Martin McGuinness

Gerry Adams’ White House ‘controversy’: “Quite apart from being bumptious, paranoid and absurdly self-pitying…”

Pete Baker on March 19, 2016, 7:51 pm

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In the Irish News Newton Emerson highlights the unintended consequences of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ intemperate outburst following his recent misunderstanding with security at the White House. From the Irish News GERRY Adams could have been pragmatic and diplomatic about being locked out of President Obama’s St Patrick’s Day reception and simply laughed it off. It is all too believable that the White House has the same hapless jobsworths in its security hut as everywhere else – and that has …

When your leader is your greatest electoral asset, use them

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on March 10, 2016, 2:08 pm

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LEADER RATINGS – Back in October, Mike Nesbitt had the highest rating of the five party leaders. Peter Robinson languished behind, only ahead of Alasdair McDonnell. Fast forward five months and two leadership changes later, Arlene Foster is top of the polls. Though much less of a bounce for Colum Eastwood who should be worried that he’s rated alongside Arlene Foster in the eyes of nationalists and barely ahead of David Ford.

Mr Eastwood; Your task this weekend if you choose to accept it

David McCann on March 9, 2016, 11:39 am

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In Westminster they say being leader of the opposition is the worst job in British politics, if we were to extend the metaphor to Northern Ireland, then being the SDLP leader must be one of the worst jobs in Stormont. Think about it for a moment, your party has just come out of a leadership contest and electorally you’re down in the dumps. This is Colum Eastwood’s inheritance and the task he faces to turn this ship around. His first …

“We say it’s highly improper and unorthodox, effectively OFMDFM are seeking to resist the grant of leave against the Department of Justice.”

Pete Baker on February 19, 2016, 4:55 pm

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A Belfast High Court judge has adjourned the application for a judicial review of the controversial new law criminalising the paying for sex following a last minute intervention by the Northern Ireland Attorney General on behalf of the Office of the NI First and Deputy First Ministers (OFMDFM). Interestingly, as the BBC report notes A barrister representing the [NI Department of Justice] confirmed it was not opposing Ms Lee’s application for a judicial review of the new law, on the basis that an arguable …

Second Chance at Re-Selection for Sinn Féin’s Phil Flanagan – Updated

Pete Baker on January 30, 2016, 3:54 pm

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Sinn Féin’s other notorious tweeter, Phil Flanagan, MLA, may be facing a sizeable bill for libelling the UUP’s Tom Elliot, but the party’s central office has given him a second chance at continuing his political career. He was deselected by his party constituency organisation on 13 December last year, but earlier this month the party’s Ard Chomhairle decided to re-run the selection process in Fermanagh/South Tyrone. On 22 January, The Impartial Reporter noted Mr. Flanagan refused to comment when contacted by this newspaper, …

Martin McGuinness switches back to run for the City he’s never left…

Mick Fealty on January 22, 2016, 10:30 am

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RETURN OF THE NATIVE: Mr McGuinness comes back to represent a constituency he never actually left, seeking to pressurise the SDLP machine – who need to defend three seats against both Sinn Fein and People Before Profit candidates – in hopes of weakening its efforts elsewhere.

McGuinness would consider going to the Twelfth of July.

David McCann on January 21, 2016, 5:43 pm

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From Rodney Edwards in the Impartial Reporter today. He quotes the Deputy First Minister as saying; I keep meeting people within the community, my community, who say I am doing too much reaching out, who say it is not being reciprocated. I say, that’s not a good enough reason for me to stop doing it and I intend to continue to do it because it’s the right thing to do. Speaking about 12th July, McGuinness said; I think it’s important …

Full Steam Ahead, Arlene and Martin.

Soapbox on January 13, 2016, 7:00 am

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FULL STEAM AHEAD: “If you keep voting for the DUP and Sinn Fein, nothing will change.” A phrase I often hear from cynical politicos and commentators alike and a phrase I’m sure you have heard too.
Well, let’s look at what has happened under the DUP and Sinn Fein, accepting the other Executive parties’ narrative that they are not in the same executive when in reality they are.

Lord Kilclooney: “I am impressed by the way Martin McGuinness has developed in recent years”

David McCann on December 23, 2015, 12:32 pm

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Interesting interview from Liam Clarke with former UUP Deputy Leader, Lord Kilclooney about his relationships with former UUP leaders, his views on Same Sex Marriage and how he views the current Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. Speaking about him he said; The people who tried to kill me were the Official IRA, not the Provos, but they are all IRA to me. However, I am impressed by the way Martin McGuinness has developed in recent years. His support for the …

Foster says she wants a positive future for Northern Ireland & refuses to live in the past.

David McCann on December 18, 2015, 10:51 am

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SLUGGER INTERVIEW: Following her election as DUP leader, I sat down with Arlene Foster to talk with her about how she felt about becoming the party leader, how she views her relationships with Sinn Fein and the UUP and how she views herself becoming the first woman to lead the party. I began by asking Arlene how she felt about becoming the DUP leader so unexpectedly, when until just 10 days ago most of us thought it would be Nigel Dodds.

McGuinness pays Colum Eastwood the complement of a full bore counterattack…

Mick Fealty on December 3, 2015, 6:40 am

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EASTWOOD STINGS: One old political rule which has served SF well over the years is to avoid talking about your opponent too you are giving them and not yourself publicity. Sinn Fein has paid him back the compliment. Did something the SDLP leader said SF sting internally?

Martin McGuinness: “if the governments move as speedily as we have done, all of this could move very quickly”

Pete Baker on November 10, 2015, 10:46 pm

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After 9 weeks of behind-closed-doors talks, including an exclusive, super-sekrit, meeting in Downing Street with David Cameron, and a less sekrit meeting with Enda Kenny, the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers emerged blinking into the light today to inform the waiting press that… “The core of that agreement, the substance, has already been agreed in dialogue terms between Sinn Féin and the DUP,” [Peter Robinson] said. [added emphasis] So they haven’t put it in writing yet, never mind agreed it …

Martin McGuinness: “…it is not conducive to getting a good outcome.”

Pete Baker on October 28, 2015, 4:29 pm

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Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness doesn’t appear to have had much to say today about the behind-closed-doors talks at Stormont – apart from telling the BBC’s Chris Page The timeframe for a deal in Stormont’s inter-party talks is “days, not weeks”, the deputy first minister has said. Martin McGuinness said he believed a deal was “achievable” and that the talks process was “intensifying”. Still, it’s good to see Sinn Féin on the same page as the Prime Minister, David Cameron, at …

Whether we like it or not there is a very bad smell emanating from the past….

Mick Fealty on October 9, 2015, 2:36 pm

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So victims are ripping for justice whilst the Justice Minister tells them that the new arrangements will bring at maximum two convictions. Those convicted before 1998 have served not more than two years, which neatly fits with the fact that no one has been convicted since then in accordance with a secret plea (bar individuals like Gerry McGeough who was arrested after running against SF in 2007) made by Gerry Adams (to the Brits) that such would be against the …

Cartoon – Spall and Meaney play “Chuckle Brothers”

Brian Spencer on October 6, 2015, 2:18 pm

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Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney have been confirmed to play Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in the movie ‘The Journey’. The news takes us back to 2007 and that momentous event we remember fondly as the “Chuckle Brothers” moment. Contrasting that hope with the toxic partisanship of today it’s probably better to do as they did and laugh it off rather than to cry. Brian SpencerBrian is a writer, artist, political cartoonist and legal blogger. Actively tweeting from @brianjohnspencr. More …

Has Enda made the calculation that taking on Sinn Fein is more important than devolution?

David McCann on September 5, 2015, 3:30 pm

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We are fast approaching the next Irish general election. Down in the polls at the moment, Kenny is determined to become the first ever Fine Gael leader in Irish history to win two consecutive terms in office. This will go nicely with his claim to have led the party to its biggest ever victory at the last election (in seat count anyway). Often living in Northern Ireland we forget that we are not really a big issue in Southern politics …

Building trust and policing for the present – Martin McGuinness and George Hamilton at #feile15

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on August 6, 2015, 11:58 pm

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Around 400 people filled the assembly hall of St Mary’s University College to hear deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness and PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton discuss the challenges of dealing with the past under the eye of chair Brian Rowan. Another 100 or more stood along the pavement outside St Mary’s protesting at the presence of the Chief Constable in West Belfast and calling for an end to “British internment in Ireland”. A tannoy blasted music over the railing towards …

“Still, there are words for the sort of reception meted out, and the most polite are ‘low’ and ‘key’.”

Pete Baker on July 31, 2015, 5:17 pm

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Meanwhile, back at the ranch… or, rather, as far away from the ranch as you can reasonably get… For the benefit of those concerned about accountability and the democratic process… Liam Clarke has some points to make about Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, and the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness’ recent, separate, trips to the US. In that situation, how much priority would you give when tapped on the arm and told that the Northern Ireland …

Cartoon – Martin Varoufakis

Brian Spencer on June 26, 2015, 12:45 pm

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Yesterday Theresa Villiers hosted the Stormont House Agreement Implementation Review meeting with the 5 Executive parties and Irish Government. Word has it Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness fired a verbal volley at Secretary of State. Very Varoufakis. Brian SpencerBrian is a writer, artist, political cartoonist and legal blogger. Actively tweeting from @brianjohnspencr. More information here: http://www.brianjohnspencer.com/ www.brianjohnspencer.com/

McGuinness: Sinn Fein will offer conditional support to the Budget Bill

David McCann on June 22, 2015, 5:06 pm

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Martin McGuinness briefed the media earlier today in Stormont informing us that following a meeting of the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle over the weekend that the party will offer conditional support for the Budget bill currently working its way through Stormont. Here is a bit of what he said to the media; As all of you will know the national leadership of Sinn Fein met yesterday in County Kildare, that is the Ard Chomhairle that we are members of and there is …