Top northern ireland golf courses

Enda McClafferty Published 20 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Every high-wire act needs a safety net and Stormont is no different. It came in the form of legislation designed to ensure that no matter what happened, the facade of government would survive. All the bases were covered or so officials thought. A functional assembly providing cover for a dysfunctional executive. But that carefully woven safety net fell apart when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocked the election of a speaker as part of its protest against the protocol. But is the DUP defiance now starting to soften. What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? Claims about Northern Ireland's Brexit fact-checked Truss sets out new law on Northern Ireland trade deal The government's pledge to legislate "within weeks" to override parts of the Northern Ireland … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland Protocol: Is the DUP’s defiance starting to soften?

Liz Truss outlines 'necessity to act' on Northern Ireland protocol Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Liz Truss announced on Tuesday that a new law would be introduced to change the post- Brexit trade deal for Northern Ireland alongside further talks with the European Union . A row over the Northern Ireland protocol’s impact on trade has caused friction in efforts to form a new Executive in Stormont. Related articles Brexit: EU 'disbelief and dismay' over UK 'reckless' plans Boris to bring in new NI secretary The Democratic Unionist Party refuses to join a power-sharing administration with Sinn Fein unless concerns over … [Read more...] about Liz Truss urged to ‘stop dithering’ and move to scrap Northern Ireland protocol for good

Published 8 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics The Troubles Legislation introduced to deal with legacy issues related to the Northern Ireland Troubles removes the opportunity for justice for some victims, the commissioner for victims and survivors has said. The UK government bill involves immunity from prosecution for those who co-operate with investigations. It also prevents future inquests and civil actions related to the Troubles. The commissioner said this was "a vey bitter pill to swallow" for victims. "It does feel as if some of the last chances for what some victims would say is justice has been removed," Ian Jeffers told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. "Everybody recognises it's 40 years, it's 50 years, the chances of a conviction are very slim. "But if you've lost your mother or your son are you going … [Read more...] about NI Troubles: Legacy bill ‘removes opportunity for justice’

Published 22 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Actress Amanda Burton has called for her former primary school in County Londonderry to remain open, saying it provides "great value" to the rural community. The Education Authority (EA) has published a plan to close Ballougry Primary School in August 2023. The EA said the 44-pupil rural school was unsustainable. The Silent Witness star, whose dad was a former headmaster, described the school as "magical". Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle on Wednesday, Ms Burton said: "I traipsed through the school garden every day to be taught. I had to leave when I went into the city to further my education, but it has such a special place in my heart but obviously that's not a reason to keep a school going. "For me, in the first instance, it was such a magical place for me to grow up in - the surroundings and the education that … [Read more...] about Amanda Burton calls for Ballougry Primary to remain open

By Robbie Meredith Published 12 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A Belfast arts festival is to operate a pay-what-you-want policy for all its readings and events for the first time. The Belfast Book Festival is taking place at the Crescent Arts Centre in south Belfast from 10-19 June. While the festival recommends a ticket price of £7 for each event, audiences are given the option to attend without paying anything. The chief executive of the centre, Sophie Hayles, said the pricing policy was a calculated risk. Some arts organisations and festivals in Northern Ireland and the UK have previously run individual pay-what-you-want events. The UK band Radiohead also adopted a similar approach for their In Rainbows album in 2007 . One of the world's largest arts festivals, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is also running some pay-what-you-want shows … [Read more...] about Belfast Book Festival operates ‘pay-what-you-want’ policy

UK inflation hits 40-year high - live updates I can't afford to be in my job, says constable who collared Patel Ministers warm to windfall tax after polling finds it ‘wildly popular’ EU offers UK NI Protocol olive branch... but threatens trade war Russia-Ukraine latest: Mediators attempt to save Azovstal fighters S ir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of performing the "hokey cokey" over imposing a windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help tackle the cost of living crisis. The Labour leader said "one minute they are ruling it in, the next they are ruling it out" as he urged the Prime Minister to back the levy. Sir Keir also predicted that the Government will eventually be forced into rolling out the policy as he said "every single day he [Mr Johnson] delays his inevitable U-turn - he is going to do it - he is choosing to let people struggle when they don't need to". The Prime Minister repeated the Government's position that it does not … [Read more...] about Stop the ‘hokey cokey’ and back windfall tax, Keir Starmer tells Boris Johnson

DUP ‘chaos’ strategy ‘to erode support for union’ in NI says MP Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP )’s alleged strategy of running down the clock to trigger a new election down the line could backfire on the DUP and reduce support for unionism, an Alliance MP has warned. Speculation has been circulating in the alleys of Northern Ireland ’s Stormont Assembly about the DUP wanting to block the Sinn Fein ’s Government in order to trigger a new election – and win it.  DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson blocked the formation of a Government by refusing to nominate a speaker, plunging Northern Ireland into a political crisis. Against … [Read more...] about DUP ‘chaos’ strategy to ‘erode support for union’ with Brexit demands, Alliance MP warns

Peace and stability in Northern Ireland have been hard-won. The Belfast Good Friday Agreement is the bedrock on which the modern, thriving, Northern Ireland is built, marking the triumph of compromise and tolerance after decades of instability. I remember growing up in Leeds during the Eighties and Nineties, a time when our school was one of many to face bomb scares. I remember the heart-breaking attacks on civilians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which happened all too often. The transformation since then triggered by the Belfast Good Friday Agreement has been a marvel. Today, Northern Ireland plays a critical role in our response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine . The Ukrainian people are using our NLAW missiles , assembled in Belfast, to halt the advance of Russian tanks. They are defending their skies with Belfast-built Starstreak missiles . People in Northern Ireland have shown their immense generosity by opening up their homes to those fleeing the … [Read more...] about These moves are not about scrapping the Protocol, but making it work

Peter Kyle hits out at Johnson’s broken promise on Northern Ireland Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Northern Ireland 's Shadow Secretary of State Peter Kyle threw a punch at UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for having broken his promise to prevent a customs border in the Irish Sea. As part of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the European Union and the UK both agreed the best way to protect the Good Friday Agreement and preserve peace in Ireland was a customs border in the Irish Sea instead of putting one up between the two Irelands. Related articles Tories, Labour, Lib Dems and SNP shamed over 'low calibre' MPs PMQs LIVE: Johnson … [Read more...] about ‘Incapable of delivering’ Boris Johnson’s broken promise on Brexit border slammed

Ann Widdecombe rages at 'unreasonable' EU Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Brexit Party MEP  slated Northern Ireland protocol and said the “Brexit deal” is to blame for the current crisis with the section of the withdrawal deal rather than Brexit itself. Ms Widdecombe discouraged Boris Johnson from keeping negotiating with Brussels, as she warned “the European Union is not going to be reasonable” over Brexit and NI protocol as “they want to deter other member states from leaving [the union]”. Related articles Sturgeon's bizarre NATO ambitions torn apart by expert Boris to bring in new NI secretary Ms Widdecombe said: … [Read more...] about ‘Brexit is not to blame!’ Ann Widdecombe slates protocol as she rages at ‘unreasonable’ EU