Government – Page 263 – Slugger O'Toole

Archaeological evidence of a national monument halts M3 work

Pete Baker on May 2, 2007, 1:06 am | Readers 1

Despite a long-running campaign to have it rerouted away from the Tara/Skryne valley and the associated and significant archaeology, work on the M3 motorway officially began on Monday, courtesy of Irish Transport Minister Martin Cullen. Today another government minister, Environment Minister Dick Roche, halted that work when a massive prehistoric site was discovered at Lismullin, beside the Hill of Tara. It’s described as “a substantial national monument” in the RTÉ report and, by the BBC, as “the size of several …

PUP tour on last leg..

Pete Baker on May 1, 2007, 9:18 pm | Readers 1

There was more than one meeting at Stormont today. As well as the visit by the EC president, the PUP leader Dawn Purvis was completing the last leg of her whistle-stop tour by meeting with the Secretary of State for Wales etc. According to the reports This afternoon’s agenda includes the long-term engagement of loyalism within the political process, the government’s commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and a discussion on the “principle of consent”. [And any other business? – …

“We will set up a taskforce..”

Pete Baker on May 1, 2007, 8:44 pm | Readers 1

European Commission president Manuel Barroso stopped off at Stormont on his way back from the US-EU summit in Washington to confirm £600million in European funds over the next 6 years – and a new study into NI’s economy and/or a taskforce to help finalise programming of EU funds. The BBC report mistakenly suggests that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness have already taken the posts of First and Deputy First Ministers.. Something the UTV report doesn’t do.. ANYhoo.. The Irish Foreign …

“a mad cargo of bonnets and bibles”

Pete Baker on May 1, 2007, 4:01 pm | Readers 0

With the focus on the 300th anniversary of the 1707 Act of Union in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections in particular there have been a couple of interesting articles on the mis-adventure in Panama and the economic situation which precipitated that Act. In Sunday’s Observer, Ruaridh Nicoll gave a particularly persuasive reading of that mis-adventure. Pete Baker

Will mutual backscratching be postponed?

Pete Baker on April 30, 2007, 11:24 pm | Readers 1

Mick had noted the prospect of Bertie Ahern addressing both Houses of Parliament.. in what is now to be the week before the Irish General Election. But some of the political parties contesting that election are not enthusiatic about it, for obvious enough reasons. Interestingly the BBC political editor, Mark Devenport seems to be suggesting that the event might be postponed. Pete Baker

“part of a package of sweeteners from the Government to get terrorists to abandon criminality..”

Pete Baker on April 30, 2007, 7:02 pm | Readers 3

We’ll find out later in the week whether or not Alan Murray’s prediction is correct – “NIO minister David Hanson is expected to announce employment legislation changes on Wednesday which will prevent employers from lawfully refusing to consider convicted paramilitaries for jobs on security grounds” – although it doesn’t sound as if those criminal records would actually be wiped.. just ignored. And whilst Alan Murray links it directly to other events, and David Hanson has today been making familiar noises …

When “agreed truth becomes accepted, the real truth becomes a lie”

Pete Baker on April 30, 2007, 4:25 pm | Readers 39

If the reported comments by Bernadette McAliskey and Gary Mitchell in the Irish Times [subs req], from the 22nd Cúirt Literature Festival at the weekend, are anything to go by they’ll likely empathise with the previously noted views of Peter Shirlow.. the Guardian’s Peter Preston.. and Davy Adams for that matter.. but probably not so much with the well-behaved witnesses, whether they ask ‘stupid’ questions or not. Both Ms McAliskey and Mr Mitchell were highly critical of the “overwhelming” power …

MCGuinness on Paisley…

Mick Fealty on April 30, 2007, 4:16 pm | Readers 8

Looks like Sinn Fein is talking to the Tribune again. Suzanne Breen interviews Martin McGuinness, who talks about his upcoming gig with Ian Paisley at Stormont next week. 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

What’s normal is normal, whatever the norms elsewhere

Mick Fealty on April 29, 2007, 6:14 pm | Readers 4

Elsewhere on Slugger today and yesterday, there has been some speculation as to whether we have reached the end of Northern Irish history/Slugger O’Toole (even Fukuyama doesn’t believe it literally comes to an end). Jane Jenny, who writes South Belfast Diary believes our politics will not stop, but we may be in for some unpredictable changes. I suspect those who talk about the ‘normalisation’ of NI politics mean one of two things by it (i) politics like England – in …

“The criminals must be dealt with by the PSNI.”

Pete Baker on April 29, 2007, 5:15 pm | Readers 212

In the Sunday Life, Alan Murray has the latest developments in the attempts to rebrand the UDA and the disagreement between Tommy Kirkham, an elected independent councillor who supported the ‘not-so-good’ South East Antrim UDA’s Beyond Conflict £8miilion plan – which didn’t get the NIO’s approval – and Frankie Gallagher, an unelected representative of the UPRG, who supports the ‘good’ UDA’s plan, costing £1.2million – which did get the NIO’s approval.From the Sunday Life Kirkham said that for nine months …

And they’re off..

Pete Baker on April 29, 2007, 3:07 pm | Readers 7

The Irish Times confirms the speculation – “The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has set Thursday May 24th as the date for the general election.” He went to Áras an Uachtaráin this morning to seek the dissolution of the 29th dail from the President Mary McAleese. The President then left the Aras for a week-long trip to the US. Adds Before leaving, President Mary McAleese had just enough time to update the official website. Pete Baker

“It is important that our new Assembly is given the best possible start..”

Pete Baker on April 27, 2007, 5:55 pm | Readers 5

After her recent ill-judged comments, the PUP leader Dawn Purvis is continuing in her efforts to get someone, somewhere, to say something to give political cover for the heavily-trailed statement from the UVF. The IMC report obviously didn’t prove to be as optimistic as some may have hoped.. the Secretary of State for Wales etc wasn’t particularly helpful.. and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern clearly has other concerns. Today she’s trying Chief Constable Hugh Orde – he did after all have a …

Kelly to take single SDLP seat…

Mick Fealty on April 27, 2007, 5:10 pm | Readers 16

The penalty for dropping 2% in their electoral performance continues. The SDLP now only has one seat on the Policing Board, and was until yesterday widely thought to be taken up by Alex Attwood, the party’s long term police and security spokesman. Whether or not yesterday’s speeding incident had a decisive effect or not, his colleague Dolores Kelly now gets that single spot. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet …

“we had a project meeting yesterday and we are still on target”

Pete Baker on April 27, 2007, 1:16 am | Readers 1

As the BBC report points out in its opening lines, despite closing to the public 7 months ago no actual work has been done on the Ulster Museum’s planned renovation. They claim to be still on schedule to re-open in spring/early summer of 2009. Objectors to the proposed work include the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society who, as noted previously, have pointed to the Museum’s listed building status and, in particular, to the proposal to enclose the museum’s cantilevered concrete canopy …

Deputy First Minister’s brother-in-law charged in abduction case

Pete Baker on April 26, 2007, 2:57 pm | Readers 101

As the BBC report, and UTV mention, a man in his 40s is due to appear in court charged with two counts of unlawful imprisonment, grievous bodily harm and possession of a firearm in relation to the abduction and assault of a couple on Monday when the 42-year-old man was shot in both ankles. Another man has been released without charge and a third man is still being questioned by police. However the Irish News identifies the man charged as …

No such distinction.

Pete Baker on April 25, 2007, 3:58 pm | Readers 4

At Northern Ireland Questions in the Commons today, in response to a question about Sinn Féin MLAs attempting to make a distinction between ‘civic’ and ‘political’ policing, the government, in the form of David Hanson MP Paul Googins MP, claimed that SF were already moving away from that position and stated – “There is no such distinction in Northern Ireland, nor should there be.” Transcript here.From Hansard Policing 11. Mr. Greg Hands (Hammersmith and Fulham) (Con): Whether it is the …

The ‘good’ UVF?

Pete Baker on April 25, 2007, 2:39 pm | Readers 4

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern et al have been involved in the attempt to rebrand the ‘good’ UDA at various stages, now the PUP leader [and independent member of the Policing Board – Ed] Dawn Purvis, on behalf of the UVF, seems belatedly to be following a familiar path. The east Belfast Assembly member said she specifically wanted an assurance of the Government’s commitment to devolution under the St Andrews Agreement, and that it has no interests in joint authority. As she …

Finally, two partners moving on…?

Mick Fealty on April 24, 2007, 9:13 pm | Readers 10

Whatever happened to the battle a day scenario? Once upon a time, if Sinn Fein had ‘provocatively’ appointed an ex bomber to a public body, there would have been the noise of collections of kittens being born amongst unionism… Not so now, it would appear… If the intention was to wind unionists up, Gregory Campbell is not taking the bait… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …

“Those statutory powers exist, but never have been used..”

Pete Baker on April 24, 2007, 7:41 pm | Readers 2

The House of Lords have been debating the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill and making some amendments too. In particular, the government have introduced a ‘sunset’ clause which would see the new provisions for non-jury trials dropped after two years unless the Secretary of State at the time extends them before that date. There was also some discussion which touched on the restrictions on investigations by the Human Rights Commission and whether those restrictions should be extended to the …

The latest from our sports department..

Pete Baker on April 23, 2007, 7:31 pm | Readers 40

Would it be too much to expect the civil servants at the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure not to spend their time issuing statements on behalf of someone who has yet to take office? And on a related note.. Sinn Féin’s Paul Butler and Raymond McCartney have stated that “Sinn Fein will not agree to plans to build any stadium until we get agreement to open up the jail as a visitor attraction with an iconic building built to …