Stormont Assembly Elections 2017

[gallsman]

Not one bit surprised by this, SF said before the election that the Status Quo would not return, that meant serious work from the British/Irish government and the DUP with SF, it never happened, they are delivering on their election promise. If you voted for SF, they are delivering on their election promises.

They could deliver on that particular promise by literally doing nothing. Let's have a civic reception for them.

[Franko]

If you always wait for the other side to do something you get nowhere.  Not only should our politicians be reaching out but it is incumbent on all of us to make some effort to reach out rather than give out all the time about themuns. As Clinton said we should expand Us and reduce Them.

You're acknowledging SF have continually made un-reciprocated effort, and seem to be slating them for not continuing to do so. Surely you can see there comes a point where you have to stand up for your own mandate?

Re the iLA - you're not so stupid as to have actually bought that little line from the DUP, so you know thats rubbish

Re the bill of rights - not a priority for whom? When will it be dealt with? What are negotiations for?

Re equal marriage - what does 'an issue for the whole assembly mean??' How have the whole assembly got on in this area before? Is there an issue with SF seeking equality which DUP have consistently denied in these negotiations?

Re legacy - on the one hand you say deal before was poor, on the other you say shouldn't be negotiating on it  You also know, despite your statements to the contrary that this is an area where the british govt will be lead by the parties here

There's little or no objectivity in TYP's postings.  It's SF = bad.  All the time.  An anti-shinnerbot, if you will.

You must frame all his posts in this context.

[Man Marker]

Not one bit surprised by this, SF said before the election that the Status Quo would not return, that meant serious work from the British/Irish government and the DUP with SF, it never happened, they are delivering on their election promise. If you voted for SF, they are delivering on their election promises.

They could deliver on that particular promise by literally doing nothing. Let's have a civic reception for them.

The biggest part you didn't get was the mandate given to them by their voters to not remain with the status quo

[Owen Brannigan]

If you always wait for the other side to do something you get nowhere.  Not only should our politicians be reaching out but it is incumbent on all of us to make some effort to reach out rather than give out all the time about themuns. As Clinton said we should expand Us and reduce Them.

You're acknowledging SF have continually made un-reciprocated effort, and seem to be slating them for not continuing to do so. Surely you can see there comes a point where you have to stand up for your own mandate?

Not SF, only Martin McGuinness working alone made the effort, not a single member of the senior SF team followed his example.  Standing up for your mandate and reaching out in imaginative ways to the unionist community by going around or over their political leaders are not mutually exclusive.

Re the iLA - you're not so stupid as to have actually bought that little line from the DUP, so you know thats rubbish

It is a fact that the St Andrews Agreement did not mention an Irish Language Act. The British Government put the agreement into law and Section 15 of the St Andrew's Bill states what is to be included in the 1998 Northern Ireland Act as law.  Therefore, SF should be taking its executive colleagues to the courts if there is a refusal to meet the requirements of Section 28D of the Northern Ireland Act.  This is what SF agreed to do with the Irish language in the St Andrews Agreement..........

15          Strategies relating to Irish language and Ulster Scots language etc

After section 28C of the 1998 Act insert— 10

"28D    Strategies relating to Irish language and Ulster Scots language etc

(1)    The Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it

proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.

(2)    The Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it

proposes to enhance and develop the Ulster Scots language, heritage 15

and culture.

(3)    The Executive Committee—

(a)    must keep under review each of the strategies; and

(b)    may from time to time adopt a new strategy or revise a

strategy."

Re the bill of rights - not a priority for whom? When will it be dealt with? What are negotiations for?

We already have a bill of rights from the European Court and it will only need to be replaced if the translation of European sourced law into UK law after Brexit does not include the European rights we already enjoy.

Re equal marriage - what does 'an issue for the whole assembly mean??' How have the whole assembly got on in this area before? Is there an issue with SF seeking equality which DUP have consistently denied in these negotiations?

Equal marriage is an issue that has come before the Assembly and on the last occasion is was voted down by the use of the POC by the DUP.  Despite recent changes putting the DUP below the 30 seats required to bring a POC forward, I have no doubt that any Equal Marriage legislation would again manage to find 30 signatures of DUP and other unionists to have it voted down again.  POC was an element of the GFA and if it is the problem then negotiate to have the GFA amended, do not take Equal Marriage as the issue and claim it has to do with equality, it is to do with this technical 'procedure' of the POC that is the real issue and much more difficult to deal with.  A change to weighted majority voting would be preferable which would require a cross community support.

Re legacy - on the one hand you say deal before was poor, on the other you say shouldn't be negotiating on it  You also know, despite your statements to the contrary that this is an area where the british govt will be lead by the parties here

The British will take this to the public for their lead.  The public will want a more comprehensive solution but one which moves on.  As the British were involved in the conflict then an international approach is required but given the British nationalistic mood in Brexit, this will be difficult to achieve but it is not something that should prevent the Assembly from getting back to business.

[gallsman]

Not one bit surprised by this, SF said before the election that the Status Quo would not return, that meant serious work from the British/Irish government and the DUP with SF, it never happened, they are delivering on their election promise. If you voted for SF, they are delivering on their election promises.

They could deliver on that particular promise by literally doing nothing. Let's have a civic reception for them.

The biggest part you didn't get was the mandate given to them by their voters to not remain with the status quo

No no, i got that. I'm just not daft enough to think that what they're doing is "delivering" on anything.

[Owen Brannigan]

Not one bit surprised by this, SF said before the election that the Status Quo would not return, that meant serious work from the British/Irish government and the DUP with SF, it never happened, they are delivering on their election promise. If you voted for SF, they are delivering on their election promises.

What does that mean?  They keep repeating it but it is not clearly defined.  How can you negotiate without defining what is meant by the status quo not returning?

[haranguerer]

Not one bit surprised by this, SF said before the election that the Status Quo would not return, that meant serious work from the British/Irish government and the DUP with SF, it never happened, they are delivering on their election promise. If you voted for SF, they are delivering on their election promises.

What does that mean?  They keep repeating it but it is not clearly defined.  How can you negotiate without defining what is meant by the status quo not returning?

Pretty sure they did spell it out, you've been scoffing at it all day.

[Avondhu star]

Brokenshire - "No appetite for a 2nd election"

If the SF and DUP want to play grown ups they should just get on with it. London Dublin and Washington have enough to be doing without babysitting the Stormont groups.
When Brexit kicks in there wont be too may demanding a Irish Language Act

[armaghniac]

The British government have been repressing the Irish language for hundreds of years, the proposed act seems a modest effort enough response and should have been here years ago.

[T Fearon]

Health service in crisis,Brexit no plan,no budget,yet a bloody needless Irish Language Act,that the vast majority on both sides doesn't give a shit about and is not needed,is the focus of attention??

[Milltown Row2]

The British government have been repressing the Irish language for hundreds of years, the proposed act seems a modest effort enough response and should have been here years ago.

So in your estimation what would be the initial costs and running costs? What percentage of NI would benefit from this and based on other more important things like health jobs homeless and other (imo) important things ( once there is an UI would that not be covered??)

[armaghniac]

The British government have been repressing the Irish language for hundreds of years, the proposed act seems a modest effort enough response and should have been here years ago.

So in your estimation what would be the initial costs and running costs? What percentage of NI would benefit from this and based on other more important things like health jobs homeless and other (imo) important things ( once there is an UI would that not be covered??)

There are estimates for this and presumably the spending will provide jobs as other spending does. There are many things to be done to improve health that do not require cultural repression. There is a great deal of money wasted in NI public services.

[Milltown Row2]

The British government have been repressing the Irish language for hundreds of years, the proposed act seems a modest effort enough response and should have been here years ago.

So in your estimation what would be the initial costs and running costs? What percentage of NI would benefit from this and based on other more important things like health jobs homeless and other (imo) important things ( once there is an UI would that not be covered??)

There are estimates for this and presumably the spending will provide jobs as other spending does. There are many things to be done to improve health that do not require cultural repression. There is a great deal of money wasted in NI public services.

I've been playing Gaelic games and continue to do so for 35 years, club has had Irish classes for as long as I can remember and I've never known it to be repressed I've also never seen it too busy or people clambering for lessons ... Irish is everywhere in Belfast with schools dedicated to Irish language ...

I think the cost of this could run in to tens if not hundreds of millions

[Owen Brannigan]

Is this really the plan?  SF readying for another Assembly election?

[Hereiam]

Why has everything to do with cost. People need to wake up and see that a united country has f**k all to do with cost