Belfast Gonzo

NORTHERN Ireland’s new Criminal Justice Minister, Maria Eagle MP, has – somewhat shamefully in my opinion – voted to give the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill a third reading. The Bill makes Members of Parliament and Lords exempt from its provisions, as well as correspondence between MPs and public authorities – although some suspect that the latter is already covered by the Data Protection Act. Surely such a ‘squalid’ Bill is not designed to hide members’ expenses from public view? …

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DAVID Trimble’s attitude to Northern Ireland these days is like that of a Western gunslinger who has cleaned up the town: “My work here is done. Time to move on.” Lord T seems quite happy in his new Conservative role, according to Sam Lister. Saying he regretted not buiding closer links with the Tories while UUP leader, Trimble added that he lost his Westminster seat in the last election was because voters had “failed to understand” what he was doing. …

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BRIAN Cowen has admitted smoking cannabis at university, causing minor controversy down south after the Finance Minister’s Hot Press interview. In this post-Clinton era, such admissions are fairly de rigour, and unlikely to raise eyebrows in a way they once did. Meanwhile in the same issue of Hot Press (not online yet), Green leader Trevor Sargent – one of the few Protestants in the Dail – admits to reading the Bible every day, and fancying Cameron Diaz. Naturally, it’s her …

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AS one of the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe is released, Gerry Adams condemns the crime. The policeman’s widow says this is the first time Adams has actually condemned it; previously, he had described the gunning down of McCabe during the botched robbery as “wrong”. Adams says his opinion was also unqualified in the past on the killing, though others will disagree that saying something is “wrong” is equivalent to condemning it. But if the “dreadful” incident was so “wrong” …

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PAT Rabbitte must be wondering what solidarity means today. While the Bertie Show at Westminster at least had the appearance of a non-Irish-election post-peace-process backslapping event, this Fianna Fail party political broadcast is more shameless, featuring the British Prime Minister campaigning directly for FF, rather than his sister party. In Blair’s defence, socialist ideology is probably as alien to him as it is to Ahern, and Irish Labour’s impact on the peace process has been more as a cheerleader than …

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BERTIE Ahern is addressing the British Parliament at the moment on BBC2 – we’ll have his words later. Meanwhile, members in another house may be in for a second pay rise in a year, as Assembly members get their salaries reviewed. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

AFTER months of anxious expectation in a protracted process with a couple of false dawns, some unexpected events and hard labour, there is a new beginning. The new Assembly wasn’t the only thing that was dragged kicking and screaming into the real world last week. After some cross-community unity, Baby Gonzo was born at lunchtime on Friday, weighing in at 8lbs 12. He’s healthy and well, as is his proud mom. With any luck, he’ll be growing up in a …

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STRANGE happenings in the skies above Bangor, as several people report unexplained lights in the sky. The Beeb have a pic of amateur footage – although hopefully the video will appear online before long. Any ideas? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

I THINK it’s a pretty positive thing that one of the first discussions the two First Ministers held was the possibility of a Chinese consulate for Northern Ireland. It would be no bad thing to develop closer links to an economy that appears to be growing strongly (and I say that as a layman, not an economist!), but would also be of benefit to the longest-established immigrant community here.And while investment from the east would be very welcome, there is …

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THE unofficial commanders-in-chief of Prods and Taigs, the Queen and Pope, have separately acknowledged the progress in Northern Ireland, and I’m wondering how long it will be before Her Maj and His Holiness set foot on Irish soil. There’s been a fair bit of speculation in recent times, and with yesterday’s result, surely they’ll be over before too long? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

I WAS saddened today to learn of the death of a brave woman of quiet nobility; Vera McVeigh, the mother of Columba, one of the ‘Disappeared’ who was murdered by the IRA and whose body has never been found. When, three or four years ago, I heard Vera talk of her need to bury her son before she died, it was incredibly moving. To learn that she never got to do this is something that makes my heart sink. I …

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THE Indo takes a quick look at the ‘elaborate checks and balances’ that will operate in the new Assembly. Do readers think we’ll end up with a lot of stalemate thanks to the new rules, or will political trade-offs become the new order of the day? Or, in a perfect world, will old rivals be able to reach something approaching consensus? Some of the ‘symbolic’ issues may prove tricky, but it will certainly be interesting to see how ‘real’ politics …

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DUP politician Peter Weir has accused his former party leader in the UUP, David Trimble, of using the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to obtain knighthoods for current UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and Sir John Gorman – a bit of a waste of political leverage. Trimble also apparently demanded that Labour should organise in Northern Ireland, something that Tony Blair continues to oppose. Weir contrasts that with the tougher negotiation technique of the DUP, which he argues is working better. …

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INSTEAD of picketing gay pride parades, DUP ministers-to-be will now be funding them. Also, Ian Paisley’s OFMDFM is “is committed to allocating £180,000 over a 12-month period to promote equality for the gay community”, while Edwin Poots’ Arts and Culture Department is “funding an increased grant for this year’s Belfast Gay Pride Festival”. Mr Poots said: “There is little point making decisions that will end up being overturned in a court of law” – although that never stopped the DUP …

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SOFA racing in Derry. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

BRITISH pride is on the wane, according to a new study, with “substantial minorities” in Scotland and Wales not feeling British at all. The English feel more English than British, so perhaps devolution is having an effect in Great Britain. Interestingly, there’s no mention of Northern Ireland in any of the news reports I read, so it’s hard to gauge if ‘Northern Irishness’ is on the rise. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

BELFAST DUP councillor Elaine McMillen was expected to quit her party to take the UUP whip tonight, although her reasoning – “because the way the party [the DUP] was going to work with Sinn Fein” – seems ludicrous, given that the Ulster Unionists paved the way for Paisley’s party. Did she go? In other City Hall business, Vicky O’Hara reports that Ulster Unionist councillor Davy Browne has suggested a Sinn Fein representative as the next Lord Mayor. Obviously, his own …

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…the police, as new figures reveal increased public confidence in the PSNI and a decrease in crime. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

WHEN Paddy Power took about £10,000 around lunchtime from punters betting that the Irish election would be on May 17, the bookies smelt a rat and stopped taking money on the date. There was some speculation that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would make an announcement in the Dail this afternoon – but he never appeared. Since the election must be at least three weeks long, and today was the last Dáil sitting day before President McAleese leaves for a seven-day trip …

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LOCAL snooker talent appears to be in good form right now, with two NI players beating ex-world champions in the World Championships yesterday. The best of luck to Belfast’s Joe Swail and Antrim’s Mark Allen, who sported a pair of Union flag cufflinks in his match against the Republic’s Ken Doherty. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com