Stormont Lobbyists All 'A-twitter' Online

The Stormont Assembly is no stranger to ruffled feathers, but it appears the 'folks on the hill' are gradually becoming more concerned with 'tweeting' their thoughts, writes Paul Reilly.

In response to the online trend, and marking the second year of the devolved Assembly, public affairs company Stratagem has launched its new service on Twitter - the instant social networking site.

Stratagem, formed more than a decade ago, is Northern Ireland's first dedicated lobbying company, and has come to be regarded as one of the most authoritative voices on the operation of politics and government here.

Stratagem's Gary McKeown said his day-to-day work focuses on following every political happening in Northern Ireland.

"We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways to enhance what we do, so have decided to break new ground by providing a complimentary Twitter service that anyone can follow."

He said the 'stratagemni' account on Twitter will provide up-to-date observations on political events in Northern Ireland, allowing the organisation to engage with people from across the world who have an interest in Northern Ireland politics.

"Public participation is key to successful democracy, and we hope that by providing an insight into Northern Ireland politics, we can make a positive contribution to this," he added.

Stratagem is a core partner of the Slugger O’Toole Political Awards, a spin-off from the awarding-winning Northern Ireland political blog.

Mick Fealty of Slugger O’Toole said: "Over the past decade, Stratagem has developed an excellent reputation for its political expertise.

"In my experience. Twitter is of the highest value when in the hands of people who understand their own areas of expertise and the value of sharing it.

"The new Stratagem Twitter service will undoubtedly be a great tool for anyone interested in politics and current affairs here, and further enhances online political dialogue in Northern Ireland," added the political journalist.

(PR/BMcC)