![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2.43214384.jpg\")
The Northern Ireland Secretary has been criticized by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for showing \u201capparent contempt\u201d by refusing to take their questions.<\/p>\nThe Northern Ireland Secretary has been criticized by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for showing \u201capparent contempt\u201d by refusing to take their questions.<\/p>\n
Karen Bradley did not field any queries after she gave a minute-long update on the political talks on Thursday.<\/p>\n
T\u00e1naiste Simon Coveney spoke for 10 minutes and answered six questions.<\/p>\n
Ciaran O Maolain, a member of the NUJ\u2019s national executive and the secretary of the union\u2019s Belfast branch, told the BBC: \u201cWe all want to see progress in politics and that requires informed debate, transparency and honesty on all sides.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a Government minister to treat journalists with apparent contempt \u2013 refusing to take a single question when so many important issues are being discussed \u2013 does nothing to advance the political process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Bradley has been attempting to engineer the restoration of power-sharing at Stormont.<\/p>\n
During her spell in the Northern Ireland Office she has answered journalists\u2019 queries repeatedly on a range of subjects.<\/p>\n
But she has also been criticized over a number of her comments, including the suggestion in the British Parliament earlier this year that killings by British soldiers during the Troubles were not crimes.<\/p>\n
She later apologized.<\/p>\n
The Irish government has been among those expressing confidence in her ability as minister.<\/p>\n
The power-sharing institutions have been in deep freeze for around two-and-a-half years following a row between the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in over the botched green energy scheme.<\/p>\n