UTV Evening News : 29th January 2020 - with Nigel and Simon Hamilton
ITV / UTV Evening News : Wednesday 29th January 2020
Twin brothers whose lives have been destroyed by the contaminated blood scandal have welcomed the £1m payment from Stormont.
However, Nigel and Simon Hamilton insist that much more needs to be done to ensure that victims in Northern Ireland are treated the same as those in the rest of the UK.
“It’s not merely the money, it’s the principle,” Nigel Hamilton said.
“We have human rights like other victims throughout the UK, our human rights weren’t being recognised, they were treating us like second class victims and that’s not acceptable.”
The twin brothers, who are both haemophiliacs, both contracted hepatitis C from infected blood products.
They gave evidence to the UK-wide infected blood public inquiry in Belfast last year, which has vowed to find out how so many thousands of people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 80s.
Stormont has reallocated £1m to people here affected by the polluted blood scandal, which means each victim could receive between £4,000 to £8,000.
Health Minister Robin Swann has said he hopes the interim payments will go some way to alleviate the victims' hurt and financial hardship.
Broadcast time : 6.40pm - Duration : 3.24
#InfectedBloodInquiry #contaminatedblood #Haemophilia #TaintedBlood #Stormont
Boris Johnson praises the reopening of Stormont
Boris Johnson has praised the reopening of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont as “wonderful”.
The prime minister was in Belfast to celebrate the return to devolution after a three-year impasse in the Northern Irish parliament ended with a breakthrough on Friday.
Mr Johnson applauded the compromise made by both sides to get Stormont up and running again.
The PM spoke to reporters after talking with the DUP’s Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill.
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UK: NORTHERN IRELAND: STORMONT CASTLE FIRE
English/Nat
Fire has destroyed part of Stormont Castle in Northern Ireland, scene of last month's historic talks between the British government and pro-independence campaigners Sinn Fein.
Firefighters say there's no evidence the blaze was deliberate.
But a senior Protestant politician, opposed to Sinn Fein, was more sceptical.
Fire has completely destroyed the old Commons chamber in the Stormont Parliament Building near Belfast. No one was injured in the blaze, but dozens of firefighters were called to the scene.
The neo-classical building was the home of Northern Ireland's parliament until it was abolished in 1972. More recently, Stormont has been the setting for British officials to meet with representatives of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA.
The IRA called a ceasefire on September 1st, while the loyalists did the same on October 13th.
While there is no immediate suspicion that the fire was deliberately set, some of the bystanders were more sceptical.
SOUNDBITE:
I think that any attack on the building is an attack on the principles - and symbolically - of what the Union stands for. And the Union at the present time was never in more danger, politically, everything about the Union is under attack.
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Reverend Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist
Police are conducting a full enquiry into the incident.
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Stormont Parliament in Belfast, Northern Ireland
STORMONT Parliament - Assembly and Stormont Estate in Belfast
A tour of Stormont - Stormont Park and the Stormont Assembly. These are the parliament buildings of Northern Ireland which are located in the Stormont Estate. There is a lot of history here - dating back to its opening on 16th November 1931. Currently the Northern Ireland MLA or politicians sit in the Stormont Parliament and discuss all political issues impacting the country.
Visiting a new city will be about the touristic places which you will get the chance to see as well as those places or buildings which the ruling part of the country is responsible for, such as the Stormont Parliament in Belfast which is now attracting lots of tourists to it.
Stormont Parliament is the parliament building that is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and its name is chosen due to its location in Stormont Estate area of the city. This building previously housed the defunct Parliament of Northern Ireland but is now the seat of Northern Ireland Assembly.
Even though constructing this building has gone through several steps of building several buildings, at the end this was all forgotten for the costs it was going to consume and it ended up with building this Greek styled building which people are visiting today and which is known as Stormont Parliament.
When the plans were changed and settled on just building a ministerial building, Stormont Castle then appeared. Stormont Castle actually served as the official home for the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and it was also the meeting place for Northern Ireland cabinet. It was not just the Stormont Castle, but there was also the Stormont House which served as the residence for the Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland.
All this history makes the Stormont Parliament one place and building that people enjoy visiting and checking when it comes to visiting this city. The Parliament building is welcoming tourists anytime from Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM and this tour will be about visiting and checking the Great Hall and at the same time visiting the gift shop.
There are free guided tours given to those who want to check the Great Hall of the Parliament Building to give tourists the chance to get introduced to this place and know more about its history; those who might be dealing with hearing or sight problems could even contact the office of the building who will be able to provide sign language interpreter to attend these tours.
The interesting thing about Stormont building is that in addition to being a historical Irish parliament building that people visit to get to know more about its long and old history, it is also used as a wedding venue for people and could be considered as a place where other events and even photo-sessions might be taken. If you want to visit the place and get that feeling of being in a historical building, you could also enjoy your dinner at the Members' Dining Room which is open to the public all year long from 12 PM to 2 PM or enjoy tea at the specific times as well; all these things will just need a reservation to be done first.
The long walk from the entrance of the place to the building itself is now a public walk that people enjoy since it is all about the greenery scenes that will be surrounding them, and that of course comes in addition to reaching this old historical building and getting more introduced to it through enjoying a tour inside; we have gone through all that and we believe that this will make a good addition to the list of things which one could visit when it comes to Belfast touristic attractions.
There are different other places and important historical and touristic places in Belfast that one should visit which come in addition to this building, such as Crumlin Road Gaol which is also considered one of the historical places that is now turned to a touristic attraction ( Titanic Museum which is one of the most famous attractions related to this city for the amount of admiration that people carry for this story all around the world ( Van Morrison Trail ( Belfast Castle ( Belfast City Hall ( or even getting to visit any of the different parks which are surrounding the city and have a peaceful walk there among all those historical attractions and destinations.
Have you ever visited Stormont Parliament in Belfast before? What do you think about this old building that is standing right there? We believe this is a good destination that one should head to in order to know more about the political side of this place that brought such a building to life.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
LIVE: Boris Johnson holds presser at Stormont after NI Assembly agrees powersharing deal
LIVE: Boris Johnson holds presser at Stormont after Northern Ireland Assembly agrees powersharing deal.
RT UK is a channel based in London covering British news and politics, protests and interviews with people who make a difference.
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Stormont minister accuses UK of acting in 'bad faith' over £2bn funding
Stormont minister accuses UK of acting in 'bad faith' over £2bn funding.
Dr Sean Haughley from the University of Liverpool says 'it takes a lot to unite parties in Northern Ireland but they're united in their annoyance'.
RT UK is a channel based in London covering British news and politics, protests and interviews with people who make a difference.
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Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (vlog #3)
Boris Johnson on BBC Breakfast discussing Stormont
Stormont talks: Main NI parties agree power-sharing deal - BBC Newsnight
Northern Irish parties have agreed to a deal aimed at restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland, after three years.
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The British and Irish governments published the draft proposals on Thursday, after nine months of talks.
Stormont's power-sharing coalition, led by the DUP and Sinn Féin, collapsed in January 2017 over a green energy row.
Ben Chu reports from Stormont. In the studio, Mark Urban is joined by the SDLP’s Claire Hanna and Jonathan Powell, one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement.
Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.
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British government and DUP blocking Stormont talks progress
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy today said that the British government and the DUP continue to block any progress in the Stormont talks.
The Set - United Kingdom Championships 2015, Stormont
4th place overall.
4th & 6th in piping, 5th drumming, 7th ensemble
Finding Fianna Fáil in Dublin | On The Trail
Conor Wilson watches on as the Fianna Fáil party machine churns into life, ducks into homes, and momentarily disappears.
On The Trail is Prime Time's online-only election series, giving you an alternative look at the various party campaigns, over the course of Election 2020.
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Mary Lou slams cynical British government Stormont meeting
Speaking after a meeting in Belfast today between the two governments and the local political parties, Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald said:
“Sinn Féin is eager to play a part in a credible talks process to restore the political institutions, end the denial of rights and secure the full implementation of the Good Friday and subsequent agreements.
“However, this is not a credible talks process.
Stormont Parliament Building, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Sat 7 April 2018
STORMONT PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS Guided Tour
April 2014 Some of us 'Last of the Summer wine', guys from Orangefield Presbyterian Church Belfast decided to take the free tour on offer round Stormont Parliament Buildings. What a super informative guided tour. Full of information, funny interesting stories, descriptions etc of all things Stormont. What a wonderful fine building. It has to be one of the best in Ireland. 18£ million to refurbish the debating chamber that was destroyed by an electical fault fire around 10 years ago. Italian marble unique paint work, gold gilt work steeped in history. Why not come and take the free tour for yourself. Tea and scones to the right of the entrance too for only 1£ 50 ! you couldn't beat it with a big stick. Stormont grounds are also simply magificent any time of year!
Rock the Vote NI - Stormont Part 2
Video from the Rock the Vote NI gig at the NI Parliament Buildings to mark Commonwealth Day. In Part 2 James Hurley, US Fulbright Scholar speaks about the importance of youth engagement in politics.
Two new Sinn Féin MLAs take up roles at Stormont
Two new Sinn Féin MLAs Deirdre Hargey (South Belfast) and Liz Kimmins (Newry & Armagh) are welcomed on their first day in Stormont by Sinn Féin leaders Mary Lou McDonald TD and Michelle O'Neill MLA.
Is there a storm brewing over Stormont?
Is Northern Ireland a more urgent worry for those trying to save the United Kingdom than even Scotland?
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UK PM arrives at Stormont ahead of Ireland talks
(12 Feb 2018) British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived at Stormont on Monday for a meeting with Irish leaders as hopes rose for an end to a political stalemate that has left Northern Ireland without a government for more than a year.
May and her Irish counterpart, Leo Varadkar, were due to hold talks with the main political parties in Northern Ireland's collapsed power-sharing administration.
May's office said Monday's trip was aimed at encouraging the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party and Irish nationalists of Sinn Fein to resolve their differences.
The Catholic-Protestant power-sharing administration has been suspended since January 2017, after breaking down amid scandal over a botched green-energy project.
The parties have blamed each other for the impasse that threatens power-sharing, the key achievement of Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord.
May also visited aircraft workers at the Bombardier factory in east Belfast.
Bombardier's recent trade dispute with US company Boeing had threatened jobs at the Belfast plant.
However last month the proposed 292 percent tariff on the US import of the jets was overturned by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington DC.
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Stormont deal creates 'beachhead' towards united Ireland says Sinn Fein minister
A deal to restore Stormont powersharing has created a beachhead to advance the debate toward a united Ireland, a Sinn Fein minister has said. Declan Kearney, a newly appointed junior minister in the executive, said the institutions would work as an engine for moving to constitutional change. But the DUP has insisted it will not tolerate any moves toward reunification and has characterised the deal as good for Northern Ireland 's place in the United Kingdom. Kearney, Sinn Fein's national chairman, said he was confident a return to powersharing would create the circumstances to deliver Irish unity. He told RTE's The Week In Politics: I see it as an opportunity now to not only ensure that these institutions work in the interests of all sections of society and firmly on the basis of rights, equality and integrity but we have now got a landmark opportunity, A beachhead with which to advance the debate on constitutional change in the island and to take this as an engine for moving forward towards Irish unity and I am very confident that we have the circumstances to achieve that. DUP economy minister Diane Dodds disagreed with Mr Kearney's interpretation and insisted people were more interested in bread and butter issues. Arlene Foster (DUP First Minister) said yesterday in her speech that she will probably never agree with (Sinn Fein deputy First Minister) Michelle O'Neill's interpretation of the past and we will certainly not agree with any moves toward a united Ireland, she told the same programme on Sunday. But what people in Northern Ireland are demanding, no matter what tradition they come from, is that we actually work together to deliver on their priorities. And their priorities are education, they are health, they are growing the economy, they are providing jobs, they are providing training and that is the most important thing to people in Northern Ireland. Powersharing returned to Northern Ireland after the DUP and Sinn Fein, the region's two largest parties, agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive. Ministers were appointed on Saturday as Assembly business resumed at Parliament Buildings. All five of the main parties have entered the executive after endorsing a deal, tabled by the UK and Irish governments, that offered compromise resolutions to a range of long-standing disputes on issues such as the Irish language. The New Decade, New Approach deal is accompanied by what the UK Government has promised will be a major investment package. Government funding is set to help tackle a host of acute problems facing a public sector that has been floundering amid the governance vacuum. Stormont deal creates 'beachhead' towards united Ireland says Sinn Fein minister
Sinn Fein,Northern Ireland