points to 38%. Bertie Ahern’s socialism approach seems to be working with Fianna Fail support up 3 points to 38% and …
THE Westminster and local government elections are to be held on the same day, Thursday, May 5.A statement from the NIO said: NIO Minister John Spellar, has announced that the date of future Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland will move from their present date of the third Wednesday in May, to the first Thursday in May. In a Written Statement to Parliament Mr Spellar said; “I am announcing that today an Order in Council has been laid to move …
IT’S not often you get questions answered this quickly, but the Irish News’ Billy Graham has the line on what action the US administration might take in the aftermath of the Northern heist. Visas for Sinn Fein members appear to be unaffected, although the focus for St Patrick’s celebrations may be slightly changed by the White House, with community workers rather than politicians taking centre stage. The court is still out on a ban on SF’s US fundraising, which might …
Congratatualtions to the Young Unionists for putting together Ireland’s first genuinely party political blog. It’s young yet, but they seem to have got the blogging idea! Short, witty, and to the point! 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
Peter Nolan, a Fianna Fail man, in exile in London runs a cracking wee blog that rarely gets entangled in Northern Ireland, but has some excellent blogging on mainstream politics, economics and development! Although I suspect Fianna Fail defies all of this attempt to define left and right politics over a range of social and economic issues. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media …
A provocative look at the centenaries of the UUP and Sinn Féin in the Blanket by Dr John Coulter who seems to be saying a plague on both your houses – Celebrate 100 Years by Undoing Betrayals. Ambrose Uprichard
LIAM Clarke suggests that Fianna Fail could provide a lifeline for constitutional nationalists if the SDLP collapses to Sinn Fein in the May poll.Clarke writes: Sinn Fein is good at playing for sympathy in the court of public opinion. Until recently, the temptation for other nationalist parties like the SDLP and Fianna Fail has been to give them a soft ride for the sake of the peace process and to support Adams against the hardliners who are supposedly yapping at …
IF the UUP are serious about an electoral pact, they should stand aside in key constituencies, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson warned today. PA reports: The East Belfast MP said: “The Ulster Unionist Party`s call for a unionist electoral pact is to some extent a diversion from the real battle for unionists at the next Westminster election. “The real contest is not between the DUP and the UUP, but between the DUP and Sinn Fein. “The unpalatable but unmistakable reality, …
SOUTH Down MP Eddie McGrady has said the SDLP should consider entering an Executive without Sinn Fein. While this may be unlikely to happen, it does indicate that some in the SDLP are losing confidence in Sinn Fein. Listen here. McGrady’s main opponent in the upcoming Westminster election, SF’s Caitriona Ruane, strongly criticised the statement.The BBC reported: Mr McGrady said that nationalist voters had been betrayed by the IRA. “If they want to exclude themselves by their extremism, there is …
Adams hits back at southern parties and calls for Green Paper on Unity in 2005 Gerry Adams says the ongoing opprobrium against Sinn Fein south of the border is merely an indication that Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are all running scared of the party’s electoral success as well as having a swipe at many parties in the south dusting off their republican credentials for the battles ahead.“It is amazing to watch the feverish efforts of parties in this …
In his keynote address at the launch of the Céad Bliain/Sinn Féin 100 event, Gerry Adams looked back at 100 years and defined his vision of the future. While mentioning current difficulties, the message was of progress and optimism. However an article in The Irish Family reports that “serious disillusionment with the current leadership and its overall strategy has taken root within the wider Republican movement”.Mr Adams in a carefully crafted speech, that contains olive branches to Unionism, was rightly …
MARK Devenport thinks Anthony McIntyre (see below) has a point when he argues that the republican movement is intent on creating crisis after crisis, with little to encourage the IRA to keep quiet except Sinn Fein’s potential electoral gains. Is the project expansionism or unity? Or maybe we should just have elections every year, to prevent more IRA activity?! The article also notes that Adams has demanded an apology from the media, if the IRA is shown not to have …
