DHDeirdre Heenan

1. Article · Sep 4, 2026 · Deirdre Heenan

   Deirdre Heenan: Demanding conditions for a border poll is a political dead end (opens the original)

   Excerpt · English

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   In his Commons debut on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to “stick 100% to the Good Friday Agreement”. This comment was in response to the backlash when he stated that a referendum on a united Ireland was “off the table”. Last week, in his first official visit to Northern Ireland, he was asked by the media in Belfast whether he would be “the man at number 10 to press the button for a border poll”. Mr Burnham said he was there “to listen and take a collaborative appro

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2. Article · Aug 20, 2026 · Deirdre Heenan

   Deirdre Heenan: Mike Nesbitt wanted to do the right thing, but it wasn’t enough (opens the original)

   Excerpt · Positive tone · English

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   IT was evident that Mike Nesbitt relished his role as health minister. He didn’t sugar-coat the challenges faced by our healthcare system. A strong communicator, he was at his best dealing with the general public or health staff. He took every opportunity to fight for additional funding and was successful in getting money ring-fenced for waiting lists. Importantly, he listened and accepted that he did not have all the answers. Bringing the respected surgeon Mark Taylor into the department to s

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