August 2014

Executive to write off £2 million debt run up in contract debacle…

Mick Fealty on August 5, 2014, 5:33 pm | Readers 1170

Erm, that’s embarrassing… The final [Says who? – Ed] denouement of the Red Sky contract story appears to that the NIHE’s accounting system was a bit of a mess… The total of overpayments which could not be substantiated by the Executive was worth around £12 million. That was set against an estimated £10 million bill for work which contractors did not initially claim for but which was included following the negotiations. That leaves the Executive with a shortfall of around …

Torturing our sports personalities over questions our politicians fail to resolve in themselves?

Mick Fealty on August 5, 2014, 11:58 am | Readers 1588

Well, it’s summer, and for other parts of the world a very serious and concerning one. At home, the ennui of the Peace Process™. We owe much to our guest bloggers, new talent and the sheer hard work and presence of our old stagers for keeping the conversation fresh, live and relevant in our glacial political space. One thing worth remarking on, before it fades completely from memory, is the Paddy Barnes ‘controversy’ (such as it was) from last week. …

Reducing Duplication Within the Education System?

Am Ghobsmacht on August 5, 2014, 9:24 am | Readers 1105

In the interests of not derailing anymore threads as I normally do when the topic of education comes up Mick has let me post this blog (probably in the hope that it’ll finally shut me up). My own views on ‘integrated’ education (now a seemingly bland yet toxic term) have changed somewhat since I started reading posts on Slugger. One of the things that strike me most is how the discussion is always thrown to the most extreme scenarios. Someone …

1994 Ceasefire declaration recollections at Féile … perhaps next year will answer “Why did the IRA call the ceasefire?”

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on August 4, 2014, 10:46 pm | Readers 1967

Twenty years on the from the IRA and loyalist ceasefires, three journalists came together to reflect on the lead up to the summer of 1994 and the following 18 months. Brian Rowan, Eamonn Mallie and Charlie Bird (RTE’s contact with the IRA) recounted their memories of the emerging and fragile peace in an event organised as part of Féile an Phobail. “Sometimes when you’re living through history you don’t see it.” (Charlie Bird) It was a great opportunity for notes …

Iain Overton: human rights and hubris #feile2014 @amnestyni

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on August 4, 2014, 6:37 pm | Readers 424

Iain Overton delivered this year’s annual investigative journalism and human rights lecture at lunchtime today as part of Féile an Phobail. It may also have been the first [Ed – and last?] annual honest-about-hubris lecture. But more about that later. In a change of format away from Amnesty’s previous panels of local journalists, Iain began his solo lecture [MP3] by outlining his circuitous route through two degrees and a spell in British Airways before entering into journalism. Exposing corruption and …

Ukrainian crisis: it hasn’t gone away

Turgon on August 3, 2014, 10:02 pm | Readers 958

The conflict in Gaza seems to have largely pushed that in Ukraine off international consciousness. The Guardian, however, reports that the Ukrainian government have been making steady gains against the pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. The west has become somewhat quieter about the downing of the Malaysian airliner MH 17 over the last couple of weeks and the Americans seem to have accepted that it was a mistake. The internet is still awash with conspiracy theories about …

Panti Bliss: Before I die I want to get married in Belfast!

Patrick Corrigan on August 2, 2014, 9:49 am | Readers 1318

But how long will she have to wait? Happy Belfast Pride! On Thursday, Panti Bliss, aka Rory O’Neill, paid the city a visit to give the Amnesty International Pride Lecture. Alan in Belfast has a full audio-recording of the lecture here, but meanwhile here’s a little taste of what Panti told us before the sell-out lecture at The Mac. Update – here’s the full lecture: listen to ‘#pantibliss @PantiBliss versus Homophobia – the annual @AmnestyNI @BelfastPride lecture’ on Audioboo Patrick CorriganI am …

What next for Dowson?

The Firemen on August 1, 2014, 6:59 pm | Readers 4563

Jim Dowson, recently described as “the evil genius of British fascism” has announced his retirement from politics and resignation from Britain First, a group he set up following his departure from the BNP. Dowson claims his resignation was prompted by family issues and his opposition to the groups tactics of invading mosques as “unacceptable and unchristian”. This is not the first time the controversial anti-abortion campaigner has absconded from a far right group in dubious circumstances. In 2010 Dowson quit …

Wilfred Mitchell: We need to expand Belfast City Airport

Soapbox on August 1, 2014, 3:12 pm | Readers 1600

A RECENT snap poll conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses for Northern Ireland (FSB NI) has confirmed that the majority of local small businesses would like to see an increase in destination routes, as well as airline providers, from George Best Belfast City Airport, conveying evident support for expansion at the airport. Due to its relatively isolated position on the periphery of Europe, air connectivity is vital in connecting Northern Ireland to the rest the UK, Europe and beyond. …

#IndyRef and Ireland and how the important is often the victim of the urgent in voters lives

Mick Fealty on August 1, 2014, 8:38 am | Readers 725

I recently asked a Fianna Fail campaigner I met in Dublin recently what he thought of Micheal Martin’s plans to organise in Northern Ireland. “Ah”, he said, “it’s great idea, but most of us would like to see Fianna Fail organised in Dublin and Donegal before that happens.” As Miyamoto Musashi notes of strategy, “it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.” It’s not something politics has …