Latest news with #Eastwood
The Journal
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Taoiseach ‘not aware' of any talk in Fianna Fáil about backing Colum Eastwood for president
FIANNA FÁIL LEADER and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the party's candidate for the Irish presidency. It has been reported by the BBC that Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Eastwood is currently an MP for Northern Ireland's Foyle constituency, which takes in Derry. He resigned as SDLP party leader in October last year , having announced his intention to step down a couple of months prior. The BBC today reported that Eastwood is 'considering' a bid because 'people have asked and we'll see where it goes'. 'There's very few candidates in the field right now. It's something that needs a lot of consideration.' He added: 'I'm going to take the time to think about it, but it's a long summer and there's enough to be getting on with before any decisions around that would have to be made.' Aged 42, Eastwood has previously served as the youngest mayor of Derry between 2010 and 2011. He became an MLA in 2011 and became party leader in 2015. Advertisement Eastwood was then voted in as an MP in 2019 and was return to Westminister in 2024, though with a much smaller majority. Rumours have swirled in recent days that Eastwood is being considered as a potential nominee by Fianna Fáil. Asked to confirm if Eastwood had indeed been approached by the Fianna Fáil party, Martin questioned the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fail party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Speaking at a North South Ministerial Council meeting today in Co Armagh, Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Eastwood was considering a run but said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. The SDLP and Fianna Fáil entered into a 'policy partnership' in 2019 but this was ended in 2022. Talks of a possible merger between the two parties had been ongoing at the time, however, rather than a full-on merger, the parties instead agreed to the 'policy partnership'. Eastwood told a meeting of his party delegates in September 2022 that the time had come for the SDLP to 'stand on its own two feet'. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill has not ruled out a run for the Irish presidential election. Asked at the North South Ministerial Council if she was considering putting her name forward, O'Neill said Sinn Féin is working its way through deliberations on putting forward a candidate. -With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper and Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Michelle O'Neill not ruling out run in presidential election
Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin is working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister but she did not rule herself out as a candidate. The election for the next president of Ireland is expected to take place in October. When asked if she would put her name forward as a candidate, Ms O'Neill said: 'I am…. working our way through our deliberations as we speak.' She also called for voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland. 'Just to say we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she added. 'I think I've plenty to do being First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtaran na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election. 'So that's where there's a deficit and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the north, so that Irish citizens in the North can vote for their Uachtaran.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Irish presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. ADVERTISEMENT Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the Fianna Fail party, Mr Martin challenged the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fáil party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run but said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Mr Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. 'We will make our choices as a party, and we haven't concluded deliberations at all,' he added. 'As you can see from recent commentary, and I think from previous experiences and previous presidential elections, there seems to be a tendency that later in the summer might be a more optimal time to be announcing candidates than earlier in the summer. 'That's where we are and we haven't made any decisions.' Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said that a head of state already exists in the province. 'I don't have any opinion on a particular candidate, but all I can say is, like we live in a world where there's a constitutional reality and there's a constitutional aspiration, and that's set out very clearly in the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement and the mechanisms around that,' she added. 'We have a head of state here in Northern Ireland, we are a full part of the United Kingdom, until such times as the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic both to decide otherwise. 'So that's why it doesn't apply in NI. I am supportive of the continuum of the current situation and the equilibrium and balance that was carefully negotiated and endorsed by people of Northern Ireland in the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement.'
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood considers running for Irish Presidency
The Foyle MP stepped down as leader in October 2024. Mr Eastwood said he was considering because 'people have asked'. "We'll see where it goes," he told the BBC. "There's very few candidates in the field right now. It's something that needs a lot of consideration. "I'm going to take the time to think about it, but it's a long summer and there's enough to be getting on with before any decisions around that would have to be made.' Incumbent President Michael D Higgins is not eligible to stand again as he will have completed two full seven-year terms. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Irish presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the Fianna Fáil party, Mr Martin questioned the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fáil party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run but said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Mr Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fáil had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has not ruled out a run for the Irish presidential election. Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin is working its way through deliberations on putting forward a candidate.
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Micheál Martin not aware of any talks with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood over Irish presidency
It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the Fianna Fail party, Mr Martin questioned the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fail party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run but said 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'. He said Mr Eastwood was a 'very effective parliamentarian' but Fianna Fail had not concluded on deliberations 'at all'. Mr Eastwood has said he is considering entering the race to become the next president of Ireland, which will be held in November. The Foyle MP stepped down as leader in October 2024. Incumbent President Michael D Higgins is not eligible to stand again as he will have completed two full seven-year terms. Mr Eastwood said he was considering because 'people have asked'. "We'll see where it goes," he told the BBC. "There's very few candidates in the field right now. It's something that needs a lot of consideration. "I'm going to take the time to think about it, but it's a long summer and there's enough to be getting on with before any decisions around that would have to be made.' Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has not ruled out a run for the Irish presidential election. Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Fein is working its way through deliberations on putting forward a candidate.
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This slow-simmered Korean pork bone soup is best split with friends
Previous SlideNext Slide Korean$$$$ For years, family-run Pu Ji Mi sold mountains of jok bal (soy-braised pork hocks) in this unassuming mall. Its closure in February was mourned far and wide, but the good news is that in its place Eastwood now has its own outpost of Guk's Eedaero Gamjatang, Jongguk Lee's cult soup kitchen. Split a gamjatang with friends, and it'll be rich from long-simmered pork bones and doenjang, spicy from gochugaru and gochujang and loaded with perilla, potatoes and enoki mushrooms. Add a round of ice-cold Cass lager to keep the vibes high.
