Slugger O'Toole

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1. Comment on Euro crisis: “With that we buried the Maastricht Treaty, the legal basis for currency union”
   on 22 May 2012 at 9:20 pm

   Seymour,

   Read it again. You owe Mr Scally an apology.

   In the extract I’ve quoted he’s reporting, to his usual excellent standard, the views of Jörg Asmussen of the ECB governing council.

   Even more significant, perhaps, although I felt constrained to include it in my original post, are the comments from Mr Asmussen’s predecessor at the ECB, Jürgen Stark. See the comment above by Dennis Cooper.

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2. Comment on Euro crisis: “With that we buried the Maastricht Treaty, the legal basis for currency union”
   on 22 May 2012 at 7:21 pm

   Neither.

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3. Comment on Euro crisis: “With that we buried the Maastricht Treaty, the legal basis for currency union”
   on 22 May 2012 at 4:06 pm

   Adds And from the Guardian’s Eurozone crisis live-blog

   Alexis Tsipras [the leader of Greece's anti-austerity Syriza coalition] wound up his press conference in Berlin by warning that Europe could be dragged into another military conflict if the economic crisis really deteriorates:

   Kate Connolly @connollyberlin

   #Tsipras: we need to learn from history or face prospect of another world war. Dialogue is key to progress. Press conf ends after 1 hr

   And while Tsipras was taking in Berlin, one of his economic advisers was telling Joel Hills of Sky News that Syriza would not seek to withdraw Greece from the eurozone without a referendum (and, of course, it’s current position is that Greece should remain in the euro, but with a ‘better’ financial programme)

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4. Comment on Trouble at t’Mill for Frau Nein?
   on 22 May 2012 at 12:03 am

   Gerry

   That’s a long and rambling way of describing the democratic deficit of the European Project previously addressed here.

   As for “look at France. The election there was effectively a referendum on austerity”.

   Puh..lease.

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5. Comment on The Hain contempt case: a warning to England from Northern Ireland
   on 19 May 2012 at 6:11 pm

   Nicholas

   The relevant links can be found in this post.

   Including excerpts from the original ruling

   And the 67 questions are here.

   Also of interest may be the subsequent Scott report.

   And the outcome of Peter Hain’s appeal of the original ruling.

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6. Comment on “I do apologise for anyone who misunderstood the way I was using the metaphor…”
   on 19 May 2012 at 12:37 am

   “at least 3 others at the meeting who she said confirmed Martin did indeed mention Brady”

   Which is a long way short of the reported leak from the confidential Executive meeting.

   Unless someone is prepared to stand up and detail chapter and verse of what was said you’re left with a he said/she said report.

   Frankly, at this point, I’m more inclined to believe Sinn Féin’s corrective.

   Not least because the arrogance of McGuinness asking “Mr Ford to ensure the PSNI cooperated with if there was to be a cross-border inquiry” is more believeable.

   Was there any question that they wouldn’t co-operate?

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7. Comment on Brian McLaughlin: ‘Heineken Cup Final’ swan song
   on 19 May 2012 at 12:08 am

   “Your captions and comments are welcomed”

   Well, I’d suggest that you should have read Michael’s post before attempting your cartoon version.

   Despite plaudits for his recruitment, Humphreys has got flak in the media for his ruthless approach towards Ulster coach, Brian McLaughlin and this provides a fascinating sub-plot to the final. McLaughlin will be replaced next season by relatively unknown New Zealander, Mark Anscombe who was announced as the person who will “take Ulster to the next level”.

   It seems difficult to take a team to the next level when you have reached a Heineken Cup final… but wind the clock back to last October and there were some pretty dire performances from an Ulster team who have a good first XV, but when that isn’t on the field, the rest of the squad doesn’t have the same experience or quality.

   Getting to the next level and competing consistently at the top level will require a higher level of performance from the entire squad and that will be Anscombe’s challenge.

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8. Comment on Hain ‘clarifies’ comments in contempt of court case
   on 17 May 2012 at 9:02 pm

   As I said in the original post

   Eamonn Mallie’s April conversation with legal-eagle MLAs Alban Maginness and Jim Allister may prove instructive.

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9. Comment on Hain ‘clarifies’ comments in contempt of court case
   on 17 May 2012 at 8:06 pm

   Nevin

   Pay attention to the point BiteBack studiously neglected to mention

   The publishers said a footnote would be inserted in a future edition of the book, containing Hain’s clarification.

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10. Comment on Hain ‘clarifies’ comments in contempt of court case
    on 17 May 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Adds The Guardian report notes the ‘clarifying’ text.

    The letter said: “I simply disagreed with, and was exasperated by, the way he dealt with that particular case, coming as it did in the middle of immensely difficult political negotiations to achieve the final democratic peace settlement.

    “I have never qualified [Girvan's] standing and motivation as a judge before that case nor have I done since. My words were never intended to, nor do I believe that they did, in any way undermine the administration of justice in Northern Ireland or the independence of the Northern Ireland judiciary, that very independence and integrity I worked so hard as secretary of state to achieve support for from all sections of the community, including those who had previously denied it.”

    And the NI Attorney General’s comment in response

    Larkin told the court: “If the matter had been qualified or explained in the way it now has and only now has, these proceedings would not have been taken. In the circumstances I have concluded that as there is no longer any real risk to public confidence in the administration of justice the public interest does not require that this litigation continues to judgment.”

    The publishers said a footnote would be inserted in a future edition of the book, containing Hain’s clarification.

    The NI Attorney General won the final battle too

    [Peter Hain's] barrister, David Dunlop, initially objected to a request by Larkin that the court issue a no-order ruling, arguing that this allowed the theoretical possibility that the case could be reopened at a later date and instead asked that it be struck out.

    Larkin responded: “There is no question of these proceedings being revived. I am happy to indicate that publicly.”

    Lord Justice Malachy Higgins, presiding, with Justices John Gillen and Ronald Weatherup, adjourned the case for discussions between the two sides and to allow consultation with clients.

    When proceedings reconvened, Dunlop said: “In light of the clarification by the attorney general the respondents do not object to the disposal of this case by way of a no-order.”

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11. Comment on “I do apologise for anyone who misunderstood the way I was using the metaphor…”
    on 17 May 2012 at 1:08 am

    “who would want to sponsor a sectarian sport.”

    “Its not out of time the golfing set were seen as who they really are.”

    Hmm…

    As Mick said

    But I think we can allow ourselves some discretion in terms of the degree and the effects of such casual sectarianism. That is if someone, perhaps one of the two junior ministers, can actually find it and demonstrate exactly what they mean by it, and why it matters. [added emphasis]

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12. Comment on Greece: “good luck for the next restructuring…”
    on 15 May 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Adds From the Guardian live blog

    James Campbell, partner at international law firm Pillsbury, argues that Greece was in a terribly difficult position. Had it not paid the €435m, it would have defaulted. But by paying up today, it faces the risk of legal action from bond-holders who did take a haircut (losing 70% of the value of their bonds).

    “That Greece has paid may not be the end of the affair. We can see significant protests from those bondholders who agreed to previous debt restructuring on the basis that Greece said that there was no money available to do anything else. Lawsuits may follow if previous “co-operative” bondholders view this as a misrepresentation.

    “Furthermore, Greece’s decision to pay will be seen as a victory for the hold-out bondholders which will embolden them. In March the press widely reported that funds were buying up bonds issued by Hellenic Railways and guaranteed by the state. Like the bonds repaid today, those bonds are governed by English law and the proposed restructuring of them was not successful. These bonds are up next for repayment and we will be monitoring developments with interest. Greece may only have deferred the pain for another day.”

    Just what Greece needs right now, a legal battle with international investors….

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13. Comment on “Mr Varadkar said Ireland and Britain could become a ‘mini-Schengen’”
    on 14 May 2012 at 11:50 pm

    Still missing the point…

    Try addressing the original post.

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14. Comment on “Mr Varadkar said Ireland and Britain could become a ‘mini-Schengen’”
    on 14 May 2012 at 11:29 pm

    Guys

    You seem to be missing the point somewhat.

    There is, already, before Leo Varadkar announced “his idea” at the meeting of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, “backed by co-chairman Joe McHugh [TD]“, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two governments.

    A MoU that Alan Shatter has expanded upon within the Dáil.

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15. Comment on “Mr Varadkar said Ireland and Britain could become a ‘mini-Schengen’”
    on 14 May 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Comrade

    The problem is one of capacity, not a lack of willingness. As Alan Shatter, quoted above, said

    Quite obviously Ireland does not have the capacity to capture such data for all visa applications worldwide; currently for UK visas this is done in over 150 countries.

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16. Comment on Euro crisis: “Hold your sides and laugh out loud, otherwise you’ll have to cry.”
    on 11 May 2012 at 8:30 pm

    “I’m left wondering what, exactly, is the alternative to “the European project”.”

    Malcolm

    That would depend on what you understand “the European project” to be.

    For the original believers I mentioned, it was not, as Tim Garton Ash points out, a “half-baked” “monetary union made without the fiscal union necessary to sustain it”.

    And those believers remain determined to completely bake that union to “supplement” sovereignty “as the better solution for the 21st Century”.

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17. Comment on Euro crisis: “Europe will be lucky if it ends up in stagnation like Japan for the next ten years”
    on 10 May 2012 at 12:27 pm

    Update From today’s, Thursday’s, Guardian Eurozone crisis live-blog

    After yesterday’s toing-and-froing, the European Financial Stability Fund has confirmed this morning that it has sent €4.2bn to Greece today. €1bn has thus been held back, while Europe assesses the sitution/puts pressure on Athens.

    Klaus Regling, head of the EFSF, said this €1bn would not be dispatched until the IMF, EU, ECB Troika has conducted a visit to Greece, assessed the situation, and agreed Greece’s financial program for the second half of 2012.

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18. Comment on Obama endorses gay marriage
    on 9 May 2012 at 11:10 pm

    “better than what? No one was offering “an assessment Obama’s history on the topic.” ”

    Indeed.

    “It would beat your topics on astronomy, at least.”

    Everyone’s a critic…

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19. Comment on Obama endorses gay marriage
    on 9 May 2012 at 10:39 pm

    “Obama’s endorsement was fittingly understated.”

    Here’s a better assessment of Obama’s history on the topic

    Previously, Obama has moved in the direction of supporting same-sex marriage but has consistently stopped short of outright backing it. Instead, he’s voiced support for civil unions for gay and lesbian couples that provide the rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples, though not defined as “marriage.” At the same time, the president has opposed efforts to ban gay marriage at the state level, saying that he did not favor attempts to strip rights away from gay and lesbian couples.

    The president’s position became a flashpoint this week, when Vice President Joe Biden pronounced himself “absolutely comfortable” with allowing same-sex couples to wed.

    Obama aides insisted there was no daylight between the positions held by the president and his vice president when it comes to legal rights, but as other prominent Democrats also weighed in in favor of gay marriage, the disconnect became difficult for the White House to explain away. [added emphasis]

    The announcement completes a turnabout for the president, who has opposed gay marriage throughout his career in national politics. In 1996, as a state Senate candidate, he indicated support for gay marriage in a questionnaire, but Obama aides later disavowed it and said it did not reflect the candidate’s position.

    In 2004, as a candidate for the US Senate, he cited his own religion in framing his views: “I’m a Christian. I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”

    He maintained that position through his 2008 presidential campaign, and through his term as president, until today.

    Or, as an unkind commenter notes, “He’s personally in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, but when it comes to this particular principle, he’s suddenly a Federalist”.

    “Romney doesn’t even support civil unions.”

    Not quite. Here’s the quote from that linked report – “I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name”.

    And that, “He told a local reporter here today that domestic partnership benefits — including hospital visitation rights– are “appropriate, but that the others are not.””

    “an end to second class citizenship”

    Separation of Church and State.

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20. Comment on Euro crisis: “Europe will be lucky if it ends up in stagnation like Japan for the next ten years”
    on 9 May 2012 at 9:38 pm

    Well, perhaps. But I still think a return to the polls is the most likely outcome at this point.

    Whether the electorate have greater empathy with the pro or anti bail-out parties’ arguments, and all that entails, remains to be seen…

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