Thursday, March 20, 2008
“needlessly churlish”
The Times has called for the Monarch to be invited to visit the Republic of Ireland sooner rather than later and describes the linkage of a visit with policing and justice powers as ‘churlish’. It concludes:
It would indeed be desirable for Ulster to determine such arrangements locally but this is a complex issue and it does not help for a royal trip to be seen to be contingent on a result over a specified timetable. Announcing now that the Queen will be in Ireland next year would be a vote of confidence in the outcome of these negotiations. She should be seen in Dublin before Maundy Thursday 2009.
Fair Deal @ 10:40 AM
THE QUEEN IS CURRENTLY IN IRELAND
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 10:49 AMFrom the Newsletter:
“UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said she should “butt out” of an issue which “has nothing to do with the Republic"."
Another incisive insight from Empey there.
The issue of the timing of when Liz Windsor should be invited to visit the Republic has “nothing to do with the Republic”!?Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 10:53 AMJust heard from someone who was going to protest at her presence in Ireland today that they were stopped by Special Branch 15 miles from Armagh and threatened with immediate arrest if they entered Armagh.
Political Policing alive and well
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 10:56 AMWhat is Maundy?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:06 AMHi Tienan,
“Just heard from someone who was going to protest at her presence in Ireland today that they were stopped by Special Branch 15 miles from Armagh and threatened with immediate arrest if they entered Armagh.”
Liz or Macca?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:06 AM“Liz or Macca?”
keep up CC - Liz/Lizzie/Elizabeth & the Phillie boy ...
Why would anyone be protesting the Irish President been in Ireland ?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:11 AM“being” doh
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:12 AM”As President, I am lucky enough to meet individuals and groups from a variety of different sectors: community and voluntary, statutory, business, religious and political, and one of the key things that strikes me, no matter which group I’m talking to, or where we are, is the key role that education has played in getting us where we are today in Ireland, and the even-more-critical role it will play in positioning us where we aim to be in the coming years.
Ireland, in general, and Northern Ireland, in particular, have had to become very accustomed to change of late. Change has always been part of our island’s history, but the scale and the pace of recent change has been quite unprecedented.”
It seems that the President imagines herself to be the president of the ‘island of Ireland’. Has she permission from Gerry to portray herself as the ‘legitimate’ government’s head of state? ;)
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:24 AM“Why would anyone be protesting the Irish President been in Ireland ?”
Why would anyone be protesting the Queen of the United Kingdom been [sic] in the United Kingdom?
“Just heard from someone who was going to protest at her presence in Ireland today that they were stopped by Special Branch 15 miles from Armagh and threatened with immediate arrest if they entered Armagh.”
Good. Unless they’re parishioners of the church she’s visiting it’s got bugger all to do with them.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:31 AMHow would Philip cope in Dublin as it is a cosmopoliton muti racial city he’d be having nightmares. She may need to leave him at the palace.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:35 AMI assume there will be full normality between the Republic and GB when the GFA has been fully implemented.
That situation will have come about when policing and justice powers have been devolved.
Hardly an insurmountable hurdle. Until then the British leader will have to wait.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:47 AMHi Tienan,
“Why would anyone be protesting the Irish President been in Ireland?”
Possibly for the same reason anyone would be protesting at the British head of state visiting any part of the British Isles?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:48 AMHi George,
“I assume there will be full normality between the Republic and GB when the GFA has been fully implemented.”
So, Ulster Scots will be implemented in the RoI?
“Until then the British leader will have to wait.”
Despite the Republic not fully implementing the GFA your head of state has been visiting here for years. Parity of esteem?
Macca’s latest outburst is another reminder why sometimes an elected head of state isn’t as good an idea as the public first think - ye tend to get a politician. QE2 has been head of state for 60 years. She hasn’t made as many fekups in all that time as Macca as in her short “reign”. But then, what would I know. I am afterall a Nazi.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:56 AM“full normality between the Republic and GB”
A wee bit awkward, George, seeing that GB doesn’t have a government or a head of state ;)
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 11:57 AMIan: The issue of the timing of when Liz Windsor should be invited to visit the Republic has “nothing to do with the Republic”!?
I expect he was talking about the devolution of P&J;. You might not have heard about that issue, if you live in the Republic. However, President McAleese has visited NI frequently, and will have heard about the problem. As Reg understands, but Mary doesn’t, it is entirely a matter for the NI Executive and Assembly to sort out.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 12:00 PM“That situation will have come about when policing and justice powers have been devolved.”
You’re too clever for that George- or at least I thought so.
How one aspect of the internal affairs of the United Kingdom is administered is irrelevant to the constitutional relationship between the two states. This is crass bullypulpit comment from a woman patently unfit for the role given to her by the citizens of the state which elected her and who has diplomatic skills on a par with the nimble footwork of an elephant. Does noone in the Republic cringe when she steps outside her exceedingly limited comfort zone?
Incidentally, I presume she remains a subject of Her Brittanic Majesty, unless she has renounced her British citizenship- as she is now fully entitled to do. She certainly was one when first elected pre 1998!
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 12:14 PM“churlish” - word of the day for 20th March, 2008, although I note that it is not the Times that are struck by it but an undefined “many in Northern Ireland”. While I can see why this would be so, I’d side with the idea of a visit being the cherry on the cake. A genuine “return to normality” would be where these kinds of comments are not interpreted as tit-for-tat ultimatums.
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“Why would anyone be protesting the Irish President being in Ireland/Queen of the United Kingdom being in the United Kingdom?”
Indeed. Seems strange to protest anyone with no substantial powers whose main job seems to be to talk to pensioners, say nice things about disabled kids and smell fresh paint.
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“It seems that the President imagines herself to be the president of the ‘island of Ireland’.”
Strictly speaking, I don’t see where you read that into it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did (as many do) - but do you really have a problem with a Belfast woman visiting and commenting on Northern Ireland, even if it is in her role as president of the Republic?
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“I assume there will be full normality between the Republic and GB when the GFA has been fully implemented.”
There already is and there has been for decades now. The issue of normality is between Northern Ireland and the Republic/GB.
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“Unless they’re parishioners of the church she’s visiting it’s got bugger all to do with them.”
So unless someone is Church of Ireland, the visit of the Queen has “bugger all to do with them”? Tish tish.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 12:17 PM“but do you really have a problem with a Belfast woman visiting and commenting on Northern Ireland, even if it is in her role as president of the Republic?”
None whatsoever, Oilifear.
As President (of Ireland), ... where we are today in Ireland, and the even-more-critical role it will play in positioning us where we aim to be in the coming years. ... Ireland, in general, and Northern Ireland, in particular, ...
It’s not exactly subtle but then she’s sometimes been more garrulous than subtle.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 12:46 PM“So, Ulster Scots will be implemented in the RoI?”
I believe it is being so under the Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch. Although, as I understand, while the southern counterparts for that body are enthusiastic about their role (and with funding and support coming from the relevant ministries in the ROI), the same mood is not enjoyed by the northern attendees of the Foras na Gaeilge (or relevant ministers of the Northern executive).
Though why the fascination with the 10,000 or so speakers of Ulster Scots over and above the 90,000 speakers of Lallans and Doric varieties, I don’t know. As you ask, “Parity of esteem?”
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 12:47 PMCongal,
So, Ulster Scots will be implemented in the RoI?
What do you mean?Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 01:10 PMDarth,
How one aspect of the internal affairs of the United Kingdom is administered is irrelevant to the constitutional relationship between the two states.I would assume it is relevant because of the constitutional implications of the GFA for the Republic. Seemed pretty obvious to me and nobody south of the border seems the slightest bit surprised.
This is crass bullypulpit comment from a woman patently unfit for the role given to her by the citizens of the state which elected her and who has diplomatic skills on a par with the nimble footwork of an elephant.
Actually, she was only repeating what Ahern said and I would be really surprised if she wasn’t actually advised to make this comment. This looks to be government policy rather than a McAleese solo run.
Does noone in the Republic cringe when she steps outside her exceedingly limited comfort zone?
She hasn’t in this instance, in my view.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 01:15 PMLOL Are you sure the Times was talking about The President and not about contributors to Slugger LOL
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 01:43 PMHi George,
“What do you mean?”
As far as I understand it - based on rants by Lord Laird - NI and the RoI are supposed to use both these languages along with English on official documents. I think it’s a waste of money myself. But apparently it’s part of the agreement. Hence, my point…
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 01:49 PM“both these languages”
Sorry… Gaelic and Ulster Scots
Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 01:50 PMMary has really wound up them crazy british Irish people. It is great. A bit off topic but them British Irish in the North east corner of Ireland are going to have to get used to living in Ireland when the cost of heading to eng er land goes sky high because of carbon taxes.
Also if the sea level does rise and a good deal of the North East coastline is eroded into the sea what will them crazy British Irish do then.
Maybe someone in Landon could come up with some scheme to resettle them in Landon like they did for the Indian’s etc. That is off course if they can afford the carbon taxes.
Alright gov !Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 @ 03:01 PM
