Alex Attwood

SDLP to vote against Justice Bill amendments

David McCann on February 10, 2016, 11:08 am

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New leadership team and a new raft of MLAs fueled speculation that there might be a change in policy from the SDLP on this issue. Particularly since the new leader was stressing the “progressive” elements of his platform. However, the party has decided to stick to it’s current policy and vote against the amendments to the Justice Bill in the Assembly today. A party spokesperson said; The SDLP is a pro-life party and we do not support the extension of …

SDLP internal report predicts up to 5 seats under threat.

David McCann on November 7, 2015, 9:28 am

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From John Manley at the Irish News The Irish News has seen an internal report from the SDLP predicting up to 5 seats are under threat with seats in South Belfast, Upper Bann and West Belfast likely to fall to parties like People Before Profit and Sinn Fein. It forecasts that the party will hold its seats in the strongholds of Foyle and South Down, where it has three and two MLAs respectively. However, in Alasdair McDonnell’s Westminster constituency of …

SDLP conference – a party ill at ease with itself over opposition & strategy #sdlp13

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 9, 2013, 11:17 pm

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Over half the motions at the SDLP policy-making annual conference were addressed on Friday afternoon and evening. Participation in debate was sporadic and the numbers of delegates in the hall were low compared to the number catching up in the hotel corridors and social areas. One observer recalled that not much more than 50 people were in the hall for Friday’s health debate, and a fifth of them were lobbyists! That was a large attendance compared with mid-morning on Saturday. …

UNESCO pitches golf ball into Runkerry bunker

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on May 24, 2013, 3:15 pm

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It took a long time to work through the planning process, but in February 2012 the Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa finally received planning permission. A year later in February 2013, the National Trust lost its judicial review of the decision and have not appealed. Minister of the Environment Alex Attwood invited Unesco to visit the Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coast. Quotes from their inspection report have been released and will be considered by Unesco’s World Heritage Committee …

Attwood announces a new Windsor Park…

Mick Fealty on February 20, 2013, 12:11 pm

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At £25m, it’s one of the more modest projects, but no doubt none the less welcome for that.. Perhaps the weekend’s evidence of some rapprochement between rival supporters under unreasonable and external sectarian pressure, may herald a better future for NI soccer generally [no sniggering at the back!]. 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 …

“the looming legal row, which is due to commence on 9 January, could become a defining event for Northern Ireland…”

Pete Baker on December 30, 2012, 4:51 pm

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Well, perhaps. At the very least it might provide the basis for some actual politics, for a while… ANYhoo… The Observer’s Jamie Doward with a reminder of the upcoming legal battle over planning permission for the Bushmills Dunnes development – a 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, golf academy, 120-room hotel and 75 golf lodges complex, plus associated car parking facilities, at Runkerry, close to the Unesco World Heritage Centre Giants’ Causeway and Causeway Coast. In June this year the National Trust sought leave for a …

WHC requests UK Government “to halt the proposed development of a golf resort at the World Heritage property ‘Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast'”

Pete Baker on June 26, 2012, 8:22 pm

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The BBC reports that the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of Unesco has agreed to request “the state party of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to halt the proposed development of a golf resort at the World Heritage property ‘Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast’ until its potential impact on the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage property has been assessed”. The WHC request comes after the National Trust’s decision to seek leave for a judicial review of the decision to grant …

“Northern Ireland is the only part of these islands that does not have National Parks”

Pete Baker on June 19, 2012, 9:52 pm

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The Northern Ireland Environment Minister, the SDLP’s Alex Attwood, may have a shortlist of potential National Parks – the Mournes, the Causeway Coast and Antrim Glens, and the Fermanagh Lakelands – but he doesn’t have the required legislation in place. As the BBC report notes The minister said he hopes to designate two of the three as National Parks. “Northern Ireland is the only part of these islands that does not have National Parks,” he said. “It is time to grasp …

Belfast’s built heritage: under threat, or hindering progress?

John Ó Néill on November 22, 2011, 1:15 am

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The fate of the Swanston Linen Warehouse (aka the Athletic Stores) in Queen Street now very much hangs in the balance as Belfast City Council has signalled it’s approval of the decision to demolish the building and replace it with a mixed use developement of apartments and retail space. The Belfast Telegraph is reporting that a vote of the city council’s Town Planning Committee saw a motion to refer it back to the Planning Service backed by the Alliance and Sinn Féin …

The SDLP leadership candidates, ranked on internet use and internal organisation

Nicholas Whyte on November 3, 2011, 11:44 am

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The SDLP elects its fifth leader this coming weekend, with four male candidates in the running (the deputy leadership has been filled, without contest, by a woman). Since 1998, when the party topped the first preference tallies for the first Assembly election, the SDLP has lost votes and seats at almost every election cycle (the one exception being a sliver of a gain at the last European election) and now runs consistently 10% behind Sinn Féin, whereas twenty years ago …

Green Party conference: nuclear power, environmental governance, and a visit from Minister Attwood

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 25, 2011, 9:00 am

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Update – post covering the content of the Green Party conference now published, including audio of the speeches and debates. Environmental governance and nuclear power … these nearly seem like clichéd themes for the Green Party NI to discuss at their annual conference next weekend. While the two leaders’ speeches will no doubt cover other aspects of Green Party policy, including economic and social issues, the main thrust of the agenda is focussed on traditional ‘green’ topics. SDLP Environment Minster …

Minister responsible for Council reform told by Castle time is over for debate…

Mick Fealty on October 7, 2011, 9:46 am

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None of us should take for granted the benefits of having our politicians work together after years of bloody violence on Belfast streets. But here’s a good example of what happens when someone wants to get something done. If it is a Sinn Fein Education Minister who wants to abolish selection in schools, s/he cannot do so without agreement between both parties in Stormont Castle (aka OFMDFM). Now we are seeing the opposite dynamic in train. Both Sinn Fein and …