martin mcguinness had advised anyone approached to become a tout to let sinn fein know.o be wired for sound, to secretly record a meeting with his potential handler. back in 1997, stephen drove me to the wood where he told me he met steve — his contact�*s code name. i'm really glad you've turned up i'm really glad you've turned up today. stephen is now working as a civil engineer 7,000 miles away in abu dhabi. the conflict is but a distant memory. what did sinn fein do to wire you for sound? it was fairly basic — i mean, it was 1987. it was basically like a walkman. where did they put the walkman? down my trousers. the walkman did the business. stephen lambert wanted to know who steve was working for. today, stephen remembers the promise that steve made about his security. "you have no more worries." "we will protect you. "you're. _ -" i can't remember the exact wording off the tape. he says, "your security is the major consideration "and that goes above everything. "you're safe as houses", is what he says on the tape. such a promise always underpinned the state's pitch

to the first ministerfrom sinn fein to the usa over st patrick's day.l electoral challenge that will come in the forthcoming westminster election. then i have this extra scandal. it may be that those who were concerned about some of the compromises that were made in relation to that deal, the critics thought it's the watered—down northern ireland's british identity too much, this might embolden them. what does it mean for the balance between unionism and nationalism in northern ireland, and looking at elections there for the role of the alliance party, the cross community party, which has really been gaining strength in recent elections in northern ireland?— strength in recent elections in northern ireland? certainly, one of the taruet northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats _ northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats that _ northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats that alliance - northern ireland? certainly, one of the target seats that alliance has . the target seats that alliance has had an itch mite for quite awhi

compromise that is with people like the first minister of northern ireland, michelle 0'neill of sinn feinose father was an ira prisoner. the two leaders, the first minister and the deputy first minister, are now seen by many as a symbol of compromise. emma little—pengelly, deputy first minister of northern ireland, welcome to political thinking. hello. it's great to be here. i'm struck by the image i've just seen before you came to do this interview. there you were standing alongside the first minister of northern ireland being photographed for international women's day. the two of you, two women, of course, two women in theirforties. two women, do you think of a new generation of leadership in northern ireland? well, i think both michelle and i have, i guess, very similar circumstances to some extent, but also very, very different ones of growing up in the eighties and nineties in northern ireland. but i think in that sense we almost straddle a number of generations. we are old enough to remember the difficult days of the past and the trauma and the violence and of course all of those ne

compromise that is with people like the first minister of northern ireland, michelle 0'neill of sinn feinther was an ira prisoner. the two leaders, the first minister and the deputy first minister, are now seen by many as a symbol of compromise. emma little—pengelly, deputy first minister of northern ireland, welcome to political thinking. hello. it's great to be here. i'm struck by the image i've just seen before you came to do this interview. there you were standing alongside the first minister of northern ireland being photographed for international women's day. the two of you, two women, of course, two women in theirforties. two women, do you think of a new generation of leadership in northern ireland? well, i think both michelle and i have, i guess, very similar circumstances to some extent, but also very, very different ones of growing up in the eighties and nineties in northern ireland. but i think in that sense we almost straddle a number of generations. we are old enough to remember the difficult days of the past and the trauma and the violence and of course all of those negotiat

, and the delegates tapped — on sinn fein, and the delegates tapped it— on sinn fein, and the delegatespped it up, as you would expect them to — lapped it up, as you would expect them to. but i think he would know that a _ them to. but i think he would know that a more — them to. but i think he would know that a more important audience for him at _ that a more important audience for him at home will be the audience who don't necessarily attend fine gael conventions. and he will have a chance — conventions. and he will have a chance to — conventions. and he will have a chance to speak to those people who will he _ chance to speak to those people who will be looking in, the new taoiseach being elected on a couple of weeks. _ taoiseach being elected on a couple of weeks, but for now the fine gael faithful— of weeks, but for now the fine gael faithful here were loving it today. and what — faithful here were loving it today. and what challenges does he have going forward? he and what challenges does he have going forward?— and what challenges does he have going forward? he has got a number o

sinn fein does better and succeeds as a politicalforce. during there were those in mi five during the troubles he felt that in order for there to be peace in the region, sinn fein had to be a credible and successful political force. so some of these agents were playing a small part in making that a reality. thank ou for part in making that a reality. thank you forjoining _ part in making that a reality. thank you forjoining us — part in making that a reality. thank you forjoining us on _ part in making that a reality. thank you forjoining us on the _ part in making that a reality. thank you forjoining us on the programme. pope francis will not attend a good friday procession at rome's colosseum to protect his health ahead of other easter week engagements, the vatican said. pope francis earlier presided over the traditional good friday service at st peter's basilica in vatican city. good friday is the most somber day in the christian calendar, marking jesus' death by crucifixion. the pontiff will also preside at an easter vigil service on s

�*sinn fein, emma michelle o'neill of sinn fein, emma little pengelly, unionist member of the assemblyhe said that that there was conditional on the uk reassuring unionists on northern ireland's links to britain. of course, that suspension had been related to the post—brexit checks on goods from britain entering northern ireland. let's get you right up to date with this breaking piece of news with jennifer date with this breaking piece of news withjennifer o'leary, who joins me from belfast. what more can you tell us at this stage? you're right, it certainly is a major breaking news from northern ireland of seismic political consequences, some might say, but just to reiterate what has happened, sirjeffrey donaldson, the leader of the democratic unionist party, that is the biggest unionist party in northern ireland, has been charged with historical sexual offences and has stepped back as dup leader. a57—year—old woman, we can also say, has also been with aiding and abetting in connection with those alleged offences. they were both arrested yesterday morning by psni detectives and questi

in the republic of ireland and of course, with the sinn fein, with sinn fein, first minister, as wet in northern ireland, it makes it the two party, the one party running the administrations in both north and south of the island, and the feeling about the idea of, of uniting ireland at some point, the idea of a border poll, of course, that lies in the hands of the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, he must be assured that it's worth having the border poll there might be a majority in northern ireland to vote to unite with southern ireland , so having the two two ireland, so having the two two governments sinn fein governments run by sinn fein will certainly be a moment to sit up for those concerned about the union. >> well, of course, in northern ireland, the deputy minister, deputy first minister and first minister technically minister are technically co—equal despite their slightly different let's, well , different names. so let's, well, it'll be an interesting co—equal. co—equal, but christopher, hope you also have some news on this battle between the house of commo

political reaction trickling out today too, we heard from the first minister of northern ireland, sinn feintability in stormont is her priority. a lot of concern that yesterday's news might affect this place. critical institutions and power—sharing in northern ireland can be quite delicate at the best of times. we have heard from the dup as well, northern ireland's largest unionist party, and the second biggest political party in stormont behind sinn fein. we heard some the deputy first minister emma little—pengelly who said she is determined to ensure political stability. her words mirroring what we know was in an internal message sent to dup members by the interim leader gavin robinson. political leaders in northern ireland, across the spectrum, really at pains today to show, to emphasise they are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to devolved government in northern ireland, for now at least. but the dup is in crisis. there is no doubt about that. the management will get its first big test in just over a week, when stormont returns from easter recess. unheard recordings of the

ago he led the dup back into the power—sharing institutions here at stormont for the first time sinn feinreland, they took a first minister position in the shape of michelle 0'neill, the dup's emma little—pengelly became the deputy first minister, the first time in that role, and things were going very well, the relationships were good between the parties, and today the shocking news, really, that so jeffrey donaldson is to step down as dup leader with immediate effect, we know that the party's deputy leader, gavin robinson, who and mp for this area that we are standing in now, east belfast, he will become the interim leader. we did hear that statement from dup, i'm to believe we may hear something from gavin robinson here today. we don't know what form that will take, but we don't expect him to be available for interview today, that is perhaps to be expected, given the nature of these accusations, given the nature of the charges. just these accusations, given the nature of the charges-_ these accusations, given the nature of the charges. just give me more of a sense of the _ of the charg

so for sinn fein to admit it will be really difficult.so you don't expect any pleasure from this tomorrow?— from this tomorrow? i wouldn't exect from this tomorrow? i wouldn't expect closure _ from this tomorrow? i wouldn't expect closure in _ from this tomorrow? i wouldn't expect closure in the _ from this tomorrow? i wouldn't expect closure in the form i from this tomorrow? i wouldn't expect closure in the form of. from this tomorrow? i wouldn't expect closure in the form of a | from this tomorrow? i wouldn't i expect closure in the form of a full apology. but it will bring some form of satisfaction to people like claire dignam and men and women in her position. claire dignam and men and women in her position-— her position. peter taylor, thank ou for her position. peter taylor, thank you for coming — her position. peter taylor, thank you for coming in _ her position. peter taylor, thank you for coming in to _ her position. peter taylor, thank you for coming in to speak- her position. peter taylor, thank you for coming in to speak to i

and if it's a sinn fein government, if they win a sinn win southern sinn fein win in southern ireland sinn fein adminis'the on, northern ireland with a sinn fein adminis'the on, n> independent candidates or polling high. people sick of the political status quo, sick of the continuum. could we see a brexit party style, a reform, a reform uk style insurgency? >> you don't have the same as i understand it, as many kind of right of centre parties in in ireland. and it may be that happens. >> there's a lot of political will. i think you're dead right. immigration at control, housing shortages, finding shortages, young people finding it very, very, very difficult to the point of impossibility to afford to ever be able to buy anywhere, especially around dubun anywhere, especially around dublin . soaring crime, a lot of dublin. soaring crime, a lot o

not least because an election within the next year, may bring sinn fein to power. we'll here from one of the senators in mr varadkars finae gael party. and: excavating the site of a 3,000—year—old disaster, suspended in time. we will speak to one of the archaeologists working on the british pompei. good evening. the british prime minister says he thinks the uk has "turned a corner" following the financial shocks of the past few years. new figures out today showed that inflation in february slowed to its lowest level since september 2021. which was some relief given that tonight the prime minister was due to meet his restless backbenchers. but what has not turned are his fortunes on the rwanda bill. the proposed law aims to ensure the uk can deport asylum seekers to rwanda by declaring it a safe third country, contrary to the judgment of the supreme court. on monday conservative mp's voted to overturn all 10 of the amendments made to the bill, by the house of lords. today, the peers got another look at it, and reinserted several of their proposed changes. which mean

what i'm trying to say is, i guess, sinn fein. what i'm trying to say is, iguess, is sinn fein.y-_ m i describe it, harmful but legal i activity._ i'm just activity. i know, i know. i'm 'ust expwrnrngfi activity. i know, i know. i'm 'ust explaining to i activity. i know, i know. i'm 'ust explaining to otheri activity. i know, i know. i'm 'ust explaining to other viewers. i activity. i know, i know. i'mjustj explaining to other viewers. 0k, activity. i know, i know. i'mjust- explaining to other viewers. ok, but one second. — explaining to other viewers. ok, but one second, what _ explaining to other viewers. ok, but one second, what i _ explaining to other viewers. ok, but one second, what i was _ explaining to other viewers. ok, but one second, what i was saying i explaining to other viewers. ok, but one second, what i was saying is i explaining to other viewers. 0k, butj one second, what i was saying is the rise in the levels of the ira came about from the brutal crackdown on the peace programme that was put in place in northern ireland, especially around londonderry where the b

the prime minister leo varadkar described it as a "comprehensive" defeat, while the leader of sinn fein darran marshall reports from dublin. within minutes of the ballot boxes opening, it was clear ireland had said no. voters were asked to approve two amendments to the 1937 constitution, one around the definition of family and the other on care. government leaders say they respect the decision but are disappointed. on behalf of the government, we accept responsibility for the result. it was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote yes, and we clearly failed to do so. i think we struggled to convince people of the necessity or the need for the referendum at all, let alone the detail and the wording. those who campaigned for a no vote say the government misjudged the mood of the electorate. these two amendments by the government were an exercise in virtue signalling. this was a government flying a flag of progressiveness while at the same time refusing to provide real bread and butter services to families who really need it. ireland has voted no to constitutional chan

and parties, including sinn fein and now fein, have they now sinn fein, have said they don't thepport for it. so that's really interesting. and also after the referendums were defeated, you have some kind older have some of the kind of older members likes fianna members of the likes of fianna fail, which is also in government, gael government, and the fine gael party out and saying that party coming out and saying that the hate speech law needs to be pulled back because the public don't want it anymore. in fact, the know, never the public, you know, they never wanted basically the way wanted it. so basically the way ireland think other ireland and i think some other western are kind of western countries are kind of governed, government listens governed, the government listens to ngos more than they listen to the public. and the ngos were fully behind these referendums, and and they fail so and they and they fail so spectacularly that i think it's weakened the power of the ngos by proving, actually, these ngos are basically astroturf campaigns that don't have much in the way of pu

the hardest of hardline protestants in those days, and the descendants of militant republicanism, sinn feinthat they were going to be in government together, you'd have told me to get my head examined! so if i say to you now that... ..in the midst of this carnage, of this horror that we are witnessing, that we have witnessed, that began with the massacre and brutality on october 7th and now goes on every single day with the deaths of thousands of people, over 30,000 people in gaza, if i said to you that there still is hope, there still is hope for a political solution, don't rule it out. i can't tell you how that will come aboutjust this minute, right when we're in the heart of a war. but don't rule it out. all wars come to an end, even the first and second world wars, even vietnam, even the american and british occupation of iraq. at some point, one side or the other realises it's not going to win. the peace talks start, and eventually a deal is done. we've got two particularly bitter wars going on at present — israel—gaza and the russian invasion of ukraine. how might they end? i asked th

last month sinn fein deputy leader michelle 0'neill became the first nationalist first minister with taking the role of deputy first minister. both have vowed to continue their positive partnership despite their contrasting political backgrounds. they were also here at the capitol at a lunch hosted by speakerjohnson and attended by the president to mark st patrick's day. us special envoy to northern ireland joe kennedy iii was also in attendence at that gathering and i spoke to him earlier about the us—ireland relations and the recent return to stormont. us special envoyjoe kennedy to northern ireland, thank you forjoining us. we might begin by looking at the special relationship between the united states and northern ireland. so many engagements over this weekend between the president, the taoiseach and ministers. what is special about the relationship? thank you for the opportunity. the united states has no better friend in the world than the people of the island of ireland and the united kingdom. this is our origin story. this is were so many people from the united states, where o

sinn fein was the political wing of the ira throughout the troubles.lives lost during the conflict, without exception. regrettably, the past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence of conflict be disowned by republicans or indeed by any other party to the conflict. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, said it wouldn't be right for the government to comment at this time. families whose loved ones were murdered by the ira because they were suspected informers didn't want to appear on camera. a solicitor acting for several of them explained why. the stigma for the tout or informant runs very deep in irish history. that stigma extends to the next of kin and the next generation. indeed, if proof were needed of that, we need only look around this room today. there aren't any families. questions around state involvement in troubles deaths have haunted the government for decades. 0peration kenova investigated one of the murkiest periods of time in northern ireland's history, but it's

stormont after a two—year suspension of that assembly to first minister now michelle o'neill of sinn feinnal on the uk reassuring unionists on northern ireland's links to britain. of course, that suspension had been related to the post—brexit checks on goods from britain entering northern ireland. let's get you right up to date with this breaking piece of news with jennifer date with this breaking piece of news withjennifer o'leary, who joins me from belfast. what more can you tell us at this stage? you're right, it certainly is a major breaking news from northern ireland of seismic political consequences, some might say, but just to reiterate what has happened, sirjeffrey donaldson, the leader of the democratic unionist party, that is the biggest unionist party in northern ireland, has been charged with historical sexual

sinn fein was the political wing of the ira throughout the troubles.s lost during the conflict, without exception. regrettably, the past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence of conflict be disowned by republicans or indeed by any other party to the conflict. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, said it wouldn't be right for the government to comment at this time. families whose loved ones were murdered by the ira because they were suspected informers didn't want to appear on camera. a solicitor acting for several of them explained why. the stigma for the tout or informant runs very deep in irish history. that stigma extends to the next of kin and the next generation. indeed, if proof were needed of that, we need only look around this room today. there aren't any families. questions around state involvement in troubles deaths have haunted the government for decades. operation kenova investigated one of the murkiest periods of time in northern ireland's history, but it's a ti

running, been an extremely positive move with michelle o�*neill and emma little—pengelly for the sinn feinactually one where with the election of gavin robinson as interim leader today by in a statement the dup have just made real continuity on the position of that was taken by party officers and the dup to return to power—sharing. so i don�*t, i�*m not concerned in any way that this. shocking news today will lead to any change in the momentum behind power sharing. and he has played in this political leadership role an absolutely critical part over the past few months. he led the negotiations with the government and he worked with his own party to move them from their position of staying out of the executive on the basis that they didn�*t agree with the northern ireland protocol. julian smith talking to the bbc. let�*s speak to newspaper columnist and political commentator based in belfast, alex kane. we will talk about the political implications in a moment, perhaps, but certainly your headlined thoughts to this news today? i think like everyone _ thoughts to this news today? i think like

sinn fein was the political wing of the ira throughout the troubles.without exception. regrettably, the past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence or conflict be disowned by republicans or indeed by any other party to the conflict. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, said it wouldn't be right for the government to comment at this time. families whose loved ones were murdered by the ira because they were suspected informers didn't want to appear on camera. a solicitor acting for several of them explained why. the stigma for the tout or informant runs very deep in irish history. that stigma extends to the next of kin and the next generation. indeed, if proof were needed of that, we need only look around this room today. there aren't any families. questions around state involvement in troubles deaths have haunted the government for decades. 0peration kenova investigated one of the make is to periods of time in northern ireland's history, that it is a time that may never truly

we have heard from the first minister of northern ireland, sinn fein�*s michelle o'neill, she said thentinue to work for the whole community and perhaps in a note of reassurance we heard from the interim leader of the dup, gavin robinson. he says his party's focus is now making northern ireland work and making devolution work for the people of northern ireland. what's happened here today has caused a political earthquake. there is simply no doubt about that. and it does seem like northern ireland will be dealing with the aftershocks from that earthquake for quite some time to come. . ., , ., to come. thanks, sarah. chris, a very similar— to come. thanks, sarah. chris, a very similar reaction _ to come. thanks, sarah. chris, a very similar reaction in _ very similar reaction in westminster.- very similar reaction in westminster. , �*, ., westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising _ westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising the — westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising the profound - westminster. yes, it's really worth emphasising the profound shock. emphasising the pr

positions and strengths of unionism versus nationalism in northern ireland, even though we now have a sinn feinrom all appearances have been working very successfully to gather in the last couple of months.— successfully to gather in the last couple of months. absolutely. if you think about this _ couple of months. absolutely. if you think about this beyond _ couple of months. absolutely. if you think about this beyond the - couple of months. absolutely. if you think about this beyond the realm i couple of months. absolutely. if you think about this beyond the realm of party politics, jeffrey donaldson was the leader of unionism in northern ireland. even the ulster unionist party, then moved about 20 years ago to the dup. he said about those camps, and he was someone who had wider responsibilities within unionism than simply to his own political party, and so this is a blow notjust political party, and so this is a blow not just at the dup, political party, and so this is a blow notjust at the dup, notjust atjeffrey donaldson personally, at jeffrey donaldson personally, this atjeffrey donaldson

in the past hour mary lou mcdonald, leader of sinn fein, spoke about the early results.eople have spoken, that they are heard, and it is a moment of reflection for the government, who went on a solo run on these matters. they failed to collaborate in any way and they also failed to convince the electorate. line is this, the issue of caring and carers, the rights of people with disabilities, to their full rights as equal citizens, to their rights as equal citizens, to their rights to support and services, are now centrestage, and in the end i suppose, a government that has such a bad record in terms of supporting people with disabilities, in terms of recognising and supporting caring and carers was never may be in a position to win a referendum like this with the people. we can cross now to dublin and our correspondent darren marshall. so the government said they were to reflect a modern and inclusive society but it seems the public have voted no. it is important to look at what the public were voting on yesterday, they were handed two ballot papers, one on family and the

sinn fein was the political wing of the ira throughout the troubles.ring the conflict, without exception. regrettably, the past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence or conflict be disowned by republicans or indeed by any other party to the conflict. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, said it wouldn't be right for the government to comment at this time. families whose loved ones were murdered by the ira because they were suspected informers didn't want to appear on camera. a solicitor acting for several of them explained why. the stigma for the tout or informant runs very deep in irish history. that stigma extends to the next of kin and the next generation. indeed, if proof were needed of that, we need only look around this room today. there aren't any families. questions around state involvement in troubles deaths have haunted the government for decades. 0peration kenova investigated one of the murkiest periods of time in northern ireland's history, that it is a time that

a month ago, sinn fein�*s michelle 0'neill gfx became the first nationalist to be appointed first ministerte about the prospect of a united ireland. census data suggests there are now more people from a catholic background than protestant, but polls suggest most voters are against constitutional change. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page reports. northern ireland has changed — statistically, politically, and physically. lurgan is one of the towns which has grown amidst evolving population trends. the first irish nationalist to be mayor of the area in 1999 has seen a major difference. one of the big changes for me were there were absolutely no—go areas in terms of canvassing. there were areas where you just would have been frightened, quite frankly, to go into. that's no longer the case. 25 years ago, did a united ireland feel achievable at all, then? many people wouldn't have thought of it ever being within reach within their lifetime, and i think now it is in our lifetime. the good friday peace agreement, which largely ended the conflict here in 1998, sets out a legal pathway to a refer

we have heard from the president of sinn fein, she is the woman who wants to be higher than's first females one now. now, as for those who will be the next taoiseach, who will be the next leader, we don't expect to wait too long. there are a few names in the framework and we are expecting to hear about who that might be in the next few weeks. previously leo varadkar had said that he would retire from politics before the age of 50. today he stepped down as taoiseach at the age of 45. the us secretary of state is visiting the middle east to bolster international efforts to secure a truce in gaza as the threat of famine looms. antony blinken has been meeting the saudi leadership injeddah on his first stop. saudi arabia has announced it will donate 40 million dollars to the un agency for palestinian refugees. mr blinken will also travel to egypt where he will meet arab foreign ministers and he will also go to israel. mr blinken's visit comes after he warned that gaza's population is starving — saying that its two million people are experiencing "severe levels of acute food insecurity". today,

a month ago, sinn fein's michelle o'neill became the first nationalist to be appointed first minister about the prospect of a united ireland. census data suggests there are now more people from a catholic background than protestant but polls suggest most voters are against constitutional change. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page reports. northern ireland has changed. statistically, politically and physically. logan is one of the towns in the middle of population trends. the first irish nationalist party b mirror of the area has been a major difference.— major difference. one of the big changes _ major difference. one of the big changes for _ major difference. one of the big changes for me - major difference. one of the big changes for me were - major difference. one of the l big changes for me were there were no local areas in terms of canvassing. there were areas where you just would have been frightened, quite frankly, to go into. that is no longer the case. , . , go into. that is no longer the case. , ., ., case. 25 years ago, did northern _ case. 25 years ago, did northern irel

not least because an election within the next year, may bring sinn fein to power.

features likely that sinn fein features it that it as part of that next government because they've've got radinot really on housing. government because they've got radinot really anything using. government because they've got radinot really anything to ng. government because they've got radinot really anything to do it's not really anything to do with any issue that sinn with any other issue that sinn fein to. voters fein may be familiar to. voters about. it's really about housing. i it's way housing. it's i mean, it's way past a problem for the irish working class. it's a problem for irish class . it's for the irish middle class. it's a problem for the a it's a problem for the irish professional everybody is professional class. everybody is feeling this problem. and the bizarre that the bizarre thing is, is that the irish government, knowing that it's this problem , could do it's got this problem, could do something about it. the irish, irish public finances are in rude health at the moment, so much that the talk dublin much so that the talk in dublin is vital in creating a sovere

sinn fein of course, are on a roll and there are some discussions and debate about what the politicsit is in other countries. what do you think is behind this decision? i countries. what do you think is behind this decision?— countries. what do you think is behind this decision? i think in as much as you _ behind this decision? i think in as much as you can _ behind this decision? i think in as much as you can guess _ behind this decision? i think in as much as you can guess and - behind this decision? i think in as much as you can guess and read | behind this decision? i think in as i much as you can guess and read into from _ much as you can guess and read into from what _ much as you can guess and read into from what he — much as you can guess and read into from what he said, i think it is a mixture — from what he said, i think it is a mixture of— from what he said, i think it is a mixture of personal, he's only 45 and a _ mixture of personal, he's only 45 and a lot— mixture of personal, he's only 45 and a lot more he can do with his life, _ and a lot more he can do with his life.

and of course, sinn fein's michelle o'neill , sinn fein's michelle o'neill, the first minister of northern that runs northern ireland. so you can you can see from this point how much disruption will be put in place inside northern ireland by this shocking news this morning of these historical charges. now that sir jeffrey put the party back together here after about 27 months ago, it basically had a civil war within itself between the right wing of the party and that middle ground. and really and truly, they have managed he has managed to do that and steer the ship, bringing them back in in the last sort of month and a half. but it must be said now that there are others inside northern ireland that are maybe, perhaps looking at this as an opportunity to realign unionism and take a different route with it and give it a different sense of belonging, because the dup always had that conservative side of things. so this morning we are we that news of the arrest was made public. and of course the bail conditions and stuff around that remain basically private. but today and this evening there wil

i mean, the first minister of northern ireland is sinn fein. >> well , well, they are in sinn fein. > cooperation and collusion. well, sinn fein will probably be the most embarrassed by this particular, report because it's these are ira nodding squads for want of better taking out nationalist people. some of them might have had nothing to do with the troubles, but it was for the protection of those that were involved inside the ira that were passing information back to mi5 were passing information back to m15 and the report will be released at 11:00 this morning. we'll be having a look through it today to see what, and we'll have to see how many redactions, etc. have been in this report. this could be politically explosive. >> okay . >> okay. >> okay. >> dougie beattie really, it's going to be an enormous it is enormous story, isn't it? >> a huge story. and you'll have it for us across the day on gb news really good to see you dougie beattie. thank you very much. >> okay. >> okay. >> it's time for the latest >> 915 it's time for the latest great british giveaway. first winner was from

an agreement with the british government and a return to with the sinn to power, sharing with the sinn feinhat are resigned his position. what are the implications for northern ireland's politics? ben lowry is the editor of the belfast news letter and he joins me now . ben, letter and he joins me now. ben, it's very good indeed to talk to you again now . thank you. many you again now. thank you. many people are worried about what the impact of this resignation could be on the recent, but doubtless delicate stability that's been established in northern ireland. what would your comment on that be? >> well, the first thing i would say is that the immediate reaction from all the main players is to emphasise that everything is going to go on. >> so that is i'm thinking of the interim leader of the dup. sir jeffrey was the leader of the dup. this is another mp called gavin robinson, he's emphasised he's not in emphasised that he's not in stormont. you can't be in both. in the old days you used to be able to be in both stormont and westminster and many of the politicians he's politicians were. so

would almost certainly— speculated sinn fein would almost certainly be returned as the governmentthe fine gael party in the country because _ fine gael party in the country because whoever becomes the leader will also _ because whoever becomes the leader will also become the taoiseach or prime _ will also become the taoiseach or prime minister of ireland. more on his personal _ prime minister of ireland. more on his personal background, - prime minister of ireland. more on his personal background, we i prime minister of ireland. more on his personal background, we saw l his personal background, we saw pictures of him with rishi sunak also of indian heritage, the uk has got an increasing number of ethnic minority leaders at the moment and he was obviously openly gay as well when he was elected, that personally very different background as you mentioned, did that have a wider ripple effect? how was that received when he first came in and how does it stands now? he when he first came in and how does it stands now?— it stands now? he was seen as a breath of fresh _ it stands now? he w

while the leader of sinn fein laid the blame squarely at the feet of the government.were asked to approve two amendments to the 1937 constitution, one on family and one on care. government leaders say they respect the decision but art disappointed. we accept responsibility for the result. it was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote yes, and we clearly failed to do so. i think we struggled to convince people of the necessity or a need for the referendum at all, let alone any detail and the wording. let alone any detail and the wordinu. .,, let alone any detail and the wordinu. , ., let alone any detail and the wordin.. , ., u, ., let alone any detail and the wordinu. ., ., ., let alone any detail and the wordin.. ., ., ., ., wording. those who campaign for a no vote say the — wording. those who campaign for a no vote say the government _ wording. those who campaign for a no vote say the government misjudged i vote say the government misjudged the mood of the electorate. these two moments by the government were an exercise in virtue signalling.