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Red Lines

BBC Radio Ulsterwww.bbc.co.uk

The back-stop’s here? Bad puns with top political coverage from Northern Ireland. Red Lines brings you essential analysis and commentary by BBC NI’s politics team.

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Episodes

Taking on the trolls

Mark Carruthers is joined by the BBC's Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent, Marianna Spring, BBC NI's Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly and Professor Deirdre Heenan to talk about their experiences dealing with online abuse and discuss what more platforms can do to try and stop it.

Mar 08, 202338 min

Unravelling the Windsor knot

Mark Carruthers assesses the Windsor Framework and whether the DUP will accept it with Gareth Gordon, John Campbell and Suzanne Breen.

Mar 01, 202333 min

GFA#2 Women of the hour

Mark Carruthers is joined by Bronagh Hinds, one of the founding members of the Women's Coalition, Dawn Purvis, a former MLA and leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, Kathleen Stephens, the former US Consul General in Belfast and Liz O’Donnell, a former Progressive Democrat TD and Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs plus of course Mark Simpson who was the BBC Political Correspondent covering the negotiations.

Feb 22, 202353 min

D(UP)-Day

What are the big decisions facing the DUP & Sir Jeffrey Donaldson?

Feb 15, 202332 min

Reading the Right

Mark & guests discuss the recent anti-migrant protests in the Republic.

Feb 08, 202332 min

Coiled springs?

Mark Carruthers speaks to MLAs Patricia O'Lynn, Diane Forsythe and Mike Nesbitt about what they've been doing while Stormont hasn't been sitting.

Feb 01, 202334 min

GFA25: Ep 1 - The Fourth Estate

Mark Carruthers looks back on the Good Friday Agreement with journalists Mark Simpson, David Davin-Power, Martin Fletcher and former NIO official Mary Madden.

Jan 25, 202350 min

Caution;Tunnel Ahead

Mark Carruthers is joined by BBC NI's Economics and Business Editor, John Campbell, RTE's Europe Editor, Tony Connelly, Jess Sargeant from the Institute for Government, to discuss not the details of a potential deal but the process of getting all sides across the line.

Jan 18, 202332 min

Protocol, pounds and patients

Mark Carruthers asks Jayne McCormack, John Campbell and Marie-Louise Connolly to predict what lies ahead this year.

Jan 11, 202329 min

Review of the Year

Mark Carruthers asks Tim McGarry, Enda McClafferty, Deirdre Heenan and Newton Emerson to cast their minds back to the highlights of 2022.

Dec 20, 202243 min

Leo V 2.0

Leo Varadkar returns as Taoiseach this weekend. Where might Micheál Martin go?

Dec 14, 202235 min

Let's Stick Together

Mark Carruthers asks Sheila Davidson from Together UK, former MLA John McCallister and Prof Jon Tonge what the future holds for civic unionism.

Dec 07, 202232 min

Malcolm in the Middle

Mark Carruthers asks Sir Malcolm McKibbin, Jayne McCormack and Newton Emerson how far civil servants can go without a government in Northern Ireland.

Nov 30, 202232 min

The Seven Year Itch

Mark Carruthers speaks to political editor Enda McClafferty, columnist Fionnuala O Connor and former special adviser Brendan Mulgrew about the state of the SDLP.

Nov 23, 202229 min

The Brady Bunch

Mark Carruthers speaks to Sir David Sterling, Jess Sargeant & Sam McBride about the running of NI’s nine government departments in the absence of Stormont ministers.

Nov 16, 202232 min

University challenges

Mark Carruthers speaks to Simon Hamilton, Grace Boyle, Chris McCracken & Sophia Campbell about Belfast city centre's future - in the atrium of the UU's new building in York St.

Nov 09, 202232 min

Premature election

Mark Carruthers asks Political Editor Enda McClafferty, RTE's Northern Editor Vincent Kearney and Belfast Telegraph Political Editor Suzanne Breen if we're having an election.

Nov 02, 202228 min

North Poll at Christmas?

Mark Caruthers is joined by Jayne McCormack, Sam McBride and Ailbhe Rea to ask if we're hurtling towards a December Assembly election.

Oct 26, 202230 min

Brought to book

Mark Carruthers speaks to authors Malachi O'Doherty, Claire Mitchell and Ben Collins about their recent books and views on the constitutional question.

Oct 20, 202234 min

Mission Impossible?

Mark Carruthers is joined by Prof Katy Hayward from QUB, Ray O' Hanlon, Editor of the Irish Echo and Gareth Gordon to find out about Derek Chollet and what he's been doing here.

Oct 12, 202231 min

Tory story

Following the Conservative Party conference, Mark Carruthers speaks to Dominic Grieve, Kate Devlin, Kelly Beaver and Enda McClafferty.

Oct 05, 202232 min

In Liz we Truss?

New challenges for a new party leader and a mini budget with a lot consequences

Sep 28, 202226 min

New beginnings?

A new Prime Minister, a new Secretary of State and a new Monarch - but what's changed?

Sep 21, 202241 min

What about us?

Mark & guests discuss the PM's resignation and what it means for Northern Ireland?

Jul 07, 202227 min

The bonus episode: Leo Varadkar

Mark Carruthers speaks to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar about the Northern Ireland Protocol, north-south relations and the battle for the Dáil.

Jul 04, 202236 min
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