Slugger O'Toole Conal McFeely argues that voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland has a key role in regenerating urban communities, but that “there is a failure of government structures to get resources to local groups that effectively address the challenge of rebuilding areas of weak community infrastructure in Northern Ireland.” Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Sean Farren of the SDLP has called for Unionists to partake in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation which begins proceedings in Dublin Castle on Wednesday. At this stage the body is being looked upon as a sounding board rather than a means for developing new proposals to bring back to the negotiating table. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Former shadow Northern Ireland spokeman Kevin McNamara has had a bid to repeal the Act of Settlement, which prevents Catholics or members of the royal family who marry Catholics from succeeding to the throne, rejected by Tony Blair. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
In trying to define the term canard, weblogger Kieran Healey rambles comically off the point. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Interesting piece from Danny Morrison on the origins of his distrust of authority, in the very early days of the troubles – via the Badger’s weblog. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Attempts to change the official name of the north west city failed in the council last night (more). Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Again the Irish News carries an article by the Secretary of State for NI Paul Murphy, laying out the positive arguments for the reforms that have already taken place, in particular highlighting the work of the new Chief Constable Hugh Orde and the police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan. He then reiterated the words of Blair’s speech back in October: “I do not underestimate the difficulties for republicans in making what some have called this quantum leap the final transition away …
The Irish News points out an important anomaly in the public perception over whether ex-prisoners should be allowed to take their places on the new police partnership boards: “While this background may be generally associated with Sinn Féin, it is worth pointing out that it is a provision which has also been utilised by the DUP. Indeed, one former loyalist prisoner has also been endorsed as a DUP candidate in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections scheduled for next year. Former …
The latest editorial in the Belfast Telegraph believes policing is the key to to finding a solution that will stick: “Policing has always been the key test of the Good Friday Agreement, because it goes to the heart of any arrangements that could reconcile unionist and nationalist aims. If a solution can be found that fully involves both communities, the future would be much brighter, and the government’s new approach is a blend of the carrot and stick.” Slugger O'TooleA …
Abdon Pallasch, of the Chicago Sun-Times gives a fuller account of Trimble’s interview by that paper’s board. Perhaps the most interesting corrective within this account is that Trimble admits that he was not comparing the South unfavourably with the North, but the South with mainland Britain, where multiculturalism is rapidly becoming embedded in public life and consciousness. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Tharla an chomhdháil bhliantúil is mó agus is fearr a riamh ag an DUP, dar leis an gheall bolscaireacht DUP, ag an deireadh seachtaine seo caite. Ach dar le Foinse, seo an tús den deiridh ré Ian Paisley. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Thanks to Emily Jones for the communique from the US Embassy in London. It contains five points he delivered to a business group in Belfast on the 20th November 2002: — Elimination of all paramilitary capabilities and an end to all paramilitary behavior, including, but not limited to, targeting and so-called punishment beatings; — Effective community policing and continued police reform; — Continued and ultimately complete demilitarization or normalization of the British military presence; — Strengthening institutions and practices that …
The day began with news of Loyalist arrests and with due deference to the need for balance, we now have news from the BBC of the arrest of six people from a Republican background suspected of being involved with gun running from the US. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The latest version of the Portadown News is available. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
With major legislative concessions in the pipeline, the Belfast Telegraph speculates that the ball will now lie in the IRA’s court, to make a decisive move and kick-start the process again. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Emerging from a tradition that many would characterise as anti-intellectual, this piece from Roy Garland charting a plausable defence of Trimble’s outburst last week is all the more interesting: “There are two kinds of unionism. One rejoices in intimate links with a pluralist, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic British state whose openness to the world and tolerance of difference holds people within its orbit. Their attachment to the union is compatible with a love of this island and appreciation of Anglo-Irish and sometimes …
In the wake of the DUP’s annual conference, the Belfast Telegraph still believes its lack of an expressed political vision is the party’s greatest weakness: “The weakness of the DUP’s position has always been its failure to come up with any alternative which would command cross-community support. The latest defiant refusal to negotiate with “the representatives of terrorism” does not suggest that anything has changed.” Update: William Graham in yesterday’s Irish News reported on Ian Paisley’s list of demands, and …
Democratic Dialogue is in the news again, defending its attack on the high staffing levels of the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister in it latest bulletin. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
There have been raids this morning resulting in the arrest of several individuals, mostly in the Waterside district of Derry and the Co Antrim town of Ballymoney. Update: more from Associated Press. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Henry McDonald reports on the effects of CCTV in an interface area of North Belfast. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.