Friday 24 May 2013
What is the point of Assembly committees? Do they have an important role in holding Executive departments to account? And can they really influence the work of Government? The answer to these questions is an emphatic Yes.
Angelina Jolie was never just a woman. She was never just a movie star, even. Since she first came to the public's notice, she has looked and behaved in an other-worldly manner.
Amid fears of a deepening recession in Northern Ireland, there have been two significant employment good news stories in the past week.
A number of weeks ago, Peter Robinson and myself met with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in Downing Street. It was one of only a handful of meetings that have taken place since the Tory/Liberal Democrats coalition came into power.
The Queen's Speech, which sets out the Government's legislative programme for the next session, was read to both Houses of Parliament last week.
People who are quick to buy new gadgets are known as 'early adopters'. People who are reluctant to move with the times and acquire new technologies have long been known as Luddites (after the workers who smashed up new machines in the industrial revolution).
WILLIAM McCrea, filling in for Nigel Dodds, spoke for the DUP in last week's debate on the Queen's Speech.
ON the day parliament started its new session, Naomi Long (below) tabled two Commons motions about puppies.
The current climate holds many challenges for schools in Northern Ireland. The issues around viability and sustainability, in particular, are most pressing and the inevitability of change is clear.
Whatever happened to the mythical American neighbourhood, that Rockwellian idyll of friendliness and normality, where no problem cannot be resolved by community spirit?
"Please hold the line; the person you're calling knows you are waiting," advises the plummy BT lady, "and is completely ignoring you – so please clear off and leave them alone."
There's an equation that defines the traffic flow of a city: cars expand to fill the streets available. And 40-odd years ago, it became clear that the number of cars in Belfast had grown greater than its streets could support. Traffic jams became a regular occurrence in and around the city centre.
Students aren't the most house proud and they don't usually get up at the crack of dawn unless they're cramming for an exam.
The recent arctic conditions were a wake-up call to anyone who thought the snow and thaw emergency of 2010/11 was a one-off. However, the ability of public and voluntary agencies to swing into action to help those worst affected was, once again, hampered by Northern Ireland's lack of any specific, cross-cutting emergency legislation.
In 1945, the Irish government issued a blacklist of men who were not to be given government, or local government, jobs. The list – running to 133 pages – included more than 5,000 names from almost every county.
The Queen will travel to the Palace of Westminster tomorrow morning for the state opening of Parliament. This solemn, stately and slightly over-the-top ceremony marks the start of the new session.
The recently published independent Sharing Education report has certainly generated a lot of debate and some strong criticism. This serves to demonstrate how important the whole education debate is to us and, in particular, its importance in the wider issue of its impact on the whole question of reconciliation.
It was announced recently that the next £5 note will feature Winston Churchill, replacing the social reformer Elizabeth Fry. The outgoing governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, said he was proud to put Churchill on the note – even suggesting that it might be called a 'Winnie'.
An Opposition has two very specific responsibilities: holding the government to account (by way of debate, scrutiny, procedural mechanics, external lobbying and media coverage) and offering the electorate choice and alternatives at elections (ideally being able to either form by itself, or be the anchor party of, a new government).
We're a close family. I don't mean emotionally. It's just that we can't seem to get rid of the kids.
Three-day festival underway in Derry
Comedy with big following means blockbuster
Hangover star takes 87-year-old to premiere
Bank holiday travellers faced huge tailbacks on one of the country's busiest motorways as police closed a stretch of the M6 while they investigate a "suspicious vehicle" at a service station.
Thousands of eager pop fans are soaking up the sun as Radio One's Big Weekend kicks off in Londonderry.
Bank holiday travellers faced huge tailbacks on one of the country's busiest motorways today as police closed a stretch of the M6 while they investigate a "suspicious vehicle" at a service station.
Outgoing Manchester United chief executive David Gill expects Wayne Rooney to start the 2013-14 season with the Barclays Premier League champions.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has given a blunt assessment of his time at the helm of the club, admitting his mistakes contributed to the club's recent relegation.
Ben Foden has lurched from one disappointment to the next this season - but all that will be forgotten if he can help Northampton defeat arch-rivals Leicester to win their first Aviva Premiership title.
Will Smith was reunited with two of his Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air co-stars as his eldest son Trey made his DJing debut in London.
Marion Cotillard has revealed she learned Polish for her role in new film The Immigrant.
One Direction scooped four gongs at the first ever Social Star Awards, while Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were also recognised.
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