Podcasts about Deputy First Minister

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 7th May 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: Dynamic Earth website: https://dynamicearth.org.uk/Dynamic Earth X: https://x.com/ourdynamicearthDynamic Earth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/our-dynamic-earth-dynamic-earth-enterprises-ltd-dynamic-earth-charitable-trust-/Mark Bishop joined Dynamic Earth in the summer of 2022. The Edinburgh Science Centre & Planetarium provides science engagement to over 250,000 people a year at the centre and across Scotland. Prior to joining Dynamic Earth, Mark was a director at the National Trust for Scotland for seven years. In the 23 years Mark has been in the voluntary sector, he has also held senior roles at Prostate Cancer UK, Leonard Cheshire Disability and The Royal British Legion. His commercial sector experience includes roles at HarperCollins, Sky, and he co-founded two Internet start-ups. He continues to be a Trustee of Dads Rock, which is a charity dedicated to supporting men to be great parents. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden. The Millennium Commission was set up by the UK Government to celebrate the turn of the millennium. Funded by the National Lottery, not only did it fund the Millennium Dome, now the O2, it also funded many regional venues, including a number of science centres such as Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, which was the first major millennium attraction in Edinburgh. In this episode, I'm talking to Mark Bishop, the CEO of Dynamic Earth, about those millennium babies and what the next 25 years looks for them. After a career in charity fundraising, Mark moved to the attraction sector in 2015 at the National Trust for Scotland, before becoming CEO of Dynamic Earth nearly three years ago. Now let's get into the interview. Paul Marden: Mark, welcome to Skip the Queue. Mark Bishop: Hi. Morning. How are you? Paul Marden: I'm very good. I'm very good on a very sunny morning here down in Hampshire at the moment. I don't know what the Easter holidays are like up there for you at the moment, Mark. Mark Bishop: Well, people always talk about the weather being different in Scotland, so here in Edinburgh, we had the most amazing first week of spring last week, and that made me sad because indoor visitor attractions often benefit from when it's cloudy or rainy. So I am delighted to say the second half of Easter is terrible outside, but amazing inside our building. Paul Marden: Oh, good. So, visitor numbers are good for you this Easter holiday, are they? Mark Bishop: Well, we had probably the best number of people in since COVID Yesterday. We had 1302 people in. Paul Marden: Wowsers.Mark Bishop: That's great, because to have families and groups in celebrating science in our building during their holiday time makes me happy. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, went. I've been doing day trips with my daughter just recently over the Easter break and you can definitely feel there's lots of people out and about and enjoying themselves over these Easter holidays. So good to hear that it's been kind to you as well. Longtime listeners will know that we always start our interviews with an icebreaker question that you cannot prepare for. So I think I've been kind to you. I've got a couple for you here. This is an A or B question. If you're going out for a night out, is it going to be a concert or is it going to be a museum nighttime exhibition? Mark Bishop: I think I'm supposed to, on behalf of the sector, go for the latter, but I am going to answer it in an authentic way and say A, a concert. So before I had kids, I'd probably go to about 150 concerts a year. Really, in the days when NME existed and it had a print edition and I'd pretty much just buy it, flick it and go, that looks interesting. And go without ever even hearing things because Spotify didn't exist and he goes to stuff and it was terrible or brilliant, but I loved it just from the variety and the surprise factor. Obviously, these days we kind of plan our music events a bit better. We know the artists and in theory we make better choices. But perhaps we don't do such good random things as well. Who knows? Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Okay, now this one's a little bit more in depth. If there is a skill that you could master immediately, what would it be? Mark Bishop: Trying to understand how my three kids think and how I need to respond to that. But I don't think I'm the only parent on the planet that loves seeing the variety of ways they behave. But just question, how on earth did they come to be and think like that? Paul Marden: Yeah, it sounds like almost a kind of being able to speak child and become an interpreter, a child whisperer. Mark Bishop: And I think we, you know, sort of kind of be a bit more profound about these things. As an Earth Science Centre, that predominantly kind of has family audience, actually, some of the best questions we get are from younger people. So sometimes minds are probably more open and liberated. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Well, that's a nice segue, isn't it? So why don't you tell us a little bit about the Dynamic Earth? What stories does the Dynamic Earth try to tell? Mark Bishop: So Dynamic Earth, for those who don't know it, is the Edinburgh Science Centre and Planetarium. And as I'm sure we'll talk about, we were the first out of the millennium babies to launch back on 2nd July 1999. Our building predates being a science centre. It used to be a Scottish and Newcastle brewery. So when people say, I can't organise the proverbial in a brewery, I go, possibly released half row. And in the mid-1990s, they stopped making beer and handed the land over to public benefit. And it's become the UK's leading Earth science centre. So we're very much a science centre, but we're a science centre with a very specific theme around our planet and our universe and the experiences are very deliberately immersive. Mark Bishop: So we allow people to experience in a safe way what it feels like to be in an earthquake, to see a volcanic eruption, to touch a real iceberg, to dive to the bottom of the ocean and then fly out to the outer reaches of space. And we do all of that because we think our planet is beautiful and fascinating and the wonders of the world need to be celebrated. But increasingly, we also want to showcase the perils we're placing on our planet, our only home. We have about a quarter million people come through our doors a year, and that would be families, that'd be tour groups. There'll be a lot of school groups coming in, 30,000 kind of school groups coming in, and then we have about 400 conferences and events a year. Mark Bishop: So we have everything from Arctic conferences, water resilient conferences, and electric aeroplane conferences. You name it, we have it in our building. And I think a lot of the conferences have keynote speakers that tend to be first ministers or senior politicians, because unless somebody can tell me otherwise, I think we are the closest science centre in the world to a seat of government, because the Scottish parliament is 10 yards across the road. Paul Marden: Excellent. So you have the year of government as well? Mark Bishop: We like to think so. Paul Marden: So I've not been to Dynamic Earth yet, and I need to solve that problem. Yeah. But I'm getting a picture in my mind of telling the story around the geology of the planet, and there's going to be lots of physics around. The planetary stuff that you talk about when you take that big zoom out. Are there other elements of the science, the different sciences, that you bring into this storytelling? Is there elements of biology and botany and things like that you bring into this? Mark Bishop: Yeah, absolutely. So, for example, one of the galleries I didn't mention to you is a rainforest gallery. So you go into a tropical rainforest, regardless of what the weather is like outside in Edinburgh and Scotland, you come into a tropical rainforest, but the sounds and smells and sensations of that rainforest immerse you. And we do that because, you know, probably very few people will travel in their lifetime to a tropical rainforest. And there's lots of environmental reasons why you probably wouldn't encourage people to do that. But to be immersed in that space and to feel what it's like to be in a rainforest allows you to understand that it's humans' relationship with the world around them, and that we're not the only beings on this planet. And so hopefully we try and humble people by realising there are other habitats and species than ourselves. Paul Marden: Excellent. So today's episode, what we want to do, we've got a series of episodes that we want to do around the Millennium Project. I've got particular interest in this because my first job whilst I was still at uni was at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, which was a millennium project. So I was there whilst they were digging. I can vividly remember it being a building site, and this dome where they built the gardens, sort of lifted out of the earth. So I felt, I can remember being there and feeling like this was something important, we were building something for the long term. It was an exciting opportunity. And we're at this kind of big anniversary, aren't we, this year, 25 years since many of those millennium projects opened. Paul Marden: And I wanted to kind of look back on those 25 years. Did it work out the way it was planned to work out? Did it turn out to be this exciting new opportunity, building a long term legacy for the country? Were there some growing pains, that kind of thing? And what does the future, what's the next 25 years and beyond look like for those millennium babies? So let's take a little step back because although I was wearing my wellies and walking around a building site, I didn't pay a lot of attention to what drove the investment in the first place. So there was a big explosion, wasn't there, through investment from the Millennium Commission in science centres. So what drove that in the first place? Why did these science centres come into being as a result, the Millennium Commission? Mark Bishop: Well, I think the thing that probably everybody felt in the 90s, from the mid-90s onwards, was you just heard about the millennium coming, as if this was going to be a significant zeitgeist kind of piece. We're all being told that every electronic device was going to break because of the millennium bug. Paul Marden: Yes. Mark Bishop: And that one didn't come to be kind of thankfully. But I think beyond that kind of anxiety piece around technology, there was a sort of spirit of looking to the future, thinking what might be. I felt like a time of optimism and hope. And so therefore it kind of made sense for government and other agencies to invest in thinking about the future, because a lot of museums and galleries and other institutions are fantastic custodians of the past. Mark Bishop: And of course galleries and museums reflect present times in terms of exhibitions and storytelling and interpretation. But there really weren't many science centres or organisations that were specifically existing to help each of us come to terms with what hasn't yet happened. So I think that's probably the kind of founding driving spirit behind it. And Dynamic Earth was very much part of that wave. Paul Marden: You talk a little bit about being a former brewery. How did Dynamic Earth come into being? What, what was the background story to it? Because these things didn't just appear on the high street in the year 2000. They were projects that ran up to that point, weren't they? Mark Bishop: Yeah. And I love going through our limited but really important kind of archive of documents to try and understand these things. And I sort of love heritage because my last job was working at the National Trust for Scotland. So therefore I'm kind of fascinated by the past as well as kind of looking to the future. And so when I go through our kind of archives and records, it shows that we stopped being a brewery in the early 1990s. Scottish Newcastle said to themselves, you know, we want to give the space over to public benefit. At the time, it wasn't defined to be a science centre. And this part of Edinburgh, the bottom end of the Royal Mile, had a royal Palace. It's had that for a long time. But it was pretty much run down housing and factories. Mark Bishop: And so this whole end of town was very down on its luck and everything kind of needed to be thought through again. So Edinburgh City Council and other agencies like Scottish Enterprise and major kind of funders all got behind thinking about this whole part of town in Scotland's capital, rather than just thinking about a side centre. Paul Marden: Right. Mark Bishop: So the land that Scotland Newcastle gave over to doing good things was partly sold off by dynavicarth to allow, you know, to allow flats to be developed next door we've got Rockstar North. The other side of me, we've got the Scottish parliament that opens 24 hours away from Dynamic Earth kind of stuff. So they opened the same week. So it's a whole story of kind of urban capital city regeneration that lies behind that. But very specifically, why did Dynamic Earth become an Earth Science Centre? Yeah, and you can't see it, but if I dramatically look out my window, I can see Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags through Holyrood Park. Anybody who comes to Edinburgh, whose legs allow, will walk up the hill and experience an old volcano and a beautiful view of the city. Mark Bishop: And now the reason that's significant is that a guy called James Hutton, 300 years ago was a real leading light in the Enlightenment, and he managed to challenge all those kind of religious zealots in terms of the age of the planet by studying the rock forms right outside my window. And he went, “Guys, I've got a thought. This wasn't done in a day or seven days”. I'm telling you now, there's billions of years of laying down of rocks and stuff like that. And so, therefore, when we thought, what does this brewery need to become? Mark Bishop: A number of good people said, well, let's make this centre a homage to James Hutton, the idea that the Enlightenment is still alive with us today, the idea that you should be able to challenge existing hard set views by using insight and science to inform your thinking. And then the rest happened. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I didn't know that Edinburgh was the kind of the seat of that thinking around the geological history of the Earth and what drove the purpose for the centre. It makes lots of sense now. So let's talk about opening up. What was that experience like for the Dynamic Earth? I know there were lots of positives for many people. I know lots of millennium attractions didn't bring in the numbers of people that they were perhaps hoping for. What was that early life like at the centre? Mark Bishop: Well, so inevitably, anything that's new attracts a crowd of people who are curious. So the early couple of years were really good from a kind of visitor attraction side of things. But actually quite early on, within the first couple of years, my predecessors realised that you just can't, generally speaking, break even or make a profit from just running a visitor attraction, particularly when your purpose is educational rather than just pure entertainment. Paul Marden: Yes. Mark Bishop: And so our building had the answer built into it, in the sense we have an amazing set of conference suites for businesses, weddings and other kind of celebrations. And so quite early on, we started an events team and that now means we have 400 plus events here a year. Half of them, I would say, are kind of environmental science specific events. But that generates, you know, one and a half getting off £2 million of income ultimately for us. And that's very significant way of A, making sure that we are a place where ideas take place. Our convening power, if you want to call it that, but actually also the net contribution of that is a very significant way to fund any gap you have on the visitor side of things. Paul Marden: Yeah, I should imagine having the seat of Government 10 yards from the building helps with bringing in the events. And that's certainly not going to detract from the events portfolio, is it, being smack in the centre of the city like that? Mark Bishop: Well, if I think, I mean, in the space of what, the last three or four months, ie, 20, 25, we've had the first minister here two or three times, we've had the Deputy First Minister here the other evening. And so therefore, if you're a company or a conference organiser and you want to attract all the good and the great in terms of delegates, knowing there's a senior political figure to do the keynote address is a good way of making your marketing literature kind of really sing. I think, you know. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Mark Bishop: And also from a. I guess for the politicians as well, because their time is in demand, very precious. So the idea that they can reach their key stakeholders on pretty much any topic in the space of 10 yards, half an hour here and then back at your desk within the hour, that's quite attractive from a political perspective. Paul Marden: Absolutely. So, going back to those early days, as your predecessors were finding their feet, of figuring out what operating a science centre was going to be like, what were the growing pains? Were there some challenges along the way? Mark Bishop: So, inevitably, what is brand new doesn't stay new forever. And I think if you design a science centre and retrofit it into a brewery, there's obviously some trade offs in terms of layout and the design. And you have beautiful architects come in and do amazing things for you that look amazing at a kind of brochure, aesthetic level. But when you trade them day in, day out, you do sometimes question the infinite logic behind the design principle. So, for example, if you come through Dynamic Earth, we're a beautiful tented structure like the Millennium Dome or the O2 as it is today. And if you're coming in and you're buying a ticket in person, you would turn left and go to our ticket desk and join the queue there. But then the actual experience side of things is completely on the other side of the building. Mark Bishop: So the intuitive flow of coming in, getting a ticket and joining the experience is designed in a counterintuitive way where, in effect, audiences sort of meet in the middle to a certain extent. So that's probably an example of things that you just wouldn't have got right on day one, but kind of are a gentle living curse for you every day since. Paul Marden: I wonder, though, by retrofitting the centre into this old historic brewery, whether you may not have fallen foul of some of the other attractions that were built around that time, because many of them have got problems with the fabric of the building now, haven't they, these new buildings that perhaps were built with the same level of care and attention that we might lavish on them these days. Mark Bishop: Yeah, I mean, that's a good thing. I sit in this amazing sort office that basically looks like a castle turret. The walls are this thick, you know, they are very sort of stone and authentic. So it's a very authentic historic building, but with new ideas and thinking and experiences within it. So it's a trade off, I guess. Paul Marden: Yeah. So now that these centres are getting to early adulthood, how do you think they're doing? Mark Bishop: Well. Thankfully, the vast majority of science centres and other experiences that launched inspired by the millennium are still in existence. So survival in the first instance is a form of success. And I think that the fact that we're open shows we've all stood the test of time, which I think is an important achievement. I think what's clear from talking to all the science centres that I bump into is we all find it quite challenging to get that balance between your purpose and your profit, trying to get that balance between why you exist in the first place versus how you fund the building, your staff and your other bills. And so that's an ongoing kind of challenge that the original business plans are used to justify an investment probably don't reflect reality 25 years on. Mark Bishop: I think the other thing I would say that's a real shift is I think centres like Dynamic Earth were opened at the time when the Internet was absolutely in its infancy.Paul Marden: Completely. Mark Bishop: And I still remember from my homework and university work, going to libraries and getting books and using physical things to kind of acquire knowledge. And of course, the Internet now means that any facts and figures are available at the touch of a button. So if you want to know about a volcano, you can find as many facts and figures as you want on the Internet, Wikipedia or other sources. It means that Dynamic Earth and other science centres have kind of shifted from simply thinking about ourselves as a knowledge exchange centre to being a place where we inspire people to think for themselves and that. Mark Bishop: I don't know whether that happened on day 4009 or whatever it was, but I definitely think that when you look at what were doing on day one versus what we're doing in our 25th year, there's been a shift in emphasis and approach. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. You're right that all of these facts and figures are the fingertips of the young people who are completely immersed in that as a natural way for them to research. But I've done enough school party visits, I've taken kids to different science centres, and you can't replace the storytelling, you can't replace being immersed in the place that is so powerful. Mark Bishop: I think 100% agree, and you'd be surprised if I didn't say that. But the idea that you learn as a shared experience, either as a school group or a family or a tall group, you have some jokes, you bounce ideas off of each other. And I saw that recently when my daughter came here a few months back for her last primary school visit, aged just 11, coming at 12.  And she begs me over breakfast, she said, “Please, Dad, don't do anything to embarrass me.” And I absolutely, solemnly swore at breakfast, you know, I will not do anything to embarrass you today. And I maintain I kept my promise. Mark Bishop: But when her school bus pulled up outside our building, the doors open, the kids poured out, my daughter's friends all pointed up to the top of the stairs and went, “There's a dinosaur there, Autumn, that's your dad. It's going to be your dad. You know that.” And I hope that you know that their school group had an amazing experience through the galleries, an amazing experience with our learning team and a fantastic sort of outer space experience in the planetarium. But even that sort of jokey bit of Dad's a dinosaur stayed with the kids. So at the end of their year's show, one of them hired a dinosaur outfit and they reenacted my daughter's embarrassment. And so even that tiny, silly example shows that shared experience is what it's all about. Paul Marden: Completely. I think those experiences that kids have when they go out on their school trips, it's something that Bernard et ALVA talked about earlier on this year as being really important, key points for that ALVA was asking of the government, was to make those school trips integral part of the curriculum. I think they're so powerful and so many kids don't get to experience that well. Mark Bishop: I think the challenge we sort of see here that be the same across Scotland and UK wide is even when there are opportunities to have subsidised tickets and you do everything you can to make sure the price of entry for school groups is as low as possible, often the barrier is the cost of the coach hire. Paul Marden: So I'm a governor at my daughter's school and I was talking to the head and they're in a really lucky position because they've got us. They're a very small village school, so there's only 90, 95 kids in total anyway. But they've got their own minibus which makes them mobile, so it means that any. We were at the Horse Crest, like the local heritage railway, just recently because we got invited for a trip and it was dead easy for us to go straight away. Yes. Because the kids can just get there easily and that's a different kettle of fish if you've got to hire coaches, because it's so perilously expensive now. Anyway, we digress a little bit. You've been in post now for three years, nearly three years, I think it is. Yeah. Paul Marden: What does your plan look like in the short term, but also what do you think the next 25 years look like for Dynamic Earth? Mark Bishop: I think that question sort of speaks to the idea that while an organisation should be proud of its 25 years of existence and everything it's done in that time, and we've certainly had some lovely staff celebrations and public celebrations to celebrate that important milestone. It's too self indulgent to spend all your time looking back rather than thinking about and facing into the future. And that's probably more true of science centres than anybody else, because if you were founded on looking to the future, you get to 25 years. Mark Bishop: Yes, have a little look back, but bang, think about looking forward to the future again and ask yourselves brave questions like what do we need to do that honours the spirit of what our founders did and thought about to put us together in the first place and not to betray our roots, but equally not to be constrained by them. Because the world is very different 25 years on, and particularly around the climate emergency and planetary crisis. We at Dynamic Earth, as an Earth Science Centre, feel not just an opportunity, but a kind of absolute responsibility to play our part, to kind of really shift the dial around helping people understand their role and responsibility when it comes to protecting our only home planet Earth. And so that's the kind of challenge we've set ourselves. Mark Bishop: And I'm going to do a dangerous thing of involving a prop. About 18 months, two years ago, we launched our 10 year strategy from beginning to end, and it's a document at the end of. But the exact summary is this. And of course you can see there's a clock there and you might be able to see the kind of temperature, kind of pieces, and the 1.5 is the 1 that we know quite tragically we're going to reach sometime very soon. And what we've done with that 10 year strategy is say how do we honour what we've been famous for, but how do we push and pivot that towards climate kind of response storytelling? Mark Bishop: And so therefore what we are trying to work through for ourselves is how do you maintain a popular visitor attraction? How do you inspire people, bring entertainment and delight into people's lives, but how do you absolutely hit home with some really hard truths around what we are doing to destroy the beauty of our only hope? Mark Bishop: And I'm not sure I've quite got the answers to that because becoming sort of quite purposeful and, you know, risks being didactic. And being didactic takes away the idea that you're helping people to think for themselves and risks being a bit preachy. So there's a really good set of conversations going on at Dynamic Earth and I think a lot of other places across the UK, which is, how do you, how do you exist on the right side of history while still existing as a visitor attraction? Paul Marden: Yes, because it is a tough story to tell, isn't it? And that doesn't necessarily sit comfortably with being a lovely day out with the family, but that doesn't take away from the importance of telling the story and telling it well. Mark Bishop: And I think what we feel is, if there's one criticism I'd kind of make of the past is we probably overdefined ourselves as a visitor attraction and underdefined ourselves as an Earth science education charity that happens to run the visitor attraction. And that might feel semantic, but actually it's quite fundamental because if you realise that your purpose is about educating people inclusively across Scotland, including in Edinburgh, and now increasingly helping people come to terms with climate issues, then your visitor attraction is a tool, a prop, an asset to achieve a bigger thought than just visiting numbers. Paul Marden: So is there work that you do, outreach work that goes beyond the centre in Edinburgh? Are you talking to people outside of that centre? Mark Bishop: Absolutely. And some of the work that makes me most proud of being chief exec here at Dynamic Earth is the stuff you do not see day in, day out. So we have outreach work that goes into schools and community groups right across Scotland. There's about 10 regional science festivals that take place across the year. We're at every one of those with our pop up planetarium, it's got an inflatable planetarium. Unbelievably, 30 people can slip inside a big squishy tent, and the universe comes to life wherever you happen to be. And that's kind of pretty magnificent. We go into children's hospitals, we work with community groups, we do digital and in person delivery in schools. And so therefore what we do away from Dynamic Earth as a science centre is as important as what we do at the centre. Mark Bishop: Because probably the people who might not be able to come to us for geographic reasons or financial or cultural reasons are often the people we most need to reach. And if we really believe that everybody in Scotland should play their individual and collective part in responding to climate planetary emergencies, we can't just say, well, if you don't come to us, we're not going to come to you. Because the climate issues need all of us to respond. So we have the added burden opportunity to get out there and tell our story across Scotland with that in mind. Paul Marden: Is there a shake up that's going on in the centre as you move on to this next stage of the maturity of the organisation? Mark Bishop: So I think that the things that are different in our approach is thinking about channel mix and that we kind of music to your ears because I think that science centres absolutely pride themselves on that in person shared experience, and that shouldn't go away. But actually thinking about how a one off experience is part of a longer customer or supporter journey is really key. So how do you connect with people before they come? By setting them, I know, a kind of online quiz and say how many of these questions about our planet can you answer? And then ask people to redo the quiz afterwards and see whether a visit to Dynamic Earth or another science centre has enriched their kind of knowledge. Mark Bishop: How do you connect what a family does on a Saturday to what a school group do in a classroom on a Tuesday and Wednesday? How do you get to what I call a nudge strategy, a multiple engagement kind of model? Because it strikes me that most things that, you know, mean something to people are developed over time rather than just one off experiences. So that's a shift in thinking, and it's a shift in thinking by not thinking for yourself as a visitor attraction, but thinking for yourself as a charity that exists to promote learning and engagement more broadly. Paul Marden: That's really interesting. So I'm totally guilty of thinking about the visitor attraction first and the commercial elements of it, because I guess that's our job is to get bumps on seats and to drive revenue. But when you think of that visitor attraction as the tool, not the end, you're using that tool to meet your bigger goals, aren't you? And it changes your perspective on how you do that. Mark Bishop: Well, it does because it allows you to sort of exist in a dual way of saying at a customer, experiential level, digital attraction side of things. How do you make sure that the experience you offer to people is distinctive, compelling, exciting and all the basic service features of toilets, cafe, shop, all this car parking, all those sorts of things on the functional side are doing what they need to do and then it means on the other side that you're also saying, “So what? you know, what is that trip all about? What did somebody take away?” Mark Bishop: And part of what people take away is that sense of shared experience, fun, entertainment, something to do on a wet Saturday afternoon. And that's valuable. But if you fundamentally help even a small proportion of your audience think radically different about themselves and the world around them. You might be doing something that goes way beyond what this attraction could ever imagine. Paul Marden: Yes, absolutely. So is that what you're aiming for? Is it the few minds that you can change radically, or is it the nudge of making small changes to the larger numbers of people that walk through the door? Mark Bishop: I mean, the answer to that is both, because we think every one of us has an opportunity and a responsibility to do basic things. So, I mean, the obvious good examples would be how you recycle stuff. And I look at my teenage boys, are they always recycling things in the best way or am I going through the bin resisting things? But then you ask more fundamental questions of, well, it's not just a case of recycling the bottle of plastic water. Why did you buy a bottle of plastic water in the first place? Yes, this stuff like that. Mark Bishop: And so a science centre like us helps people not just do the right thing in kind of lip service ways, but think more fundamentally about your role and relationship with what excites you at school, what studies you take, what degree you might go on to take, or what job are you going to go on to do? And how do you make sure that where you buy things from, where you work, where you spend your time is reinforcing the good rather than perpetuating the bad? And that's, you know, maybe I'm an idealist, maybe I'm a lack of realism, but actually I really do think that on our day, that's what we exist to do. Mark Bishop: And there will be maybe 1%, 2% of the people who come through our doors who are so inspired by science that they choose careers that are acting as environmental activists. I can think of a lovely lady I met the other day. I'll change her name to Laura. She told me that she came To Dynamic Earth 20 years ago for our Saturday science clubs and she used to come most Saturday mornings. And she so fell in love with science that she chose science subjects at school, went on to do a science degree and is now just finishing off a PhD in understanding volcanoes with a view that she wants to look at volcanic eruptions, where they happen and help think about where humans live alongside volcanoes. So all of that came from her coming here on Saturday mornings. Mark Bishop: So she is living proof that you inspire people young, and it can inform the whole direction of their studies and clear intention.Paul Marden: And deadline. Yeah, completely. What a lovely story to end on, but there's one more thing we have to do before we end today's Interview. We always end with a book recommendation. So, Mark, what book have you got for our listeners to maybe win today? Mark Bishop: So it will sound slightly sort of sanctimonious, but I've just started reading Mike Berners-Lee's book, A Climate of Truth. Now, Mike was in Edinburgh the other evening to do a talk as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival. Such an inspirational guy in terms of kind of climate, sustainability kind of issues. His mum must be very proud to have him. And you know, his, you know, one of the boys invents the Internet, the other one saves the planet. You sort of think to yourself, that ain't too bad. And I'm going to cheat slightly. And also just recommend one poem to people. It's Scottish poet Douglas Dunn. And it's a poem that I first heard when I was at school and I would say I read it probably 20 times a year. Mark Bishop: And the poem is called A Removal From Terry Street and it's only about 15 lines. And what I love about it is it finishes on that, on a beautiful line. That man, I wish him well, I wish him grass. And the context the poem is talking about a family removing, you know, working class family moving away from Hull and the neighbour is looking at them moving out and saying, you know, I wish him well, I wish him grass. And so I think that's just a lovely line that stayed with me. It speaks to the idea that we should all think the best of each other and hope for the futur, and think positive thoughts. Paul Marden: Well, Mark, it's been lovely talking to you. Thank you ever so much for coming on Skip the Queue, telling the story of dynamic Earth and looking forward to what happens next for your amazing attraction. Thank you very much. Mark Bishop: Thank you. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.  The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

In this month's ARINS podcast, former Deputy First Minister and leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan discusses his political career with host Rory Montgomery. The conversation focuses on the recent book by Professor Graham Spencer, The SDLP, Politics and Peace: the Mark Durkan interviews which was published in 2024 by Peter Lang. This is episode 43 of a podcast series that provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. Host Rory Montgomery MRIA, talks to authors of articles on topics such as cross border health co-operation; the need to regulate social media in referendums, education, cultural affairs and constitutional questions and the imperative for good data and the need to carry out impartial research. ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at www.arinsproject.com ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.

The conversation revolves around the political dynamics in Scotland, focusing on the budget discussions and the implications of minority government. We discuss the importance of collaboration across party lines to ensure the budget passes, addressing public priorities such as child poverty and local government funding. They also touch on the challenges faced by the hospitality industry and the need for a balanced approach to economic growth. We discuss the complexities of minority government, the implications of the Bute House Agreement, and the importance of public trust in governance. There is discussion of the need for effective budgeting and delivery of services to regain public confidence, while also outlining the path towards independence and the necessity of inspiring the electorate. Plus we reflect on the challenges faced by the Scottish government and the strategies required to navigate the political landscape leading up to the next election. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister (DFM) of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, for an 'in conversation' event on 18 November 2024. The DFM reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum and the 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution. She also discussed the state of Scotland's economy and public services in light of the UK budget, and the Scottish government's policy and legislative agenda. The DFM was in conversation with Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution, which was followed by Q&A with the live and online audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister (DFM) of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, for an 'in conversation' event on 18 November 2024. The DFM reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum and the 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution. She also discussed the state of Scotland's economy and public services in light of the UK budget, and the Scottish government's policy and legislative agenda. The DFM was in conversation with Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution, which was followed by Q&A with the live and online audience.

Podlitical sits down with Scotland's Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to talk budgets. Kate Forbes, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, and MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, chats with Podlitical following Labour's first budget in 14 years, discussing how she and the SNP-led Scottish Government feel it's a "step in the right direction" but worries for Scotland's pensioners, farmers, and the feeling of "betrayal" within the whisky sector. Forbes lays out how the SNP "took on the chin" the general election result, and how the minority SNP Government look to pass legislation like the Scottish Budget by "governing from the mainstream" and building consensus around plans such as a National Care Service. Plus, is she staying up to watch the US election results come in?For a range of political interviews, subscribe to Podlitical on BBC Sounds.

This programme comes from the 120th Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells. 250,000 people are expected to attend across 4 days, with 7000 livestock entries.It comes during an eventful week in Welsh politics, with the Cabinet Secretary of Climate Change and Rural Affairs in the Welsh Government set to become the new Deputy First Minister. So what does it all mean for future farming policy?Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

We're diving deep into the various economic challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Scotland. With: Kate Forbes MSP (SNP), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.Murdo Fraser MSP (Conservative), Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Business, Economic Growth and Tourism.Michael Marra MSP (Labour), Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance.Willie Rennie MSP (Liberal Democrat), Spokesperson for Education, Economy and Communities.We'll be discussing key concerns raised by investors regarding infrastructure projects, planning, and the general business environment. Plus, we'll address the ambiguous terminology often used in policy-making, like the phrases "wellbeing economy" and "startup," which can hinder real progress. Our discussion today will also cover persistent issues of poverty and social mobility, the critical state of Scotland's education sector, the impact of Brexit on skilled workers, and the urgent need for immigration policies that support economic growth. We delve into the energy sector, focusing on offshore wind development, the fiscal constraints facing green prosperity plans, and the importance of a just transition from oil and gas to renewables. Moreover, we'll explore the impact of tax policies on the economy and public services, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of the taxation system to foster growth and retain talent.Holyrood Sources is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen, find out more at https://www.portofaberdeen.co.uk/This special episode is brought to you with our delivery partners, Scottish Financial Enterprise and in association with EY. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we look at a North Korean TikTok hit; Milel's Argentina; Country of the week - Sudan;  Kate Forbes becomes Deputy First Minister;  Pete Wishart speaks in Mosque; Gender Balance and the Garrick Club; the too macho Australian Army;  NSW Council bans Same Sex Parenting Book;  Astra Zeneca Vaccine Withdrawn;  Michael Palin's Nigeria; Trans Darts; Dog ice cream; Islamic Housing in London;  Church of Scotland on 'cusp of revival';  and Breathless.....with music from Planxty, Ahla Minik, Mason Williams, Marcello,  Bach and Nick Cave....

What can we expect from the new First Minister of Scotland John Swinney? As he officially becomes First Minister this week, following no other candidates putting forward their names for leadership, what might be the priorities and challenges of the new John Swinney administration? With a familiar cabinet and the addition of Kate Forbes as the Deputy First Minister, will it be enough to satisfy the half of the party that backed her against Humza Yousaf last year? The team take a look at what we learnt so far about the SNP's priorities this week, including the FM's first FMQs, and how Swinney's time at the top might unfold.

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon is joined on the Planet Holyrood podcast by Sunday Mail Political Editor John Ferguson and Scottish Express Editor Ben Borland to discuss John Swinney's appointment as Scotland's First Minister and his choice of ministers for his cabinet. But will the new ‘caretaker' FM be able to get a budget through the Scottish Parliament with a minority government - or will we see an election sooner rather than later? And will the appointment of Kate Forbes as Deputy First Minister antagonise the left wing of the SNP? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Forbes is John Swinney's Deputy First Minister, but what does that mean for the SNP, the election and for Scotland? Calum, Andy and Geoff discuss it all. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Visualising Peace researcher Harris Siderfin interviews Lord Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, about his career and the relationship between peace and politics in the UK.Lord Wallace is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician with a long career of service in the House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and the House of Lords, where he has been a life peer since 2007. He has held various ministerial positions during his time in government, including Deputy First Minister of Scotland, acting First Minister twice, Justice Minister and Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister. He trained initially in law, and in addition to his political career he is an advocate and member of the King's Council. He served as Advocate General for Scotland between 2010 and 2015, and he was Deputy Leader of the House of Lords from 2013 to 2015. He stood down as leader of the Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords in 2016 but retains an interest in human rights and constitutional affairs. Among other roles, he served as Moderator of the General Assembly of Scotland in 2021.In the episode, Lord Wallace reflects on his long career in politics and on the various ways in which he has seen politics and peacemaking intersect over that time. He reflects on the lack of political interest in solving conflict in Northern Ireland prior to John Major's premiership; on political debates about the first and second Gulf Wars, the renewal of Trident (as a nuclear deterrent), the UK's response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria; and on the limited discussions in Westminster about ways to address conflict in the Balkans, particularly in Bosnia.  Lord Wallace is clear that peace is not as high a priority in political debates and campaigning as many other issues, and also that political understanding and discussion of peace-making (as opposed to peace-keeping) is somewhat lacking.Lord Wallace and Harris consider positive steps forward: for instance, more attention paid to justice, equality, mental health, climate change, poverty and discrimination, as key aspects of peacebuilding. Reflecting on his own faith, Lord Wallace also talks about the role that different religions and religious leaders can play in promoting peace both at home and abroad. Several times the conversation also turns to connections between democracy, debate and peacebuilding, with Lord Wallace stressing that increasingly combative, polarising modes of political discussion are driving more conflict. This ties into some work which the Visualising Peace team is doing on connections between peacebuilding and Responsible Debate (as outlined in the Young Academy of Scotland's Responsible Debate Charter).  We hope you find the discussion interesting. For a version of our podcast with close captions, please use this link. For more information about individuals and their projects, please visit the University of St Andrews' Visualising War website.Music composed by Jonathan YoungSound mixing by Harris Siderfin and Zofia Guertin

Also on the program, are more public transport strikes on the way?

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister talks to Nick Robinson.

She says it's about stepping out of comfort zones and "leading from the front"

With power sharing in Northern Ireland restored after a two year hiatus, the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly has landed herself a top job - Deputy First Minister. It's the first time a unionist has been in the role. Hailing from a border town in Northern Ireland, County Armagh, she grew up during the Troubles. Her house was damaged in a bomb attack. Having held several positions in Stormont and Westminster, Little-Pengelly has now taken up her new role opposite Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill. Co-opted to the position, rather than elected, she is facing new scrutiny in Northern Ireland. Who is the trained barrister turned DUP rising star?Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Ellie House and Madeleine Drury Editor: Richard Vadon Studio Manager: James Beard

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words http://tinyurl.com/2xlyr87g Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com The Executive has plenty to do from Monday onwards. Neart le déanamh ag an bhFeidhmeannas ón Luan ar aghaidh. The new executive in the Stormont Assembly will start work next Monday (5 February). Is ar an Luan seo chugainn (5Feabhra) a rachaidh an feidhmeannas nua i dTionól Stormont i mbun oibre. Strength has been laid out for the people of the assembly in light of what has gone down the drain on the community of the North for 2 years. Tá neart leagtha amach do lucht an tionóil i bhfianaise a bhfuil imithe le sruth ar phobal an Tuaiscirt le 2 bhliain. The deputy leader of Sinn Féin, Michelle O'Neill is the First Minister of the Stormont Assembly. Is í leascheannaire Shinn Féin, Michelle O'Neill atá mar Chéad-Aire ar Chomhthionól Stormont. She was accepted as First Minister c.02:15 pm today. Glacadh léi mar Chéad-Aire c.02:15 i.n inniu. She is the first Catholic and the first Nationalist-Republican in that important position which came about with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement almost 26 years ago. Is í an chéad Chaitliceach agus an chéad Náisiúnach-Poblachtach í sa phost tábhachtach sin a tháinig in inmhe le síniú Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta beagnach 26 bliain ó shin. In her address, she said that there was a lot to be done in the Assembly now for the benefit of the Northern community as a whole. Ina haitheasc, dúírt sí go raibh go leor le déanamh sa Tionól anois ar mhaithe le pobal an Tuaiscirt tré chéile. 'We are now better in the North in terms of equality and I am here for the benefit of the Unionist community as well' she said. 'Is fearrde muid sa Tuaisceart anois ó thaobh an chomhionannais de agus táimse anseo ar mhaithe leis an bpobal Aontachtach freisin' a dúirt sí. It is a great honor for this woman who was born in County Cork but was raised in the village of Cloyne in the Dungannon area, County Tyrone. Onóir mhór í don bhean seo a rugadh i gContaeChorcaí ach a tógadh i sráidbhaile Chluain Eo i gceantar Dhún Geanainn,ContaeThír Eoghain. Her family before her were involved in the republican movement, her father Brendan Doris was active in the IRA and spent time in prison before being elected as a councilor for Sinn Féin in Dungannon. Bhí a muintir roimpi sáite sa ghluaiseacht phoblachtach, a hathair Brendan Doris gníomhach san IRA agus a chaith seal sa phríosún sular toghadh é ina chomhairleoir do Shinn Féin i nDún Geanainn. The Stormont Assembly met this afternoon at 1 o'clock. Tháinig Tionól Stormont le chéile tráthnóna inniu ag a 1 a chlog. Edwin Poots (DUP) was elected speaker, head of the assembly council. Toghadh Edwin Poots (DUP) mar spéicéir, ceann comhairle an chomhthionóil. Emma Little-Pengelly from the DUP was elected Deputy First Minister. Ba í Emma Little- Pengelly ón DUP a toghadh mar Leas Chéad-Aire. She admitted that she and Michelle O'Neill come from different backgrounds. D'admhaigh sise gur ó chúlra difriúil í féin agus Michelle O'Neill. 'But that doesn't matter to the person suffering from cancer, to parents who can't pay for childcare, to teachers with shortages of money as well as other workers in the public service' she said. 'Ach is cuma sin don té atá ag fulaingt le hailse, do thuismitheoirí nach bhfuil in ann íoc as cúram leanaí, do mhúínteoirí le ganntan airgid ach an oiread le hoibrithe eile sa tseirbhís phoiblí' a dúirt sí. 'I will work tirelessly for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland' she said. 'Oibreoidh mé gan stad gan staonadh ar mhaithe le pobal Thuaisceart Éireann' a dúirt sí. The DUP is returning to Stormont, according to themselves, in light of the promises they received from the British Government regarding trade matters and regarding the status of the North in the United Kingdom. Ag filleadh ar Stormont atá an DUP, dar leo féin,

Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison MSP discusses the budget. Following her delivery of the Scottish budget to Holyrood on Tuesday, the Deputy First Minister sits down with the Podlitical team to talk about the "tough" budget and the "difficult" decisions that had to be made, the new tax band and council tax freeze, how she wants to keep discussions going with COSLA, and the importance of social justice and reducing child poverty.For a range of political interviews, subscribe to Podlitical on BBC Sounds.

Shona Robison has unveiled her Scottish Government budget, hiking taxes for higher-earning Scots in an attempt to plug a £1.5 billion blackhole. The housing budget was however slashed from £738.3 million to £533.2 million, including a cut of £188.8 million to the housebuilding budget. The Deputy First Minister also confirmed any further legal challenge to recent rulings on the controversial gender recognition reform will be scrapped, but pledged to “robustly defend” the Scottish Parliament. The Record's Paul Hutcheon is joined by the Sunday Mail's Hannah Rodger and Ben Borland of the Scottish Daily Express to chew over the latest in Scottish politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lib Dem peer and former Deputy First Minister shares thoughts from his career. Lord Wallace talks to Lucy Whyte and Kirsten Campbell about the early days of Scottish Parliament, his conversations with First Minister Donald Dewar and Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his role as acting First Minister. Wallace shares his thoughts Brexit and Independence, as well as the UK Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition of 2010, and why he thinks political parties have a problem with offering things that aren't possible. For a range of political interviews, subscribe to Podlitical on BBC Sounds.

RAAC in public buildings, delayed discharge, a Just Transition, Net Zero targets, school meal debt and more. Listen as the Deputy First Minister takes questions from MSPs.   Transcripts of First Minister's Questions are available on our website: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/what-was-said-and-official-reports/what-was-said-in-parliament/ 

Mark Durkan has lived in Derry all his life and played a key role during negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement. He is a former leader of the SDLP and former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. As the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, Mark joined Sean live in the Guildhall in Derry

Mark Durkan has lived in Derry all his life and played a key role during negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement. He is a former leader of the SDLP and former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. As the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, Mark joined Sean live in the Guildhall in Derry

“If we're not careful, the United Kingdom is going to have its Notre Dame moment…. that Parliament is going to burn to the ground.”Ian Paisley, Jnr. Member of Parliament, United Kingdom“It's very politically sensitive because no politician wants to be the one who tells the public that a very large amount of taxpayers' money has to be spent on MPs' place of work.”Rowan Moore, Architect Critic for The GuardianIn this episode, Rats and Other Disasters in the Palace of Westminster these two experts delve into the danger of this historic place.Urgent intervention is needed to save the Palace of Westminster which is not only on its last legs but is potentially hazardous in various ways. This is not fresh news sadly but our two distinguished experts will certainly offer you some fresh perspective.Rowan Moore, Architecture Critic, The Guardian & ObserverRowan Moore is architecture critic of the Observer and was named Critic of the Year at the UK press awards 2014. He is the author of Slow Burn City and Why We Build. Follow him on twitter: @rowanmoore“Obviously, the longer it takes to do the work, the greater the risk, you simply multiply the risk per year by the number of years it takes. And also all the work done on a project so far says the more slowly you do it, the more it costs.”Ian Paisley, Jnr. MP, Westminster Spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media and SportsMember of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Refurbishment and RestorationIan has represented North Antrim since 1996 when he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue. In 1998 he was then elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim.As a member of the Assembly Ian served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and also as a Junior Minister in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister from 2007 until 2008. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2001 until 2007.“You have to have a crew of four man walk that building constantly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and they spot fires, fire hazards and put them out and we're working in that building.”After Dr Paisley stepped down as the Member of Parliament for North Antrim Ian contested the General Election of 2010 and comfortably retained the seat for the Democratic Unionist Party. He was again re-elected at the General Election in 2015, 2017 and 2019.Ian is currently the DUP spokesperson for Communities, Local Government and Culture, Media and Sports. He is also a member on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.Read the full page here on Constructive Voices.Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectorsFollow Constructive Voices on:LinkedInTwitterFacebookRequest a media pack: jackie@constructive-voices.com

The ArkThe Ark wasn't a big public house. Situated at the corner of Broadbent Street on the Old Lodge Road it consisted of a public bar, partitioned from a more discreet backroom and a snug. That was it. A backdrop of shelved whiskey bottles fronted by a no-nonsense wooden counter which separated myself and the only other barman from the clienteleDavid TrimbleDavid Trimble became First Minister along with Seamus Mallon as Deputy First Minister shortly after the referendum that endorsed the Good Friday Agreement. It was December 1999 before other Ministers were appointed. Among them were Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brún as Sinn Fein's first two Ministers to the power sharing Executive.

Alex Kane, political commentator and former advisor to David Trimble, and Mark Durkan, former Deputy First Minister, share their thoughts on the former UUP leader

Jon Tonge, a British and Irish politics Professor at the University of Liverpool and co-author of the DUP: From Protest to Power, discusses what efforts could be made for the DUP to agree to forming an Executive in Northern Ireland.

We've been fighting World War III for years and we haven't realized it. We're discussing that plus an exclusive internet with Ukraine's Deputy First Minister of Science and Education where we discuss daily life during war, Russian atrocities and more. Don't miss this episode!

It was a pleasure and a privilege to sit down in person with Ian Paisley Jr who has been an MP for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland since 2010. Ian followed his father into politics and had big shoes to fill as his father was the most well-known figure in Northern Ireland for 40 years. The DUP are quite unique in Westminster as they are a pro union party from the only nation of the UK that is separate from the rest and are unique in being the only party with a strong Conservative Christian ethos. During this chat Ian shares stories of his maiden speech in the House of Commons in 2010, on life growing up in the media spotlight with the surname ‘Paisley' and also what the impact of Brexit is on Northern Ireland. Ian Paisley has represented North Antrim since 1996 when he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue. In 1998 he was then elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim. As a member of the Assembly Ian served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and also as a Junior Minister in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister from 2007 until 2008. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2001 until 2007. After Dr Paisley stepped down as the Member of Parliament for North Antrim Ian contested the General Election of 2010 and comfortably retained the seat for the Democratic Unionist Party. He was again re-elected at the General Election in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Ian is currently the DUP spokesperson for Communities, Local Government and Culture, Media and Sports. He is also a member on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Follow Ian on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008888739665 Democratic Unionist Party Website and Twitter https://mydup.com/ https://twitter.com/duponline @duponline Interview recorded 15.3.22 *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art https://theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com/ and follow him on GETTR https://gettr.com/user/BoschFawstin To sign up for our weekly email, find our social media, podcasts, video, livestream platforms and more go to https://heartsofoak.org/find-us/ Please like, subscribe and share!

Ukraine's Deputy First Minister of Education & Science, Inna Sovsun MP, discusses daily life in Ukraine, Russian disinformation, nuclear threats and alleged bio weapons labs. Don't miss this interview!!

Northern Ireland politics are once again in flux and the government can't really function. At the beginning of February, Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill lost her role in Stormont after First Minister Paul Givan, a member of the DUP, resigned. In her role as Deputy over the years, she worked closely with former DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster. Now she could be on track to become the first Nationalist First Minister of Northern Ireland. In her first interview with Woman's Hour, she joins Emma. When you think of Little Women, you might not think of climate change, astrology or contemporary feminism. However, all-female performance collective Figs in Wigs have updated the classic for a new generation in Little Wimmin, a surrealist theatre show. What starts as a faithful adaptation of the book gradually becomes an absurdist and hilarious commentary on the issues facing women today. We discuss with cast members Sarah Moore and Alice Roots. In 2016 Rachael Denhollander became the first woman to publicly accuse the USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar of sexual assault. Her stand led to hundreds of other women coming forward to tell their stories of how Nassar had also abused them under the guise of medical treatment. Their testimony, as well as the discovery of tens of thousands of child sexual abuse images on his computer, eventually led to his imprisonment. Rachael talks about her fight for justice and the impact on elite gymnastics culture. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Michelle O'Neill Interviewed Guest: Sarah Moore Interviewed Guest: Alice Roots Interviewed Guest: Rachael Denhollander Photographer: Rosie Collins

In his address to the IIEA, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson outlines the position of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. He outlines why he believes removing the Irish Sea border is essential for Northern Ireland's place in the UK Internal Market and for the constitutional integrity of the UK as a whole. He also discusses the implications of the Protocol for North-South cooperation. About the Speaker: The Rt. Hon Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP is the leader of the DUP and has been MP for the Lagan Valley constituency since 1997. Sir Jeffrey became the Leader of the DUP on Thursday, 30 June 2021. He previously served as an MLA, also for Lagan Valley, from 2003-2010. During that time, he was appointed as Chairman of the Assembly & Executive Review Committee and subsequently as a Junior Minister in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The Deputy First Minister warns there could be up to 30,000 new cases a day

As part of our ongoing series of events on devolution and the Union, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Swinney MSP, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland. What is the state of the relationship between the UK and Scottish governments? How well is devolution working for Scotland? What are the current tensions in the devolved settlement and how can they be resolved? John Swinney, who is also Scotland's cabinet minister for Covid recovery, gave a short speech before being in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, and programme lead for devolution. John Swinney has been an MSP since 1999, and currently represents Perthshire North. From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy leader of the SNP, and then as party leader between 2000 and 2004. He has previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. He has been Deputy First Minister since 2014. #IfGDevo

As Boris Johnson struggles to shake off questions about standards and MPs' second jobs, what's the latest in the never-ending row gripping Westminster? Also how did the Government scramble supplies of PPE during the pandemic peak? The data has been released so we take a closer look. And John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland gave a talk at the IFG, and he didn't hold back.  Our special guest is HENRY DYER, politics reporter for Business Insider, specialising in political financing, appointments and data-driven investigations. “We all lose when people don't have faith in Parliament as an institution” - ALICE LILLEY “The UK's stockpile of PPE was much too small, we hadn't prepared for this” - TOM SASSE “According to John Swinney, the Government is undermining devolution” - AKASH PAUN “A lot of MPs currently in jobs are thinking ‘am I going to be able continuing doing these jobs or not?'” - HANNAH WHITE Presented by Tim Durrant with Hannah White, Alice Lilley, Tom Sasse and Akash Paun. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.  https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  

As part of our ongoing series of events on devolution and the Union, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Swinney MSP, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland. What is the state of the relationship between the UK and Scottish governments? How well is devolution working for Scotland? What are the current tensions in the devolved settlement and how can they be resolved? John Swinney, who is also Scotland's cabinet minister for Covid recovery, gave a short speech before being in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, and programme lead for devolution. John Swinney has been an MSP since 1999, and currently represents Perthshire North. From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy leader of the SNP, and then as party leader between 2000 and 2004. He has previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. He has been Deputy First Minister since 2014. #IfGDevo

Michelle O'Neill, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, discusses reports that Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis may work directly with health trusts to implement abortion provision.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/ydovdl4w "Irish language legislation will be before Wesminter without delay" - SF. "Beidh reachtaíocht Ghaeilge os comhair Wesminter gan moill" - SF. The Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, has said that she expects Irish language legislation to be before the House of Commons in Westminster soon. Tá sé ráite ag LeasChéad-Aire Thuaisceart Éireann, Michelle O'Neill, go bhfuil sí ag súil go mbeidh reachtaíocht Ghaeilge os comhair Teach na dTeachtaí in Westminster go luath. The British Labor Party has also pledged its support for the bill. Tá sé geallta ag Páirtí an Lucht Oibre sa mBreatain freisin go dtabharfaidh siadsan a dtacaíocht don bhille. Speaking in Belfast today, Michelle O'Neill said that the commitments made to the nationalist community under the "New Age, New Approach" agreement, including Irish language legislation, must be fulfilled. Agus í ag caint i mBéal Feirste inniu, dúirt Michelle O'Neill go gcaithfear na gealltanais atá tugtha don phobal náisiúnach faoin gcomhaontú "Ré Nua, Cur Chuige Nua" a chomhlíonadh, reachtaíocht Ghaeilge ina measc. "Unfortunately," she said, "the DUP has been betrayed in its language duties. "Ar an drochuair", a dúirt sí, "d'fheall ar an DUP ina ndualgais ó thaobh na teanga de. As a result, we had to find a way around them. De bharr sin, b'éigean dúinn bealach a fháil thart timpeall orthu. We now look forward to fulfilling the language promise at Westminister. " Táimid ag súil anois go gcomhlíonfar an gealltanas teanga in Westminister." DUP MP Jim Shannon said in the House of Commons today that the British Government is prioritizing the Irish language above all else promised under the agreement on education or health. Dúirt an Teachta Pairliminte de chuid an DUP, Jim Shannon, i dTeach na dTeachtaí inniu go bhfuil Rialtas na Breataine ag tabhairt tús áite don Ghaeilge thar aon rud eile atá geallta faoin gcomhaontú maidir le cúrsaí oideachais nó cúrsaí sláinte.

Plus, condoms and other sex aids are to be allowed into prisons in Northern Ireland.

Michelle O'Neill, Vice President of Sinn Féin and Deputy First Minister, on the chaos enveloping the DUP and the implications for the Northern Assembly.

The DUP's Paul Givan and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin have been installed as First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland at a special sitting of the Stormont Assembly. Our Northern Editor Vincent Kearney has the latest.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/yfaj5w65 Irish Language Act to be introduced in the north in the autumn. Acht Gaeilge le tabhairt isteach ó thuaidh san Fhómhar. It has been confirmed that the British Government will introduce an Irish Language Act in the North if the legislation is not passed in Stormont by the end of September. Tá sé deimhnithe go dtabharfaidh Rialtas na Breataine Acht Gaeilge isteach sa Tuaisceart mura rithfear an reachtaíocht i Stormont faoi dheireadh Mheán Fómhair. The British Government announced the decision shortly after midnight last night. D'fhógair Rialtas na Breataine an cinneadh go gairid tar éis meánoíche aréir. According to the act, the Irish language will have official status in the North in the future. De réir an achta, beidh stádas oifigiúil ag an nGaeilge sa Tuaisceart feasta. A wide range of public services will be provided in Irish, education through Irish will be promoted and bilingual signage will be provided throughout the North. Cuirfear raon leathan seirbhísí poiblí ar fáil i nGaeilge, cuirfear oideachas trí Ghaeilge chun cinn agus cuirfear comharthaíocht dhátheangach ar fáil ar fud an Tuaiscirt. It is understood that the appointment of an Irish Language Commissioner, as well as an Ulster-Scots Commissioner, will begin in October. Tuigtear go gcuirfear tús le Coimisinéir Gaeilge, chomh maith le Coimisinéir Ultaise, a cheapadh i mí Dheireadh Fomhair. Although the political parties in the North agreed in January last year to introduce an Irish Language Act, the DUP was not willing to accept it afterwards. Cé gur aontaigh páirtithe polaitíochta an Tuaiscirt i mí Eanáir anuraidh Acht Gaeilge a thabhairt isteach, ní raibh an DUP sásta glacadh leis ina dhiaidh sin. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the news announced last night was a great turn for Irish speakers. Dúirt ceannaire Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald gur cor iontach é do lucht na Gaeilge an scéala a fógraíodh aréir. Sinn Féin, she claimed, overcame the DUP's backlash. D'éirigh le Sinn Féin, a mhaígh sí, bacóireacht an DUP a shárú. There was a danger that the Stormont executive would be fired if an agreement was not reached before next Monday. Bhí an baol ann go scoirfí feidhmeannas Stormont mura dtiocfaí ar chomhaontú roimh Dé Luain seo chugainn. In light of the new arrangement, Sinn Féin will accept the nomination of Paul Givan of the DUP as First Minister and will re-nominate Michelle O'Neill as Deputy First Minister. I bhfianaise an tsocraithe nua, glacfaidh Sinn Féin le hainmniúchán Paul Givan ón DUP mar Chéad-Aire agus ainmneoidh siad féin Michelle O'Neill arís mar LeasChéad-Aire. The nominations are expected to be made later today. Meastar go ndéanfar na hainmniúcháin níos deireanaí inniu. Northern Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said he was pleased the two parties had reached an agreement DUP leader Edwin Poots said it was never the party's business to lay down strict rules on decentralization of power. Dúirt Stát-Rúnaí an Tuaiscirt Brandon Lewis go raibh sé sásta gur tháinig an dá pháirtí ar chomhaontú Thug ceannaire an DUP Edwin Poots le fios nárbh é gnó an pháirtí sin riamh rialacha dochta daingeana a leagan síos maidir le dílárú na cumhachta. Health, education and the economy are far more important than the art of political parties, he said. Tá cúrsaí sláinte, cúrsaí oideachais agus an eacnamíocht i bhfad níos tábhachtaí ná an ealaíon a bhíonn ar bun ag páirtithe polaitíochta, a dúirt sé. However, Edwin Poosts has not confirmed whether the language legislation will be passed in Stormont or Westminster in the Autumn. Mar sin féin, níor dheimhnigh Edwin Poosts pé acu i Stormont nó i Westminster a rithfear an reachtaíocht teanga san Fhómhar. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed the arrangement. Tá fáilte curtha ag an Taoiseach Micheál Martin roimh an socrú.

The DUP's Paul Givan and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin have been installed as First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland at a special sitting of the Stormont Assembly. Our Northern Editor Vincent Kearney has the latest.

Britain's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis discusses securing the continuation of power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein as Paul Givan and Michelle O'Neill accept the First and Deputy First Minister positions at Stormont

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/yjyxqkga "No more proximity in talks on an Irish Language Act" - SF. "Gan aon ghar níos mó i gcainteanna faoi Acht Gaeilge" - SF. Northern Finance Minister Conor Murphy of Sinn Féin has said the party will not nominate a Deputy Prime Minister unless language legislation is introduced within the timescale agreed by all key northern parties in January last year. Dúirt Aire Airgeadais an Tuaiscirt, Conor Murphy ó Shinn Féin, nach n- ainmneoidh an páirtí LeasChead-Aire mura dtabharfar reachtaíocht teanga isteach taobh istigh den achar ama a d'aontaigh na príomhpháirtithe ar fad ó thuaidh i mí Eanáir anuraidh. It is true for Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, he said, that talks with the DUP are no longer good as that party has no intention of living up to their promises. Is fíor do cheannaire Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald, a dúirt sé, nach bhfuil aon mhaith a thuilleadh i gcainteanna leis an DUP mar nach bhfuil rún ar bith ag an bpáirtí sin a ngealltanais a chomhlíonadh. Last night, Mary Lou McDonald indicated that a few weeks ago the British Government had proposed passing an Irish Language Act in Westminster but that Sinn Féin had responded at the time that the party preferred the legislation to be introduced in Stormont. Aréir, thug Mary Lou McDonald le fios gur thairg Rialtas na Breataine roinnt seachtainí ó shin Acht Gaeilge a rith i Westminster ach gur fhreagair Sinn Féin ag an am gurbh fhearr leis an bpáirtí gur i Stormont a a thabharfaí an reachtaíocht isteach. She said it was now clear, however, that talks with the DUP are no longer close. Dúirt sí gur léir anois, áfach, nach bhfuil gar níos mó i gcainteanna leis an DUP faoin gceist. Conversely, Sammy Wilson of the DUP pointed out that the British Government should not accede to a request from Sinn Féin and the introduction of Irish language legislation in the North regardless of the decentralized government in Stormont. Os a choinne sin, thug Sammy Wilson ón DUP le fios nár chóir do Rialtas na Breataine géilleadh d'iarratas ó Shinn Féin agus reachtaíocht Gaeilge a thabhairt isteach sa Tuaisceart gan spleáchas don rialtas díláraithe i Stormont. Sammy Wilson said the decentralization of power in the north was undermined the last time the British Government introduced legislation regardless of politicians. Dúirt Sammy Wilson gur baineadh an bonn de dhílárú na cumhachta ó thuaidh an uair dheireanach a thug Rialtas na Breataine reachtaíocht isteach beag beann ar pholaiteoirí. He was commenting on the abortion legislation introduced in the North in October 2019, at a time when the decentralized government in Stormont was not functioning. Ag trácht a bhí sé ar an reachtaíocht maidir le ginmhilleadh a tugadh isteach sa Tuaisceart i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2019, tráth nach raibh an rialtas díláraithe i Stormont ag feidhmiú. Following the resignation of Arlene Foster as First Minister of the North yesterday, the DUP and Sinn Féin have a week to reach a new agreement and re- enter into a coalition government. Tar éis do Arlene Foster éirí as mar Chéad-Aire an Tuaiscirt inné, tá seachtain ag an DUP agus Sinn Féin le teacht ar chomhaontú úr agus dul i mbun comhrialtais le chéile arís. While Paul Givan has been nominated as First Minister by new DUP leader Edwin Poots, Sinn Fein must accept his nomination and nominate a Deputy First Minister themselves. Cé go bhfuil Paul Givan ainmnithe mar Chéad-Aire ag ceannaire nua an DUP Edwin Poots, ní mór do Shinn Fein glacadh lena ainmniúchán agus LeasChéad-Aire a ainmniú iad féin. If both parties fail to bargain, the Stormont Executive will be dissolved and the Secretary of State for the North will have to call an assembly election. Mura n-éireoidh leis an dá pháirtí margadh a dhéanamh, scoirfear Feidhmeannas Stormont agus beidh ar Stát- Rúnaí an Tuaiscirt toghchán comhthionóil a ghairm.

Ieuan Wyn Jones was the first Plaid Cymru leader to lead his party into Government. Well respected across the political parties and he was generally thought to have been an effective Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy. Yet, if we were to ask a random selection of Plaid Cymru supporters who their greatest leader was or is, Ieuan might well be overlooked. Dafydd Trystan redresses the balance.

We speak to Sinn Féin Vice President and Deputy First Minister of the Stormont Executive, Michelle O'Neill

Michelle O'Neill, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and Vice President of Sinn Féin, talks to Sarah about the suspension of customs inspections at the ports of Belfast and Larne amid concerns over threats against staff.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister and Sinn Fein leader discusses the likely impact of Joe Biden, her Irish Republican childhood and fighting covid

William and guests discuss the beginning of a new school term during coronavirus.

Michelle O'Neill, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, describes a "desperate" Covid situation in the North and says restrictions must be brought in to prevent health services being "completely crushed" in January

Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill

As the Stormont parties gear up for a vote in the Assembly calling on the deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Finance Minister Conor Murphy to apologise for their attendance at the funeral of Bobby Storey, we ask is this just political theatre? Or is the executive in trouble?

The deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill says she is "sorry for grieving families experiencing more hurt over recent days", as Stormont's party leaders meet to try to find a way forward for the power-sharing executive. While that is happening, we're learning more about special arrangements put in place for the funeral of Bobby Storey. After yesterday's multiple calls for Michelle O'Neill to stand aside, will her statement today, in which she uses the word "sorry", help those who have felt deeply hurt in the past few days because they followed the guidance in the funeral of their loved-one?

Tommie Gorman, Northern Editor, discusses the upcoming committee meeting involving Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Minister as crowds are expected to gather for the funeral of teenager Noah Donohoe.

Arlene Foster, Stormont's First Minister talks to our Northern Editor Tommie Gorman and calls on the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, to apologise over an IRA veteran's funeral that saw hundreds of people line the streets

Michelle O'Neill, Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, Vice President of Sinn Féin, talks to Mary about the Northern Ireland Executive plan to relax Covid-19 restrictions.

Teaching unions have urged the First and Deputy First Minister to end uncertainty by setting a date for school closures. Frank spoke to Gerry Murphy, chair of the NI Teachers' Council See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A listen back to Eilidh's interview of Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

You might have seen a striking picture this week of the two top women in Northern Ireland facing four men in suits. The women are the First Minister, Arlene Foster from the DUP and Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill from Sinn Fein. The new Assembly has more female politicians that ever, so what does this say about how Northern Ireland is changing? New books and apps help you track your periods and find out when you're on top form and when you're not. But it is true that we can work our life around your hormones if we understand our cycle? Jenni's joined by Dr Emma Ross, Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport and Maisie Hill, author of Period Power. Is mourning a friend different from mourning for someone in the family? You're expected to be very sad when a family member dies but grieving for a friend can be seen as ‘too much’. It can also be complicated, especially if you knew them in a different way to how their family did. When friends of our own age die it can bring up all sorts of tricky emotions. Sue Elliott-Nicholls, who knows what it's like to grieve for friends and family, reports. ‘Mixed-weight dating’ is a term used to describe a couple with a noticeable difference in body size or shape. Some people see it as a straight-forward description of the couple but others say the phrase is offensive. Steph Yeboah is a plus-size and body positive lifestyle blogger. Ebony Douglas is the CEO of her own marketing and PR agency - and has been in a relationship like this for three years.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon participated in a wide-ranging discussion with journalist Dearbhail McDonald including a short Q&A session to close in the Royal Irish Academy on 27 May 2019. Nicola Sturgeon Biography Born in Irvine in 1970 and educated at Greenwood Academy, she studied law at the University of Glasgow where she graduated with LLB (Hons) and Diploma in legal practice. Before entering the Scottish Parliament as a regional MSP for Glasgow in 1999 she worked as a solicitor in the Drumchapel Law and Money Advice Centre in Glasgow. She is currently MSP for Glasgow Southside having been, before boundary changes, MSP for Govan between 2007 and 2011. In government she served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing between May 2007 and September 2012 and then Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities with responsibility for government strategy and the constitution until November 2014. Throughout this period she also served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland. She became leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on November 14, 2014 and was sworn in as First Minister on November 20, 2014. She lives in Glasgow with her husband Peter Murrell.

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John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Step Conference 2019 Keynote 1: John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Introduced by David Cameron John Swinney @JohnSwinney David Cameron @realdcameron STEP (@STeachersEP) | Twitter STEP 2019 Conference | STEP

John Swinney John is a former leader of the SNP and is currently Deputy First Minister of Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Thoughtful and reflective, he is popular across the political spectrum. He talks to Matt about what made him join the SNP instead of other parties, the emotional side of politics and reveals who he wanted to win the World Cup... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Twenty years since the approval of the Good Friday Agreement, this event looked at how power-sharing in Belfast worked until its recent collapse, the impact of Brexit on the Irish border and options for the future of Northern Ireland. Our expert panel included three participants in the negotiations that led to the peace agreement: Lord Bew, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, former adviser to Lord Trimble, First Minister of Northern Ireland Mark Durkan, former SDLP leader and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Tim O’Connor, Irish Government Negotiating Team Member, Good Friday Agreement and former Chief of Staff to the President of Ireland. The event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

The First Minister is attending the The UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, so the Deputy First Minister fielded today's questions. Deputy First Minister: John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (SNP - Perthshire North) Questions: The Rt. Hon. Ruth Davidson, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party (Edinburgh Central) Jackie Baillie, Interim Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work (Lab – Dumbarton) David Torrance (SNP - Kirkcaldy) Tavish Scott, Spokesperson for Education (LD - Shetland) Richard Lochhead (SNP - Moray) Patrick Harvie Co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party (Glasgow) Willie Rennie, Leader of The Scottish Liberal Democrats (Mid Scotland and Fife) John Finnie, Justice, Transport & Tourism, Rural & Island Communities Spokesperson (Green - Highlands and Islands) Daniel Johnson, Shadow Education Minister (Lab - Edinburgh Southern) Graham Simpson, Spokesperson for Housing and Communities (Con - Central Scotland) Bruce Crawford (SNP - Stirling) Rachael Hamilton, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Tourism (Con - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) Monica Lennon, Shadow Minister for Inequality (working across the Health and Education teams) (Lab - Central Scotland) The Official Report of the session. The next FMQs will be Thursday 23rd November 2017 and will also be the first of the newly elected Leader of The Scottish Labour Party, pending the result in the leadership election due on 18th November 2017. Any questions or comments, get in touch: Jack@FMQs.scot @FMQsScot www.FMQs.scot This podcast is not produced by The Scottish Parliament, but the all images and audio are reproduced under The Scottish Parliament Copyright License.

http://history.radio.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IHSMcGuinness.mp3 On this episode of the show, John Dorney interviews Dr.Brian Hanley about the life and legacy of Martin McGuinness. McGuinness was the former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and Vice President of Sinn Féin.

No one is safe from this man's tongue - Steve Allen takes to the airwaves on LBC every weekday morning from 4am until 7am and on weekends from 5am until 7am. Hear all of Steve's show with the news, travel and breaks taken out.

Martin McGuinness's resignation as Deputy First Minister will almost certainly mean elections in Northern Ireland, and many are questioning whether power sharing can be restored after this breach in the DUP Sinn Féin relationship. But would that be a bad thing? Mick Fealty of NI politics blog Slugger O'Toole says the breakdown is the inevitable result of greater scrutiny of the Executive, while MLA for Folye Eamonn McCann says the assumption that power sharing is required to keep violence from breaking out is false. They talk with Hugh and Political Editor Pat Leahy.

Regulation is one way tackle so-called vulture funds, says Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, but it is not clear whether there is a will at government level to introduce it.The Donegal TD told this week's Inside Business podcast that he believes the government still wants to use these funds to “clean up the carcasses” of the commercial property sector.Deputy Doherty was speaking after last night's RTÉ documentary, The Great Irish Sell Off, which reported that giant US investment funds paid miniscule amounts of tax despite making enormous profits on their Irish investments.Irish Times markets correspondent Joe Brennan has reported widely on these funds, and spoke to the podcast about the main players in the market, the assets and loans that they have acquired and the structures they have used to pay very little tax.One of those investment funds, Cerberus, hit the headlines over its controversial purchase of NAMA's Project Eagle portfolio. Barry O'Halloran took us through the details of that and he also raised questions about whether the government may have accidentally done the wrong thing by closing the Section 110 loophole.Also on the podcast, Pearse Doherty spoke about the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin were left with “no choice” he said, after talks between McGuinness and the DUP First Minister Arlene Foster came to naught. The next step is elections, said Doherty, with lengthy negotiations on the future of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland to follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regulation is one way tackle so-called vulture funds, says Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, but it is not clear whether there is a will at government level to introduce it. The Donegal TD told this week’s Inside Business podcast that he believes the government still wants to use these funds to “clean up the carcasses” of the commercial property sector. Deputy Doherty was speaking after last night’s RTÉ documentary, The Great Irish Sell Off, which reported that giant US investment funds paid miniscule amounts of tax despite making enormous profits on their Irish investments. Irish Times markets correspondent Joe Brennan has reported widely on these funds, and spoke to the podcast about the main players in the market, the assets and loans that they have acquired and the structures they have used to pay very little tax. One of those investment funds, Cerberus, hit the headlines over its controversial purchase of NAMA’s Project Eagle portfolio. Barry O’Halloran took us through the details of that and he also raised questions about whether the government may have accidentally done the wrong thing by closing the Section 110 loophole. Also on the podcast, Pearse Doherty spoke about the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin were left with “no choice” he said, after talks between McGuinness and the DUP First Minister Arlene Foster came to naught. The next step is elections, said Doherty, with lengthy negotiations on the future of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland to follow.

Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister, talks about the work of the Go Well project

For the 64th episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast I spoke with Baron Wallace of Tankerness and I could not have hoped for a more distinguised guest. As his wikipedia page says about him......a British politician, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and the Advocate General for Scotland. He was formerly Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Member of Parliament (MP) for Orkney and Shetland, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Orkney and the first Deputy First Minister of Scotland in the Scottish Executive.I managed to catch Jim briefly on the first night of his new speaking tour.Hope you enjoy...LINKShttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/mgreenwell

The Right Honourable Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister for Scotland attended a Service of Remembrance to mark the 25th anniversary of the Lockerbie Air Disaster at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 21st December.

Lesley’s guests on Riddoch Questions this week are the Scotland Office Minister and Inverclyde MP David Cairns, Shadow Scottish Secretary and MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, David Mundell , Robert Brown MSP  and Scotland’s Deputy First Minister and MSP for Glasgow Govan, Nicola Sturgeon.