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It's all in the game
"Don't Lose Your Marbles" might appear a politically incorrect title for a campaign highlighting mental health. But local charity Action Mental Health believes it works as a shock tactic - it also accurately describes a game they have...Show More Summary
Unionist disunity
So was Mike Nesbitt wrong to take part in joint unionist commemorations of the Covenant centenary and joint unionist lobbying in favour of Saturday's big parade? Or was his erstwhile deputy, John McCallister, misguided in using a speech...Show More Summary
Nelson sails on regardless
It was the kind of hot tempered Stormont debate after which you might say there were no winners and no losers. This wasn't quite right as advocates of the compulsory registration of landlords and schemes which safeguard tenants' deposits...Show More Summary
The Buena Vista Health Club
From listening to the callers to Thursday's Nolan Show, the jury is out on whether the Stormont health committee's decision to send its chair, deputy chair and an official to Cuba in December is an imaginative attempt to learn from a...Show More Summary
Politicians unite for tributes
The week's proceedings at Stormont couldn't have started on a bleaker note, with representatives of all parties rising to express their sympathy to the Spence family of Hillsborough. The tragic loss of three lives in a slurry tank accident...Show More Summary
Maze redevelopment taking shape
Just like the proverbial London bus, you hang around waiting for an opportunity to get into the Maze jail, then two chances come along at once. First on Monday, there was an interview with the new Maze Development Board chair, Terence...Show More Summary
Politicians under fire over violence response
Stormont politicians in general and the First Minister, Peter Robinson, in particular have been under fire in recent days for what some see as their slow response to the violent disorder in north Belfast. The police have called on political...Show More Summary
Changing of the guard at the NIO
So it's all change at the Northern Ireland Office. Some previous secretaries of state - say Labour's Paul Murphy - saw their role as staying in the background and providing a discreet safe pair of hands. Owen Paterson's instinct, byShow More Summary
Parades Commission not going anywhere
So the head of the Parades Commission, Peter Osborne, says the time is right for local politicians to take responsibility for parades. In the wake of the unedifying disturbances outside St Patrick's church in Belfast's Donegall Street,...Show More Summary
Choose your enemies carefully
"Choose your enemies carefully, because they will define you". I'm not sure if that's a traditional proverb, or just a line from U2's "Cedars of Lebanon". Either way, it is often argued that in politics a new leader needs to define him...Show More Summary
Time to turn off the red light?
So should paying for sex be made illegal in Northern Ireland? The DUP MLA Lord Morrow has included the suggestion in his Stormont private member's bill on human trafficking. He isn't a voice crying in the wilderness. In Scotland, Labour MSP Rhoda Grant believes criminalising those who use prostitutes would reduce demand for their services. Show More Summary
An Olympian spirit of generosity
So who are you rooting for? Team GB or Team Ireland? Or are you happy to admire the skill and dedication of the Olympic participants no matter which colour they wear? Despite the old cliche about keeping politics out of sport, the fierce...Show More Summary
PM finds Giant's Causeway worth going to see
Mark is currently off on holiday, but his colleague, Martina Purdy, is standing in for him. David Cameron ignored the critic who said of the Giant's Causeway, "worth seeing, but not worth going to see." Of course Dean Swift did not have...Show More Summary
David Cameron to visit Northern Ireland
Mark is currently off on holiday, but his colleague, Martina Purdy, is standing in for him. David Cameron has now confirmed he is visiting the regions, so expect him in Northern Ireland soon. But don't expect him to be toasting Nelson's...Show More Summary
Within the five Stormont "frenemies" allegiances can change
Sinn Fein, it's fair to say, really doesn't like Owen Paterson. Previously Gerry Adams accused the Secretary of State of "arrogance" for not calling a border referendum. Now Martin McGuinness has described Mr Paterson's speech announcing...Show More Summary
UFO files outline Northern Ireland sightings
The National Archives has released 6,700 pages of documents dealing with reported UFO sightings across the UK. Amongst the voluminous collection at least one document deals with Northern Ireland, referring to sightings reported in the...Show More Summary
An avalanche of debate
The controversy over the PSNI's decision to re-investigate the Bloody Sunday killings has provoked an avalanche of debate. Much of the commentary has focussed on the treatment of former paramilitaries who have been able to benefit from...Show More Summary
When the bank's computer says no
Driving through Comber this morning, I passed a queue of frustrated looking customers waiting for the local branch of the Ulster Bank to open its doors. On the car radio, Stephen Nolan was making his way across a road towards the headquarters...Show More Summary
End of days
Technically Tuesday wasn't the final day of this Assembly session; there are still plenty of committee meetings to complete. However it marked the final proceedings in the main chamber, and so many ministerial statements had been packed...Show More Summary
The sky didn't fall in on Handshake Wednesday
As we went on air for my final broadcast of Handshake Wednesday the heavens above Stormont opened and dumped a monsoon-like deluge onto our heads. Thunder clapped and we looked towards Carson's outstretched hand - the nearest likelyShow More Summary
