The three important items that should dominate the Sinn Féin manifesto

There are those who say James Brokenshire is a waste of space – I’ve even suggested it myself at times. But credit where credit is due. Over the weekend, Mr Brokenshire stayed in Hillsborough, instead of flying out to his English home. That’s how committed he is to working for our welfare. Admittedly he had to jet out to appear on Andrew Marr’s Sunday show, but he came straight back after. And today he’ll be the starting gun for a general election here. Let’s be honest: what would we do without him?

As to what RTÉ is for, had you listened this morning, you might have got a hint. In Tommie Gorman’s report, we heard in detail the trauma which Arlene Foster had suffered when her father was wounded by the IRA (tape of Arlene describing the scene) and the trauma she’d suffered when her school bus was bombed (more audio tape of Arlene as a schoolgirl describing what happened). You ask why did they do that, Virginia? Because RTÉ want us to understand the suffering which shaped Arlene Foster’s life and, presumably, her political persona. Later in the week, I expect we’ll have a profile of Martin McGuinness, describing the shooting dead of his teenage friends Dessie Beattie and Seamus Cusack by the British army, and later Gerry Adams on being shot by a UDA unit and the death of his cousin Kieran Murphy at the hands of the UVF.

Meanwhile, what should Sinn Féin’s manifesto for this election look like? There can rarely have been an election where a number of issues present themselves so readily.

  1. At the top of the Sinn Féin manifesto should be the Cash-for-Ash scheme which is set to cost us half a billion pounds, and the high-handed response of the person responsible for initiating it and keeping it going. This is vital, since commentators are working very hard to present the election as being another round in the Orange-Green battle. It’s not. Front and stage centre is a huge financial matter, which takes money out of unionist pockets as readily as the pockets of nationalists/republicans.
  2. Second in the list should be other dubious financial dealings involving the DUP: Red Sky, Charter NI and whatever you’re having yourself.
  3. Third should be an Irish Language Act, along with a signed commitment stating that any member of any political party found mocking the culture of a particular community will be permanently expelled from his/her party.

 

There are other matters that could be explored, such as Communities Ministers who smile for the cameras as they light Eleventh Night bonfires, MPs who smile for the cameras as they pose before unlit Eleventh Night bonfires decorated with the Irish tricolour, the funding of Orange halls with nearly £2 million of public money… You may wish to suggest your own.

However, it is crucial that Sinn Féin focus on the three matters listed, with a heavy emphasis on the first. That way, any interviewer or media source attempting to frame this as an Orange-Green Round 87 contest can be instantly challenged. More important, there will be decent unionists who feel just as strongly about having their pocket picked as any nationalist/republican.

I’ll be kind to media people and say that they will attempt to frame this election as Orange vs Green because that’s the path of least resistance – it takes less thinking than actually uncovering the issues. If I were unkind I’d say they were part of a consistent media drive to show the Shinners in particular as an old-fashioned, thick-as-champ united-Irelanders.

80 Responses to The three important items that should dominate the Sinn Féin manifesto

  1. MT January 16, 2017 at 9:47 am #

    Are you a SF supporter, Jude?

    Why should only SF concentrate on these matters? Why not the SDLP or others?

    Why do you not mention SF corruption when they scammed £700,000 from the taxpayer via a phoney research company?

    Do you think it’s reasonable to equate the trauma of an innocent schoolgirl with that of terrorist leaders?

    • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 10:53 am #

      It would appear from your response that the DUP can do as they please with public money without it effecting their support base in any way as long as they keep Sinn Féin at bay.

      • MT January 16, 2017 at 10:56 am #

        “It would appear from your response that the DUP can do as they please with public money without it effecting their support base in any way as long as they keep Sinn Féin at bay.”

        What makes you say that? I can’t see anything in my response that would lead you to such a conclusion.

        • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 11:11 am #

          Simply because you are trying to divert the attention from the gaping hole in public finances which is the RHI scheme. I think it should be everybody’s duty to oust the party and individual responsible from public office.

          • MT January 16, 2017 at 11:30 am #

            “Simply because you are trying to divert the attention from the gaping hole in public finances which is the RHI scheme.”

            I’m not trying to divert attention from anything. I’m asking Jude some pertinent questions.

            But even if I were, how would that indicate anything about the DUP support base?

            “I think it should be everybody’s duty to oust the party and individual responsible from public office.”

            So do I. SF should also be ousted. They are complicit in hiding the scandal from the public and also in their own corruption re RSI and expenses. Time for SDLP-UUP to be given a chance.

          • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 5:26 pm #

            I see no evidence that SF were involved in alledged corruption in Stormont. Therefore I would not tie them in with the DUP on this one. Neither do I think that they should re-enter a government that includes the DUP. Neither corruption nor incompetance should be tolerated in government. I favour joint-rule as I have previosly stated and I also think this should be a permanent solution. Whoever wishes to be British may do so and whoever wishes to be Irish may also do so. End of story.

          • jessica January 16, 2017 at 6:06 pm #

            I agree.

            If Sinn Fein are returned as the largest nationalist party and are unable to work with the leader of unionism because they are prepared to elect corrupt, bigoted and arrogant ignoramuses of the DUP then Stormont should be closed forever and it will be time to take to the streets both in the north and in Dublin to demand a border poll and the unification of this island.

          • MT January 16, 2017 at 6:37 pm #

            “I see no evidence that SF were involved in alledged corruption in Stormont.”

            Wow.

            There are none so blind …

            “I favour joint-rule as I have previosly stated and I also think this should be a permanent solution. Whoever wishes to be British may do so and whoever wishes to be Irish may also do so. End of story.”

            Won’t happen.

          • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 10:15 pm #

            Why not MT?

          • MT January 16, 2017 at 10:49 pm #

            “Why not”

            Unionists don’t want it; nationalists don’t want it as a permanent solution; neither the UK government nor the Southern Irish government wants it.

            Quite a few stumbling blocks there.

          • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 10:22 pm #

            Yes Jessica, reunification would be my preferred option too. But keeping in mind that 48.4% of the population of the north described themselves as British in 2011 it might be difficult to reconcile them to a reunited Ireland. This represents a majority of those over 40 years of age and a minority under 40. This is why I have suggested joint rule as an option. It might give each side what they want provided there are no military bases allowed and that foreign companies cannot exploit the wealth of the north without the permission of the people.

          • jessica January 16, 2017 at 10:39 pm #

            The process has already started Colmán, we are in a staged plan already agreed by both governments, I just think another 20 years is no longer reasonable and brexit has brought things forward dramatically.

            They are more interested in guaranteed stability but now that Stormant has fallen and the hard border becomes more and more a reality, that is no longer the case and they will need to think again.

            Infrastructure and administration is already gradually merging, but the economy and the NHS will collapse in the north very soon but joint authority if some of the administrative services including health were merged then this could be possible solution in advance of a referendum.

            A referendum was always going to be the last step in the process.

            The plan was to have the island virtually united before a poll was called. The economy thanks to brexit may not have the time to do it that way however.

          • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 11:08 pm #

            I hope you are right

    • paddykool January 16, 2017 at 2:42 pm #

      Sometimes I really wonder about your sense of logic ,MT. Let us get a few facts straight here first .Arlene Foster is not some little schoolgirl .She is a 46 year old politician .Martin McGuinness is a 66 year old politician. She might have been aschoolgirl a very long time ago but now she’s supposed to be a politician who undrestands her office and what her limits are . These are the real facts of this .They shared a Joint office as FM/DFM. That office was both their ultimate responsibility , so if either of them could personally be censured or be found irresponsibile or untrustworthy of that position, they would have to step aside until it was sorted out . Either partner could continue to steer the ship while that sorting out was being done.it’s actually that simple …This current situation has no other relevance . It was brought about by this RHI scandal and Martin McGuinness gave her his best reading on what she should do to protect their office. It’s not about her past as a child or Martin McGuinness’s or even Peter Robinson’s past either. All she had to do was allow an investigation and then take it from there but she chose to play some schoolgirl game of chicken as though she had no notion what she was doing.

      • MT January 16, 2017 at 2:47 pm #

        “Sometimes I really wonder about your sense of logic ,MT.:

        Why is that?

        “Let us get a few facts straight here first .Arlene Foster is not some little schoolgirl ”

        Nobody said that she is.

        “She is a 46 year old politician .Martin McGuinness is a 66 year old politician. She might have been aschoolgirl a very long time ago but now she’s supposed to be a politician who undrestands her office and what her limits are . These are the real facts of this .They shared a Joint office as FM/DFM. That office was both their ultimate responsibility , so if either of them could personally be censured or be found irresponsibile or untrustworthy of that position, they would have to step aside until it was sorted out . Either partner could continue to steer the ship while that sorting out was being done.it’s actually that simple …This current situation has no other relevance . It was brought about by this RHI scandal and Martin McGuinness gave her his best reading on what she should do to protect their office.”

        And? Who has said otherwise?

        “It’s not about her past as a child or Martin McGuinness’s or even Peter Robinson’s past either.”

        I never said that it was. I was responding to Jude’s comments.

        “All she had to do was allow an investigation and then take it from there but she chose to play some schoolgirl game of chicken as though she had no notion what she was doing.”

        I know.

        • paddykool January 16, 2017 at 3:12 pm #

          I think my focus was on your line .

          ..”Do you think it’s reasonable to equate the trauma of an innocent schoolgirl with that of terrorist leaders?” …MT…

          You see , it was Arlene Foster who dragged all that childhood past junior psychology into public perception live on television as though it had some relevance to the Rhi scandal….when it patently did not …..almost, or presumably as an actual excuse for not taking Martin McGuinness’s advice to step aside temporarily. I was making the point that they were adult politicians in equal states of political power and this was not the 1970s anymore and that she disregarded sound judgement simply because she would not take “orders” from Sinn Fein. It was noy an order .It was a suggestionas to best protect their office and everything else is a distraction.i think “distraction” is the most important word to focus on here.

          • MT January 16, 2017 at 3:18 pm #

            “I think my focus was on your line …”Do you think it’s reasonable to equate the trauma of an innocent schoolgirl with that of terrorist leaders?” …MT…” You see , it was Arlene Foster who dragged all that childhood past junior psychology into public perception live on television as though it had some relevance to the Rhi scandal….when it patently did not …..almost, or presumably as an actual excuse for not taking Martin McGuinness’s advice to step aside temporarily.”

            Indeed. Though Jude was referring to some RTE guy mentioning it, and then sought to equate her trauma as a schoolgirl with that apparently suffered by terror leaders Adams and McGuinness. Do you think that is a reasonable equivalence to draw?

            “I was making the point that they were adult politicians in equal states of political power and this was not the 1970s anymore and that she disregarded sound judgement simply because she would not take “orders” from Sinn Fein. It was noy an order .It was a suggestionas to best protect their office and everything else is a distraction.i think “distraction” is the most important word to focus on here.”

            Not sure how that’s relevant to the equivalence that Jude sought to draw between a terror attack suffered by a schoolgirl and those endured by terrorist leaders (in the case of McGuinness not even an attack in which he was present).

          • Ryan January 16, 2017 at 3:18 pm #

            “You see , it was Arlene Foster who dragged all that childhood past junior psychology into public perception live on television as though it had some relevance to the Rhi scandal….when it patently did not …..almost, or presumably as an actual excuse for not taking Martin McGuinness’s advice to step aside temporarily”

            She cant take advice from McGuinness due to her “trauma” but she can work side by side with him for around a year…..not to mention she refused to step down from her role and wanted to keep working with McGuinness…..

          • paddykool January 16, 2017 at 5:18 pm #

            In my mind there are very few right across the spectrum who have not suffered some kind of damage through t he outworkings of the past strife here.It might have been fear, psychological or physical damage .We all lived with it since the 1960s. That suffering could take many shapes and forms depending on the strength or otherwise of the personalities involved . I think to use any of that as a focus or an excuse for current financial scandals in the here- and- now is simple emotional manipulation and for someone in power and with responsibilty to and for everyone in the society here, an actual abuse of her position.

            For Arlene Foster to use that as she used her sex and disabused her own political friends to somehow distract from her own possible culpability is distasteful and actually has done her, her party and her sex very few favours at all. The media are going to use anything they can find to blame Sinn Fein for everything because that is their usual go-to position and what they have always done before in a variety of circumstances over the years. That is what people have come to expect from much of the southern media and the media in the UK are only interested when there is the potenttial for violence to break out closer to home. It is quite a unique situation we have here at the moment in that no matter how it is spun and no matter how it is turned and studied ,the actual reason for the final breakdown is very clearly in the actions of Arlene Foster. Every party except for the dUP have long-ago realised that.

          • jessica January 16, 2017 at 5:57 pm #

            The bottom line is the DUP will not be back in the Stormont executive and that is fine with me.

            Doesn’t matter how well they do, Stormont will not sit again with them in it.
            And God help Sinn Fein if they don’t stick to that commitment and promise.

          • giordanobruno January 16, 2017 at 6:45 pm #

            Jessica
            SF have made no such commitment as yet, as far as I know.

          • jessica January 16, 2017 at 8:04 pm #

            Sorry to disappoint you gio.

            There is only one direction this is going in and it isn’t back up the hill to stormont

          • MT January 16, 2017 at 8:27 pm #

            “There is only one direction this is going in and it isn’t back up the hill to stormont”

            How do you know?

          • giordanobruno January 16, 2017 at 11:16 pm #

            jessica
            Tell me exactly what commitment or promise you intend to hold SF to?
            Exactly what have they promised? Just to be clear.

          • jessica January 17, 2017 at 6:52 am #

            Sinn Fein have said Stormont will not be returning before parity of esteem, respect and commitments are delivered not used in a sick game more or less.

            The DUP have to show respect to partners in government.
            Show respect for Gays, the Irish language, same sex marriage, and also fulfil their broken promises such as releasing the funding for legacy.

            Basically stop their one sided approach, the one you support where if it is against the unionist wishes it doesn’t happen. That is not power sharing.

            I for one will hold them to their word not to return before every one of their demands is fulfilled and verified over time.

            There is no backing out of this one.

          • giordanobruno January 17, 2017 at 9:38 am #

            jessica
            Only a few days ago you said:
            “Whatever the outcome the DUP will not be back in Stormont and that can only be good in my book.”
            Now you are saying SF have a wish list so you are basically agreeing that negotiation will take place.
            That will start the day after the election, and as MT has pointed out the DUP will not want to come out of negotiations with only concessions and no gains.
            Whether those negotiations can succeed or not is doubtful and I agree with you that a period of direct rule is likely.
            Neither of the main parties will be keen to give up their generous salaries so there will be a strong incentive to make a deal.

          • jessica January 17, 2017 at 11:49 am #

            Have the SDLP said they would go back into Stormont with the DUP before the problems Sinn Fein have outlined are resolved?
            If not, then it is not a Sinn Fein wish list but simply a list of what is broken in Stormont which it is not in the DUP or none of the local parties gift alone to repair.
            Both governments have reneged on their commitments also and Stormont will not be returning without their future commitments guaranteed.

            It is not an internal issue any more but whether or not the principles of the GFA can be saved.

          • giordanobruno January 17, 2017 at 12:20 pm #

            jessica
            That is all vague and non specific.
            You are holding SF to a promise but you cannot say clearly what that promise is.

          • jessica January 17, 2017 at 1:35 pm #

            Gio, Sinn Fein promised to hold not only the DUP to account but both governments.
            I am sure I didn’t imagine it, they clearly said there will be no restoring the institutions before the respect outlined in the GFA is guaranteed, as was the responsibility of both governments to ensure.

            Now, you can believe like MT it is nothing more than a bargaining list with the DUP, but to me it is much more and not even in the gift of the DUP to resolve.

            Stormont is a fudge to get the monkey that is northern Ireland off the backs of Dublin and London so they can get on with more important things.

            That is not acceptable to me and I will be voting for Sinn Fein under the premise they have promised to ensure the shithole farce that is Stormont does not return before there is a meaningful change in attitude from not only the parties here but both governments that will require resolving all outstandin9g issues before devolution can be restored.

            There is absolutely no point whatsoever in it coming back before everything is resolved including legacy and the abuse of national security by the british state.

        • ceannaire January 16, 2017 at 4:30 pm #

          Foster is quick to remind people of these events in her life (even at times when they have no relevance). I’m sure they were traumatic for her.

          But here’s the rub, MU; she can let those events define her and who she is. Damned if she thinks she can define the rest of us by them.

          So, we’ve heard it all before from her – multiple times. She gets our sympathy. We don’t need to hear about them again.

          • jessica January 16, 2017 at 6:08 pm #

            She will have no sympathy from me, as leader of the party formed by the man who started the troubles in the first place, Ian Paisley she deserves none.

    • Ryan January 16, 2017 at 3:15 pm #

      “Why do you not mention SF corruption when they scammed £700,000 from the taxpayer via a phoney research company?”

      Do you have evidence for this MT? if so, you should immediately take it to the PSNI. Has any Sinn Fein member been arrested over this “scam”? Has any SF member been convicted? No……

      “Do you think it’s reasonable to equate the trauma of an innocent schoolgirl with that of terrorist leaders?”

      Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are not “terrorist leaders”, they are legitimate politicians. Are you justifying UDA terrorist actions MT? There was me thinking you were devoutly in favour of Law and Order, I’m shocked……

      Many innocent children were injured, traumatized and even killed during the troubles MT, not just Arlene Foster. Indeed the organisation Arlene’s father was a member of committed much of that trauma, injury and killing of children. Ask the family of 8 year old Patrick Rooney, who was killed in his bed. There is photos available showing a pool of his blood on his bed.

      • MT January 16, 2017 at 3:25 pm #

        “Do you have evidence for this MT?”

        Yes, there was a Spotlight programme about it.

        “if so, you should immediately take it to the PSNI.”

        Why?

        “Has any Sinn Fein member been arrested over this “scam”? Has any SF member been convicted? No……”

        Has any DUP member been arrested over RHI? Has any DUP member been convicted? No ….

        “Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are not “terrorist leaders””

        No, but they were at the time of the attacks to which Jude refers.

        “Are you justifying UDA terrorist actions MT?”

        Of course not. Unlike you, I’m opposed to terror.

        “There was me thinking you were devoutly in favour of Law and Order, I’m shocked……”

        What are you shocked about?

        “Many innocent children were injured, traumatized and even killed during the troubles MT, not just Arlene Foster.”

        I know. Most of them at the hands of Provo terrorists whom you support.

        “Indeed the organisation Arlene’s father was a member of committed much of that trauma, injury and killing of children. Ask the family of 8 year old Patrick Rooney, who was killed in his bed. There is photos available showing a pool of his blood on his bed.”

        I’m not sure of the relevance of this point. Are you suggesting that the suffering of an innocent child like Patrick Rooney, who sought to harm nobody, should be viewed in the same way as that ‘suffered’ by terrorist leaders, who actively directed and supported terrorist attacks on innocents?

        • Ryan January 16, 2017 at 3:49 pm #

          “Yes, there was a Spotlight programme about it”

          Is that really evidence? a TV programme? where did they get their sources? where did they get their evidence?…..

          “Why?”

          Because its breaking the law to scam and commit fraud MT, which is why you brought it up, so why haven’t you took that programme to the PSNI immediately?

          “Has any DUP member been arrested over RHI? Has any DUP member been convicted? No ….”

          I didn’t say any DUP member has been arrested or is committing any crime MT. You made a very serious allegation against SF but yet no one in SF has been arrested or convicted, a fact you choose to ignore. Why?

          “No, but they were at the time of the attacks to which Jude refers”

          No they weren’t. Was Gerry Adams ever convicted of IRA membership? No…

          “Of course not. Unlike you, I’m opposed to terror”

          Then why did you try to justify an attempt on Gerry Adams life if your so opposed to “terror”?. I’m assuming since your now opposed to “terror” that you have ditched your poppy for good? because the British Army engage in “terror” worldwide, maybe the most recent example being the Iraq War. Also, why are you defending the DUP? They set up a “terror” paramilitary called Ulster Resistance.

          “What are you shocked about?”

          I’m shocked at you trying to justify the attempted murder of Gerry Adams and also accusing him, without evidence (hear say is not evidence, btw), that he was a “terrorist leader”.

          “I know. Most of them at the hands of Provo terrorists whom you support”

          The PIRA weren’t terrorists. Do you have proof MT? statistical proof? I’d like to see a break down, compared to children killed by the RUC, British Army, UVF, UDA, etc.

          “I’m not sure of the relevance of this point”

          My point is just because Arlene is a Protestant doesn’t mean she suffered any more or less than a Catholic child like Patrick Rooney did, or the 3 Quinn children, etc. But Unionists like you MT want to create a religious hierarchy of victims.

          “should be viewed in the same way as that ‘suffered’ by terrorist leaders, who actively directed and supported terrorist attacks on innocents?”

          I’m assuming your talking about the RUC. Suffering of the RUC, who killed young Patrick Rooney and many other children/people, should not be viewed the same way.

          • MT January 16, 2017 at 4:24 pm #

            “Is that really evidence? a TV programme?”

            Yes.

            “where did they get their sources? where did they get their evidence?…..”

            From the Northern Ireland Assembly.

            “Because its breaking the law to scam and commit fraud MT, which is why you brought it up, so why haven’t you took that programme to the PSNI immediately?”

            Presumably for the same reason you haven’t ‘took that programme to the PSNI’ in relation to RHI, Nama or Red Sky.

            “I didn’t say any DUP member has been arrested or is committing any crime MT.”

            I didn’t say any SF member has been arrested or is committing any crime.

            “You made a very serious allegation against SF but yet no one in SF has been arrested or convicted, a fact you choose to ignore. Why?”

            I didn’t choose to ignore any fact.

            “No they weren’t. Was Gerry Adams ever convicted of IRA membership? No.”

            Yes they were.

            “Then why did you try to justify an attempt on Gerry Adams life if your so opposed to “terror”?”

            I didn’t try to justify an attempt on anyone’s life.

            “I’m assuming since your now opposed to “terror” that you have ditched your poppy for good? because the British Army engage in “terror” worldwide, maybe the most recent example being the Iraq War.”

            That’s a non sequitur.

            “Also, why are you defending the DUP?”

            I’m not.

            “They set up a “terror” paramilitary called Ulster Resistance.””

            They set up a Dad’s Army style group called Ulster Resistance and then ran away when it started getting dodgy.

            “I’m shocked at you trying to justify the attempted murder of Gerry Adams and also accusing him, without evidence (hear say is not evidence, btw), that he was a “terrorist leader”.”

            I didn’t try to justify the attempted murder of Gerry Adams. You should retract that false accusation immediately.

            Jude: is it acceptable for people to make false accusations such as this?

            If you’re ‘shocked’ at anyone accusing Adams of being a terrorist leader then you’re even more naive than I thought.

            “The PIRA weren’t terrorists.”

            Yes they were.

            “Do you have proof MT? statistical proof? I’d like to see a break down, compared to children killed by the RUC, British Army, UVF, UDA, etc.”

            Work away.

            “I’m not sure of the relevance of this point”

            My point is just because Arlene is a Protestant doesn’t mean she suffered any more or less than a Catholic child like Patrick Rooney did, or the 3 Quinn children, etc. But Unionists like you MT want to create a religious hierarchy of victims.

            “should be viewed in the same way as that ‘suffered’ by terrorist leaders, who actively directed and supported terrorist attacks on innocents?”

            I’m assuming your talking about the RUC. Suffering of the RUC, who killed young Patrick Rooney and many other children/people, should not be viewed the same way.

          • Jude Collins January 17, 2017 at 2:43 pm #

            MT – I was going to follow your suggestion that the statement about ‘ trying to justify the attempted murder of Gerry Adams’ should be retracted. However, I suspect clarification is what’s needed. Maybe Ryan (it is Ryan, isn’t it? It’s hard to tell at this end of the engine) meant that you saw less blame attached to attempts on GA’s life than on the part-time UDR man – is that correct, Ryan? Please clarify.

  2. Mark January 16, 2017 at 10:01 am #

    Not for the first time, the previous Phriom Áire should really quit whinging, loads of us were shot and blown up, seeing relatives and friends seriously injured and killed in loyalist attacks, suffering life threatening injury ourselves, at the time we were student colleagues of wee Arlene Kelly.
    Ian og I recall made a statement in QUB students union in 1989 naming a student colleague as a member of the IRA Army Council, putting him, and his friends in greater threat while Peter (education minister) Weir, then in a role within the QUBSU Executive the same as ‘Ceann Comhairle’ or Neutral’ within the politics of the student’s union published information persuading unionist students to come out to vote against nationalist students, later described in ‘The Gown’ as ‘Weirgate’ and, stupidly left the master on the photocopier.This is all indicative of our Christian protestant unionist approach to their neighbors whom the Lord God directs we must love as ourselves.
    Now, obviously, is the turn of Arlene to make a fuck up, at least Peter and Ian óg did not then cost the taxpayer of Ireland and Britain millions of pounds
    .One other major flaw, if the unionists here in the six Ulster counties are citizens of the UK, why, like with the introduction of free secondary education, the NHS, social welfare etc. which were copied from Britain, was the RHI scheme changed from that in Britain to something more profitable for those undertaking it in them six Ulster counties?
    No doubt Arlene, Peter and Ian óg shall not respond.

  3. Jack Black January 16, 2017 at 10:10 am #

    Brokenshire………..the name gives him away methinks, who in their right mind would appoint that man to manage anything, especially such a hot potato as NI?
    Crazy IMO and illustrates the “importance” the six counties are to the Tories in London.

    Re the election, waste of time, no one in the mood to listen to numpties raking over events since ’69 for the next two months………….simply suspend the whole damn thing until the appropriate time for a unity referendum and we can resolve the whole mess of a separated Country.

  4. billy January 16, 2017 at 10:46 am #

    no.3..we cant have people being expelled for dealing with cultures that need dealing with under the guise their being mocked.some of the cultures arriving on our shores to enrich our lives as we are told,having children as wives,female mutilation,child grooming gangs,heroin dealing.ect ect are only a few examples of what could come under oh its our culture your mocking us.far more work on this rule would need looked at.

  5. moser January 16, 2017 at 11:09 am #

    This situation can never be resolved within the context of this state. We need a nationalist party to go to England and begin to lobby people there and, try to garner support for a British withdrawal from Irish affairs. Is this such a far fetched idea ? With regards to legacy issues and the past: the murder of innocent Catholics and British collusion should be categorised as war crimes.

    • MT January 16, 2017 at 11:23 am #

      “This situation can never be resolved within the context of this state. We need a nationalist party to go to England and begin to lobby people there and, try to garner support for a British withdrawal from Irish affairs.”

      Why do we need that?

      “With regards to legacy issues and the past: the murder of innocent Catholics and British collusion should be categorised as war crimes.”

      That’s not possible as, by definition, war crimes can only be committed in war.

      • moser January 16, 2017 at 12:51 pm #

        MT, why are you repeating what I said ?

        • MT January 16, 2017 at 1:33 pm #

          “MT, why are you repeating what I said ?”

          Eh?

          I’m not.

          • Colmán January 16, 2017 at 5:38 pm #

            Is this a Monty Python sketch?

      • Ryan January 16, 2017 at 3:26 pm #

        “Why do we need that?”

        Err….he just said MT….”This situation can never be resolved within the context of this state”. 100% agree with Moser. I don’t know when it will happen but we’ll have Joint Rule then Irish Unity sooner or later. This state is a failure. 57% of people who voted on a Belfast Telegraph poll said they backed Joint Rule. (8000 people voted).

        “That’s not possible as, by definition, war crimes can only be committed in war”

        Then by your own logic the Kingsmills Massacre, Teebane Massacre, Bloody Friday, etc cant possibly be a war crime committed by republicans as most Unionists say and demand it be classed as. TUV Leader Jim Allister wanted it classed as “genocide”, which is of course ridiculous.

        • MT January 16, 2017 at 4:12 pm #

          “Why do we need that?”

          “Err….he just said MT….”This situation can never be resolved within the context of this state”.”

          That’s mere opinion and, even if true, it doesn’t follow that we therefore ‘need’ ‘a nationalist party to go to England’ and ‘begin to lobby people’ for ‘a British withdrawal from Irish affairs’.

          “Then by your own logic the Kingsmills Massacre, Teebane Massacre, Bloody Friday, etc cant possibly be a war crime committed by republicans as most Unionists say and demand it be classed as. TUV Leader Jim Allister wanted it classed as “genocide”, which is of course ridiculous.”

          It’s not ‘my own logic’, and yes of course none of those atrocities was a war crime, given that there was no war.

    • jessica January 16, 2017 at 1:28 pm #

      What’s the point in that if Dublin couldn’t be bothered or aren’t interested first?

      • paddykool January 16, 2017 at 2:51 pm #

        That’s true Jessica .There was a mention of the state of affairs in yesterday’s Sunday Times , but not a line whatsoever in The Observer.They know nothing about us here and think it’s all sorted out somehow ….long….long ago and faraway.They couldn’t give a fiddlers should we decide to have another half dozen elections and fight with our toe nails. They don’t know that we are currently burning their lovely loot up the chimney and I think that if they were told they’d accept that as a fair price for not having all their shiny new cities blown -up and bombed anymore anymore or their sons and husbands sent over here to be killed.I’d say most of them are happy with that .As for the Republic…..??? Well they’re not much interested either .

  6. Perkin Warbeck January 16, 2017 at 11:38 am #

    Even by the standards of RTE’s flegship programme, Esteemed Blogmeister, today’s Yawning Ireland really did plumb new depths of dumbness.

    Normally they at least go through the motions to cloak and dagger their staggering adherence to the cherished principles enshrined in Section 31, that frozen snowflake of fake-news, in a veiled pretence at playing at being a station of impartial reporters.

    This morning, even that diaphanous veil was summarily dispensed with by the Donnybrook burrowers into the selective past, as they came out as, erm, The Impartial Reporter.

    In which they reached not for the P.O.E. but rather for the po as the their Orange porringer of choice from which to dump the fashionable fluid du jour upon the (yawn, stretch, trouser cough) mortal Shinners.

    -Rum?

    Well, no actually. Even though Arthur Benjamin was prompted to compose his delightful Jamaican Rhumba with a former owner of the eponymous paper, Joan Trimble, pianist par-excellence, in mind.

    The bodily fluid, of course, is that which airlines, say, for example, you know, Ryanair are not permitted to dump from their fleet , even when flying over lakes, rivers, seas or oceans. The same fluid whose tinkling sound on enamel receptacles has been a feature of Chamber Music for centuries.

    -Hit me, the Trauma Queen hissed, with a history of hits and misses in my memory bank !

    P.O.E. , of course, stands for Parity of Esteem and was also, ar ndoigh, the surname of Edgar Allen.

    RTE, ní gá a rá, is already preying that the political Pendulum will swing against the Pats who are the Pits.

  7. Ryan January 16, 2017 at 4:16 pm #

    I cant see Sinn Fein going back into Stormont now unless they have:

    1. An Irish Language Act

    2. A Bill of Rights

    3. A guarantee of equality, backed by all parties, especially the Irish and British Governments.

    4. Funding for Inquests (something that should be given anyway)

    5. A dramatic change in attitude by the DUP and how they do politics.

    I listened to Gerry Adams on radio a few minutes ago. He was on a radio station in the South. Some of the key things he said was that “Arlene Foster will never ever be First Minister again” unless Stormont changes. He called Arlene “backwards”. He repeated what Martin McGuinness said “That there will be no return to the status quo”. And he said that the Taoiseach “needs to have an All island agenda” and help get “Special status for the North within the EU”.

    I don’t know what it is but I cant help feeling that there’s been a massive change since Martin McGuinness resigned, I cant help but feel as if something “big” is going to happen. Its hard to articulate it.

    PS: It turns out that one of the people who signed up for RHI was none other than Peer Viscount Brookeborough, a member of the House of Lords and grandson of Basil Brooke, the same Basil Brooke who was PM of the North and is infamous for his many speeches in encouraging discrimination against Catholics. Brookeborough has a 1,000 acre estate in Fermanagh (isn’t Arlene from Fermanagh?….) and has got nearly £30,000 from the RHI. As expected, Brookeborough is a great champion of the scheme…..

    PPS: I may be wrong but I think this may be the same grandson of Basil Brooke who was interviewed by Susan McKay. When questioned about his grandfather’s discrimination, he sought to deny that his grandfather ever said such things against Catholics but when presented with obvious proof, he then got heated and wanted to leave the room…..McKay believed it was time to leave at that point….

    • MT January 16, 2017 at 6:35 pm #

      “I cant see Sinn Fein going back into Stormont now unless they have:

      1. An Irish Language Act

      2. A Bill of Rights

      3. A guarantee of equality, backed by all parties, especially the Irish and British Governments.

      4. Funding for Inquests (something that should be given anyway)

      5. A dramatic change in attitude by the DUP and how they do politics.”

      They won’t be going back into Stormont now. During Direct Rule, if there’s a prolonged period of it, they might get Westminster legislation on Gaelic and gay marriage. On rights there might be something down the line to ensure NI remains under the ECHR in the event of the UK leaving, but otherwise there won’t be a bill of rights.

      I doubt there’ll be much movement on inquests.

      There’s already a guarantee of ‘equality’.

    • jessica January 16, 2017 at 7:31 pm #

      “I cant help but feel as if something “big” is going to happen.”

      The EU made a big mistake in pursuing a political union and have shown the arrogance of the DUP in refusing to consider any reform of that policy.

      As a result the UK has been left with no choice but to terminate membership of the EU promptly in most likely less then the 24 months allowed.

      The US and Russia will do rapid trade deals to help break the growth of the EU bloc and for their own reasons.
      The UK will most likely use this to their advantage and go for an immediate brexit and end all payments into the EU, revert to WTO tariffs both ways, respond in kind with any extra tariffs imposed by the EU who will collapse very quickly without access to the London financial markets. The 35% tax duty on BMW cars hinted at from Trump was showing the UK exactly how to deal with the EU. He is a smart individual and is treating global economics exactly the same way he manages his businesses.
      Will be interesting to see how the world copes with such radical change in thinking coming down the road. It will create millions of new jobs in the US so he will be the most successful president in US history if he can avoid plunging the world into another war at the same time.

      With the US and Russia stirring up trouble, Banks will not risk leaving Londons financial hub and the 500 million people in the EU which is really a load of bullshit anyway as the majority of that number are in impoverished nations. My money would be on the UK to win any trade war hands down and I guarantee you Ireland will benefit more from supporting the UK and US than the EU which will change things here completely.

      This will put the UK back in Labour territory and out of conservative comfort zone.

      My money would be on Jeremy Corbyn making inroads and potentially winning over the English electorate. His policies will be more suitable for the direction the UK is heading and more likely to make a deal with Scotland to unite the UK behind brexit and he has made no secret of his support for Sinn Fein and Irish unity.
      Jeremy Corbyn could potentially persuade Ireland and Scotland back into a reformed UK.

      Dublin had no interest in the north before Brexit, the direction brexit and the US are taking mean it would be economically foolish to ignore the north any longer.

      Unification will offer more guarantee of stability and the feeling you sense is the growing discomfort and confusion over how much to ignore the north the southern establishment can afford.

      The UK will be lowering corporation tax much sooner than anticipated and this will impact Ireland which is already feeling the pinch from the collapse of the value of Sterling and will face double trouble as the US dollar goes the same way to bring down imports and keep industry within the US.

      With the corporation tax sweetener to attract FDI no longer as attractive, unification could be an easy way of reducing EU fees and getting more money for nothing out of them. That is the way they will be thinking but not what we should be doing.

      They may even start to take us seriously that we can boost the overall economy which to date they have no interest in as we cannot guarantee stability.

      In addition, there is a growing sense of desire for unity among the people all over this island especially the younger generations which is adding to their confusion.

      Nationalists do not want a return of Stormont period, and direct rule will be as undesirable for Mrs May as it will be for us.

      Street protests for a border poll in Belfast and Dublin during brexit negotiations will be an intolerable distraction that both governments deserve.

      Change is coming one way or another.

      The status quo is over.

      • dedeoprofundis January 16, 2017 at 8:56 pm #

        doing an MT here, Jessica
        “This will put the UK back in Labour territory and out of conservative comfort zone”

        Can’t see how you work that out, I’d have thought that if brexit was such a success it would be to the advantage of the Tories?

        • jessica January 16, 2017 at 9:58 pm #

          It is not as simple as that unfortunately.

          What would have been to the advantage of the Tories would have been had the EU took their advice, controlled the growth eastwards which was at the behest of US governments to establish land borders with Russia in return for a trans Atlantic trade deal which is now in the dustbin.

          They now are leaving the UK with no choice but a complete break from the free trade zone, implemented in a short timeframe which will mean either the EU back down and allow free trade to continue in which case they benefit the most as they sell more to the UK than they buy, and the majority of their financial transactions go through London.

          The thought of a 35% tariff on German cars coming into the UK from the EU and into the US from Mexico if they try to avoid bringing jobs to the US will be giving some Germans sleepless nights.

          They will be hoping the EU will back down but I just don’t see it happening. In my opinion they are very similar to the DUP and merkel will turn out to be no different to Arlene Foster. Her German arrogance and superiority complex will drive the EU off a cliff just as the DUP drove Stormont off over RHI.

          If I am right and the EU fights back then the UK will have no choice but to reduce corporation tax and doing what Ireland has been doing, dodgy tax deals to attract FDI away from the EU. It will be in essence a tax haven for the worlds wealthy and result in an industrial resurgence with a skills based immigration policy open to many nations such as India. BMW would likely setup in the UK.

          The Tories would do what they do best, tighten up on welfare and struggle to invest in public services, building social housing etc… which is what Jeremy Corbyns policies are best suited for and why I think it will inevitably lead to a resurgence of Labour which also follows historic precedence of rotation as the Tories have been in power for 7 years now.

          I also think Ireland will finally do likewise and elect Sinn Fein. Ireland desperately needs to invest in public services and building social housing, reducing rent and raising tax on landlords but permanent right wing parties have prevented this. It cannot go on much longer.

          I am confident Jeremy Corbyn who is an EU sceptic will relish the triggering of article 50 so there is no way back and he will support the Tories in March but become gradually more vocal in what they should do next, as I say they could be moving into his territory.

          The next few years will be very interesting.

    • MT January 16, 2017 at 8:35 pm #

      “I cant see Sinn Fein going back into Stormont now unless they have:

      1. An Irish Language Act

      2. A Bill of Rights

      3. A guarantee of equality, backed by all parties, especially the Irish and British Governments.

      4. Funding for Inquests (something that should be given anyway)

      5. A dramatic change in attitude by the DUP and how they do politics.”

      What concessions do you think they’re prepared to give to the DUP in return?

      • jessica January 16, 2017 at 10:07 pm #

        “What concessions do you think they’re prepared to give to the DUP in return?”

        Tell me what concessions Martin Luther King gave in return for civil rights for black people in the US and you may have your answer?

      • ceannaire January 17, 2017 at 12:29 am #

        “What concessions do you think they’re prepared to give to the DUP in return?”

        The “concessions” you speak of have already been conceded – they are unimplemented, already agreed provisions.

        Though the DUP will get one concession – Nationalists and Republicans will share power with them.

        • jessica January 17, 2017 at 6:53 am #

          Not before the DUP have shown they will keep their word and can be trusted going forward they wont. Couldn’t be done in under 24 months.

        • MT January 17, 2017 at 8:03 am #

          “The “concessions” you speak of have already been conceded – they are unimplemented, already agreed provisions. Though the DUP will get one concession – Nationalists and Republicans will share power with them.”

          You’re very naive if you think the DUP will acquiesce to a Provo list for nothing in return.

          • jessica January 17, 2017 at 8:20 am #

            “You’re very naive if you think the DUP will acquiesce to a Provo list for nothing in return.”

            It is not really up to the DUP MT, both governments will have to deliver on guarantees also don’t forget.
            This is not about local politics, it is whether to guarantee or rip up the good Friday agreement.

            The whole peace process is about to go in the dustbin unless all sides get behind reconciliation and that includes the southern media.

            Incredibly, the actions of the DUP and the neglect and disregard shown by the two governments have made a political vacuum more appealing and that is the reality we all have to deal with now.

            Too little too late sums the whole thing up quite well.

          • MT January 17, 2017 at 6:50 pm #

            “It is not really up to the DUP MT,”

            It’s entirely up to the DUP whether or not, and on what basis, they return to government.

            “The whole peace process is about to go in the dustbin unless all sides get behind reconciliation and that includes the southern media.”

            Really? Is the PIRA going to reform and start a new campaign?

          • jessica January 17, 2017 at 7:10 pm #

            “It’s entirely up to the DUP whether or not, and on what basis, they return to government.”

            Well said MT, you give me hope.

            Now, don’t you or your DUP buddies go changing any time soon, you are the master race and are duty bound to keep the union flag flying high, orange feet marching wherever they choose and don’t forget, Arlene will not be stepping aside at the behest of those pesky provos.
            How would that look, having fenians tell you what to do?
            An Irish language act would be one step away from Dublin rule would it not?
            Parity of esteem is over rated anyway.

            “Is the PIRA going to reform and start a new campaign?”
            You would love that wouldn’t you MT? Unfortunately they no longer exist.
            Sure the PSNI are on our side now.

          • ceannaire January 17, 2017 at 1:34 pm #

            “You’re very naive if you think the DUP will acquiesce to a Provo list for nothing in return.”
            They have already agreed to these things. Attempting to extract more concessions for things agreed but not implemented is bad faith – something we are well used to with the DUP.

            I have already told you – if the DUP agree to help enact the things they have already agreed, then Nationalists and Republicans will allow the DUP to share power.

            If they don’t then the British and Irish governments will be asked as guaranteers of the agreements to help enact the outstanding issues.

            It’s quite simple, MU.

  8. Freddie mallins January 16, 2017 at 5:16 pm #

    Arlene Foster has harboured seething hatred for those in the nationalist community due to the tragic circumstances of her past. Nobody would deny the woman her suffering, but she was the last person who should enter politics. It is clear that she is unable to leave the past behind and move into a brighter future. The fact that she feels the need to revisit it ad nauseum should have warned her off politics from the outset. Her ability to produce positive results is always going to be hamstrung by her inability to leave the past behind.

  9. Sherdy January 16, 2017 at 6:11 pm #

    Jude, I would add a fourth item to your manifesto:
    That Paul Givan’s decision to give out more £millions to loyalist ‘community halls’ should be investigated for parity of esteem.
    Would it not be possible for one of our political parties to instigate a judicial review into this scandal so that the money could be stopped?
    And before any election Sinn Fein need to assure potential voters that the last ten years of acquiescence, and bending over to have their arses kicked time after time by the gloating DUP will never be repeated.
    I would hate to think that their present attitude might dissipate after I might have been tempted to go out and vote this time, and subsequently have to suffer the embarrassment and ignominy of seeing Arlene metaphorically slap Marty across the bake, and him just stand there and accept it!
    Sinn Fein – you are in the infamous last chance saloon.

    • jessica January 16, 2017 at 6:28 pm #

      Sherdy, I agree with you that Sinn Fein will not survive any default on their promises not to allow Stormont to return without considerable and real change which would be absolutely impossible to verify in under a 24 month period.

      I will be voting for Sinn Fein, but I do not want Stormont to return again absolutely ever.

      If anyone thinks they are voting for a new Stormont assembly they are in for a big disappointment.

  10. MT January 16, 2017 at 6:38 pm #

    “The bottom line is the DUP will not be back in the Stormont executive and that is fine with me. Doesn’t matter how well they do, Stormont will not sit again with them in it.”

    How do you know?

  11. Desmond mcKinley January 16, 2017 at 8:17 pm #

    I would only say congratulations to SF on their present stance. Some would chastise them for trying everything that they thought was needed to make Stormont work. I don’t think like that. Martin proved to everyone that he was a genuine and natural leader who didn’t shirk from his responsibility ( under great threat to his, and indeed to his family’s well being ) from those on both sides of the community who see Stormont working as a detriment to their own wishes of how they see the future of North. Whatever way they see it, be it as a surrender to Nationalist’s, or as a surrender to the Unionist’s who want everything to return to the way that they perceive to be as it was meant to be at the outset of this failed entity they call Northern Ireland. Never again will that be the case. It is now in SF’s hands to see that in the future this place is not in the preserve of Unionist bigot’s who will only look after the interests of their own electorate, and to show Unionism that those days are well and truly gone forever. GRMA

  12. billy January 16, 2017 at 9:54 pm #

    party with the most seats after the election..now we know paddy power called the brexit n trump vote wrong so heres his take on his one.
    dup..1/5
    sf..4/1
    uup..20/1
    sdlp..66/1
    alli..200/1
    according to this its back to porridge.lol

    • jessica January 16, 2017 at 10:04 pm #

      Probably not far off
      Sinn Fein will gain some of their old votes now that the vote is not for Stormont, but the moderate voters may not bother voting at all

      Unionism is bigotry to the core so quite likely scandals, insults and bad behaviour are ok so long as the money went to good loyalists and the insults were anti Irish and anti sinn fein the vote will hold up.

      It will mean no return to Stormont so I would be happy enough with that result.

      You would have to find something else to moan about billy 🙂

      • billy January 16, 2017 at 11:13 pm #

        may will announce a hard brexit and cut corporation tax to 12,1/2 percent shortly,this place is fu##ed,and its only january whats to moan about.lol

        • jessica January 17, 2017 at 6:48 am #

          If she goes straight for the reduced corporation tax then they are going straight into a trade war.
          That would be bypassing the bluff stage and going straight for the risky route which could lead to a labour revival.

          If the EU don’t cave in then yes, Ireland will indeed be very much fu##ed and yet strangely I find myself being happy about it.

          Her approach will work and my money would very much be on the UK winning that trade war, Netherlands would leave pretty much immediately it begins and do a deal with GB, others would follow.

          Ireland would have little choice but to leave the EU and re-join the UK or side with the EU and the trade war extend to both sides of the partition border, they may as well build a wall around the 6 counties and shove it up their arses.

          I think I am starting to see why you are getting pleasure out of political failures billy.
          It is all we deserve.

    • Scott Rutherford January 16, 2017 at 10:38 pm #

      UUP might be worth a tenner at those odds billy.

      • billy January 16, 2017 at 11:17 pm #

        £5 on alliance to win a grand..lol
        no ile wait and see what he will give for the dup not to make 30 seats,be a good sweat on the day.

  13. MT January 16, 2017 at 10:15 pm #

    “Tell me what concessions Martin Luther King gave in return for civil rights for black people in the US and you may have your answer?”

    You’re very naive if you think the DUP will simply agree to a list of SF demands

    • jessica January 16, 2017 at 10:22 pm #

      I couldn’t care less if they agree to them or not, that’s the beauty of it MT.

      The nationalist community do not want Stormont if the DUP is in it and that is just fine with me.

      These issues are valid and genuinely need to be resolved, how will the DUP persuade nationalists to give them another chance while these issues remain outstanding.

      Two chances I would say, some chance and no chance.

      Stormont’s future is as a museum MT.

      • MT January 16, 2017 at 10:52 pm #

        “I couldn’t care less if they agree to them or not, that’s the beauty of it MT.”

        Whether or not you care is irrelevant. The DUP won’t agree to such a list of demands and get nothing in return.

        “The nationalist community do not want Stormont if the DUP is in it and that is just fine with me.”

        How do you know?

        “These issues are valid and genuinely need to be resolved, how will the DUP persuade nationalists to give them another chance while these issues remain outstanding.”

        It all depends how much both parties want a return to devolution.

        • jessica January 17, 2017 at 6:29 am #

          “Whether or not you care is irrelevant. The DUP won’t agree to such a list of demands and get nothing in return.”

          MT, those of us who do not want Stormont back are banking on it.

          “These issues are valid and genuinely need to be resolved, how will the DUP persuade nationalists to give them another chance while these issues remain outstanding.”
          “It all depends how much both parties want a return to devolution.”

          I don think so.
          For any nationalist party to go back into Stormont with the DUP would be political suicide.

          The SDLP are desperate to get back into Stormont but have put all their money on their partnership with the UUP who have hardly been any better.

          Had they chosen Alliance instead it may have worked. SDLP/UUP has already been tried and failed so I wouldn’t hold much hope for his plans.
          I have a suspicion that Colums new republican agenda isn’t going down too well in the party either, it looks like he is a one man band with only the two girls to prop him up. I imagine half the party are in shock at some of his antics but he is certainly full of beans and shaking the whole foundations of the SDLP which are truly doing a jig at the moment.

  14. Wolfe tone January 17, 2017 at 12:23 pm #

    I would totally agree with your post Jude. This election must not be allowed to be drawn down into an orange and green issue. It’s suits the DUP and perhaps others. Bottom line is there is a whiff of corruption and feathering ones nest from the DUP in stormont. If the unionist people seriously want genuine normal everyday politics for everyone in the north they will suitably punish the DUP at the polls. It won’t be the end of the world if they withhold their vote for the DUP but it will demonstrate to the DUP that even unionists people will not tolerate cronyism. And most of all it will demonstrate to those of a nationalist persuasion that unionist people on the ground at least have some semblance of fairness and honesty.

    • jessica January 17, 2017 at 1:39 pm #

      Or more importantly, a strong DUP showing will prove to nationalist Ireland, all over this island that unionism is the scourge on this land that I have always said it was.