Borderless thoughts on Politics, Public Affairs, the media and anything else that matters from Conall McDevitt, SDLP MLA for South Belfast
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  • Joint appearance needed

    Posted on March 10th, 2009 Conall McDevitt 4 comments

    Listen to the radio, read Twitter, go on Facebook or open the letter pages of our local newspapers today and you will see what the people of Northern Ireland think about the events of the past 48 hours.

    The First and Deputy First Ministers are returning from London this morning, postponing again their planned US trip. 

    There is an element of all this which boils down to basic propaganda. 

    The fundamentalists are killing for a headline. Their ambition is to send stories around the globe of death in the North. The most powerful rebuttal to that would be images of the First and Deputy First Minister standing together in rejection of these acts. Some of the global news coverage of the weekends events last night fell right into the trap of the 100 or so rejectionists laid for them. “Northern Ireland on the Brink” was the global story. I am sure many of us on this island would have been surprised to see such reports after the solidarity which was shown in the Assembly yesterday.

    That’s why a joint appearance is so important. The media will feed well on the image of a former IRA man alongside a man who infamously “invaded” the Republic of Ireland and then donned a red beret in the Ulster Hall, standing together.  Sinn Fein and the DUP have been very good at using their pasts to get votes. Today they must use it to send a positive message around the world.

    The Assembly meets again at 10.30 and you can follow proceedings live here. I hope Messers Durkan, Empey, Ford, McGuinness and Robinson are able to join the President in the White House next Tuesday. Obama will likely want to talk to the many of us who want to build a shared future.

    Current Affairs, Politics, Public Affairs, The Media ,
     

    4 responses to “Joint appearance needed”

    1. Fearghal O Boyle March 10th, 2009 at 09:26

      I agree that a joint appearance is necessary, but more importantly – the two lads have to get on that plane to the US and start selling up the country immediately after. Back at home the rest of us have to continue the excellent work done last night by the various politicos who were live on television when the news of the murder came through. This is a time for level heads. As for the dissidents, lets call them what they really are: the ‘brits back’ brigade.

    2. Mel Dubnick March 10th, 2009 at 12:10

      The news coverage over here is simplistic as ever, and the trip would be productive for all.

      Almost anything and everything Obama does in a given day is provided full coverage (which was not the case with GWB, especially at end of term), so it is bound to get attention globally.

      The other half is for them to propose that he immediately ask George Mitchell and/or Bill Clinton to make a visit as soon as possible — essentially for symbolic reasons, but in the case of NI symbolism at this juncture is really important. Finally, get Obama to announce a stop in Belfast on way to London meeting of G-30 next month.
      But the first thing is to get FM and DFM to DC as soon as possible.

    3. Mark Finlay March 10th, 2009 at 14:06

      I am in San Francisco with a small group of business people who are here, trying to do business for ourselves and land a great economic opportunity for NI. We are feeling the pain of separation at this time and our prayers go out to the families of those killed.

      The FM and dFM have cancelled this leg of he visit anyway. We had hoped to meet the Irish Technology Leadership Group in Silicon Valley and we ARE meeting some businesses where we (private sector) have set up the connections.

      I am afraid the ITLG event has been cancelled, which is a shame given that the ‘advance team’ of Senior Management from Invest NI and a significant private sector group is here.

      I know which politicians have been invited to the White House on Tuesday next and I know who is scheduled to be in NYC, Washington DC, etc. I do hope they all go ahead and I hope that President Obama’s speech writer is preparing forceful remarks.

      Meantime, as a private citizen here on my dime and on my time, I am going to do what I can while I am here, to steady nerves and to deepen relationships and to try and do business in an already difficult climate.

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