@LaureenRegan Thanks Laureen

A passport, issued by a country that will not accept its own citizens back as failed asylum seekers, should not be recognised by the Irish State. If this practice was adopted by other European and North American countries, then these errant States would soon change their tune.

@LeoVaradkar The issue is partly about funding. Integrated schools attract higher levels of support from the Department of Education, hence to need to demonstrate a mixed school population.

Sorry to hear another stalwart of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, Ted Howell, has passed away today. I had many interactions over the years with Ted who was hugely influential in the Republican movement. He now joins his beloved Eileen @EamonnMcKee

So sorry to hear Paddy Hill has passed died. He brought a huge restlessness and energy to his fight for those he believed were weongly convected. He enjoyed challenging the powers that be and meetings with him could be a bit confrontationa, I always liked him and his integrity

My most recent article in

I always had a soft spot for the Cork Passport Office. It was therefore great to meet up with my old buddy and former chief of the Passport Office in the Munster capital, Ray Devine. Retirement suits him.

@PaulClark_UTV @bigkenreid Paul, Ken will be missed, he seemed to know everyone.

Absolutely devastated that my good and long standing friend Ken Reid has passed away. He was privately very loyal and a confident to all. I was privileged to have known him. He was a true journalist to his finger tips. My deepest condolences to Liz and family @UTVNews

Great to meet up with my former colleague and friend Arne Reidel and his wife Loretta in Vienna. Arne served as Austria 🇦🇹 Ambassador to Canada and Jamaica at the same time I was posted in Ottawa. We finished our visit last night with a call on a local winery outside Vienna

It is with great sadness I heard that my friend and former Senator, Billy Lawless had passed away. A tireless supporter of the Irish American community in Chicago and a genuine human being, he will be missed. I greatly valued our friendship and his support over the years.

RT @irishborderpoll: Is Populism on the rise in Ireland? We debate the question this Sunday at @BattleofIdeas with @KevinPMeagher @ray_bas…

Powerscourt waterfall in Wicklow was at its most majestic after all the recent rain.

A debate on 20 October in Church House Westminster on the growing "populist" sentiment in Ireland & the Mainstream political establishment and media's difficulty in coming to terms with this phenomenon. If in London at that time, do not miss it.

Why not use a small fraction of the Apple windfall to build Casement stadium and let the GAA pay back the money back over a long period. The Republic's economy is already overheating and spending the money in Belfast would not add to inflation south of the border.

Delighted to see the opening of the ambitious new Grand Central Station in Belfast. Looking forward to the Enterprise train from Dublin arriving right into the centre of the city.

@irlambberlin @irlembberlin @dfatirl @IRLinFrankfurt @GermanyDiplo Congrats and good luck Maeve

Amazing how after even the most miserable of summers, the weather always greatly improves as the schools reopen.

Sorry to see Colm Eastwood step down as leader of the SDLP. When I was heading off to Canada as Irish Ambassador, Colm, as Mayor of Derry, gave me a special commission to act for the Maiden City which I hoped I carried out satisfactorily.