Tag: Belfast

The prime minister is due to chair a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning before departing for a two-day visit to Northern Ireland to underscore her commitment to avoiding a hard border with Ireland. Read more She is expected to say: “I know this is a concerning time for many people here in Northern Ireland. But we will find a way to deliver Brexit that honours our commitments to Northern Ireland … that commands broad support across the community in Northern Ireland … and that secures a majority in the Westminster parliament.” Privately, however, there is scepticism within the government about the possibility of a breakthrough before May returns to parliament to make a statement about her Brexit plans on 13 February. The prime minister’s withdrawal agreement faces a new problem in the shape of a potential legal challenge by one of the architects of the Good Friday agreement. The group was created after Tory MPs from the leave and remain camps came together to promote the Malthouse compromise, which involves a longer transition period while alternatives to the backstop are explored. The resulting 'Malthouse compromise' involves redrafting the backstop arrangement for the Irish border which is so unpopular with Conservative Eurosceptic MPs and the Democratic Unionist party, which props up the government. It would also extend the transition period, set out under the previously negotiated withdrawal agreement, until the end of 2021. If the attempt to renegotiate the backstop fails, the Malthouse compromise proposes what amounts to a managed no deal. Before MPs voted for that amendment and against others, Theresa May praised the Malthouse compromise. The Northern Ireland minister, John Penrose, told Cable in a written parliamentary answer that his department had not allocated any funding for no-deal preparations, adding: “A number of staff across the department work on both EU exit and non-EU exit related work.” Cable said: “If the government is serious about letting Britain crash out of the EU, there should be a dedicated unit in the Northern Ireland Office, preparing for this eventuality.

A leading artist has said life in Northern Ireland will only be transformed once there are "liberally-minded" female politicians who have the courage to do "what they know is best". Belfast-born artist Rita Duffy said that while there are leading female politicians in Northern Ireland, women still have a "minimal voice". She insisted there needs to be change. ''As a community of people, we in Ulster are in serious need of oxygen and engagement with the outside world and so often lack that female perspective,'' she told BBC News NI. Learn more AdChoices Her two-month trip includes time at a former detention centre in the Atacama desert in Chile while in Argentina she plans to meet members of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. The group is made up of women who campaign for the return of the bodies of their children who were killed during the 1970s and 80s. She explained: "There are obvious social and political parallels between here and there; dirty war, armed groups, government mishandling of events, power and violence and the silencing of women. Ms Duffy said she was particularly looking forward to visiting the Atacama desert. "The dry desert under foot in this area is searched regularly by families of the Disappeared searching desperately for tiny bone fragments of loved ones. I will have the chance to accompany him on this journey."