Podcasts about Stormont

Mark Carruthers asks Dr Sean Haughey, Professor Duncan Morrow, Chris Donnelly and Tim Cairns if Stormont must reform to survive.

'When you're being compelled and coerced to have it by the state, that's a really dangerous precedent' the DUP's Paul Frew and Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw spoke to Frank as all Stormont parties united against Digital IDs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Stormont has worked in Hawaiian land stewardship for more than forty years. Born to a multi-generational Hāmākua family and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Bill started in high school building trails and fences beginning in 1976 through the Youth Conservation Corps. His career within the Department of Land and Natural Resources has taken him from natural areas preservation, to trails and access, and Mauna Kea stewardship. Bill gets into the controversies around feral pig removal in sensitive ecosystems, as well as managing eucalyptus stands for commercial ventures on Hawaiʻi Island, and why coming into any endeavor with heart first is always an essential approach.

Nolan talks to Patrick Mulholland from the trade union NIPSA

Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan has been the focus of attention and anger over his visit to Israel. The UUP have lost a councillor, Linzi McLaren resigned her seat and quit the party citing concerns over Irish language policy and the absence of female voices. Plans are afoot to install street signage in Greek, Mandarin and Hebrew in Belfast – but will it actually happen? And finally, who keeps trying to flood Stormont? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by commentators Tim Cairns and Ursula Savage to discuss the week in NI politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Also, is it time to remove 'Prince Andrew' streets signs in NI?

With days to go in the two-horse race to the Irish Presidency, who is likely to come out on top, and what could the winner mean for Northern Ireland? And up at Stormont, relations between politicians have become quite strained recently. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Irish Independent Politics Correspondent John Downing, and by Belfast Telegraph Assistant News Editor, Brett Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Nesbitt has set out his vision for unionism at the UUP conference – but is he ready to pass the baton? Meanwhile at Stormont, arguments over cultural issues take centre stage once again, with the DUP and TUV seemingly at loggerheads. And as Unionist anger grows over Belfast City Council's new Irish language policies, with an east Belfast sign vandalised, we take a look at the stats and surveys behind dual language signage. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by The Belfast Telegraph's political editor Suzanne Breen and journalist Liam Tunney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the next five weeks, we will be exploring the history and collections of the five shortlisted candidates for this year's Historic Houses Association Collections Award (sponsored by Dreweatts). Geoff is a judge in this year's awards, along with Francis Terry (architect), Rita Konig (interior designer), Tessa Murdoch (art historian) and Will Richards (Chairman of Dreweatts).First up is one of the great country houses of Scotland - Scone Palace in Perthshire. This gothic revival pile is particularly significant owing to its location adjacent to the 'Moot Hill;' for centuries the location of the Stone of Scone (upon which the early Kings of Scotland were crowned). The seat of the Murray family, Earls of Mansfield, for over 400 years, the collection housed at Scone is exceptional and of national importance.Joining Geoff and Rory on this week's episode is the current custodian of Scone, and heir apparent to the Earldom of Mansfield, William Murray (Viscount Stormont).Please join us for this fascinating discussion, and send us your thoughts or drop us a comment - we'd love to hear from you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Domestically, NI politics has been consumed by Irish language issues this week and unionists reel in the wake of Belfast City Council's new bilingual policy – is it just the result of demographics? October is party conference season – why did Starmer not mention us in his speech? The SDLP is presenting itself as both an alternative to Alliance and pushing Irish unity, can they do both? And finally, an MLA says the current Stormont executive is the worst one since devolution returned in 1998 – is he right? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's Liam Tunney, political commentator Alex Kane and by Ulster University lecturer David McCann. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/24vspuan Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com Concerns about Loyalist violence over bilingual signage. Imní faoi fhoréigean Dilseoirí faoi chomharthaíocht dátheangach. Conradh na Gaeilge says the threats made by Loyalist paramilitaries at the weekend that Belfast City Council property will be destroyed if it has bilingual signage are a cause for great concern. Deir Conradh na Gaeilge gur cúis mhór imní iad na bagairtí a rinne paraimíleataigh Dílseora ag an deireadh seachtaine go scriosfar maoin de chuid Chomhairle Chathair Bhéal Feirste má bhíonn comharthaíocht dátheangach orthu. In an open letter from Conradh na Gaeilge and the Leaders of the Parties and the City Council, the League says that it is a cause for concern for everyone who supports the Irish language and equality in general. I litir oscailte ó Chonradh na Gaeilge agus ó Cheannairí na bPáirtithe agus ó Chomhairle na Cathrach deir an Conradh gur cúis imní é do gach duine a thacaíonn leis an Ghaeilge agus leis an chomhionannas trí chéile. The threat has been condemned by Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt. Tá an bhagairt cáinte ag ceannaire Aondachtóirí Uladh, Mike Nesbitt. A draft Irish language policy agreed by the Council would mean that Irish and English would be more prominent and side by side on all Council publications and property. Chiallaódh dréachtpholasaí Gaeilge atá aontaithe ag an Chomhairle go mbeadh an Ghaeilge agus an Béarla níos feiceálaí agus iad le taobh a chéile ar gach foilseachán agus maoin de chuid na Comhairle. But since the policy was adopted last Wednesday the UDA and UVF have threatened to destroy any property bearing the signage. Ach ó glacadh leis an pholasaí Dé Céadaoin seo caite tá an UDA agus UVF tar éis bagairt go scriosfaidh siad maoin ar bith a mbeidh an chomharthaíocht orthu. These paramilitary organisations told the Sunday Life newspaper that they would burn down Council vehicles and buildings if Irish was visible on them. Dúirt na heagrais paramíleatacha sin le nuachtán an Sunday Life go lasfadh siad feithiclí agus foirgnimh de chuid na Comhairle dá mbeadh an Ghaeilge le feiceáil orthu. Conradh na Gaeilge called on party leaders in Stormont to condemn the threat. D'iarr Conradh na Gaeilge ar cheannairí na bpáirtithe i Stormont an bhagairt a cháineadh. Irish Language Commissioner The new Irish Language Commissioner will be responsible for implementing the Identity and Language Act. Coimisinéir na Gaeilge Beidh dualgas ar an Choimisinéir úr Gaeilge an tAcht Féiniúlachta agus Teanga a chur i bhfeidhm. Yesterday on the X platform, the person nominated but not appointed to that position, Pól Deeds, said that the threat from the UDA and UVF is a result of the promotion of bigotry in the media - in particular, he said, the BBC. Inné ar an ardán X dúirt an té atá ainmnithe ach nach bhfuil ceaptha don phost sin, Pól Deeds, gur toradh í an bhagairt ón UDA agus UVF ar chur chun cinn na biogóideachta sna meáin - go háirithe a dúirt sé an BBC. Paul Deeds said the Executive Office in Stormont had failed to protect its own policy - and UK law - and was failing in its duty of care to the new Commissioner. Dúirt Pól Deeds gur theip ar Oifig an Fheidhmeannais i Stormont a bpolasaí féin - agus dlí na Ríochta Aontaithe - a chosaint agus go bhfuil siad ag teip ina ndualgas cúraim don Choimisinéir úr. The threats from Loyalists have only been condemned by one Unionist party, the Ulster Unionists (UUP). Níl na bagairtí ó Dhílseoirí cáinte ach ag pairtí Aondachtach amháin, Aondachtóirí Uladh an UUP. Their leader Mike Nesbitt said that the Irish language signage needs to be discussed further, and he said that any threat to Council workers should be withdrawn. Dúirt a gceannaire Mike Nesbitt go gcaithfear an chomharthaíocht i nGaeilge a phlé tuilleadh, agus dúirt sé gur cheart bagairt ar bith ar oibrithe na Comhairl...

Claire Hanna is in the studio talking to Nolan.

Sir Keir Starmer leaves Labour's party conference in Liverpool with a bold new strategy: frame the fight as Labour vs Reform UK. But is calling Nigel Farage's immigration policies “racist” a huge political risk?On this episode of Whitehall Sources, Calum Macdonald, Kirsty Buchanan (former No.10 adviser to Theresa May) and Jo Tanner (political strategist) break down:What really happened at Labour conference – and why the media narrative may differ from the inside story.The launch of Senedd Sources – completing the “Sources family” across Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and now the Welsh Senedd.Why Wales could deliver the biggest shock of the May 2026 elections if Labour loses power for the first time.Starmer's strategy against Reform UK and Nigel Farage – smart politics or a dangerous gamble?Reform UK's rapid pushback, claiming Labour's rhetoric endangers Farage's security.How this all shapes up for Labour ahead of the looming Budget and next year's elections.

Northern Ireland's education system has no idea how many children it's responsible for and there's no legal requirement for parents to tell education authorities they have a child. Stormont doesn't know how lots of children are being educated – or whether they're being educated at all. Documents show some senior Stormont officials fear these ‘missing children' are vulnerable to “sexual exploitation”. The Belfast Telegraph's Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride has been investigating this story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nolan talks to DUP MLA Phillip Brett and TUV MP Jim Allister.

The role of the Assembly and ExecutiveIf we were to listen to and accept at face value those in the media who criticise the Assembly and the Executive as ineffective, and who question their value or use, we would mothball both institutions and sack the MLAs.Yes, there is justifiable frustration at the failure of the institutions to address concerns on health and education and delivery on Casement Park, Saving Lough Neagh, building the A5, delivering for Gaeilgeoirí, tackling poverty and hate crimes and legacy issues alongside problems in our public services. But that is not the fault of the institutions. It lies with the political parties and others who are blocking progress.Yes, there are problems but it is wrong to tar all our politicians with the one brush and it would also be wrong to hand over responsibility for these issues to unelected civil servants and to the British government. That would be irresponsible and stupid.Does anyone really want another British Secretary of State running this place? There have been 25 British Secretaries of State, mostly mediocre and forgettable, including some who contributed enormously to the conflict.We also need to appreciate that the London government is adding to the difficulties faced by an Executive which doesn't have the financial resources to tackle some of the issues of greatest concern. All of this is an argument for the end of Westminster rule. We need to say that loudly and often. London has never ruled us in our best interests. We who call this place home are the only ones entitled or fit to do that. That includes our unionist neighbours and their representatives. The reality is that the Northern statelet was not and is not a normal society.  Partition was a unionist and British imposed response to the demand by the people of this island to independence and sovereignty. The unionist regime at Stormont immediately and successfully deepened political and sectarian discrimination and the inequalities that were part and parcel of colonisation. The Northern state was a place where non-unionists were to have no say in its running and where the institutions of the state were closed to us. After 78 years of ‘Northern Ireland' the Good Friday Agreement began a process of fundamentally changing that system. It is a process. The Agreement was and is a unique arrangement to facilitate conflicting political visions. Republicans decided to enter Stormont – a place that represented all that was wrong with the Orange State – because we believed that a space was needed in which we and unionism could moderate our differences. Other venues were considered but we believed that unionists would be comfortable within the Stormont setting. And we opted for that. However, did anyone seriously think that generations and centuries of colonisation and prejudice could be overturned quickly? That the deep rooted antipathy to all things progressive or rights based, never mind nationalist or republican, would disappear overnight or even in the short term?  Only the most naive or stupid among us would have thought the British State would acknowledge its wrong doing and embrace equality and democracy?  No dear readers.  It was always going to be a battle a day- a process that demanded and demands perseverance, doggedness, generosity, resolve and strategic focus. Especially strategic focus.Cearta Anios. In May 2022, 20,000 activists took to the streets of Béal Feirste to demand Irish language rights. This An Dream Dearg mass mobilisation of both young and old was highly symbolic, positive, cheerful and confident. Four days after this protest, the British government took the first step to introduce Irish-language legislation, paving the way for historic social change in the Northern state. This legislation provided for the repeal of the centuries old  penal-law ban on the use of I

There are billions of pounds worth of gold under the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone. A US-based company, Darlriadan Resources, wants to mine it. But local people are divided over whether the mine would benefit or harm them, some are mounting legal challenges against it. Sinn Féin is struggling with the decision and with its policy on mining. Will the gold ever be brought out of the ground and it is – who will benefit from it? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's Northern Ireland editor, Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When an IRA Stormont spy ring was alleged in 2002, devolution quickly plunged into crisis. A PSNI raid on Sinn Féin's Stormont offices discovered a map of castle buildings with instructions on bypassing security, and intelligence on the prison service, including personal details of prison officers. But in 2004, Denis Donaldson – the most senior republican arrested during the raids – admitted he had been a British agent all along. Months later he was murdered in Donegal. Belfast Telegraph's Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride has been back in the archives and has unearthed fresh details on the Stormont spy ring scandal, he joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And, are we getting a raw deal from our politicians in Stormont?

Nolan talks to former DUP Health Minister Jim Wells and PBP MLA Gerry Carroll.

Michael Stone is one of the most notorious gunmen of the Troubles. Known in loyalist circles as a gun for hire, he murdered 3 people at an IRA funeral in Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast. Following his release from prison in 2000, he carried out a foiled attack on Stormont which he claimed was ‘performance art'. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and former Belfast Telegraph editor Ed Curran. This podcast was first published in April 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former DUP MLA Jim Wells and commentator Phil Kelly discuss with Nolan.

Michael Stone is one of the most notorious gunmen of the Troubles. Known in loyalist circles as a gun for hire, he murdered 3 people at an IRA funeral in Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast. Following his release from prison in 2000, he carried out a foiled attack on Stormont which he claimed was ‘performance art'. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and former Belfast Telegraph editor Ed Curran. This podcast was first published in April 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'I see so many problems with Northern Ireland - I just wanted to put something back, make a difference and serve the people of North Antrim - Stormont's newest MLA, the UUP's Jon Burrows, told Frank why he was embarking on a new career Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Desiree Stormont joins the show for round 2 after her initial appearance on The Ugly Dog Podcast over a year ago. We recap some of our current NAVHDA Invitational training, mindset, mental hurdles and problem solving in addition to a host of other things. Des gives a first hand account of what it's like to judge Mike in the field, and shares honestly about navigating "the dip" in training for a test like the Invitational.She also shares about the NAVHDA Lady Gang and her involvement with the group. Be sure to check them out on Facebook! This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.comMusic used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

Diving deep in our weekly economy hit Plus - Canadian Union of Postal Workers urges workers to reject contract offer GUESTS: Nolan Quinn - MPP for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Moshe Lander - economics professor at Concordia University Jan Simpson - CUPW President

A model of a migrant boat with more than a dozen life-size mannequins has been placed on top of a loyalist bonfire in Co. Tyrone. All of the mannequins are dark-skinned and wearing life jackets. Below the boats, placards read: “Stop the boats. Veterans before refugees.”Matthew O'Toole is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Belfast and the Social Democratic and Labour Party's Leader of the Opposition at Stormont. He joins Kieran to discuss.Image: @GildernewColm on Twitter

Also - NI charities call for Stormont's draft anti-poverty plan to be withdrawn

Mark chats to Suzanne Breen, Deirdre Heenan, David McCann & Tim Cairns about the past 12 months in local politics.

Also - Iran and Israel conflict - Nolan discusses the latest developments.

Last night, violence continued in Ballymena, with cars and properties set alight, whilst rioters threw petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry at police officers. Stormont ministers have issued a joint appeal for an end to the violence. For more, we're joined by our correspondent Conor McCauley, and Sian Mulholland, Alliance Party MLA for North Antrim.

The latest Belfast Telegraph Lucid Talk polling shows sharp divisions on some touchstone societal issues. Among the issues surveyed in the latest poll were whether rap band Kneecap should be banned from performing at Belfast Vital, assisted dying and the Supreme Court's ruling on gender and defining what a woman is. In terms of party political support, the poll reveals the DUP are still in a rut and that power in Stormont is taking the shine off Sinn Féin. Ciarán Dunbar joined by the Belfast Telegraph's political editor Suzanne Breen. If you enjoy The BelTel, please leave us a review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 19 years, the Stormont government finally has an anti-poverty strategy.

More funding pressures for the PSNI - the Nolan Show can reveal it has to find another £7M from its cash strapped budget to pay for the rise in National Insurance contributions. And a former senior police officer warns about the impact on front line services and says Stormont must step in.

NIPSA say they won't tolerate the changes, and they want mitigations from the Executive. But with Stormont finances stretched to breaking point is that possible?

A few months ago, one of Stormont's most senior civil servants vanished. Mark Browne was the top official in Stormont's Department of Education. But sources have now told the Belfast Telegraph that Mr Browne and the Education Minister Paul Givan clashed over how to tackle what is now a multi-faceted crisis in Northern Ireland's education system. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new report states that Northern Ireland's public services remain 'in crisis' and Stormont needs to be able to raise more of its own revenue rather than relying on funding from Westminster. Una Kelly reports.

Internment was a key event in the history of the Troubles; In an effort to deal with increasing violence Stormont and the British Government decided to introduce internment. Almost 2,000 people were interned up until its end in December 1975 – imprisoned without a fair trial. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Dr Peter McLoughlin and by Dr Martin McCleery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plus we hear from Belfast Breakfast Baps owner Mark Young

Discussion on motability & People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll on threatening graffiti

Do we need to re-invent our Stormont politics to make real progress possible here?

Also - a factory in Belfast is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine.

Plans to extend Belfast's Glider bus service in north and south of city are scaled back

Stephen gets your views

In CI News this week: Psychiatrists warn that a shortage of consultants could render Kim Leadbeater's latest fix to her assisted suicide Bill unworkable, The Christian Institute cautions Stormont that changes to the Province's equality laws may have unintended consequences for religious liberty, and Holyrood hears of God's unfailing love. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories Top psychiatrists warn staff shortages could render Leadbeater Bill unworkable CI cautions Stormont to tread carefully with ‘standardised' equality law Secular alternative to Christian school assemblies debated in House of Lords Gospel proclaimed in Holyrood: ‘God's love never runs out'

Stephen talks to listeners about what they think about our politicians.

And Paul Givan confirms he is close to finalising a resolution in teachers' pay dispute.

Nuacht Mhall. Príomhscéalta na seachtaine, léite go mall. * Inniu an t-aonú lá déag de mhí Eanáir. is mise Siubhán Nic Amhlaoibh.Dhiúltaigh an tAire Oideachais ó Fheidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann Paul Givan iarratas ón scoil is mó sna Sé Chontae le bheith ina scoil imeasctha. Thacaigh tromlach soiléir thuismitheoirí na ndaltaí leis an athrú in Acadamh Bheannchair, a bhfuil timpeall 1,850 dalta ann. Ach tá cinneadh déanta anois ag Paul Givan nár cheart dul ar aghaidh leis na pleananna. Diúltíodh togra ó scoil eile i mBeannchar fosta, Bunscoil an Rátha Mhóir, chun athrú a dhéanamh ina scoil imeasctha. De réir doiciméad a d'fhoilsigh an Roinn Oideachais, mhol oifigigh go n-athrófaí an dá scoil le bheith imeasctha ach chinn an tAire gan an moladh sin a cheadú. Agus é ag diúltú do na tairiscintí, dúirt Givan nach raibh go leor fianaise ann go mbeadh dóthain daltaí Caitliceacha ag gach scoil chun oideachas imeasctha a chur ar fáil. Luaigh sé reachtaíocht Stormont ina ndeirtear gur cheart go mbeadh líon réasúnta leanaí Caitliceacha agus Protastúnacha araon i scoileanna imeasctha. "Fiú ar an anailís is dóchasaí, tá an chuma ar an scéal go mbeadh sé iontach deacair líon réasúnta a bhaint amach," a scríobh Givan.Tá an comhlacht teicneolaíochta Meta ag fáil réidh lena chuid seiceálaithe fíricí neamhspleácha ar Facebook agus Instagram, agus ag cur “nótaí pobail” i stíl cosúil leis an ardán X ina n-áit ina bhfágtar trácht ar chruinneas postálacha de chuid úsáideoirí. I bhfíseán Meta, dúirt an príomhfheidhmeannach Mark Zuckerberg go raibh modhnóirí tríú páirtí “róchlaonta ó thaobh na polaitíochta de” agus go raibh sé “in am dul ar ais go dtí ár bhfréamhacha maidir le saoirse cainte”. Tagann an t-aistriú seo agus Zuckerberg agus feidhmeannaigh eile i dtionscal na teicneolaíochta ag iarraidh caidreamh a fheabhsú le hUachtarán tofa na Stát Aontaithe, Donald Trump, sula rachaidh sé in oifig níos déanaí an mhí seo. Cháin Trump agus a chomhghuaillithe Poblachtacha Meta as a pholasaí seiceála fíricí, ag rá go ndéanann an comhlacht cinsireacht ar ghuthanna na heite deise. Ag labhairt dó i ndiaidh na hathruithe a fhógairt, dúirt Trump ag comhdháil nuachta go raibh sé an-tógtha le cinneadh Zuckerberg.Tá an Gael, scríobhneoir, agus foilseoitheoir Pádraig Ó Snodaigh ar shlí na bhfírinne. Tháinig na sluaite daoine le chéile fá choinne thórramh Phádraig, a fuair bás agus é 89 bliain d'aois, i mBaile Dúill, Baile Átha Cliath. Ba Ghael go smior é an tUasal Ó Snodaigh, agus ba dhuine mór le rá é i measc gníomhaithe Gaeilge agus chúis na teanga ó dheas. Ba iar-uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge é, a chaith a shaol ar fad ag troid ar son cearta teanga, agus é ag obair leis an ESB agus an iarsmalann náisiúnta. Chuir Pádraig an comhlacht foilsiú Coiscéim ar bun, le £1000 a bhfuair sé ar iasacht ó chara dá chuid in 1980, comhlacht a d'fhoilsigh níos mó ná 1,700 leabhar. Bhí seisear mac aige lena bhean, an t-ealaíontóir Clíodhna Cussen, a cailleadh dhá bhliain go leith ó shin; Teachta Dála is ea é mac amháin, agus tá triúr eile bainte leis an ghrúpa ceoil Kíla. Bhí a chónra caoladóireachta clúdaithe faoi bhratach scal ghréine an Chonartha agus í á tabhairt isteach go Séipéal Naomh Peadar agus Pól. * Léirithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge i Londain. Tá an script ar fáil i d'aip phodchraolta. * GLUAIS scoil imeasctha - integrated school reachtaíocht - legislation seiceálaithe fíricí neamhspleácha - independent fact checkers modhnóirí - moderators cónra caoladóireachta - wicker coffin scal ghréine - sunburst

The Northern Ireland Executive has published its draft budget for 2025-26 and it's now open for public consultation. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is set to receive just over £715 million pounds, an increase of 3%. But no specific funding has been allocated to address serious pollution in Lough Neagh and Andrew Muir, the environment minister, says his department has only been awarded around a third of what he'd requested for day to day spending. He describes it as ‘a difficult budget'. Historic farm diaries provide a fascinating glimpse into agricultural, social and cultural life in years gone by. So curators at the Three Rivers Museum in Hertfordshire were excited to unearth a diary written in Victorian times by a farmer from Rickmansworth called John White. Masters students at the University of Hertfordshire have been scrutinising the diary entries to see if there's anything that John's observations from 150 years ago might teach farmers today. Rearing and selling turkeys for Christmas has become a major source of income for some family farms, including Cuckoo Mill Farm at Pelcomb Bridge, in Pembrokeshire. And at this time of year, it's a real family affair, with all hands on deck. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The future of the media giant News Corp could look very different, after a US court ruled against Rupert Murdoch's wishes to leave control to his son Lachlan, meaning his other children could have influence. Sean Farrington finds out what this could mean for the company.The Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland that have been in place for four years get put to a vote in Stormont today. We hear what effects the so-called Windsor Framework has had on Ulster.And according to new research, second-hand Christmas gifts are increasing in popularity.