Profile for John Ó Néill
Latest posts from John Ó Néill (see all)
John Ó Néill has posted 94 times (6 in the last month).
raising an old issue like employment
At the moment, as Pete flagged a couple of days ago, Bill Clinton is doing some heavy lifting in the US for job creation on behalf of the Republic of Ireland’s government. Over at the Belfast media group, Jude Collins provides an interesting contrast, highlighting the uneven results of Invest NI’s work: During 2010/2011, Invest NI [...] more »
… to prosecute cases if the evidence emerges …
The Detail has an interesting piece to set alongside the DPP’s comments regarding confronting the past. It concerns the RUC and HET investigations into the killings such as the attack on Sean Grahams on the Ormeau Road which involved a Browning that was handed to the UFF/UDA by the RUC. The Detail outlines how: In 2010 the families [...] more »
You are not responsible for the crisis (Oh yes you are)
Whoever it was aimed at, Enda Kenny’s performance in Davos doesn’t seem to be going down well back home. The Irish Times reports that he said: “What happened in our country was that people simply went mad borrowing,” Mr Kenny told a meeting at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “The extent of [...] more »
Anonymous: freedom is #TangoDown
Their bio simply states: We are Anonymous. We are legion. We never forgive, We never forget, Expect us. Location: Right behind you. [You can find a longer backstory on the wired website.] There is something epic and fascinating in the current battles between Anonymous (and others) and the US government and, by proxy, various arms of [...] more »
Will Scottish football decide the referendum?
Is Scotland’s football team good enough for independence? Let’s look at the facts by comparing electoral support for independence, in so far as that can be measured as support for the SNP, with the performance of the Scottish football team. A number of points are worthing noting here: Qualifying for the finals of tournaments in [...] more »
Boston College: an end of history
Slugger readers will be familiar with the ongoing saga around the content of, and, access to the archives of the Belfast Project which were deposited with Boston College (where Irish government documents on decomissioning have also been deposited). The outworking of the litigation by which the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team are attempting to gain access to some [...] more »
… in terms of noise and output, Sinn Féin has proved more effective.
Following on from yesterday’s piece on Fianna Fáil that Mick flagged up, today the Irish Times continued with Paul Cullen looking at the Opposition with a brief analysis of Sinn Féin’s performance to date (in one of two pieces on the IT website, for more see below). It suggests that: On numbers alone, a much diminished [...] more »
…the British Government has planned the sell-out of Ulster
So Ian Paisley was right after all! In his The Revivalist editorial of January 1982, he reflected on 1981 saying: 1982 is the year when the British Government has planned the sell-out of Ulster. It is essential that Ulster prepares itself for the great battle which lies ahead. Without Divine intervention all is lost. Admittedly, [...] more »
All Ireland Cancer Atlas 1995-2007
Hats off to the cross-border research by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry at Queen’s and National Cancer Registry, Ireland down in Cork for their co-production of the All Ireland Cancer Atlas 1995-2007. The conclusions and discussion are surprisingly accessible (all sections are linked below). While it may make for chastening reading (or help sharpen up ideas for a New Years [...] more »
To the objective, impartial observer, disturbing questions about collusive and corrupt behaviour are raised
The families of the Miami Show Band members gave their reaction to the HET’s report today on the killing of three members in 1975. In a detailed statement, the survivors of the attack report that the HET concluded: ‘To the objective, impartial observer, disturbing questions about collusive and corrupt behaviour are raised. The HET review [...] more »
Latest comments from John Ó Néill (see all)
John Ó Néill has commented 1,027 times (36 in the last month).
Advertise
-
Books
-
“Good Friday. The death of Irish Republicanism” by Anthony McIntyre: a review
This was a book that I first reviewed at the same time as “Unionism Decayed” back in 2008. Like Vance’s work, it is the author’s portrayal of a defeated political movement or ideal and as a Unionist it was instructional to read an interpretation of the immediate post-Agreement period from the other side of the fence. [...] read our review » -
Learning from 1798?: Northern Ireland’s Upcoming Decade of Commemorations
Last year, the Lilliput Press released a new extended edition of Tom Dunne’s Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize winning book, Rebellions: Memoir, Memory and 1798. First published in 2004, Dunne’s book provoked considerable controversy with its critique of the ‘commemorationist’ history that Dunne believed dominated the 1998 commemorations of the 1798 Rebellion. The book blasted the involvement [...] read our review » -
What has The Third Man got to say about Northern Ireland?
Short answer: very little, other than he enjoyed the environs of Hillsborough Castle, enjoyed working with the local politicians, and has Gerry Adams to thank for Bobby his dog. Peter Mandelson’s book The Third Man has captured media headlines in recent weeks as the Times serialised the most juicy bits. But what did he have [...] read our review »
-
Comment on raising an old issue like employment
on 10 February 2012 at 2:34 pm
I didn’t use the word discrimination anywhere, neither does Jude Collins. I’ve described it as uneven results, which was intended to be read as blame neutral. There is no harm in reviewing the underlying practices, either at the Invest NI end, or at the local end, in terms of capacity building to attract investment, etc. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that, in northern politics, if you just don’t discuss these things, someone will eventually try and make hay out of them.
Go to comment
Comment on raising an old issue like employment
on 10 February 2012 at 1:34 pm
Raven – no offence taken. Since I no longer live in Belfast (I’m in Wexford now), and have lived in various rural communities as well as in places like Dublin, I’ve seen both sides of the urban/rural divide in terms of inwards investment as well as FDI. There is a mix to be achieved in terms of providing capacity for job creation – and I suspect that the more techy industries come in, the harder it is going to be to push locations outside of major urban centres.
In the linked post from Jude Collins he is largely making a lightly veiled critique of some of those who represent predominantly Catholic areas. I’m echoing that a bit, but I think that there is a wider issue here (which doesn’t contradict the problems Magherafelt or anywhere else might have) in that some of the peace processing is displacing other issues that need to be kept under control. Hence, Dublin can say there is an economic problem and goes canvassing for investment to the US. But, with no real fiscal power of any kind, I’m not sure if the body politic in the north knows how to tackle economic issues.
Go to comment
Comment on raising an old issue like employment
on 10 February 2012 at 12:53 pm
Mick – if you check chart 2 on that, the age profile rates differ, so that the greater parity in unemployment rates at 50-59 may equally mean that as the classification of older people changed due to reaching retirement age, the more a differential in the unemployment levels for younger people becomes visible.
Go to comment
Comment on raising an old issue like employment
on 10 February 2012 at 12:50 pm
@Pete – I added a link.
Go to comment
Comment on raising an old issue like employment
on 10 February 2012 at 12:46 pm
The whys? Don’t know what meaningful data you might find for that – I’d guess, subjectively you’d have to look at push/pull factors.
Jude cites two projects: Belfast Metropolitan College and the Public Records Office which both went to the Titanic Quarter when it was believed the first would go to West Belfast and the send to Crumlin Road Gaol. Given that people can actually travel around the city a little bit to go to work, I’m not sure that they are reasonable examples (and presumably PRONI staff are going to remain the PRONI staff, etc). And neither, outside of construction or refits, would really amount to new jobs.
But in terms of Invest NI, or other job creation – I don’t how much is being distributed due to attempts to push projects into areas, as opposed to pulling them to keep them out of others. Although, I am not sure that Jude’s suggested case studies necessarily work in that regard.
At a wider level, I think third level participation may be of interest. Based on HESA and HEA stats, at the minute full-time and part-time enrolments are about 2.9 per 100 people in the north and about 4.8 per 100 in the south, which may relate to the innovation issue (if you take that to reflect up-skilling as well as general education). Part-time figures for the north are slightly better (maybe 0.8 per 100, compared to 0.6 per 100) but, as people tend to travel less distance for a part-time programme, the numbers may be skewed by the distribution of institutions offering third level courses of study on a part-time basis (i.e. so maybe the impact of BMCs e3 building will be one to watch in the future).
Go to comment
Comment on Dead tree columnist prejudices public’s perception of bloggers?
on 8 February 2012 at 11:09 pm
Alan – to get on topic – a valid criticism of southern media during various crises has been the preponderance of journalism grads with no other prof experiences (meaning they aren’t able to provide critiques of detail, like during bank crisis). Limits capacity of press to analyse complex issues.
Go to comment
Comment on Dead tree columnist prejudices public’s perception of bloggers?
on 8 February 2012 at 11:04 pm
Lol. Not you Mark (would you bother to mail her?). I assume the ‘someone I’ve never heard of in my life…’ is a calculated dismissal of someone else. Best bit is that they are a mere blogger not a journo (i.e. they have an area of expertise beyond journalism to inform their opinions). And it’s not me either.
Go to comment
Comment on Dead tree columnist prejudices public’s perception of bloggers?
on 8 February 2012 at 8:51 pm
I’m thinking I can guess whose ears are burning. As to libel and defamation and lack of policing – I think Mick’s sent items box is bulging with advisory e-mails regarding ill-considered comments.
Go to comment
Comment on … to prosecute cases if the evidence emerges …
on 5 February 2012 at 9:32 pm
Old Mortality: that is the sequence of events.
Go to comment
Comment on Another go at transformation at the Maze
on 5 February 2012 at 12:24 pm
Here is some reading for anyone interested in other perspectives on this: two pieces by Laura McAtackney on Identity at Shared Sites (specifically the Long Kesh complex) and Experiencing the ‘Maze’. A read of both might widen the discussion out a bit.
Go to comment