The protocol is now being renegotiated, even if only London wants to use the term ‘renegotiate’.

So the protocol which could not be changed is about to be changed.

THE killing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess in the course of assisting constituents in Essex will have been met with shock and revulsion everywhere that democracy is valued.

There’s too much play-acting at peace-making.

It wouldn’t be the same in Northern Ireland if we didn’t have some sort of talks process which trundles on towards a Christmas deadline.

YESTERDAY marked the latest stage in the long process of lifting Covid restrictions and restoring some semblance of normality to daily life after the disruption of the last 18 months.

On Monday of this week, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the DUP boycott of north-south ministerial meetings in protest against the Brexit protocol was unlawful.

In his first party conference address as UUP leader, Doug Beattie has called for changes to Stormont’s rules “to create a working power-sharing government with a working power-sharing opposition”.

AGAINST a familiar background of threats and recriminations, distractions and dissembling, we are hopefully now entering a decisive round of negotiations to hammer out sustainable solutions to issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Dr Ciaran O Ciogligh (September 27), perceives Joe Brolly’s comments regarding the DUP and the Rev Ian Paisley as crass and unacceptable and he endeavours to portray both in a more favourable and honourable light.

TAKE a look outside the window, dear reader.

Simon Coveney tweeted on Saturday: “Does the UK government actually want an agreed way forward or a further breakdown in relations?” After five years of British confrontation and bad faith he should know better.

A court ruling that the DUP's boycott of the North-South Ministerial Council is unlawful was entirely predictable, if no less concerning for that.

Near global gloom and despondency, not to mention weeping and gnashing of teeth last week, when Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and a slew of other time and energy wasting websites failed and addicts everywhere went into meltdown.

People say about grief that thinking ahead is impossible.

The right to protest is enshrined in every democratic society.

My wife and I celebrated our 50th and Golden wedding anniversary back in April. Some would suggest she deserves a medal.