Slugger O'Toole Peter Robinson has promised that his party will be working overtime to produce its own paper to meet it objects in the Government’s proposals obtained by the BBC yesterday. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
A NEW survey has indicated that Mark Durkan is the most trusted leader in Northern Ireland, and David Trimble the second. Slugger regular and Trimble aide Alex Kane doesn’t seem to share that confidence in the UUP leader though. Perhaps there is a reverse corrolation between political support and the degree of public trust in leaders?! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The Scottish newspaper, The Herald, carries news that the EU is to fund a skill-sharing initiative in Northern Ireland. After the apparent unwillingness to co-operate for the common good shown by our politicians in Leeds Castle, It Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The Irish Independent announces that Harry Potter The Golden Stone is to be released next Month in Irish as Harry Potter agus an Orcloch – which will make the works of J.K.Rowling available in 200 Languages. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
“Overall accountability and governance structures have shown themselves to be effective, with the PSNI and other bodies driving improvements forward despite the lack of full community support.” – That’s the view of the Police Oversight Commissioner, Al Hutchinson. He went on to say that “The lack of support is really the key barrier to deep change. Those who resist or deny change should understand that the absence of full community support will only impede the necessary reforms, which in turn …
Our appeal for sponsors to help cover at least some of the core time spent in keeping Slugger running smoothly is coming on slowly but with some promising possibilities in the pipeline. As I’ve mentioned before we’ve managed to reduce the costs of the site by moving the server to a cheaper host in the US. However, if you like what we do and are keen to help us keep the site well fed, we are always to receive donations …
Maggie O’Conor, a Dublin born solicitor has applied for a judicial review of a decision by the Department of Finance and Personnel to withdraw an invitation to interview her for the post of legal assistant. The position had been designated a “public service post” requiring UK nationality. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Noel MacAdam outlines Alex Kane’s speech in South Belfast on Monday, in which he raised the question of leadership, and how his party might draw lessons from the party’s previous difficulties. Full version of the speech follows: By Alex Kane I know that most of you will expect me to talk about the Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Interesting reference to a Sherlock Holmes classic (is this a UUP thing?) – the dog that didn’t bark – from Steven King. By which he means the absence of anti Agreement rhetoric from the DUP at Leeds Castle, and the no show from the IRA on decommissioning. Remember Steven’s in Dublin on Friday. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The shortlist for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2004 has been announced. Included in the shortlist of 6 is The Master by acclaimed Irish author Colm T Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The people’s favorite Tory, Boris Johnson has finally broken his party’s duck in the political blogging league, thanks to the tireless Tim Ireland. Given his position as Tory spokesman on the Arts and the day job at the Spectator, it remains to be seen how much time he can devote to this blogging thing. He’s nonetheless a prime addition to the UK’s political blogosphere! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
David Trimble’s wife Daphne is to enter Ulster politics, by challenging Jeffrey Donaldson in his home territory. At this stage of the game at least, Jeffrey does not seem unduly worried by the prospect. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Alexander McCall Smith is one Scotland’s writers of the moment. His novels about a black female detective agency have attracted both major sales and critical acclaim (an uncommon feat). In his time as an academic at Queens he recalls a younger David Trimble,and the charged atmosphere around what passed for normality in the early 70s. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
An intriguing article from The Guardian which, in my view, fails to provide sufficient background to the story. A British ‘entrepeneur’ has persuaded General Mikhail Kalashnikov, 83 (yes, that General Kalashnikov), to lend his name to a new brand of vodka, launched at a London club yesterday. While there will, undoubtedly, be some who see this as a tasteless marketing exercise, the General, as the Guardian points out, is simply “not rich enough to pass up the chance of becoming …
One way to lose friends but perhaps gain wider influence is to blow the whistle on what your conscience tells you is sharp practice, by government or employer. Katherine Gunn tells of her personal experience of becoming a whistleblower over US plans to bug UN delegates in the run up to a crucial vote. Although there’s a clear political angle in her own motives, there remains an important democratic principle of transparency attached to the practice. Katherine’s helped set up …
There’s a fascinating disussion going on over Crooked Timber on whether Internment and the Diplock system might give the US an effective means to deal legally with what it sees as the terrorist threat. It’s based on an original article by Thomas F. Powers (an Irish American?). Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
According to a paper obtained by the BBC, the Governments have laid out new proposals that would allow a limited form of censure by the Assembly for individual ministers. It also contains a number of safeguard measures for continuity in the future running of the Assembly by repealing the suspension legislation the Northern Ireland Act of 2000, and allowing individual ministers the right to attend meetings of cross border bodies. So far we’ve not seen any party comment. Slugger O'TooleA …
The golden rule in politics is never to open an option unless you are prepared to deal with all the possible outcomes. Currently there is no sign that there is any external pressure that can be applied to either the DUP or Sinn Fein to cut the kind of deal that both British and Irish governments are keen on. However, Frank Millar in the Irish Times hints at one possible action open to the British Prime Minister, if there is …
A survey reported in today Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Bertie Ahern believes that if the institutional issues around accountablity and voting can be resolved, the Acts of Completion called nearly two years ago will follow. There is also some speculation that a definative statement from the IRA may come later this week. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.