Drama in Northern Ireland’s devolved legislature reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. Minister for Education, Paul Givan, lost a symbolic vote of no confidence  in the wake of a “fact-finding mission” to Israel, using his department’s social media to share photos from a school in annexed West Bank territory.  The visit to Israel raises many questions, perhaps chiefly, was it necessary for the Minister of a devolved regional government to go on a so-called fact-finding missi

In Northern Ireland, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly turned down an invitation  to attend the inauguration of Irish President-elect Catherine Connolly. She had cited her attendance at a number of Remembrance Day events. Some nationalists and unionists claimed this rejection was political , rather than anything to do with Remembrance Day taking priority in a scheduling conflict.  It cannot be said definitively one way or the other if they are correct in this asserti