Cameron
The one thing that distinguishes a politician of substance is the capacity to say something meaningful. Few politicians are capable of this. The Dup’s Jim Wells makes sense most of the time. He can stand up and put a sensible point across fluently and not infrequently a point which is at variance with party policy. [...] more »
“We’re here to give you your area back…”
There was an attempted punishment shooting in the Falls Road area of west Belfast last Thursday – 4 men and a 16 year old boy have been charged. Yesterday an 18 year old was shot in both legs after he was abducted by four masked men, also in the Falls Road area. Meanwhile the Irish News reported today that More [...] more »
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Maze development (complete with shrine / conflict transformation centre) moves forward
Pete has mentioned this below but there are now a few more details available: The BBC are reporting that an agreement has been reached on the Maze site (as trailed by Martin McGuinness when the Newry bypass was closed to allow for its official opening). According to the BBC: a board will be appointed to [...] more »
Disappeared.
The family of Crossmaglen man Charlie Armstrong who went missing in 1981 has been told his remains have been located. Confirmation of the discovery of the bones of a male in County Monaghan came this afternoon. The independent commission for the location of victims said this evening that it has notified the Armstrong family, the [...] more »
Hardline republicans recruiting on Facebook
A hardline republican group in Fermanagh is using Facebook to recruit young people, reports The Impartial Reporter today. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement, which has a faction operating in the county, is using the website to attract teenagers. The group is regarded as the Real IRA’s political wing, although members would deny this. PSNI Chief [...] more »
We’ll All Pay for Devolved Administrations’ Budget Cuts
The reality of massive public spending cuts has finally hit the devolved administrations (if not all their politicians). As Mick highlighted in his recent essay, NICVA’s report suggests that Stormont will have to make budget cuts of (at least) £1.2 billion in the next five years. Earlier today, the Independent Budget Review in Scotland recommended a fall [...] more »
Paisley was at the helm when TUV peaked…
It would be true to say that Dr Paisley’s jibe at his successor record against Sinn Fein has gone down a little sourly in certain sections of the DUP. But it does not, as David Gordon hints, mean that the DUP is about to be pipped at the post by Sinn Fein: The Paisley article [...] more »
The semi-detached polit-bureau in action
They just can’t help themselves… Mr McGuinness was speaking at the official opening of the first high-speed road link between Belfast and Dublin. He said: “I think Peter Robinson and I will have more good news to announce in regard to the development of the Maze/Long Kesh site. “We have actually reached agreement and we [...] more »
Why intelligent criticism is good for government (and politicians)
I was uncharacteristically lost for words when I discovered, through Mark Devenport’s latest post, that a senior and highly capable Sinn Fein MLA was using material gleaned from a UK based right wing ginger group (funded so far as we can tell, by non taxpaying British expats) with a known record of rolling together own [...] more »
Ruane commissions four new Irish language schools…
The reason Caitriona Ruane has been struggling to fulfil her party brief to end selection in schools is that she lacks the power to do so. However she does have carte blanche in allocating budgets, which is one reason why she has decided (albeit conditionally) to fund four new Irish language schools in Magherafelt, Kilkeel, [...] more »
Millionaire Minister hangs art
The announcement of the closure of the UK Film Council earlier this week came as a shock to those working in the industry. Seems like a politically expedient decision rather than a well thought out strategic choice, particularly when it came to light that for every £1 spent on film here by Northern Ireland Screen [...] more »
Let battle commence
The debate over whether or not Tom Elliott will become the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party is an interesting one. He certainly has a lot of support in Fermanagh and is a hard worker, like the rest of our elected representatives here. Mr Elliott’s own colleagues believe their man will “walk it”. Even [...] more »
“£9.7 billion? Well that is truly staggering…”
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport notes a charmless and, at best, disingenuous party political response to criticism of the “motherhood and apple pie” aspirations of OFMDFM. From the Devenport Diaries Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson is not impressed by some of the carping she has heard from community relations types about the latest Stormont CSI strategy. [...] more »
Summer Quiz
Ok – no prizes but 10 questions: more »
“I’d like to help you son, but you’re too young to vote”
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) held it’s 10th annual sitting at the University of Ulster last weekend. This was the first time the Parliament had ventured out of Great Britain. The UKYP is a UK-wide youth organisation that gives a voice to young people aged 11-18. Through the Parliament those who can’t yet vote have [...] more »
“His position remains that the evidence of efficacy and the scientific basis of homeopathy is highly questionable”
‘His position’ in the title would be that of the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser. But, as we know, the scientific illiteracy that prevails in the House of Commons is legendary. And, regardless of their Chief Scientific Adviser’s position, the UK Government have published their response [pdf file] to the Commons Science and Technology Committee’s Report, Evidence Check on Homeopathy. Here are the main [...] more »
Unionism 2010: Does it really matter who gets to be ‘titular head’?
I have a piece coming out in the News Letter’s series on Unionism 2021, although I am not sure when. All contributors have five questions to answer, the final one asking whether Martin McGuinness would be acceptable as a First Minister. Perhaps surprisingly Paisley senior accepts the prospect with some equinimity, but not without a [...] more »
Parity of corporation tax.
The Chancellor has ordered a full blown investigation into the implications of streamlining corporation tax North/South. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will probe this in the Autumn. The key question raised is the following: What would be the benefits of equalizing the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland with that of the Republic of Ireland? [...] more »
A new anti NI Water Campaign site?
This site seems to be about the NI Water story. And we hear it is being talked up by some pretty senior people inside the company. However, you can see very little original content without registering (which is odd)… I tried signing up, and it refused to take my details at all… Our interim advice would [...] more »
“Lots of it is on the “motherhood and apple pie” level.”
The BBC report tells us that The NI first and deputy first ministers have published their proposals for tackling sectarianism, racism and hate. That would be the long-awaited Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration. And from what I can glean from the consultation document [pdf file] they propose to form a committee “Panel”. As Mark Devenport [...] more »
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on Listenderry.org- Constitutional Change is the Way Forward 27 July 2010
- Thinking About Tomorrow 27 July 2010
- Since When is a Riot Recreational? 23 July 2010
