Former DUP SpAd. One third of @stormontsources - I frequently block people. Any views I express are my own and no one else’s
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Thank you to @AllisonMorris1 who joined myself and @dmcbfs on an episode of @StormontSources discussing today’s events.
There will be other days for political implications, but today our thoughts are with the victims.
Jeffrey Donaldson Guilty piped.video/itE4is03nvQ?is=Vw1B… via @YouTube
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For people who want an insight into some of the reasons why Ian Paisley lost his seat, watch this video. The security man was just doing his job
Ian Paisley Jr has arrived in Magherafelt and wasn't for letting his son stop on the way to the ballot papers to have his wristband checked
#GE2024 #GeneralElection2024 @BelTel
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21.3% is a disaster for the DUP. If the party was a proper political party (which of course it’s not) there would be a change in the senior backroom team on Monday morning. There won’t be
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Last time I tweeted this I got roundly criticised for some unknown reason, but my view hasn’t changed. Approved garages should be allowed to undertake MOTs in Northern Ireland. Tried to book an MOT today - September is nearest date. I need one for end of June!
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Our infrastructure is prehistoric. To get a train to Dublin you buy a ticket online, queue to get a physical ticket, then queue to have a person clip ticket. Why can’t you get a ticket on your phone? @Translink_NI
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I was in a restaurant last night. Absolutely filled with tourists. The staff were telling me they are fully booked over the weekend. Not sure what Sinead is talking about.
Everybody leaves, everything closes down , you would struggled to get a restaurant opened in Belfast on the lead up to and the couple of days after. It is a disaster for Tourism. Honestly if you can’t see this Jonathan you are living in a parallel universe. It’s sad tbh.
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Is there any need for schools to have branded sportswear as their mandatory PE and games kit? Once a brand goes on the shirt it doubles or triples in price and what does the school get out of it?
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The reality is, if a unionist politician was invited to the inauguration of the American or French President they would go. Peter Robinson went in 2011 to Irish Inauguration. This should not even be a question. The dFM should attend. To be honest I can’t actually believe it’s an issue
"I have concerns around where the Irish Presidency is going."
@DavidBrooksMLA tells @MarkCarruthers7 he is unsure whether the deputy First Minister @little_pengelly will attend the inauguration of the President of Ireland...
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Choyaa is absolutely correct. No loyalist act, doing what kneecap does, would be tolerated. They would be shutdown and cancelled from the start. So, here’s a question for journalists, why did you fawn all over kneecap at the start? Why did you allow this? You share the blame
A few thoughts from me for @SluggerOToole on Kneecap.
sluggerotoole.com/2025/05/03…
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The reality is, until QUB and UU start expelling students the Holyland problem will never be solved.
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Portrush parade is in full flow. I can confirm tourists are loving it and none have been harmed
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It appears the Belfast Telegraph may have entirely lost the plot in the last couple of weeks. The editor needs to get a grip on his staff. Very poor couple of weeks of journalism
This is the leader of the Orange lodge embroiled in a row over the scrapping of a kids’ summer camp over the involvement of children from a GAA club.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda…
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I’ve been asked lots of times by 6th formers or university students what is the best advice for getting into elected politics. I think the best advice I can give is, delete your social media
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So, let me get this right, Neale thinks the whole single market of the EU is threatened by a medium sized Asda in Northern Ireland. I’ve no words
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Alliance say “there isn’t much happening in Belfast on a Sunday” so rather than create initiatives and things for tourists to do, let’s just open M&S and force people to work…sometimes you really do despair. Do tourists on a cruise ship really want a colin caterpillar that much?
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Interesting to see people losing it because tourists and visitors to Portrush actually quite liked the parade and felt it added a bit of colour! I wonder is that silly media season over another year?
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On the Belfast bus tour. We have been told SF are only nationalists to lay a wreath at the cenotaph and no one knows who did the northern bank robbery.
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The person will never know, but a passing American tourist just stopped, put a tow rope on, towed the car out and left! #hero #PortstewartStrand
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So invited to the pub by these two. Myself and @dmcbfs and @AllisonMorris1 have literally nothing to talk about!!
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I saw this earlier and thought it was a fake! Apparently not. Get the volume up! Funniest thing you’ll see today!
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If I was in the UUP press office I’d be getting Danny Kennedy off the TV, like 5 minutes ago
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I’m really struggling to understand the Twitter hate for 3 priests getting an MBE. Seems to me these fellas are a model of tolerance, accepting of views other than their own andnon sectarian. Some people on Twitter would do well to stop criticising them and follow their example.
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Perhaps the UUP will finally realise what most of us have been saying all along - twitter likes are not votes. People who like your twitter videos are not voting for you.
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Who are the “most people” who want shops open on a Sunday? Every major city in Europe restricts opening hours on a Sunday. In many countries they are shut completely. Give people a day off for goodness sake
City Centre in Belfast at 11.30am. Surely we can do better than this for our visitors.
Last week, Alliance had a briefing on Sunday in the City looking at how we animate the city centre. Most people want longer opening hours but still being opposed. Please let us know your ideas
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I may be wrong, but wasn’t this always the plan? New apartments surrounding the building? We weren’t always meant to see it from the Lagan bridge? Isn’t new housing more important than a quick glance of a museum when driving on a motorway?
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Without doubt @JamieBrysonCPNI makes a valid point. There is a clear difference in how unionists are titled and introduced in the media when compared to nationalists.
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Unlike most of the keyboard warriors, I know Emma and she is one of the brightest and best. She will be a significant addition to the DUP MLA team
Emma Little-Pengelly to be co-opted into Lagan Valley to replace Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
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What a strange take. The GAA sold the rights to highest bidder - sky. BBCNI and UTV bid but didn’t win. Blame the people who should be blamed - that’s the GAA
For young Tyrone gaels today is the most exhilarating day of the year; not even Santa competes with Sam
Yet BBCni are blind to this; completely tone deaf to the excitement reverberating from the land of Úi Néill
180secs on Newsline if their lucky
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I’m not exactly sure what Colin thinks he did. What we saw was Ireland’s future: power cuts, wooden actors, extreme disinterest in the event and booing Ireland’s actual government!
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I just don’t get the opposition to wearing a mask. If wearing one saves just one persons life surely it’s not an imposition.
Given that there were 5 deaths related to, not caused by, Covid-19 in July and new infections remain low, it would be mad for the Health Minister to enforce the wearing of face masks in NI. Retail has been open for business throughout July with no Covid spike. Time to rethink.
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For those interested she made it to the ward about 6ish tonight - 50 some hours in A&E. The place is flat out. The staff and patients deserve better @healthdpt
The Ulster A&E: my wife @cairnsjen has been stuck in A&E for 32 hours. No beds. They say unlikely she will get a bed tonight. Our health service is a joke @healthdpt
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By Monday I guarantee we will not hear one story probing how a site was left unchecked for 8 years with highly dangerous exposed asbestos lying on it. The show will have moved on and a community, with a potential ticking health time bomb, Will once again be ignored
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Since 2003 the Sdlp have campaigned to stop the DUP. It hasn’t worked at any election and has led to decline. When will they finally realise that SF are their rival and that is who they are competing for votes with? None of their reps seem to get it on the tv coverage
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I can hardly believe this news. Christopher was a good guy and a great friend. We rowed, laughed, got banned from having chats about theology (well except Fridays), he had a great sense of humour. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers with Laura and the kids
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson pays tribute to Christopher Stalford MLA mydup.com/news/sir-jeffrey-d… via @duponline
@J_Donaldson_MP
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And with that folks, the new Ireland conversation comes to an end.
This needs nailed.
Unionists have zero right to demand a change to the Irish national flag. Having never countenanced changing the Union Flag over the past century, it is breathtakingly arrogant to assert that the flag ‘must’ be changed before constitutional change.
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Well done Jamie, you won’t get the credit you deserve for this, but none-the-less this was a simply brilliant/clever use of the law. You should be proud of your intervention tonight
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It’s coming home or it’s off to Rome. Ironically that was the DUP election slogan for the 1984 European Parliament election
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if today’s judgement prevails a number of things pro protocol politicians say have been exposed as a lie.
What we now know:
This is constitutional, not just a few admin checks
The Belfast Agreement has been set aside
The protocol has nothing to do with maintaining peace in NI
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The only way to solve the trolling issue is for social media companies to stop allowing anonymous accounts. Yes people can be anonymous if they wish, but the social media company should hold their details. Well done @carlalockhart for taking legislative action
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I’m told by @AllisonMorris1 I will get 500 followers if I tweet a picture with her. @dmcbfs probably costs the likes!
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Paul Givan was never going anywhere (why would he?) SF weighing in behind a motion of no confidence only strengthens his position.
Paul has been the most effective minister in the executive and will continue to be so
Paul Givan is going nowhere. Unionists will not be bullied by the whims of the Pan-Republican front.
I choose who serves as a DUP Minister and whatever about the faux outrage and petty politicking, Paul has my full support.
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Chris Buckler, who interrupts everyone, didn’t once interrupt Naomi Long. His interview was the journalistic equivalent of an overexcited poodle licking someone in the face
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This is a strange piece. Why do we need to set one case against another? Suzanne is the same as those she criticises for giving references for Irvine, she’s minimising what kneecap have done, why? Why is it so hard to just condemn both? Totally baffling
Loyalist Winkie Irvine with his boot-load of deadly weapons is a peacemaker with no terrorist connection, a court rules. Kneecap's Mo Chara faces a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig. Whatever this is, it ain't justice.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opini…
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Why would Stormont pay anymore? football not getting anymore than was promised (which is now nowhere near what is needed) Rugby getting no more money. Why is Casement park more important than The Oval, The Brandywell or Solitude? all need significant increase in funding.
British govt's £50m for the redevelopment of Casement Park is at the lower end of the predicted funding. Dublin & GAA expected to raise their contributions but there's still a significant shortfall. All eyes now on Stormont to see if it's willing to work towards bridging the gap.
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It’s interesting how touchy they are about this!
The new Ireland mask well and truly slipped over how Heather Humphreys was treated by some in the Irish media. We can see it!
Despite what they say, unionists will have no place in an all Ireland.
"You can't even tolerate someone whose husband might have worn a colour that wants to be president of your country. My goodness! I mean, you people should be ashamed of yourself!"
@timcairns on Heather Humphreys, the Orange Order, and the Irish Presidential election
@dmcbfs
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So @BELFASTCITY_AIR air now charging you £60 if you drop off on the road outside drop off zone. As far as I know there is no sign about this. So they must have a camera but no warning. Fairly underhanded
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Watched my first GAA match start to finish. I’m completely baffled as to what constitutes a foul, some grabbing got penalised while other contact went unpunished. I get that grabbing the neck is a foul and a card, but what is a regular foul? When does contact cross the line?
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So we have a 5 point DUP plan. I wonder how the DUP's 8 point plan in 2017, the 5 point plan in 2016 and the 5 point plan promised in 2011 are getting on?
The warnings from today's DUP election launch could have been copied and pasted from 2016 and that approach is presenting a problem that is simultaneously bolstering the Alliance Party, according to @SJAMcBride
#AE22 belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opini…
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I doubt too many workers will be ‘delighted’ to have to work on a Sunday morning. Sunday opening is a ridiculous obsession.
Delighted council ratified my proposal to develop plans for a pilot extended Sunday trading scheme.
We want to see a vibrant, prosperous city centre that’s family friendly and open for business, while protecting workers rights.
The report will also include car free Sundays.
ALT Graphic drawing of Belfast with a shop with a sign reading ‘open Sundays’. Overlaid text reads ‘Extend Sunday trading hours for Belfast’.
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The DUP underutilise Carla Lockhart on the media. She is excellent. She handled a robust interview on talkback with ease
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In a week when there has been - across the board - genuine reflection on the life of the pope and all parties (including the TUV) have been appropriately reflective, Chris’ comments are clearly out of step. Emma you did not need to respond but good on you for doing so.
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Clever of @SteveAikenUUP to steal the headlines on the day of the DUP conference. He seems to have started his leadership on the front foot. At least he’s offering a choice which is undoubtably good for unionism
Mr Aiken said the DUP had "besmirched unionism with its corruption and sleaze".
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
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So just catching up with the news, but am I reading twitter correctly? Education minister goes to see school and that is making people angry? Unbelievable!
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The Ulster A&E: my wife @cairnsjen has been stuck in A&E for 32 hours. No beds. They say unlikely she will get a bed tonight. Our health service is a joke @healthdpt
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Belfast is a cartel, that’s why prices are so high. It needs to be stopped. The decision by the Minister and the Views of Hospitality Ulster just protect the cartel. I was in the Lake District recently and costs were a third less than Belfast. A variety of pubs with different offerings in each one. Belfast is identikit, sell the same, at same high price, with no variety or competition. It’s depressing that this will continue for years to come
Hospitality Ulster welcomes Minister's decision to retain Surrender Principle
Read More: tinyurl.com/4x3fnnkx
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It’s interesting how a change in President has shifted the focus from chlorinated American chicken to horrible Aussie beef.
.@columeastwood criticises @BorisJohnson over the protocol and asks: "Why is he prioritising cheap dodgy beef from Australia over the concerns of people in NI and reducing checks in the Irish Sea?" PM responds govt is working to ensure economic integrity of UK is protected
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Welcome for whom? Our daughter in tears as she won’t be able to sit the test she has worked so hard for and now faces an uncertain lottery with no plan B. So certainly not welcomed by her.
The decision to cancel transfer tests due to take place this week is welcome.
This year has been emotionally and mentally challenging enough for children without the burden of these exams.
DUP minister now needs to provide clarity on other exams.
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For those still exercised at the UUP for not signing a PoC, let’s not forget the DUPs policy (and it was a DUP initiative) to reduce the assembly to 90 seats (they believed it would cleverly squeeze the UUP) has been a disaster for unionism. They would have had 30 signatures
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Given the throngs allowed at today’s GAA match, should be no problem getting season ticket holders into every Irish league match
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During the period of suspension, Alliance were on every radio and TV show selling how incredible NI could be if Stormont was back. They would drive a change agenda. The only change delivered has been further decline and Irish language signs. People are underwhelmed. This is reflected in the poll
Exclusive | Alliance Party hit by another drop in polls as unionists make gains
@SuzyJourno belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/… belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
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The absurdity of opening up all retail and not pubs and restaurants is nothing to do with COVID - it’s about booze. Medical chiefs have wanted to limit intake for years. COVID is being used as the excuse
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I largely ignored today’s debate as it was a complete waste of time. This speech by @JonBurrowsMLA really hits the nail on the head. Time for stunts to stop and real policy to be debated and implemented. This speech is worth your time
Education Spokesperson @JonBurrowsMLA outlines why the Ulster Unionist Party will not be supporting the Vote of No confidence in the Education Minister.
“It is regrettable that so many members of this House are being led by a man (Gerry Carrol) whose conduct in the hours after that awful attack on the people of Israel was nothing short of outrageous. It is regrettable that the passion and intensity that they whip up at times like this is not replicated when we're dealing with domestic public services issues. If they were, perhaps services mightn't be in the mess they are.”
“The attack on the people of Israel was an evil one. 1200 people were killed. 250 people were taken hostage. Babies were butchered. Women and girls were raped. That is the Palestinian resistance that this man (Gerry Carrol) fist pumped shamefully in social media.
Watch below ⬇️
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The Irish President's inauguration is always on November 11, and Peter Robinson undertook an act of remembrance and then attended the Dublin event in 2011. Being invited by the King to a national event in Windsor certainly takes precedence. However, the party should send a substitute in dFM’s place.
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If find this attitude bizarre. There are lots of unelected mouthpieces (me included).
Several on the Republican/Nationalist side do very little other than wind up division. No criticism directed to them.
Why is it only loyalist voices that people want to silence? All voices should be heard, presenters across our media are more than able to hold anyone to account. If a view is as outrageous as Matthew suggests, surely it’s easily exposed?
An unelected mouthpiece with a bottomless appetite for sectarian stirring given not one but two successive appearances on Radio Ulster this morning, with no doubt more to come.
Again the BBC prioritises divisive spectacle over public service broadcasting.
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After 9 years driving every day to Dundonald primary, the last school drop off, no more school runs!
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Timmy Mallet has done more for tourism in East Belfast in one afternoon than Tourism NI or Tourism Ireland have managed in the last 30 years
Open the wardrobe door & it's Narnia!
In Belfast!
@CSLewisDaily
#norniron
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Chris lives in a strange world. Let me be clear anyone who sings what he has quoted, or supports the singing of what he has quoted is wrong. It’s disgusting. Chris can you say the same about kneecap? I will await your reply
Tim has lived his entire life without knowing loyalist paramilitary-aligned bands ‘up to their knees in Fenian blood’ are annually trumpeted by 12th July TV coverage as well as bumper editions of the BelTel & News Letter.
They even perform on streets of Nat. majority areas.
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I think it’s the time to call it, @little_pengelly is the first minister for all. By actions not words!
The Sinn Fein boycott of the White House has handed unionism an easy "win' and morale boost.
Trump's White House is currently the global politics epicenter and the pictures of Unionists meeting the President also appear to have driven SF supporters utterly demented 🤬🤬🤬.
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Final seat prediction
DUP 25
SF 24
Sdlp 12
UUP 9
All 14
Green 2
TUV 2
Ind U 1
PBP 1
Could be miles out could be bang on, so hard to predict! (I think it adds up to 90!)
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This might be the most embarrassing thing BBC news have posted. The fella has a block booking and on a Friday night he headed out with friends. What a ridiculous story. BBC journalists were there for goodness sake
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has attended the Northern Ireland's game against Belarus despite UK government guidance that the match shouldn’t go ahead. bbc.in/40M3sEn
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Today’s riddle: if you are a leader of a political party and that party is no longer the party you joined, who’s responsible and accountable for that situation?
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A cheery thought on @BBCgmu - this day next week there will be 24 minutes of daylight more than today
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Let’s face the reality, the Belfast City Council proposals to curtail free speech is all about banning street preaching and political protest which the council consensus doesn’t like. It’s nothing to do with megaphones and buskers
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So, a principal bullied on to the radio to defend investment in his school for what we now have established is a non story. I’m sure he will be getting a few apologies today.
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This should be compulsory reading for everyone in Northern Ireland. Sam takes apart all that is wrong with government here. Ultimately it boils down to this, a mandatory coalition is incapable of delivering good government
In a pitiful 50 minutes, those controlling Stormont's internal scrutiny system seemed terrified of even allowing certain questions to be asked lest they undermine the entire edifice. Yet in so doing they managed to damage that which they sought to protect.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opini…
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I think it’s time to acknowledge the media are a huge part of the problem in Northern Ireland. I’ve just had an awful interaction with a media outlet. Sensationalism over reality. There are some good outlets (I still highly rate the BBC and BelTel I know people will disagree!)
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Why do we test cars at 4 years of age? Clearly reform needed. Cars should not be tested until 5 years after first registration and car tests should be available from local garages until the car is 10 years old. bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ire…
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So cost of school uniforms is back in the news. In NI Dept Ed blames principals, yet England has legislation to curb costs, wales has regulation. It’s not good enough, this has been a problem for years, Dept Ed could act, but choose not to, why?
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Reality is, whatever the outcome Chris would have had a grievance. He can’t play the sectarian card (his club got a tier 3 grant) so instead plays the north west card.
The biggest football club located in the second largest city in the state was excluded from the DUP Minister’s football fund.
The only 6-county club to play in the superior league on the island.
Massive test for Sinn Fein & their expressed commitment to deliver for Derry.
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In times of crisis the community comes together. I’m not sure history will forgive those who attempt to grandstand. In difficult circumstances politics should be taken out of health.
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Clearly a fake calculator app for DNA as the number doesn't divide down to the numbers given. Plus a mess up. Poor #BGT
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None of you reading this will see an all Ireland. Fact.
"There will not be a United Ireland within any of our lifetimes!"
@timcairns is adamant.
Michael McKernan is disappointed.
"Let's wait and see what happens," suggests @dmcbfs
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What the other leaders seem to miss is when you all gang up on the DUP it gives them lots of time and bolsters their voters.
Scores
Donaldson - 8 (handled the heat)
Eastwood - 8 (always good)
O’Neil - 7 (did well)
Beattie - 5 (better)
Long - 5 (strangely subdued)
#bbcnidebate
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I think we may have the prize for stupidest tweet of the day. SF haven’t been on Nolan for 2 years, how did their vote go? Although that doesn’t fit Tim’s narrative I suppose
As predicted the TUV vote has grown on the back of their three year long promotion on @BBCNolan £100,000s of media coverage for a single MLA party. Thankfully the DUP has been the party that’s suffered, so it’s a chairs on the Titanic shift. timmckanethinking.com/2022/0… #ae22
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Every suggestion on BBC talkback to reform the Belfast Agreement was quite frankly absurd. At one point I wondered was this North Korean state radio. Move these folk to a podcast, that was the best suggestion, then I wouldn’t have to pay for this nonsense
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I know this will be unpopular, but events like this are attended all the time by FM/dFM. They are all paid for by the public. They are official visits and do involve networking and are important. Yes £1,000 seems a lot, but in grand scheme of govt spend it’s insignificant
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has defended her decision to accept an invitation to Wimbledon, saying she will always seek to promote and champion Northern Ireland. bbc.in/47la93u
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It’s the annual question - why is taxpayers money used to send NI sports presenters to Augusta?
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Jon Burrows has had a really strong start to his time as an MLA. I can’t think of many cooptions which have had the impact he has had. He’s spot on again in his conference speech
UUP conference: @JonBurrowsMLA turns UUP's fire on Alliance - branding them 'divided, desperate and drifting towards outright nationalism'
newsletter.co.uk/news/politi…
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I wonder what this weeks story would be if dFM had attended the unveiling of a statue to a loyalist paramilitary and then went to the VE Day ceremony. I’m sure it would have been “Michelle O’Neill doesn’t attend Irish league football”
Northern Ireland's Sports Minister has attended more tennis matches in Paris - than GAA games in NI.
DUP's @PhillipBrett21 says his party has "a clear record on the issue" and the dFM visited a GAA club on one of her first engagements in office.
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Perhaps it’s time for them to scale back the ambition. Cutting the seats by one third would bring the project in on the budget they have. Also perhaps it’s time for some challenge to the GAA. Their numbers, capacity, design is just accepted by journalists without question. Why?
Jarlath Burns says the cost of redeveloping #CasementPark is “well over £270million”
“The cost goes up by about £140,000 every month if we don't do anything because of the rising cost of infrastructure and building. Time literally is money here," rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0…
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