Slugger O'Toole RTE appear to carry confirmation, from Gardaí, of this morning’s Irish Examiner report that thousands of rounds of ammunition – speculated to be for assault weapons – were dumped in North Kerry on Monday night. According to the IE’s John Breslin [sound file], which seemed to be the only paper to cover the story, despite the find being made on Tuesday the Garda Press Office “said it had no information about the discovery of the ammunition.” The Irish Examiner report …
The £100million plan for development of a Titanic tourist project in Belfast’s docklands area was heavily publicised in the media yesterday.. and the BBC report is online here. With a nice drawing too. But reading closely, there is no breakdown of the figures for private/public funding and, despite the reported unveiling of the plan by Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in the article, it currently only has the backing of Tourism sub-committee – the proposal, and …
The (London-based) Independent covers thy story of three Irish women (backed by the IFPA) taking their case to the European parliament in their quest to liberalise current legislation. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Just seen this on the bbc’s website. It looks like Mo’s condition is worsening. Let’s hope she’s able to put up a brave fight. Mo Mowlam transferred to hospice Ex-cabinet minister Mo Mowlam is widely popular Critically ill former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has been moved from hospital to a hospice in Kent to be closer to her family. Ms Mowlam, 55, was taken to hospital in London two weeks ago. Hospital officials say her condition is still “critical …
The Irish Times notes the local interest in the Man Booker Prize long-list – Three Irish writers compete for top award. But, while the Guardian praises the list and here, and here, compiled under the chairmanship of Guardian columnist Prof John Sutherland *ahem*… Sinéad at the Sigla Blog is less impressed – No surprises with the Booker List – but helpfully points to her interviews with two of the long-listed authors – Kazuo Ishiguro and John Banville. Also worth noting …
I dont think anyone else has blogged this, but there has been some discussion today of last night’s Channel 4 programme ‘Best and Worst Places to Live in the UK’. The programme ranked all of the Local Authorities across the UK looking at things such as educational performance, entertainment venues and employment. Coming in with the coveted title of third worse place to live in the UK was Strabane. The makers of the programme list Strabane’s infamous unemployment rate as …
The Irish Times editorial today follows up on its, generally overlooked elsewhere, report yesterday in which Gerry Adams’ chief spokesman [Gerry’s on holiday dontchaknow] admitted that Adams was wrong when he claimed that the Taoiseach had given a commitment that “MPs elected in the six counties will be able to speak in the Dáil”.. a claim which Ahern corrected, as noted here.. they had to unspin the admission though – SF admits Adams wrong on Dáil speaking rights “Perhaps Gerry …
Ashling Reidy, Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, believes (sound file) the Colombia Three may have no case to answer under Irish law and that Mary Harney’s idea of charging them retrospectively under the Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003, which has “been gathering dust” for two years in the Seanad, simply won’t fly as there are “huge impediments”. Reidy says that the only Act the men could be charged under is the 1998 amendment to the …
Loyalist violence seems to be building up a head of steam with the latest in a series of pipebomb attacks on Catholic homes in Antrim taking place in Cloughmills. The Police Service of Northern Ireland say they will leave no stone unturned in the hunt for the perpetrators. They always intensify and come to a head during the marching season. Ian Stevenson, the deputy mayor of Ballymoney Borough Council, said: I am not going to make any statements about the …
The Police Service of Northern Ireland have decided to issue fire blankets to Catholic families in the North Antrim village of Ahogill to help protect them from ongoing arson attacks by British loyalists. A PSNI spokesman told the BBC the action was “unprecedented”. However, it was taken after fresh intelligence suggested more attacks were imminent. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Tánaiste Mary Harney, who is standing in for PD party colleague Michael McDowell as Minister for Justice, has said the Colombia Three shouldn’t underestimate the Government’s “determination to explore all the options open to it, to ensure that Ireland plays its full part in the fight against international terrorism”. Harney said in a statement that the men were “no friends of the peace process” and insisted that no deal had been done with Sinn Féin. She added that the Transfer …
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has launched a 13-point plan to have abortion legalised in the Irish Republic, under the motto Safe and Legal in Ireland. Strangely, while the 6,000 Irish women who travel to Britain and further afield annually to have abortions are discussed, there is no mention, in the press release at least (it was brought up before), of the supposed growing number of backstreet abortions carried out for those within the new immigrant community, who don’t …
Via the big G’s Newsblog. Mission Specialist Number 2 Steve Robinson won’t be too disappointed by the delay in the Space Shuttle Discovery returning from orbit. While he was waiting for Discovery to undock from the International Space Station, he recorded the first podcast from space [mp3 file can be downloaded at link] – “I would rather stay on the Space Station with Sergei and John and experience this strange, incredible life floating in Earth.. above the Earth.”.. and take …
The Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association is offering grants, aiming to help combat the illnesses which take 2 out of 3 lives. The grants are only available to projects based in Northern Ireland. As well as the £125,000 going to chest disease research and heart illness research, and the £76,000 going to other study areas, there is £40,000 going to training to help health professionals contribute to the quality of research. The charity’s chief executive, Andrew Dougal, said: …
In a lengthy article on the state of the nation Process, in the Irish Times Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has this to say on the much publicised commitment on participation of Northern Irish MPs in the Dáil – more publicity here – There has been much exaggerated comment on this point. What we have in mind is sensible but modest. It would not involve speaking rights or privileges in the Dáil, but rather facilitate committee discussions with Northern MPs on matters …
Ordinarily I try to avoid linking to the YU blog, but over the past couple of weeks, an interesting discussion has been taking place on this thread by former UYUC Chairman (and UUP DARD spokesman) Kenny Donaldson. He states that he is not a “GAA basher”, but wishes to see the GAA move beyond its “outdated, discriminatory practices”. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
I noticed earlier that Mr has found time in his day to be annoyed at Peter Bowles call for Sinn Fein MLA Caitriona Ruane to be interviewed by the Police over the Columbia three incident. Interesting that she isn’t the first Sinn Fein MLA to fall foul of Cllr Bowles. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Aileen Quinton, whose mother was killed in the 1987 Remembrance Sunday bombing in Enniskillen has decribed her difficulties with recent Government actions in the Belfast News Letter By Aileen Quinton Forgive me if I dont set off poppers in an unrestrained celebration but I do not believe that the IRA is committed to peace. Of course I will be accused of jeopardising the chances of peace. As in Peter Pan if you say that you do not believe in fairies …
RTE report Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in the Irish Times calling for calm, clear-headed consideration and debate on the issue of the extradition of three men found guilty of training FARC rebels[subs req] in Colombia, meanwhile the BBC has other opinions.. and the Irish Times, along with a barrister’s opinion – “Process of extradition is fraught with numerous legal difficulties” – has a statement from a representative of the chairman of the US Congress International Relations Committee, Congressman Henry Hyde – …
The government has published plans for the requirement to register for your vote every year to be amended. Under the proposed plans, the Chief Electoral Officer can decide when the roll needs refreshing. It is also proposed that people should be able to get on the register up until 11 days before an election, in an attempt to up the number of people registered to vote in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein’s national director of elections Pat Doherty MP welcomed the …