Dr Ciara Kelly’s article in the Sunday Independent on 16th June: “Don’t let the old Diaspora shape our Ireland” starts from the premise that “our Ireland” is constructed entirely of Irish-born citizens resident in the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. The Sindo’s article is certainly brimming with  a sense of birthright, but only the birthright…

If you thought it had disappeared, think again. Almost eight years up close and personal with political unionism in Belfast City council taught me an important lesson, Unionist sectarianism has not disappeared. It has merely adapted and refined its language. Now let me say clearly, not every political unionist is a sectarian bigot. There are…

TALKS: THAT PANTOMIME ON THE POLITICAL HILL CANNOT CONTINUE – By Brian Rowan In the Stormont Talks structure that often-described window of opportunity has already been stretched – from something quite narrow into some wider construct. Now, in mid-June, it is getting ever closer to decision time; what to do with these talks in the…

  This website has obtained some of the latest discussion documents from inside the Talks – papers on key issues that will make or break this latest effort to put a broken Stormont back together again.  They cover rights, language and identity and the future sustainability of the political institutions if they are restored.  A…

I apologise profusely for asking people to return to the polling stations. There really is no choice. The politicians must be propelled into action and shaken out of their negative lethargy. It is glaringly and despairingly obvious that the talks optics expose the inability of the MLAs to resolve their differences. Experience teaches me to…

The discussion about referendums on this island to determine our constitutional future is odd. It is plagued by party political disputes and rivalries. Some of this is based on genuine differences of view on matters of substantive disagreement; some is anchored in myth and caricature. For example, more work has been done than people seem…

Groundhog day doesn’t quite cut it anymore. The latest announcement that the current round of talks have been extended again barely registered as the PR team up at Stormont desperately scrambled for a new adjective to describe the next instalment of negotiations. ‘Intense’ is what they have settled on this time. Whilst the adjectives may…

As the talks on the restoration of power-sharing have ‘intensified’, the most unhelpful zero-sum prism for measuring any outcomes is the notion that any one party’s ‘demands’ cannot be seen to prevail over others. Not only does this distract from the merits of each issue, but it also presents the status quo as some sort of level…

With media focus shifting to the ongoing party leadership tussle at Westminster, the results of recent local government and European elections continue to reverberate, as commentators and pro-union activists with a presence on social media and print, debate the potential of an emerging ‘liberal unionism’, and possible creation of a liberal unionist political party. Views…

  In this place of political checkmate, they were playing chess on Friday; the Ulster Schools’ finals sponsored by Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle. It is  two-plus years since the collapse of the institutions triggered by the resignation of the late Martin McGuinness in January 2017.  We are now watching the latest phase of talks, waiting…

When you read inside the Stormont papers you come across this sentence: “The significance attached to the forthcoming centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland was highlighted by some parties, including the need to put in place a programme to support and facilitate the commemoration of this historic milestone.” Then, two-plus years into this political…

The Stormont Talks move to their next level and phase on Monday; a step up from the five working groups to a leaders’ negotiation that will stretch across the month of June. Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Secretary of State Karen Bradley will meet leadership delegations from the five main Stormont parties as the logistics of…

Congratulations to Naomi Long MEP. Excuse my confusion though in how being neither a unionist or a nationalist fits into Brexit . Neutrality along these lines is a deceptive mist spraying the elitist liberals with fairy dust . When Naomi openly declares to be either British or Irish the luvvie concept of neutrality is a…

It was always going to be a day of spin on the Stormont hill. The governments have the parties inside a room and want to keep them there. So, the talking will continue through June. Indeed, it will intensify. Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann spoke of the “mood music” being “a lot better”. Can we…

Results in the local government elections and those for the European Union suggest that it will no longer be maintained by Union Flag -clad tables in Orange Halls, over-playing of the Constitutional card, ambivalence towards communal criminality and bonfire vandalism, the denial of equal rights and cultural diversity, the demonization of life-styles that do not…