Paul Givan

SluggerTV – the DUP melodrama episode

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 21, 2021, 8:54 pm | Readers 2403

Commentators Tim Cairns and Sarah Creighton joined Slugger O’Toole’s deputy editor David McCann to discuss the dramatic loss of a second leader and the challenges ahead for the DUP in the latest episode of SluggerTV. What tipped the balance to end Edwin Poots’ leadership? How will the next leader be different? If there’s a by-election in Lagan Valley, might Brenda Hale run for the DUP, and what about the chances of Alliance’s Sorcha Eastwood and UUP’s Robbie Butler? What’s Edwin …

Poots “Ultimately it was my intention had we not got success on the Protocol… then I would have been prepared to pull Paul Givan out of that job”

David McCann on June 21, 2021, 6:50 pm | Readers 3554

Outgoing DUP Leader, Edwin Poots sat down with SKY News Correspondent, David Blevins to talk about the events of last week. In the interview he made a defence of keeping the Assembly to fight the protocol; My focus was on the Northern Ireland Protocol first and foremost because constitutionally that is what is damaging Northern Ireland. “Our best asset at this moment in time in fighting the Protocol is actually having the Assembly.” He also spoke about nominating Paul Givan …

DUP’s Paul Givan wrote to AG yesterday (not in June) asking if NI Assembly had legislative competence to pass Protection of Unborn Child Act at its sitting on 21 October 2019

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 21, 2019, 5:18 pm | Readers 3742

Read through the Private Members Bill that the DUP tried to bring before the NI Assembly using Standing Order 77 this morning. This post previously claimed that the DUP had written to the Attorney General about the bill on 20 June. A DUP spokesperson rebutts that claim: “This was a typing error. The date should have read 20th October rather than 20th June.” Hopefully their bill drafting was more accurate than the letter-writing …

Runners and Riders to be the next Finance Minister

David McCann on December 10, 2015, 4:24 pm | Readers 2099

HAND ON THE TILLER: We have all been obsessed over the last few days with who will take the First Minister post. Yet, Arlene Foster’s promotion leaves an important vacancy that will have to be filled and lets not forget we have a budget to be presented at the end of January.

Jenny Palmer: Betrayed by the DUP

The Firemen on May 20, 2015, 10:00 am | Readers 3646

Yesterday was not a good day for the DUP. First was the verdict on the Ashers ‘gay cake’ case – an issue that seems to have become inextricably linked to the DUP thanks to the support from figures within the party. Paul Givan appeared on television shortly afterwards to give his ‘verdict‘ on the actual verdict. Mr. Givan also committed to pursue his doomed conscience clause. Then came last night’s compelling BBC NI Spotlight programme on Jenny Palmer; the ‘whistleblower’ who …

Presbyterian Church stops short of endorsing but supports principle of “conscience” bill, calls for reasonable accommodation & debate

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 25, 2015, 10:00 pm | Readers 953

Yesterday, Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor was part of a delegation that met Paul Givan and others in the DUP to discuss the “Conscience Clause” Private Members Bill. Tonight the Presbyterian Church’s Council for Church in Society (the body within the denomination authorised to deliberate and speak on matters of public policy) has published their 22-point response to the consultation. The full text and accompanying statement is on the denomination’s website. The Council’s document is broadly in …

The dirtiest words in politics

The Firemen on February 19, 2015, 9:35 pm | Readers 3438

The petition of concern was designed to protect minority rights in the Stormont Assembly. As former SDLP leader Mark Durkan explained “the petition of concern facility was put into the agreement to safeguard communal sensitivities and specifically to protect equality and human rights considerations”. Alliance MP Naomi Long pointed out that “the petition of concern was designed to offer protection to minorities within the assembly, where decisions of a sensitive nature risked being imposed upon them against their will.” Unfortunately …

Same sex marriage? No thanks we’re British

The Firemen on January 2, 2015, 6:10 pm | Readers 2921

As of January 1st 2015 Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where same sex marriage remains illegal. A new law on gay marriage came into effect in Scotland in December 2014 and the first same sex weddings were held at 00:01 on Hogmanay. A total of 250 couples have converted their civil partnerships to marriage since the new law – the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill – came into effect on 16 December. Same-sex marriage …

DUP proposal to grant freedom of Lisburn to the Orange Order

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on August 28, 2012, 9:32 pm | Readers 279

At tonight’s monthly meeting of Lisburn City Council, Alderman Givan (DUP) proposed that the contribution of the Orange Order throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland be recognised by conveying the Freedom of Lisburn on the organisation. [I recorded a quick interview with Paul Givan after the council meeting ended.] The freedom of the city is usually only given once per council term. Blind water skier Janet Gray, cardiologist Frank Pantridge (who pioneered the portable defibrillator), Olympic gold medallist …

#onthehill The middle letter in M L A is Legislative

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on December 14, 2011, 11:24 pm | Readers 14

Before the plenary session on Tuesday, two charities had arranged photo opportunities with MLAs to promote campaigns – one disability-related, the other fuel poverty. The UUP’s Michael Copeland was well prepared with his furry hat for the outside snaps. Speaking to @MCopelandMLA this morning: "it strikes me as a piece of drama" (mp3) He spoke to me about his long working hours and the volume of constituency work. People say we [MLAs] need to be at a certain higher strategic …

Unregistered interests: ca. 50% of MLAs don’t declare £150 payments from Lobbyist Company?

Blank on June 30, 2011, 5:34 pm | Readers 34

There are lots of interesting little details in the Assembly Register of Member’s Interests. Two MLAs being paid a small sum for filling in surveys isn’t one of them: Miscellaneous Interests Jim Wells and Paul Givan Stratagem Northern Ireland: a survey company which occasionally surveys the views of MLAs on a wide range of issues. A fee of £50.00 is payable for each survey completed. You can find the results of numerous Stratagem surveys of MLAs online but details of …