Slugger O'Toole The BBC are screening what the Observer newspaper describes as two of the year’s finest documentaries over on BBC 1 tonight. The first at 9pm, The Brighton Bomb, is a detailed account of the IRA’s attempt to blow up Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. The second (10.35pm) focuses on Patrick Magee, the man convicted of the bombing, and the investigation that tracked him down. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
You pays your money and you take your choice. The Irish Independent speculates on a move by the IRA to decommission ahead of the Leeds Castle talks, whilst the Sunday Life says no. Time will tell. But an act of decommissioning now would single a different dynamic in the process, with the IRA being seen as taking the lead in the process rather than being pushed into to it by their political opponents. The other crucial question will be how …
Alex Kane with what has to be a somewhat tongue-in-cheek suggestion that the DUP should seek to talk directly with the IRA Army Council – and insist upon a direct response to their demands for the Republican movement to recognise and adhere to the state’s monopoly of force rather than going through the Sinn Fein leadership. The prospect of Peter Robinson slow-dancing with, let alone snogging Gerry Adams, in the ballroom of Leeds Castle next week, is not one which …
It looks like one of the Governments’ coercive moves to get the political parties to concentrate on arriving at a political deal may be the removal of salaries of the members of the legislative assembly (or MLAs). Not exactly a Plan B, but an incentive to make Plan A work and perhaps a sign that there a few more benefits to be gained from the process. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The BBC are reporting on the projected cost of ‘forthcoming’ water charges, a cost that is part of the RRI (Reinvestment and Reform Initiative) agreed by Trimble and Durkan. The original debate in the Assembly shows some of the scare stories at the time over how the loan would be repaid have turned out to be correct. Mr McCartney: Will the rates be increased? The First Minister: The rates might be increased or something else might be increased. That is …
We’re not quite there yet, but we do have a working model of Slugger here. Posting will begin there in earnest on Monday. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Jude Collins reckons that the idea that Ian Paisley does not have the energy to hold down the First Minister’s job is ill-founded given his age, and although he may continue to have influence it is on the wane. He sees strong parallels with the immenent exiting of the IRA from any further role in Irish politics. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The DUP’s latest proposal for the review is to separate voting for the First and Deputy First Ministers. This would mean that in the event of a deal None of his party would have to vote for Sinn Fein. Without such a change even success on the substantive issues could lead to a Mexican stand off on the first day of new business in the Assembly (currently approaching its third year of prorogation). Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the …
David Brewster is a relatively recent convert to the DUP who left David Trimble’s negotiating team before the Belfast Agreement was agreed. Here he argues that the DUP has the capacity and the professionalism will conclude a deal that will satisfy the outstanding unionist concerns with the Belfast Agreement, regardless of the opinions of his former colleagues at Cunningham House. By David Brewster The speculation about the possibility of a deal involving the DUP and SF/IRA has increased in recent …
Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have questioned the political will of the current main players in Northern Ireland. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Whatever changes there are afoot inside David Trimble’s party, the outward signs are not good. With the best will in the world four months is no time to get yourself established in a political party. But the reaction of more than one member to the news of Lyle Rea’s resignation from the post of Chief Executive, was Lyle who? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Stephen King produces a fairly accurate assay of the current state of play amongst the key players as they prepare to head to Leeds Castle. In particular he dismisses speculation that Tony Blair is a position to insist on any kind of definative outcome. And in any case the days when NI could bring kudos to Irish or British PMs is long since gone. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
David Healey was red carded in Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier in Cardiff last night, for (as the ref would have it) making obscene gestures to his family the crowd in celebration of his goal. Although innocuous enough here in Italy, where the referee hails from the gesture means quite something else. He was one of three players to get their marching orders. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The CSO in Dublin has released figures that show the population of the Republic has reached record levels. John Fitzgerald of the ESRI told Radio Ulster this morning that immigration was a major driver for the growth, explaining that the new migrants fell into three roughly equal groups: returning nationals; other EU citizens; and people from outside the EU. He was keen to stress that a large proportion of immigrants were fitting into high value, highly skilled jobs. Slugger O'TooleA …
According to the CSO in Dublin the Republic’s population has hit 4 million, a level not seen there since the end of the last century. Underpinning the huge rise since the early nineties have been migration rates unprecidented in over 200 years. John Fitzgerald, head of the ESRI, speakng to Radio Ulster explalined that the figures roughly break down into three equal groups: returning Irish nationals; other EU citizens; others from outside the EU – though this latter may have …
The DUP is not talking to Sinn Fein – not even in the most informal of terms. Danny Morrison believes that what he terms the Paisley factor will make a deal between his former party ans the new incumbents of Unionism impossible. Malachi O’Doherty says Paisley should be given a pass, whilst Mark Durkan is suspicious of the DUP’s manouvres since taking poll position last November. It seems that the call for some form of direct dialogue is likely to …
The Telegraph reports the British PM’s broad hint that further failure to make progress in talks he may consider another tack. What that might be depends on who you talk with. Republicans believe it could be a move to joint authority with the Republic. Unionists believe it will be some form of medium to long term direct rule. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Support from the GAA for a single multi-code stadium in Northern Ireland has apparently boosted the chances of the 30,000 seater actually being built, with the site of the old Maze prison being favorite out of six candidate sites. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Martin McGuinness has suggested that British Security operatives were responsible for planting bugging devices at the home of a woman who works with Gerry Adams. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
We’ll be returning to something like normal service from tomorrow. I’ve a fullish schedule of interviews in Belfast tomorrow running from 9am to 4pm, but I hope lodge myself in an internet cafe tomorrow late afternoon and make up for some lost time. Thanks for your patience over the past few weeks! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.