Good to catch up again with @BorisJohnson in Stormont, we’re talking about the new deal and the new prospects for Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/Uw1dGcfMdn
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 13, 2020
This afternoon.
Earlier…
From left: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill Michelle O’Neill, DUP First Minister Arlene Foster Arlene Foster and UK NI Secrertary Julian Smith
This morning/afternoon
Stormont, Northern Ireland.
Ahead of his meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar later today
Boris Johnson is preparing to hand over up to £2billion as part of a deal to get Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive up and running, according to reports.
Sinn Fein and the DUP have finally agreed a deal which ends the three-year impasse but it has involved compromise on both sides and a huge financial settlement for the region.
Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith pledged major investment to alleviate problems in the region’s struggling public services.
Boris Johnson preparing to hand ‘up to £2billion’ to Northern Ireland in deal (The Mirror)
Meanwhile…
A reminder as our political representatives meet with both the Boris Johnson & Leo Varadkar today – this ruling still stands & sets a dangerous legal precedent that reduces a fundamental provision of the Good Friday Agreement.
It needs fully addressed & remedied. https://t.co/xTkTLtM3B9
— Emma DeSouza (@EmmandJDeSouza) January 13, 2020
Earlier: Derek Mooney: It’s On…Well, Almost
Top pic: getty
so much effort on what is, with respect, a glorified county council..
Emma de Souza is a thundering bore.
The place is British until such times that it isn’t.
Typical Free State response – created the mess and walked away from it 100yrs ago. She is Irish – your passport has no mention of the Republic of Ireland
She is “Northern” Irish. She is a UK citizen (by default). the Brits have been in direct control of NI for 500+ years.
She may also be eligible to Irish citizenship (if she wants it). But it is not automatic, she need to apply.
“your passport has no mention of the Republic of Ireland”. so?
My passport says Éire on the front. And my constitution says: “The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland.” .. and further down that it applies to the 26 counties only.
Geographically “Ireland” is the Island. Politically “Ireland” is the 26 counties, and “Northern Ireland” is the top 6.
Ireland is an island. Its Free State ‘exceptionalism’ to claim Ireland as the name of just 26 counties and disregard 6. The Constitution should have been changed when they let go of articles 2 and 3. They dropped these yet expect to keep the sovereign name.The Shinners missed a trick when negotiating GFA. Changing the constitutional name to Rep of Ireland would go some way to remind those in the ‘South’ that they are short 6 but it does expose an apathy towards and disregard for part of our nation. There is no such thing as Northern Irish. She is Irish by birthright and law:
Under Article 1 (iv)/(vi) of the Good Friday Agreement, “the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both,…’
Mr de Souza looks as though he doesn’t really share his wife’s enthusiasm for litigation.
Looks like an ABBA tribute band.