We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
TÁNAISTE MICHÉAL MARTIN has said he is optimistic about the future of Northern Ireland but that there’s no place for complacency.
He was speaking at the British Irish Association Conference in Oxford, England.
He urged people not to take the Good Friday Agreement for granted.
Acknowledging the rioting in Belfast last month, he said there is “no perfect solution” to violence in Northern Ireland, but that the Troubles Legacy Act is not fit for purpose.
The controversial Act came into effect on 1 May.
A Commission took over the role of investigating hundreds of unresolved legacy deaths and cases of serious harm which happened before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
The PSNI no longer has responsibility for investigating unsolved crimes relating to the Troubles.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said the government will not immediately drop its legal case against the UK government over the Act following Labour’s general election victory.
Speaking today, the Tánaiste said that the relationship between Ireland and the UK has been tested in recent years.
“Brexit shook the foundations of established relationships and ways of working. Its implementation and outworkings created new fault lines in a society that did not need more causes of division.
“We ultimately managed to navigate all of that complexity – and are still doing so – in a way that maintained the principles and the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and that safeguarded the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.”
Despite this, he said, unilateral decisions by the previous British government made partnership and reconciliation difficult.
“Throughout the eight years since Brexit, the devolved institutions have been in abeyance for more time than they have been up and running,” said Martin.
There is absolutely no room for complacency about that; not in Northern Ireland, not anywhere across these islands.
“I’ve said before that I believe that the public in Northern Ireland would have zero tolerance for another cycle of suspension, disenfranchisement and political torpor,” he said.
“In my view, that means having honest conversations about the practical functioning and management of the institutions. You can call that reform; you can call it political stability; you can call it whatever you want – what’s important is that it is tangible and impactful.”
Harris and his British counterpart Keir Starmer are to meet and attend the Ireland V England UEFA Nations’ League match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin together later today.
In a joint article in the Irish Times today, the two leaders said they wanted relations between their countries to go from “friction to friendship”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What about down in the Republic of Ireland? Back in 2020, Where you (Micheal Martin) told this country you would never enter a coalition government with FG and you did.
SF did well in this General Election and you and Leaky Leo left them out of your coalition by bringing in them Greedy Greens because they had extra sneaky taxes to introduce and the majority of Irish roads in Cities and Towns next to impossible to drive on with cycle lanes and concrete poured on car parking spaces with stainless steel Ballards.
So please DON’T LECTURE US THE Irish ELECTORATE on Stalemate.
@Tommy: The hilarious arrogance of shinners expecting to be asked into any coalition. That’s not how it works here. Too much cosseting up north, methinks. They could have drawn up an alternative coalition but instead launched a series of trump-esque rallies to further air their laughable sense of victimhood. It won’t be a concern now anyway. In freefall, with the 2nd least popular party leader.
@Tommy: all parties expressed their preference before the election, but it was the people who decided the makeup of the Dail, plus SF had months to form their own coalition (including with the Greens) but made no serious effort to do so. It was so left to democratic parties to give this country stable Government, which they have.
@Pat Hazzard: Yes, but Martin said that they wouldn’t form a govt with FG and they did so that was a lie!….. No if, buts or maybes
@Tommy: our leaders are an absolute disgrace when I look at leaders that are in the likes of Hungary and Poland who stand up for they’re overwhelming public opinion it shows the rats they really are.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: the people decided the make up of the Dail, that’s democracy and he respected the peoples choice.
@Paddy C: our leaders are the two most popular party leaders, their parties got the most seats in the local elections. The right wing nut jobs got less than 1%. Its clear who the rats are and 99% of the electorate rejected them.
@Pat Hazzard: But the point is that FF gained more votes by Martin lying, I wonder what the outcome would have been if he had told the truth that he would go into government with FG, a different picture i would say.
@Pat Hazzard: Irrelevant to the point…… HE LIED!!!!!….. And if you really want to get technical about the election SF was the party that won the popular vote! The people chose them as the most popular party ahead of FF and FG, 80k more votes than FG, and 50k more than FF
But it’s not decided by the popular vote.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: Never say never in politics!
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: thanks for highlighting how Shinners really struggle at basic tasks like primary school maths. They got 24%, that’s not even half way to a majority. The Taoiseach is elected by a majority of TDs in the Dail, not by thugs in balaclavas.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: a lie? That property developers cash was accidentaly lodged into the personal bank account of Micheal Martins wife.
@Michael o connor: It was just resting there!
@Pat Hazzard: Embarrassing for you. You might want to brush up on your definitions. If it was a 2 horse race 51% would be a majority. The larger number in a multi party race is actually the majority. Majority is defined as being the larger number. Sinn Fein got the larger number (or majority) of votes in the GE
Honesty and michael martin should not be in same sentance
Worry about our own part of the country. Fix the mess yourparty
@Gerry Lamont: he should have a chat with them about all the illegal immigrants coming across the border..80% according to Mc Entee..
@Finian McG: With no actual proof of that figure
@Brian D’Arcy: ”The Cabinet has been told it is now estimated that so far this year up to 90% of asylum seekers in Ireland have travelled from Northern Ireland.
RTÉ News understands this figure was provided by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee in her update to colleagues this morning.”
RTE. 30/4/2024.
And:
“85% of asylum seekers arrive at Dublin Airport without identity documents.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said “every effort is being made” to clamp down on the practice.”
Newstalk. 29/2/2024.
They’re all fakes.
Mícheál…….. The Minster for Parachuting “Stars in their own minds” into politics, whilst ignoring loyal party stalwarts!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: weren’t the candidates selected by their membership at a convention?
@Pat Hazzard: Eveventually, after they were parachuted in. It should be a stipulation that they have a specific number of years membership and attend a specific number of meetings over those years!!!
I find it double standards. And our media never points it out. FFG all goes to these meetings talk about democracy and how brilliant it is all parties should come together and power share. And then same on the same breath. We would never go into power sharing with Sinn Fein. And it’s never point out the hypocrisy of it. Practice what you preach or shut up.
@Jimmy Donovan: NI assembly isn’t a sovereign state. Republic of Ireland is, so clearly those organisations under terrorist control aren’t compatible with our democracy.
@Pat Hazzard: So the 35 SF TDs in Dail Eireann weren’t democratically elected??
@Brian: they got 24% of 1st preference vote, not even half way to a majority, yet SF held trump type rallies (during a pandemic) claiming they won.
@Pat Hazzard: You didn’t answer my question.. were the 35 TDs who sit in Dail Eireann democratically elected.. yes or no ?
@Pat Hazzard: “organisations under terrorist control aren’t compatible with our democracy”
You need to move on ,I see Bertie is trying to say he and FF were the people who put the GFA in place ?
Amazing imagination he has .
The armed struggle is over .
I don’t hear you comment on the UDA /UVF who have not decommissioned and are still active and terrorising their own community.
If only we had real leaders who used common sense what a shame
Another occasion to shut up missed martin
If there was a liars competition, Me’Hole would win it by a country mile!
@Brian Hunt: people need to stop bringing up all that developers money that was lodged into Micheal Martins wifes bank account, we need to move on.
@H Woo: learn to spell
@H Woo: bot mc bot face!
I hate Michael Martin!
All together now
“I hear you calling ….”
Martin is using his position to cosy up the SDLP,he knows that with SF being the biggest on the island that FF is in trouble going forward.
Pity that the new leader of the SDLP wants nothing to do with FF
have your say