O'Neill Urges Taoiseach To Prioritise Presidential Votes For Northern Ireland Citizens

Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán and First Minister Michelle O'Neill has written to An Taoiseach, Simon Harris, urging him to make extending Irish Presidential voting rights to Irish citizens living in the north a priority for the Irish government.

The call follows a recent motion supported by the Northern Ireland Assembly backing the right for citizens in the north to vote in Irish presidential elections.

"I have written to An Taoiseach urging him to make the extension of Irish Presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in the north a priority for his government," Ms O'Neill confirmed.

She described the current situation as a "glaring anomaly that an Irish citizen living in the north can stand for election as President of Ireland, can be elected as President of Ireland but cannot vote to elect the President of Ireland."

Ms O'Neill highlighted the Assembly's stance: "The Assembly decisively voted in support of the right of citizens in the north to vote for the President of Ireland."

She added: "The office of the President of Ireland is held in the highest regard and respect in Ireland, among the Irish diaspora and across the world. That regard and respect has a particular significance and immediacy for Irish citizens in the north who have historically been denied participation in the life of their own nation by the historic and undemocratic injustice of partition."

The Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán also welcomed recent comments by An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, who reportedly indicated his support for the principle and intention to discuss it with government colleagues.

Alliance Calls For Audit Office Investigation Into Mourne Gondola Project Spending

Alliance Councillors Jill Truesdale and Tierna Howie have called for an independent investigation by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) into the public money spent so far on progressing the controversial Mourne Gondola project in Newcastle.

The call comes after the National Trust announced last week that it would not consider a bid for the use of its land at Thomas's Quarry, which was required to facilitate the proposed gondola and visitor station. The project had been allocated £30 million through the Belfast Region City Deal, with remaining costs expected to be covered by ratepayers in the Newry, Mourne and Down district. 

Councillor Truesdale, representing Alliance in Newry, Mourne and Down, stated: "Alliance has consistently expressed concerns about the viability of the Gondola project, particularly regarding financial expenditures and environmental impact. I have spoken at length before about the glaring lack of transparency and seeming disregard for how best to utilise ratepayers’ money in the case of this project, especially when a great number of local residents expressed deep concerns and frustrations against it."  She added: "Openness, transparency, and ensuring value for money should be at the heart of decision making at every level of government, and as a party, we are gravely concerned as to how much money has been spent to date on a project that didn’t have the basic requirement of a lease in place to secure the site. I have written to the audit office to request an independent investigation into how much money has been spent to date."

Councillor Howie echoed these concerns, emphasising the need for impartiality. "It is essential that any such investigation is carried out by the NIAO to allow for an impartial overview. This project has been very contentious and unwanted by a huge majority of people, both residents and visitors to Newcastle and those who love the natural beauty of the Mournes."

"Alliance has been the only party to raise concerns consistently about the severe risk of progressing and spending money without a lease agreement," Cllr Howie continued. "We therefore feel it is only right to look across all the details and for the public to know exactly what money has been spent and how this was allowed to continue."

She concluded: "In the meantime, my Alliance colleagues and I will continue to explore viable and sustainable alternative proposals for the Mourne Mountain Gateway project and work to ensure that the £30m Belfast Region City Deal money remains in Newry, Mourne and Down."

SDLP Councillor Slams 'Draconian' GAA Skort Rule After Leinster Semi-Final Incident

SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid has stated that women participating in GAA sports, particularly camogie, must have the freedom to wear attire they feel comfortable in, criticising the rule mandating skorts.

Her comments follow a recent incident where Kilkenny and Dublin camogie players were reportedly forced to wear skorts instead of shorts during their Leinster Championship semi-final, allegedly under threat of the match being abandoned if they did not comply.

Councillor McDaid, who is both a player and coach at Steelstown GAC in Derry, argued that the upcoming GAA Special Congress vote must reflect the views of camogie players ("camogs") on this issue. 

"It is incredible that in 2025 camogie players were told to change out of shorts or face their important semi-final match being abandoned," Councillor McDaid said. "This is an issue that stretches far beyond a Leinster Championship semi-final and women right across the GAA and this island are outraged at yet another example of the misogyny that continues to permeate our society."

She described the regulation as "a draconian rule that should have been dealt with in the 1970s," adding, "At the heart of everything the GAA does is its values and equality is a huge part of that. I am proud to be a member of my local GAA club and would encourage anyone to get involved, but part of those values and ethos needs to include accepting when we’ve got something wrong and addressing it. That is clearly the case here."

McDaid praised the players involved for highlighting the issue: "I am extremely proud of the Kilkenny and Dublin players for taking a stand on this issue and the women around the country who have followed suit and supported them. Nobody should be able to force women to wear something they’re not comfortable in when engaging in sport or otherwise. This outdated rule must be abolished once and for all at the upcoming Special Congress vote."