Slugger O'Toole Now, I’m not a religious man.. at all [whodathunkit? – Ed], but even I think this is a ludicrous idea. The Times covers the 100-minute Bible here, but the Guardian has a rather telling quote from the publisher, Len Budd, a former chairman of the deanery at Canterbury “Is it a dumbing down of the Bible? Yes, but that’s the world today… If this book means more people can answer pub quiz questions on the Bible, so much the better.” …
This looks like it might be a good investment. A Handbook for bloggers on censorship, and how to avoid recriminations. A sign that with a degree of media power comes some serious responsibility. Available free online from Reporters sans Frontières. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
In a recent speech, Peter Hain lays out what he believes the Belfast Agreement did to address Unionist greivances: What has unionism got from the Agreement? I don’t regard that as a rhetorical question: there is an answer. For the first time in the history of Northern Ireland, the Irish Republic has dropped its constitutional claim over the territory of Northern Ireland. For the first time in the history of Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein has accepted that Northern Ireland will …
No pun intended I’m sure, but the Examiner reports that Gerry Adams is to rally the Sinn Fein troops before the final act of decommissioning is to take place. He’s already visited the last official IRA prisoners in Castlerea, and there’s to be a large party gathering tonight, in advance of his first meeting with the Taoiseach since the Northern Bank robbery. It also notes dissatisfaction amongst SF insiders as to how the last IRA statement was received. Slugger O'TooleA …
William Graham writing in the Irish News has been weighing up some of the more detailed policy end of Hain’s speech and finds several sticks and few carrots: He complained for example that Northern Ireland has the highest level of per capita public spending of any economic region in the UK while conversely on locally raised revenue being well behind the rest of the UK. Mr Hain said average household contributions (including water charges) to pay for services in England …
The Assets Recovery Agency as been criticised for going after loyalists and widows only. It seems that has changed with the seizure some substantial assets in Camlough, Newry and Warrenpoint. Press release below: From Assets Recovery Agency The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has been granted an Interim Receiving Order at Belfast High Court on properties located in south Armagh, south Down and Belfast worth approximately £750,000. An Interim Receiver has now taken control of the properties and other assets held …
So, Secretary of State Peter Hain has delivered his programme for government heavily trailed speech.. and, as the BBC report, it’s a wide ranging one, although the statement released by the NIO directs the focus away from his response to the orchestrated violence. The full text is here[PDF file] He appears, to me, to be calling for higher local taxation and lower public spending, but I’ll focus on his reaction to the violence.. and his decision to give David Hanson …
Often used as a throw away insult between commenters on Slugger. Dictionary.com has extensive references. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The vice-chairman of the Policing Board, Denis Bradley, was attacked last night, while watching a football match in a bar in Derry with his son, by a masked man wielding what has been described as a cut-down baseball bat. The reality, and ongoing problem, is that certain groups continue to believe they can commit such attacks with impunity. Btw, the only arrest, so far, is for disorderly behaviour in relation to the attacks on police investigating the assault. Slugger O'TooleA …
I’m not sure how long Mullan’s in Royal Avenue is gone now, but Galway is about to lose one of its most venerable institutions, Kenny’s Bookshop is to close its doors and is beating a retreat to the net. The Money Programme on BBC 2 this week looked at the phenomenon of eBay and how antique dealers are decamping and heading for the net en masse. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Lindy McDowell argues that the old Northern Irish narrative of protestant privilege is not only wrong and misleading but it also betrays a wilful misreading of the current crisis in Unionist communities. She points to the inanity of how Unionists are talked about and treated in public discourse: The shipyard is still used as a stick to beat the Prods. These days it’s employed in the debate about the inequality of educational attainment in unionist working class areas. The line …
The European Constitutional Treaty has been officially brought from the shelves to the freezer by Jose Barroso. The Head of the European Commission acknowledged that the EU will not have a Constitution until two or three years. This news will come as no surprise the Minister for European Affair, Noel Tracy. As we are moving from the ‘reflection period’ to the ‘iced constitution age’ we learned recently that a third of the Irish were in favour of the Treaty and …
The largely Catholic Rathenraw Estate in Antrim town saw it’s own riots last weekend, which largely sailed under the radar. Paddy Murray, a community worker, stated his belief that it was a reaction to the police moving young people away from their usual drinking spots. However local councillor Thomas Burns suggested that the violence contained organised elements that suggested a more oranised approach. The estate has been the scene of ongoing rivalry between Sinn Fein and dissident Republicans. Slugger O'TooleA …
One of my Unionist interviewees for the “Long Peace”, explained that unionists are the last of the whigs – their loyalty is contractarian, ie the people rationally agree to be governed by the sovereign, not the other way round. Alan Bairner, however, takes a much darker view. In fact he bewails what he sees as the loss from the ‘rational’ fold of Ulster protestants, the very people, he argues, amongst whose ancestors were some of the most significant progenitors of …
Brian Rowan talks to a senior member of the government talks source, who emphasises the importance of clarity in the reporting of the IRA’s decommissioning. It sounds like the IRA are not accepting any suggestions as to who should be the protestant churchman witnesses from the DUP unless they talk face to face with Sinn Fein. However, if they muffle de Chastellaine, or do not allow clear public verification, the stated purpose of the move (‘removing of excuses not to …
Interesting distincion in the thrust of two initiatives within Nationalism. With the launch of the SDLP’s North South Makes Sense campaign, which launched yesterday and will culminate in a major conference on 7th October in Derry the emphasis is on make two separates work together. Sinn Fein on the other hand with its Preparing for an Ireland of Equals conference in November in Monaghan has a greater rhetorical emphasis on unification. We’ll keeping an eye out for outputs from both …
A Sunday Independent poll has found that support for a united Ireland in the Republic is not perhaps as overwhelming as first thought. “For 45 per cent of respondents a united Ireland held no interest. Many described the concept as out of date and that the Republic’s focus should be on a European rather than a narrow nationalistic level. Others said that pursuing a 32-county republic would be regressive not progressive” the paper reports.. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for …
THE DUP’s Peter Weir has accused the TV sex industry of targeting the most vulnerable sections of society through subscriptions and text message services. Is he right, or has he just picked up Paul Berry’s mobile phone at a branch meeting? Going down, apparently, doesn’t go down well in North Down. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Tom Kelly argues that Unionist politicians cannot expect to criticise Sinn Fein for hypocrisy on the occasions it suits them, and not speak directly about Loyalist disregard for law and order when it occurs. The loyalist violence on the streets has played right into the hands of the Provisional movement who at this time should be the real focus of all political and media attention. Only this current crop of unionists could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory over …
It looks like the Toolis’ Big Heist documentary is going to cut more than one way. According to the Newsletter yesterday, a member of Tony Blair’s negotiating team is in the firing line for not acting on information received in advance of Europe’s largest ever bank robbery. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.