Listen on your podcast app // David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan take you inside Northern Irish politics // Email: hello@stormontsources.com
Joined February 2025
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"This is the provision that's in the legislation. This is the provision that can be used."
The debate over the Petition of Concern is back at Stormont.
With the DUP seeking support over amendments to the Justice Bill, questions are being asked about whether the mechanism should only be used for constitutional issues—or whenever parties believe it's necessary.
#Stormont #JusticeBill #NorthernIrelandPolitics
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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Jun 12
"That does not happen in Westminster. That does not happen in Holyrood. That does not happen in the Senedd. That does not happen in the Dáil."
In this week's episode Tim argues that Northern Ireland has a deeper problem than political disagreement over the Good Jobs Bill.
"I think we've got a problem in our civil service. I think we've got a problem with the Legislative Council."
#Stormont #NorthernIrelandPolitics #GoodJobsBill
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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Stormont Sources retweeted
Jun 11
🆕 Episode is live
This week we discuss the protests at Scarva last weekend.
The Good Jobs Bill, should SF compromise or have the DUP got it wrong?
🎧 Available now
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Jun 12
“Sinn Féin could win either way.”
As the debate around the Good Jobs Bill continues, questions are being asked about who stands to gain politically.
Is the Good Jobs Bill primarily about delivering workers' rights, or has it become a political battleground ahead of the next election?
#NorthernIrelandPolitics #SinnFein #DUP
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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Pat Sheehan is accusing the Assembly Speaker of failing to act impartially.
"Independence doesn't mean unaccountability," he says, arguing that amendments rejected by the Speaker on issues including school uniforms and Mother and Baby Institutions legislation were largely those opposed by the DUP.
"This was the first time a Speaker had rejected amendments from a committee."
Full episode available now on Spotify.
#UKPolitics #SinnFéin #DUP
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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Stormont Sources retweeted
"He's three people away from uniting that MLA team."
Tim Cairns says John Burrows could achieve something unionist leaders have struggled to do for decades, unite his party behind a single direction.
"Either it's going to be a master stroke, or it's going to be political folly."
#UKPolitics #SinnFéin #MLA
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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"I would dismiss almost everything Arlene Foster says."
On this week's episode of Stormont Sources, Tim Cairns says the DUP isn't afraid of Stormont reform, arguing the party has previously supported ideas such as voluntary coalition and weighted-majority voting.
"I don't think the DUP, at its core, is scared of that."
#UKPolitics #SinnFéin #Stormont
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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"He has his own agenda. His agenda seems to be to drive through as much legislation as possible."
Pat Sheehan says that while he gets on well personally with Education Minister Paul Givan, there are significant political differences between them. Speaking on the podcast, the Sinn Féin MLA said Givan's focus appears to be "to drive through as much legislation as possible" rather than pursuing what he sees as meaningful reform.
#UKPolitics #SinnFéin #PaulGivan
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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"Who are we going to trust? Starmer and Rachel Reeves... or Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng?"
On this week's episode Pat Sheehan argues that Stormont should have greater fiscal powers, saying decisions on taxation and spending are best made locally rather than at Westminster.
#UKPolitics #SinnFéin #NorthernIreland
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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Stormont Sources retweeted
🆕On the podcast today
🟥We discuss @sinnfeinireland's Assembly reform proposals with @PatSheehanMLA and why the party are opposing Paul Givan's latest bill on inspections.
🟥What next for the @uuponline following the departure of Doug Beattie?
🎧Available now.
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"Safeguarding is a red herring."
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan responds to Education Minister Paul Givan's criticism over school inspections.
#UKPolitics #SinnFéin #Inspectionbill
@dmcbfs | @timcairns
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Jun 4
On @StormontSources today
We discuss @sinnfeinireland Assembly reform proposals with @PatSheehanMLA
Then we discuss the exit of Doug Beattie from the @uuponline
🎧 Available later today
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This week the panel discuss whether the party is losing voters on both the left and right, if mixed messaging on issues like immigration could become a problem, and what the future holds for figures like Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald.
Plus, a look at unionism, leadership battles and whether personality politics can really survive without party backing.
#IrishPolitics #NorthernIreland #SinnFein
@dmcbfs @timcairns
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