Enda McClafferty
@endamcclafferty
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BBC Northern Ireland Political Editor
Joined September 2010
President also took exception to his title in official invitation “I was also referred to as the President of the Republic of Ireland. I am the President of Ireland.” He said.
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Nice story - nurse goes to a Ballyronan garage to buy a second hand car, gets a text while waiting to say keys are on the wheel and take the Astra for free as a thanks for the work she does. Class.
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BREAKING SDLP opting out of Westminister race in North Belfast. For the first time in party’s history there will be no SDLP candidate on a general election ballot paper. Also opting out of contest in East Belfast and North Down. All aimed at maximising pro remain vote. @BBCgmu.
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President Higgins responds to DUP criticism of his non attendance “It’s a bit much, to be frank with you. I have gone up to Northern Ireland to take part in events.”.“There often has not been a great deal of traffic down from the DUP people who are criticising me now,” he said.
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The border I wake up to every morning at it’s tranquil best unlike those fighting over it at Westminster
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.@Naomi_long says it is a “shameful” day for the DUP who came to Stormont to take their salaries at a time when families are struggling to pay bills
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.@moneillsf tells SF online Q and A that Executive will sign an agreement with Irish gov in coming days to allow for an Island wide response to Covid 19.
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key dates for reopening .April 23 - hairdressers, beauty salons, outdoor attractions.April 30 - all retail, self contained tourists accom.May 10 - outdoor dining & drinking, gyms.May 14 - 30 wedding guest reception allowed."not before June 1st" indoor drinking and dining.
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So the advice from Stormont has changed today. The public are no longer being urged to work from home unless that is they are an MLA and have no choice🤔.
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.@SpeakerPelosi repeats the warning that the US will not stand by and see Brexit imperil the Good Friday Agreement
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Figure this out. a friend has been sent for a test to the drive through centre beside her home, she doesn’t drive and when she walked in they told her she had to be in a car, no taxi prepared to take her. She is now sitting looking at test centre but can’t get tested.
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What now for the protocol negotiations with a weakened @BorisJohnson, EU less likely to strike a deal with a PM who could be on borrowed time.
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Breaking - DUPs Akex Easton apologises after being caught shopping for shoes during @niahealth meeting this morning .“I apologise unreservedly for disrespecting the Committee.” 1/2
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.@BorisJohnson has just confirmed gov double jobbing amendment in lords will be withdrawn.
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“It is a very disappointing day for us” Daithi’s dad Martin on the failure of Stormont to approve organ donation legislation. He adds the focus will now switch to London to get the law passed
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That must be a first, deal done and Stormont crisis averted five days before the deadline. Whatever happened to taking it to the wire.
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.@NicholaMallon says she does not want squander £20b on a bridge to Scotland when there are more pressing infrastructure needs in NI.
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Hands up, I got my Jims mixed up on @bbcnewsline this evening. Jim Wells and not TUV leader @JimAllister will be able to vote in DUP leadership contest.
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“Vote Jeffrey’s party get Jamie Bryson politics” @NicholaMallon tells @SDLPlive conference
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.@DUPleader says she still hasn’t seen the letter of no confidence signed by her MLAs which led to her resignation. She questioned if it exists as she is still waiting to see it.
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.@michaelgove once boasted about his unionist credentials and singing the sash acc to DUP's Ian Paisley who demanded he now take steps to protect the union. Gove replied "I can also sing the Fields of Athenry and Flower of Scotland".
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.@RobinSwannMoH is an “exceptional minister” praise and applause as @columeastwood pays tribute to the Health Minister at his party conference
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One year ago today the WHO tweeted “China has reported to WHO a cluster of pneumonia cases — with no deaths — in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Investigations are underway to identify the cause of this illness.”. almost 2m deaths and 83m cases later here we are.
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.@columeastwood has used parliamentary privilege to name Soldier F in the House of Commons.
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Amid all drama yesterday this man @columeastwood was told his wife Rachel is having twins, congratulations
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Is a Sinn Féin taoiseach and first minister on the cards?
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.@edwinpootsmla announces an end to Irish Sea border checks from midnight after receiving legal advice
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Some team news @DarranMarshall has joined us for a period as Political Correspondent @BBCNewsNI welcome onboard.
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.@columeastwood asks @BrandonLewis why the Parachute Regiment has not apologised for what it’s soldiers did on Bloody Sunday.
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@simoncoveney quotes recent poll suggesting only 7 per cent of people are worried about protocol in NI and adds we need to keep things in perspective as he meets party leaders in Belfast.
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.@BeattieDoug said it would be an "abuse of the mechanism" if his party signed a @duponline Petition of Concern to block the Integrated Education Bill.
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The bust of John Hume by sculptor Elizabeth O Kane unveiled by Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD
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A first, Irish dancers perform at UUP conference. The Royal Tara dancers hit the right note with delegates
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Powerful interview with Fr Joe Gormley on @BBCRadioFoyle. He anointed @LyraMcKee in hospital last night. He had a message for Dissident Republicans planning to parade in Derry on Monday. Don’t do it.
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A SF motion criticising UK Gov plans to break international law over NI Protocol and demanding EU Withdrawal agreement be honoured has passed 48 votes to 36.
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SDLP leader.@columeastwood says he has received several online death threat over his decision to name solider F in the commons. He says they have been passed on to the PSNI.
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NI protocol bill passes first major hurdle in the HOC by 295 votes to 221 . It will now move to committee stage which is being fast tracked over three days.
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Creggan Priest who anointed murdered journalist @LyraMcKee in Derry has called on Dissident Republicans to call off their parade in the city on Monday.
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Chris Heaton-Harris is the man rumoured to be the next NI Secretary of State. He is a qualified referee which should come in handy.
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After his meeting with the SOS @simoncoveney said he believes an election would be unhelpful and added he expects an announcement soon from the SOS. On loyalist threats against the Irish Gov he said he won’t be intimidated
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Irish gov confirm no joint order has been placed for PPE from China on behalf of Belfast/Dublin.
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.@moneillsf confirms that a new medical school will open in Derry in September 2021 with an intake of 70 students.
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MLAs standing to remember murdered Tullamore teacher Ashling Murphy
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Great sketch of a great journalist and clearly here talking about his beloved Everton (frown is a giveaway) enjoy whatever life brings next @KenReid_utv. Slipping out the back door in the middle of another Stormont crisis.
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Missed Tracey and Dave’s reunion gig last night, but loving the new album cover
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.@MaryLouMcDonald has accused U.K. Gov of “petulance” after being told she could not attend a leaders meeting with @JamesCleverly. “It was a “bizarre” decision she said
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Hospitality Ulster is calling for a full lockdown to drive down Covid infection rate. Colin Neil told @StephenNolan partial lockdowns don't work. Executive decision just got a little easier.
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Did I hear that right on @BBCgmu from @Freight_NI ? A digger was prevented from travelling from GB to NI because soil was found on its tracks. After a power wash it was allowed through.
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Alan Jack: Baby killed in IRA bomb attack 'will never be forgotten'
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.@JimAllister will be prevented from speaking in the Assembly for 3 days after speaker @AlexMaskeySF deemed he has been 'aggressive" while other MLA's were speaking. It was "unacceptable" behaviour the speaker said.
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"What is wrong with Doherty sausages" shameless plug from @columeastwood as he challenges @BrandonLewis in the HOC about the so called sausage war looming at the end of the month.
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Daithi in “celebration mode” as he arrives at Westminister to see his law being approved by MPS
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.@ClaireHanna battles to get floor time in the HOC and complains in a two hour debate about NI protocol only one NI MP @eastantrimmp was allocated time to to speak.
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Hearing @edwinpootsmla has not turned up for the @duponline gathering of MLAs and MPS to rubber stamp @J_Donaldson_MP as DUP leader.
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I hear NSMC meeting started with Arlene and Michelle offering advice to new coalition partners in Dublin on how to make power sharing work, it got a good laugh I am told.
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.@J_Donaldson_MP says Sinn Fein is only interested in “poking unionists in the eye” and accused the party of not listening
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DUP take on Frost resignation …….@J_Donaldson_MP said the departure of Lord Frost from the Cabinet is a bad sign for the Prime Minister’s commitment to removing the Irish Sea border.
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.@J_Donaldson_MP says he will remain in the House of Commons until the protocol has been resolved, The DUP leader has opted for Westminster over Stormont unless something changes between now and Saturday, when he makes the call.
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Lockdown in Strabane but not Lifford , will Irish Gov follow suit and if so when.
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.@IanMarshall_ left disappointed after being overlooked in new Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD Seanad picks as Gov parties incl @LeoVaradkar carve up 11 places, “so much for a shared island” was the quote.
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“Either the Prime Minister delivers the provisions of the Protocol Bill by legislation or by negotiation and ensures that our place in the United Kingdom is restored. or there will be no basis to re-enter Stormont” @J_Donaldson_MP tells DUP conference
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Six DUP MPs including leader @J_Donaldson_MP vote alongside 96 rebel tories against Gov Covid passport plan.
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President Higgins stands by his decision not to attend a service marking NI centenary service because he said it was politicised through the words “centenary of the partition of Ireland”. Also denies he snubbed the Queen.
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.@JamesCleverly has denied SF were excluded from meeting him today, he insisted @moneillsf was invited and opted not to go
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.@MaryLouMcDonald says @BorisJohnson told them he plans to fix the protocol and not scrap it and she accused the Gov of giving the @duponline a veto on power sharing
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.@gordonlyons1 tells DUP conference “our message is clear; without decisive action on the Protocol, and Northern Ireland’s place within the UK fully restored there is no basis to re-enter the Executive”.
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Hearing a four week circuit breaker is on the agenda for Executive meeting which will include school closures over mid term but big push back from @duponline. Lets see.
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.@michaelgove confirms again that NI will still be governed by EU law in specific circumstances and will come under the jurisdiction of European courts.
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Breaking-wearing of face coverings on public transport in NI will be mandatory from July 10th.
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Plot thickens as @BeattieDoug tells @StephenNolan he is in no doubt his talks with @J_Donaldson_MP were about him joining UUP and has texts to prove it. As predicted we have two versions of one meeting.
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We’ve now had the Bible, Samuel Beckett, Shakespeare, President Roosevelt, Dolly Parton, The Human League, Frank Sinatra and Fr Ted quoted during tributes in the chamber to @ArleneFosterUK on her last day as FM. Says it all about NI politics.
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Great to see the boss back on @SundayPolsNI and enjoying life free of ties. @markdevenport
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"I welcome the return of Irish nationalism to the floor of the house" SNP MP @joannaccherry tells the commons indicating she will be backing SDLP amendments if selected.
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Now hearing @columeastwood pulled in 26,900 votes surpassing John Hume’s record of 26,700 in Foyle.
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Breaking “He was too eager by far to get a deal at any cost” and should have held his nerve. @NigelDoddsDUP @DUPleader on @BorisJohnson Brexit deal. More on @bbcnewsline @BBCevex
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Executive meeting tomorrow has just been cancelled and will happen now on Friday.
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Sobering stat, when MPs rose for Easter recess on March 25th the CV death count was less than 500 , today MPs are back and the death count is over 16,500.
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.@DUPleader sets out plan of action to "free Ni from the Protocol". It includes stopping all N/S protocol related discussion, oppose all protocol measures in Assembly and building support at Westminister including an e-petition.
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“We may be few but we will be heard” says @columeastwood as he attacks @BorisJohnson reckless Brexit agenda in his commons maiden speech
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Former NIO Minister Conor Burns sacked. Number Ten says . “Following a complaint of serious misconduct, the Prime Minister has asked Conor Burns MP to leave the government with immediate effect. “The Prime Minister took direct action on being informed of this allegation”.
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Hearing Executive divisions on CV response will be laid bare from today “No point in presenting a united front to cover up weakness” was the quote from SF source.
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.@conormurphysf accuses @J_Donaldson_MP of throwing enough “dead cats on the table to fill a morgue” over his refusal to reform the Executive and unlock £300m to ease energy crisis. DUP insist others ways can be found to get the money out.
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Brexit deal: Windsor Framework concerns 'have not materialised'
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.@paulgivan and @moneillsf have signed off on the energy grant scheme to give 280.000 people £200 to help with bills. Signed off ahead of FM resignation later today.
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Due to illness @DUPleader will not be in the Assembly chamber today but will be taking part in the debate on last nights violence via zoom.
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SF have pulled out of a meeting with @chhcalling and FS @JamesCleverly after they were told party leader @MaryLouMcDonald could not attend.
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Former PPS Director Barra McGrory tells @BBCgmu government legacy proposals are "shocking" as they abolish the right to seek accountability through a judicial process.
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.@GildernewColm tells @BBCRadioFoyle 34 flights are due into NI today many from London and warns some may ignore guidance not to leave tier 4 restricted areas in GB.
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At 34 days the shortest reign as political leader in Northern Ireland has come to an end as @edwinpootsmla steps down.
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