November 2016 – Page 2 – Slugger O'Toole

A Lagan College birthday: The story of integrated education in Northern Ireland

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster) on November 21, 2016, 2:15 pm | Readers 1021

A Lagan College birthday: The story of integrated education in Northern Ireland
by Allan LEONARD for Northern Ireland Foundation
11 November 2016

Just past the reception desk is a small, black-and-white photography of the simple and utilitarian building that housed the first enrolment of students at Lagan College in 1981; today, celebrating its 35th birthday, the impressive expanse is testimony to the successful development of not only this school, but of integrated education in Northern Ireland.

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster)

Peacebuilding a shared Northern Irish society ✌️ Editor 🔍 Writer ✏️ Photographer 📸 https://mrulster.com

“Britain has committed to the false idea that you don’t need strong international bodies to secure lasting cooperation and prosperity.”

Mick Fealty on November 21, 2016, 10:43 am | Readers 890

One of the things I’ve picked up about Fianna Fáil (under Micheal Martin, if not previous leaders of the party) is how they like to use commemorations for individuals from the party’s past to sow ideas about the present and future. So yesterday in a speech in Cork to remember Seán Moylan, an IRA volunteer from the 1920s and former FF minister in the 1950s, the party leader concluded with this peppery warning about Brexit… By any measure this is …

Máirtín and his meta plan for creating a small state United Ireland

Mick Fealty on November 21, 2016, 10:13 am | Readers 1693

Interesting piece in the Journal from our Minister of Finance, who’s hawking that ‘Plan for a Tory All Ireland Economy‘ his party were at such pains to keep their role and funding so secret again. What’s remarkable about the piece is the sheer absence of any mention of the Minister’s own party policy designed to help bring about the key measures highlighted in the report, which is to bring down public sector expenditure to ROI levels. It is hardly a …

Opposition to focus on Agriculture, Rural Schools and Poverty

David McCann on November 20, 2016, 8:19 pm | Readers 447

Tomorrow is an Opposition Day at Stormont with the UUP/SDLP parties deciding to focus on EU funding for the Agricultural Sector, Rural Schools and Poverty. Here are the motions they are set to debate; Motion: EU Funding for the Agricultural Sector That this Assembly notes with concern the risks to multiple streams of funding posed by withdrawal from the European Union; further notes that over 70 per cent of all European funding to Northern Ireland falls under the Common Agricultural …

Sinn Fein asleep at the wheel over Parades, Flags & Identity Commission

Chris Donnelly on November 20, 2016, 12:04 pm | Readers 3078

The Irish News broke a story yesterday revealing that Neville Armstrong, the Independent joint chairman of the new Flags, Parades and Identity Commission established under the Fresh Start Agreement, is also a DUP appointee to a SIF group. In fact, as John Manley outlines in the paper, he is the DUP’s “sole political appointee on the body overseeing SIF projects in the ‘Western’ zone, which includes Co Fermanagh and Co Tyrone.” The composition of that committee was already the subject …

“The centenary [of 1916] is surely a time for reflection, not celebration”

Mick Fealty on November 18, 2016, 4:27 pm | Readers 1960

Before the year’s out it is notable of just how discretely all the centenaries of this year – so much looked forward to as a numinous year within Republicanism, and revered within unionism – were ‘celebrated’. It falls to that perennially awkward soul Denis Kennedy to ask some usefully difficult questions about the southern celebrations of the Easter Rising… Here’s two worth noting… Should, 100 years on, a modern parliamentary democracy, committed to the rule of law and peaceful settlement …

New life in an auld relationship? The Scottish government may pay for Northern Ireland abortions

Brian Walker on November 18, 2016, 1:38 pm | Readers 799

A tentative move to erode the prohibitive position over abortion in Northern Ireland may become a landmark shift, now that the issue has been raised. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is open to the suggestion as reported by the Guardian, that woman from Northern Ireland could have abortions performed free in Scotland under NHS devolution. I am happy to explore with the NHS what the situation is now in terms of the ability of women from Northern Ireland to access …

Cerberus’s say they agreed to pay Brown Rudnick 1.1% of the value of the Project Eagle deal…

Mick Fealty on November 17, 2016, 2:28 pm | Readers 840

Just putting this here… This is how Cerberus describe the nature of their arrangement with Brown Rudnick pic.twitter.com/32ODnntCzy — JPCampbellBiz (@JP_Biz) November 17, 2016 Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

“Negotiating Brexit is not like selling a second hand car with a dodgy secret under its bonnet…”

Mick Fealty on November 17, 2016, 12:04 pm | Readers 763

Most comments on Brexit (and Trump for that matter) are beside the point until Mrs May gets to the end of her internal negotiations with her party and President Trump takes up the reigns of power. What surrogates (new US media word for shills) for him say or not is as yet beside the point. First, this from Flip Chart Rick… …the time to put up a fight on the terms of Brexit is now. If MPs want to shape …

There is no threat to the Union. Irish bickering north and south over the reality of Brexit has to be replaced with practical cooperation, fast.

Brian Walker on November 17, 2016, 11:30 am | Readers 1604

Newton’s latest observations on the “curmudgeonly” Arlene can be counterpointed with an incredibly wise article in the Indo by Brendan Keenan, Belfast born and bred but long anchored in Dublin and with a strong sense of reality for the interests of both. Arlene’s dour comments can be contrasted unfavourably with the regal visionary style of Nicola Sturgeon. But Arlene doesn’t have the field of government to herself. In practice they are both pragmatic and when it suits them, even cooperative …

Dáil’s Committee to test the boundaries of Parliamentary privilege over Daly case

Mick Fealty on November 17, 2016, 10:11 am | Readers 324

This is one to keep an eye on, not least because of how it relates to a matter that’s already a matter of controversy, ie Dail Privilege. Clare Daly used her privilege to express annoyance that a circuit court judge treated her in court, claiming she’d been singled out because she was a TD. In fairness to the Deputy, the judge’s language does seem to have been a little melodramatic. But under the separation of powers between the judiciary and parliament, the …

Sinn Feín MLA considers 13-17 year olds “British Army”

Kris Nixon (Belfast Barman) on November 17, 2016, 7:06 am | Readers 3376

Not necessarily a surprising one, more a case of here we go again. On a par with Jude Collins comparing the Boys Brigade to children taking part in dissident republican marches. The PSNI Chief Inspector was at Loreto Grammar School, speaking about careers and gave an answer to a question by mentioning the Air Cadets. Barry McElduff MLA posted the following tweet, Following on from this, Pat Sheehan MLA, McElDuff’s party colleague, took up the cause today in a BBC Talkback …

Jennifer McCann to step down as an MLA

David McCann on November 16, 2016, 9:39 pm | Readers 1598

Reported in today’s Andersonstown News, Jennifer McCann, formerly Junior Minister in OFM/DFM and Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast will be stepping down as an MLA. McCann will be taking on a role with the Health Minister, Michelle O’Neill. Her replacement will be selected on December 1st. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Suicide reduction or prevention? Contact NI conference in Belfast

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 16, 2016, 7:20 pm | Readers 291

Contact NI’s annual suicide prevention conference will be held on Thursday in Belfast. In a Northern Ireland where government departments and bodies often seem more keen on obfuscation and face-saving than data-sharing and truth-telling, switching from suicide reduction to a zero suicide approach that requires honest sharing and learning seems a large step. But a very worthwhile one in a place which continues to lose lives with the long-lasting ripples of the conflict.

How an IRA volunteer was radicalised against the backdrop of student revolts all over the world…

Mick Fealty on November 16, 2016, 2:27 pm | Readers 1651

Just on the hoof, this is worth linking (not least because Anthony’s patient transcriber’s done us a favour in committing a longish HARD Talk interview to text). It’s Stephen Sackur interviewing Kieran Conway, now a defence lawyer in Dublin, formerly an IRA volunteer. What’s particularly interesting is the part where he explains his transition from student to ‘soldier’… SS: Why? KC: Well I went to university in 1968, the autumn of ’68, against the backdrop of student revolts all over …

The John Lewis Christmas Ad is cute. Pity NI can’t have the store…

Patrick Murdock on November 16, 2016, 7:00 am | Readers 2121

Whilst the rest of the UK is enjoying viewing the latest Christmas advert from the UK up market department store chain, John Lewis we should spare a thought for the Northern Ireland shopper who unless they are ready to travel across the water to England, Scotland or Wales or Visit their concession at Arnott’s in Dublin, will not get to experience what all the fuss is about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6lr_VRsEo A John Lewis department store was first mooted at the Sprucefield site …

Seeking better patient outcomes: Music to the ears of occupational therapists #ValueofOT

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster) on November 15, 2016, 10:14 pm | Readers 209

Seeking better patient outcomes: Music to the ears of occupational therapists
by Allan LEONARD
11 November 2016

The College of Occupational Therapists (COT) held a launch event at the Long Gallery of Parliament Buildings, for their campaign on the value of occupational therapy, “Improving lives, saving money”.

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster)

Peacebuilding a shared Northern Irish society ✌️ Editor 🔍 Writer ✏️ Photographer 📸 https://mrulster.com

“In America now only normal people can see the obvious. Everyone else is lost in a data-filled fog.”

Mick Fealty on November 15, 2016, 4:51 pm | Readers 1252

Time to stop hyperventilating about the legitimate result of the US election and look at some interesting figures. I remember chatting with an American friend, about Hillary’s bid for the White House in 2008 and saying as an aside that if she didn’t get Hillary this time, she would have to put up with her in 2016. She said then that Hillary would never get to the White House. I’ll admit, even then I didn’t quite believe her such is …

Challenge for the Irish Left is to transform its language and ideas from recession to recovery

Mick Fealty on November 15, 2016, 2:53 pm | Readers 539

Very good piece from Michael Taft on why the left hasn’t yet taken off in the Republic. He pinpoints three possible reasons: First, because the Left has yet to develop a common brand. In the last election, there was no sense that the Left could win or be in a position to form a government because there was no sense of ‘the Left’. The consensus was that whatever the result, Fine Gael would lead the next government (though Fianna Fail …