Slugger O'Toole

Since any effective long term decision by ‘the committee’ now rests upon arriving at a ‘consensus’ the DUP have effectively disarmed it from endangering its current negotiating position, or undoing any private understandings with the governments in the past. Alisdair McDonnell is not happy for one: “We have warned the Secretary of State that there is little point in a committee if the real action is going to be elsewhere,” the South Belfast MP said. “There is little point in …

Read more…

On the day my pension age went up to 66, Slugger got ill and took to bed. It happened last night when I was footering about with some important code in the index file. I’m going to do a few posts for those who know about this old place, but I’m hopeful we’ll be back up before too long (famous last words???). Non dirty dancing continues at Stormont. Although it seems that after late night negotiations the DUP may have …

Read more…

By now, the election of 2005 and the various party campaigns have been well analysed. However, just when you were starting to forget about it an Ulster Unionist staff member has produced a book telling us all the (excruciatingly painful) details from the inside of Cunningham House. While we all wait for the book to hit the shelves it is being helpfully serialised by the Belfast Telegraph. Interesting snippets include: Regarding the photograph of Lord Molyneaux alongside Jimmy Spratt – …

Read more…

The launch of the Irish government’s 10-year transport plan, which envisages pumping 34 billion euros (or 9 million euros a day) into the country’s transport infrastructure has met with varied responses. The plan includes the completion of five major intercity motorways within the next five years, linking Dublin to Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Belfast and Galway. There are also plans to improve strategic road links with Northern Ireland and the North West by upgrading the N2, N3 and N4. There will …

Read more…

I recently attended an event in Omeath where the guest speaker was Dermot Ahern. In answering a question he stated his belief that Sinn Fein will not consider entering Government before 2016. I wonder who is wrong? Also interesting in this piece is the somewhat cavalier attitude Sinn Fein appear to have to the next Irish General Election: Mr O Caolain claimed that Sinn Féin will win seats in eight constituencies in the next General Election, including Donegal North East, …

Read more…

The application of Freud’s concept of the Narcissism of small difference has frequently been applied to ethnic conflict, perhaps best popularised by Michael Ignatieff. In the Irish News (via Newshound) Newton Emerson brings it home. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

THE fiasco over the introduction of a smoking ban in the UK doesn’t just show how the Government is in complete disarray on the issue, it demonstrates the level of contempt it has for Northern Ireland. Announcing the ban here earlier this month, the Health Minister (a heavy smoker until recently) said “no-one has a right to subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke and passive smoking. No-one has a right to subject members of …

Read more…

In the absence of an operational NI Assembly, the announcement of a smoking ban in all public areas can be made by NIO Minister Shaun Woodward to an invited audience at the Waterfront Hall. Alas, when it comes to a functioning polity, such proposals must negotiate the trickier waters of democratic politics. In this case resulting in a partial smoking ban, described as unworkable in this report, which also notes Tony Blair as being against a total ban.. in England. …

Read more…

Thoughts, prompted by a recent edition of the Politics Show, from the Broom of Anger blog on the role of organisations like Community Restorative Justice after any prospective acceptance of policing by Sinn Fein. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

An amendment to a story we blogged back in August on a documentary on Guy Fawkes and the conspiracy to foment Catholic revolution in England he was involved in. It seems that despite attempts to block its broadcast, it is destined to go ahead as planned on ITV 1 at 9.45pm, next Tuesday 1st November! Unfortunately I’ll be in Denmark and won’t get to see the live version. But we hope to have the comments back by then. Let us …

Read more…

One of the key recommendations of A Long Peace? was for Unionists to involve themselves in the wider loing term debate about the changing nature of Britishness. Next January the Fabians are running a massive conference on the subject. It will be interesting to see whether in the final event, Unionists do get themselves involved in that wider discussion. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Interesting interview with the South African minister for intelligence Ronnie Kasrils in Daily Ireland. In it he draws parallels between his own party, the ANC, and Sinn Fein. He also urges that party to engage professionally and ethicly once it is satisfied there is a level playing field on policing. The question remains as to how and when the party will read that the playing field to be ‘level’. Legislation to effectively pardon ‘on the runs’ appears to be in …

Read more…

Tom Peterkin examines the cost of a mothballed Stormont, now sitting at £100,000 over the last three years of inactivity. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

A world competition Originally uploaded by Britain and Ireland. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

THE controversy over the handling of a PSNI contract has been raising eyebrows of late, including the High Court judge who called for an investigation into alleged corruption. It’s so serious, even the DUP’s Sammy Wilson wants external investigators too look into matters, a position more favoured by nationalists (but readily explained by the fact that the company owner is a DUP councillor). Paranoia reigns, but with the PSNI investigating itself, will we really find out if there were any …

Read more…

No one, it seems, is happy with the £1 a week rates rise announced by Secretary of State Peter Hain. The Newsletter puts it down to Hain’s left wing extravagances. If ever there was an indication of what the term democratic deficit emans, it has to be a sudden 19% jump in the cost of local services! In the absence of Stormont, the only means of expressing dissent over spending and tax decisions is through local councillors. However the various …

Read more…

The Britain and Ireland site has been live for nearly a week now. But we have a launch reception at the Institute of Governance in Queens tomorrow evening starting at six o’clock. Trevor Ringland, former Irish rugby International and British and Irish Lion will be giving the keynote speech for the first sports related issue. If you want to come along let Catherine know at [email protected] or call 00 353 (0)1 707 1929. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the …

Read more…

Mick previously noted the increasing difficulties facing President Bush’s nominee to the US Supreme Court, White House counsel, Harriet Miers. Today Harriet Miers announced she has withdrawn her nomination, sparing the President, potentially, further damaging displays of public opposition to the nomination from Senators of both parties. More here and at the SCOTUSblog Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

The decision by Lisburn District Council to deny the use of the Cherry Room to same-sex [civil] marriage ceremonies, a motion proposed by Alliance Party Councillor Seamus Close, and initially passed by the Council, caused discord among councillors when the issue gathered media coverage. It has also prompted a protest at Wednesday’s council meeting by the Gay Rights Association and they may take the council to court to challenge the decision. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads …

Read more…

This is a few days old now, but it seems that Ian Paisley has finally made it into the British political establishment. He’s now officially a member of the Privy Council, a body that has not corporately met in over fifty years, but which will give Dr Paisley privileged access to matters of national import and security. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.