Léargas

I’m quite sure that the Unionist leaders who built Stormont in the 1930’s and thought they were putting in place a Unionist Parliament for the Unionist people of this part of our island never for a second thought that the day would come when Sinn Féin would a party of government with MLAs walking those corridors as equals. They certainly would never have imagined in their worst nightmares that they would see the Long Gallery taken over by scores of enthusiastic Sinn Féin elected representatives from across the island of Ireland applauding the appointment of a new Sinn Féin leader for the North – and a woman at that! After the turmoil and frustration of the most recent crisis in the political institutions the introduction of Michelle O’Neill at Parliament buildings as Martin’s successor as party leader in the North was like a deep breath of fresh air. It was a good day. Mary Lou travelled up from Dublin. Rose Conway Walsh our leader in the Seanad started out early that mornin...

Last Monday Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy First Minister because Arlene Foster refused to stand aside, without prejudice to allow an independent investigation to be established into allegations of corruption, fraud and incompetence at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. During this scandal another DUP Minister withdrew Irish language grants of £50,000 from children wanting to travel to the Gaeltacht as part of the Líofa project. It was a deliberate snub to those who wish to live their lives through Gaeilge. Then serious allegations of sectarian bias emerged about the allocation of money for community centres by the same DUP Minister. Martin McGuinness’s resignation effectively ended Arlene Foster’s role as First Minister. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement it fell to the British Secretary of State James Brokenshire to acknowledge the inevitability of an election and March 2 nd was set as the date. And then 24 hours later the British Prime Mini...

The Christmas and New Year period has been a busy time as Sinn Fein grappled with the DUP created Renewable Heat Incentive scandal, the allegations of corruption and fraud associated with it, and the potential half a billion loss to the North’s exchequer. The actions of the DUP have been outrageous. The refusal of Arlene Foster to step aside until a preliminary report is published effectively blocked any possibility of a robust comprehensive investigation taking place. Last Friday the Sinn Féin National Officer Board met to discuss the worsening crisis. On Sunday the Ard Chomhairle convened in Dublin and agreed on a recommendation from Martin McGuinness that the time had come for him to resign as Deputy First Minister. On Monday I spent time with Martin and our negotiating team at Stormont Castle and Parliament Buildings as we worked through the detail of the day’s events, including preparing for the publication of Martin’s resignation letter.  It was a long day for Martin. ...

In March 2007 Ian Paisley and I sat side by side and announced the restoration of the political institutions. It was one of many historic little moments that have marked the peace process since 1994. It was an image that few ever thought they would see. The leader of the DUP – who, sledgehammer in hand, had pledged to smash Sinn Féin and oppose power sharing – doing a deal with Sinn Féin and agreeing to share power. In the year that followed the genuine friendship that developed between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness was a constant surprise. However, beneath the surface of the DUP others in the leadership of that party and within its grassroots were far from happy. They felt increasingly disconnected from the new Ian Paisley. The DUP was a party founded on religious intolerance, sectarianism, a belief in the domination of unionism, and a dogged opposition to ending discrimination and inequality. During the decades of conflict it openly colluded with unionist paramilitarie...