Wednesday 26 August 2009

Senator Edward Kennedy RIP

Senator Edward Kennedy has passed away. He died of brain cancer. He was a great campaigner for peace in Ireland putting pressure on all sides when it was required.

RIP

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Party Conference Time

It is that time of year again. Several political parties will be holding their annual party conferences in the coming months.

Interesting scheduling from SF and SDLP.


Party Conferences confirmed include:


SDLP Youth
5th September 2009
Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast


PUP
10th October 2009
Stormont Hotel, Belfast


Ulster Unionist Party
24th October 2009
Europa Hotel, Belfast


DUP
21st November 2009
La Mon House Hotel, Belfast

Alliance
21st January 2010
Dunadry Hotel, Templepatrick


SDLP
5th – 7th March 2010
Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle


Sinn Fein
5th – 7th March 2010
RDS, Dublin


Green Party has not yet confirmed the date and venue of their party conference.

Thursday 6 August 2009

SF Reshuffle

Coutesy of Breakingnews.ie Mitchel McLaughlin is standing down as the chairman of the Northern Assembly Finance and Personnel Committee as part of a reshuffle announced by Sinn Féin today.

However Chief Whip Caral Ni Chuilin said the South Antrim MLA would remain as the party spokesman on the Economy and Finance. “He will now be able to enter and shape the economic debate without the restriction of Chair of a committee restricting his input.”

Mr McLaughlin will be replaced as chairman by West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann.

She would “continue to bring a grass roots perspective to the work of the Finance Committee and a realisation that budget decisions in the Assembly have a direct effect on the budget of every family household,” said the Chief Whip.

As a result of her move to Finance she will be stepping down as Vice Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee to be replaced by Lagan Valley MLA Paul Butler.

His move will mean him standing down as a member of the Assembly commission, to be replaced by West Tyrone MLA Pat Doherty – who will continue with Sinn Féin’s equality agenda within the commission.

Ms Ni Chuilin said: “The reshuffle will be confirmed at the first available meeting of the Assembly on its return in September and will strengthen Sinn Fein’s ability to deliver change across a wide range of socio economic issues in the months and years ahead.”