Slugger O'Toole

Recently, while noting the decision by the Local Government Auditor[LGA] that serving and former councillors on Fermanagh District Council were guilty of wilful misconduct and faced being barred from public office, I noted that there had not been an update on a similar case involving Newry and Mourne councillors.. That update is now in. The LGA has upheld the complaint and the councillors have 14 days to appeal. Otherwise it’s a £10,000 surcharge and barred from public office for 5 …

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Taoiseach Bertie Ahern faces criticism in the Irish Times today – from two different angles. Ronnie Kasrils, the South African Government Minister for intelligence, and South African Communist Party member, who is visiting Northern Ireland as a guest of Sinn Féin, is reported to be shocked that the Taoiseach has been talking about reclaiming republicanism from those who have “debased” and “abused” it. While Fintan O’Toole argues that “The only way to reclaim republicanism, for Fianna Fáil and for everyone …

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Noel MacAdam reports from the aftermath of Reg Empey’s first party conference as UUP leader, and finds a party ready to put the recent past behind them. The new officers in the party now include people like Basil McCrea and Kenny Donaldson. Empey has said that old style UUP dissent will have to have limits and Danny Kennedy has talked of the need for the party to speak to itself first: “We want to provide mechanisms for contact between constituency …

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As predicted yesterday, Secretary of State, Peter Hain, has announced the appointment of Bertha McDougall as the first Victims Commissioner.. except.. it’s an Interim post.. with no permanent premises and a dictated, and restricted, remit aimed at producing a review of services within the year.. in spite of the fact that both the then-Victims’ Minister, Angela Smith and the then-Secretary of State Paul Murphy, through the Victims Unit of the OFMDFM, have already conducted public consultations on those services. According …

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That’s the conclusion I’ve reached after careful consideration of the evidence. Exhibit 1 – a public vote on the In Our Times Greatest Philosopher, via Radio 4.. Karl Marx. Exhibit 2 – a public vote on the World’s Top Public Intelluctual, via Prospect Magazine.. Noam Chomsky. Exhibit 3 – a panel of experts select the Philosopher/Man of the Decade, via Men’s Health magazine.. Homer Simpson! [also here]. “Homer no function beer well without.” I rest my case. Slugger O'TooleA general …

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Chris, at Crooked Timber, links to it today, and Sheila, of The Variations fame, noted it previously. [My bad.. and slow] The latest Genius ad [QuickTime movie].. both, though, suggest there’s a possibility of an unfavourable reaction from intelligent design/creationism advocates.. Hmm.. If only they’d put the tag-line over a cloudscape image, complete with the supreme being, glass of the black nectar in her hand, smiling serenely.. surely everyone would be happy with that? No??? Heh. Slugger O'TooleA general account …

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Some coverage in the Sunday papers, and the BBC, of Reg Empey’s speech to the UUP conference yesterday – full text here [Thanks to Thomas at About EU]. But, while the reports tend to focus on the same points noted here previously, they’ve missed one appointment, in particular. As Reg Empey put it “Mr President, I can also report today that an advisory group on Party Communications has been formed under the chairmanship of Lord Laird.”.. Yes, that’s the same …

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When the creation of a post of Victims Commissioner was first announced I noted that many people disagreed with the move. Today the Sunday Times and the BBC report that Peter Hain will announce tomorrow that Bertha McDougall is to be the first Victims Commissioner. But if the move to create such a post is wrong-headed, which I believe it is, then if this report, from the BBC, is accurate – “The appointment has been approved by the DUP, who …

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UTV carries the only substantial coverage of Tim Collins’ contribution to the panel debate on the Royal Irish Regiment yesterday. He argues that the best way forward is to lobby for a second Battalion of the TA Royal Irish Rangers, and to seek a package for soldiers that reflects “not only the long and distinguished service they have given, but also the sacrifice given since their formation in 1970”. Whilst speaking as an invited guest and not being a party …

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There has been some limited coverage of the results of the UUC AGM yesterday morning. This report lists 6 of the 7 Officers elected, and this one mentions the previously omitted Johnny Andrews. I do feel it worth mentioning however, that a Party not so long ago derided for being old, grey and out of touch, has in a straight election for 6 seats between 18 candidates, elected 2 young professionals under the age of 25. Congratulations to Peter Bowles …

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The debate on if, or rather when, nuclear energy is to be seriously considered as an option has barely begun here in Ireland, but, arguably, there are signs that the UK government is much more convinced. In yesterday’s Guardian, the UK government’s chief scientific advisor, Sir David King, indicated that new nuclear power stations would have to be included in future energy production. From the Guardian report – In an interview with the Guardian, Sir David King said there were …

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To Hugh Green, formerly of this parish, now at Most Sincerely Folks, who is getting married today. On behalf of all Slugger bloggers and contributors, I wish all the very best to Hugh and his [by now] better half and may they have a long and happy life together. Hugh is, perhaps optimistically, hoping to return to blogging after his honeymoon.. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

In other news.. tonight the Eurovision Song Contest’s 50th Anniversary show takes place.. for some reason *ahem* RTÉ are broadcasting live from Copenhagen.. [I blame Johnny Logan – Ed]. However, the BBC, in their wisdom, have decided not to broadcast the event.. Send Mr Wogan a large G&T, barman.. on me. As RTÉ notes – The Eurovision Song Contest stars, including Johnny Logan, Eimear Quinn, Linda Martin, Riverdance, The Olsen Brothers and pop celebrities like Ronan Keating will perform spectacular …

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Stephen King, in the Belfast Telegraph, and writing prior to the speech today by the UUP party leader, asked whether Reg Empey could cut through the Gordian Knot facing his party. Well, he didn’t get Alexander the Great.. it was a big ask.. but I wonder what Stephen thought of the Reginator? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Fascinating letter in yesterday’s Irish News. It prompts nationalist to re-visit the root of the Republican cause in Ireland: When promoting it in the pages of The Nation, Davis – the descendant of a Cromwellian soldier – knew what he was talking about when he told his Catholic fellow countrymen that “if you would liberate Ireland and keep it free, you must have Protestant help – if you would win the Protestants you must address their reason, their hopes and …

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While the BBC emphasise Reg Empey’s comments on loyalist paramilitaries, reporting that he has promised to help those who took steps towards ‘calling it a day’ – “Northern Ireland is moving on apace and loyalist paramilitaries need to recognise that they no longer have any reason to maintain their structures.” – well, that’s a carrot, of sorts, where’s the stick? – UTV carries a much fuller account of the speech to the UUP party conference According to the UTV report, …

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As previously leaked predicted, it’s been confirmed that the leader of the DUP, Ian Paisley, is to join about 530 [they don’t know exactly? – Ed] other past and current MPs in the Privy Council – with the exception of serving Ministers it’s a, largely, ceremonial position. No word yet on Lady Paisley.. or Lord Brown for that matter Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Still determined, but not so small anymore, not after winning this year’s Man Booker Prize for The Sea, John Banville is to follow the path of many other high profile writers and will be writing a series of thrillers.. under the pseudonym Benjamin Black – not such a pseudonym now, however. Whether the first line of his next book will still be “Of all the things we gave them that they might be comforted, dawn is the one that works.” …

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The Guardian’s Newsblog is trailing Rory Carroll’s own account of his abduction and subsequent release, with, for now, an extract and a brief audio report[mp3 file].. and it’s worth pointing to the brutal contrast with Saadoun Sughaiyer al-Janabi, defence lawyer for one of Saddam Hussein’s co-defendents, abducted and murdered yesterday, and Muhammad Haroon, 37, the editor of al-Hakeka newspaper, who was killed by unknown gunmen on Monday. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

The Irish Times has a short report noting that Irish government Minister of State in the Dept of Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy told the Dáil that Irish Workers’ Party President Sean Garland, currently on bail in Northern Ireland pending extradition proceedings to the US on counterfeit charges, had contacted Irish officials in the intergovernmental secretariat in Belfast since his arrest. As reported by Michael O’Regan in the Irish Times – Mr Treacy was replying, on the adjournment, to Dublin South …

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