Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[orangeman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-27751198

Truth Commission in Columbia. What's the chances of getting one here ?.

[orangeman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27806854

Come dine with me next in Martin's house.

[Applesisapples]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27806854

Come dine with me next in Martin's house.

SF have totally taken the soup!

[give her dixie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27806854

Come dine with me next in Martin's house.

SF have totally taken the soup!

At this stage, nothing they say or do surprises anyone anymore.

It's another case of "this is good for the peace process" and "Anyone opposed to this is anti peace / dissident / opponent of change / etc, etc.

[glens abu]

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and Deputy First Minister has made bursary awards as part of the Bobby Sands Gaeltacht Scholarship to pupils of St Colm's High School in Twinbrook, where Bobby Sands lived.

The bursary is a joint initiative taken by Colin Sinn Féin and the Bobby Sands Gaeltacht Scholarship, a recently-formed group of local business people dedicated to helping children interested in learning and speaking Irish.

[Orior]

Terrible performance by Ruane trying to debate this topic with wee Jeffrey this morning on radio bluster.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28654599

Tip for Caitriona - when you are trying to argue a point sometimes less words is more effective.

[Applesisapples]

So the FM wants to reform Stormont? But rather than talk to McGuinness about it he does an article in the Telegraph. Time SF pulled the plug. What self respecting Nationalist gives a toss about this dysfunctional supercouncil. Joint authority Peter is the way to go with Adams as Tanaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling the shots...careful what you wish for.

[Rossfan]

Presumablky SF will just continue to say NO to any attempts by DUP and other Unionists to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

[Hereiam]

Its a sorry state of affairs and the DUP want it this way. They are seeing that the nationalist side are becoming more powerful and they are crapping themselves about making one wrong decision and if over for them.
The silence from S.F and SDLP is also worrying, you would think they would be more vocal about what is going on.

[Ulick]

Graduate that Robbo.

[orangeman]

Any word of a border poll ?.

[naka]

So the FM wants to reform Stormont? But rather than talk to McGuinness about it he does an article in the Telegraph. Time SF pulled the plug. What self respecting Nationalist gives a toss about this dysfunctional supercouncil. Joint authority Peter is the way to go with Adams as Tanaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling the shots...careful what you wish for.

guys the plug wont be pulled too many on both sides in on the gravy train

most ordinary people think Stormont as it stands is a joke
if nesbitt /the alliance and the sdlp had any self respect they would go into opposition and challenge the status quo

[Ulick]

So the FM wants to reform Stormont? But rather than talk to McGuinness about it he does an article in the Telegraph. Time SF pulled the plug. What self respecting Nationalist gives a toss about this dysfunctional supercouncil. Joint authority Peter is the way to go with Adams as Tanaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling the shots...careful what you wish for.

guys the plug wont be pulled too many on both sides in on the gravy train

most ordinary people think Stormont as it stands is a joke
if nesbitt /the alliance and the sdlp had any self respect they would go into opposition and challenge the status quo

I'm always bemused with this suggestion but no one has ever made it clear what difference that would make. IMO the 'status quo' is the partition of this island with the British retaining sovereignty. The Stormont Executive  is no more than an administrative set-up with semi-independent departments managing their allocated resources. The Stormont Assembly as far as I can see serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever. The SDLP resigning their Executive seat in Stomont will never change or challenge the 'status quo' nor make a blind bit of difference to anyone. The Stoops to their credit are at least smart enough to recognise this. The challenge to the 'status quo' will only come after the slow learners realise that the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews were only interim agreements pending a final and just settlement on the constitutional future of the island. Peter Robinson is correct in that Stormont and St Andrews is not fit for purpose - like did he really believe his brand of obstructionist anti-Irish bigotry was ever going to be acceptable in the medium to long-term. Not a f**king chance Peter, you were just getting roped into the system. Cheers for that.

[armaghniac]

The challenge to the 'status quo' will only come after the slow learners realise that the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews were only interim agreements pending a final and just settlement on the constitutional future of the island.

But those who advocate some other arrangements have to propose a plan of some sort to replace the present arrangements. There is no sign of such a plan. Alex Salmond has shown how leadership can bring about change, we are devoid of any leadership.

[Ulick]

The challenge to the 'status quo' will only come after the slow learners realise that the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews were only interim agreements pending a final and just settlement on the constitutional future of the island.

But those who advocate some other arrangements have to propose a plan of some sort to replace the present arrangements. There is no sign of such a plan. Alex Salmond has shown how leadership can bring about change, we are devoid of any leadership.

Not at all. If Scotland vote Yes there is no existing constitutional plan of how it'll all pan out - it's all still to be negotiated. Same thing will happen here.

Salmond has promised everything to everyone and has the real power in the Scottish Assembly to bribe and cajole those who are reticent about the benefits of independence. And fair play to him, he's only doing what generations of Labour politicians have done before him. However the same situation doesn't exist here because the current set-up here means SF & SDLP can ever have the same level of power as the SNP have in Scotland, everything has to be agreed with Unionists.