Record price for rare Irish document…
A COPY of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic has been sold at auction for almost 400,000 euros. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Belfast Gonzo
Photos aren’t humiliating: Ahern
WRITING in today’s Indo, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says that “[t]he forms of transparency that are proposed in the Governments’ proposals have nothing to do with surrender or humiliation”. While republicans have said they will not accept “humiliation”, it is clear that Ahern feels somewhat humiliated himself after taking so much flak for backing the release of Garda McCabe’s killers.Ahern writes: “Sinn Fein and the DUP have sought to constructively face up to the responsibilities placed upon them by their enhanced …
Early reaction from the parties…
THE IRA has blamed Ian Paisley for the breakdown in the latest negotiations. Mr Paisley has returned the favour – though his outlook is not as bleak as you might expect.SDLP leader Mark Durkan has also welcomed the significant political progress made, although he had some criticisms. Gerry Adams has revealed his recent letter to the Taoiseach confirming Sinn Fein accepted “the political package contained in the proposals of the two governments” (and blamed the DUP for the failure to …
Government publishes proposals…
THE NIO has published the proposals by the two governments here and the BBC has them here. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
It’s Tallrite – the blog is back…
THE Tallrite Blog is back after a break. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Harney backs DUP on photos…
TANAISTE Mary Harney (PD) has backed the DUP’s position on a photograph of IRA decommissioning – perhaps because the Irish Government feels it has endured a high degree of pain and ‘humiliation’ over Sinn Fein’s insistence on Garda McCabe killers’ release. Certainly, Taoiseach Ahern’s words and tone in the Dail yesterday was the first public indication that the game was up. The full text of Gerry Adams statement yesterday saying the IRA would not be humiliated is here. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Downbeat Devenport reckons “no deal”…
MARK Devenport sounded decidedly downbeat about the prospects of a deal emerging tomorrow on BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra just now. At a Sinn Fein press conference minutes ago, Gerry Adams said the IRA would “not be humiliated” – a reference to the DUP deal-breaking ultimatum for photographic evidence of IRA decommissioning. Premiers Blair and Ahern are still intending to be here tomorrow, to publish “most” of their paper should no deal emerge overnight. Another soft landing, anyone? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
IRA has met de Chastelain…
THE IRA has met with the arms decommissioning body led by General de Chastelain, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed to the Dail. However, difficulties remain as the intensive negotiations continue. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Crowded market…
NORTHERN Ireland has one of the most competitive markets for the morning newspapers in these islands, if not the world, with between 15 and 20 titles daily. The Guardian takes a look at the current state of play, and how it is likely to change with the introduction of a new morning tabloid edition of the Belfast Telegraph (although you can buy the current broadsheet before noon) and Daily Ireland.The threat of Daily Ireland from the Andersonstown News Group has …
Portadown: Worse than going to Hull and back…
CONGRATULATIONS to Portadown, which came in at number 22 in The Idler’s stocking filler ‘Crap Towns II’. As well as references to the town’s sectarianism and Drumcree, it is described as “like Burnley, but with more tattoos”. Unfair? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Arms and the Big Man…
THE SDLP have been portraying themselves as the last defender of the Agreement in recent weeks, to little noticeable effect. On decommissioning, the party’s position has shifted in emphasis over the last couple of weeks. Now the SDLP seem to be at one with the DUP over the matter of a Kodak moment of IRA arms.On November 25, senior SDLP negotiator Sean Farren warned republicans that the “tide of concessions” to the DUP must stop. On November 28, policing spokesman …
Water debate continues…
MARGARET Ritchie (SDLP) and Francie Molloy (SF) are having a wee spat about water charges, while Naomi Long (APNI) keeps an eye on price hikes in privatised England and Wales. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Some Do Like Polls….
SOME more SDLP Westminster candidates have been announced – and not many surprises. SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell is to stand in South Belfast against the UUP’s Martin Smith (or maybe Michael McGimpsey). In Upper Bann the SDLP is standing Dolores Kelly against David Trimble (UUP) and David Simpson (DUP), who might cause a major upset. Dominic Bradley will carry the can for the SDLP in Newry and Armagh if he loses to Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Derry leads the way…
SOME suspect that the Big Deal will be announced next Tuesday or Wednesday, although I can guarantee it was never going to happen on Saturday – Lundy’s Day! However, even Lundy’s Day – named after the man denounced by Protestants as a traitor during the Siege of Derry (unionists are quite insistent upon the ‘Derry’ name when it comes to Apprentice Boys events) – has become an example of progress. The Irish News reports that many stores will be open …
Bush call to Paisley…
US President George W Bush has phoned Ian Paisley to support efforts to restore the Assembly. During Bush’s last visit to Hillsborough, Prime Minster Blair was said to have kept the DUP away from the President – a mistake, some believed, as Bush is much more likely to be listened to by the DUP than a hundred Bill Clintons. It was, like so much Blair gets involved in, another missed opportunity. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
ID cards to beat terrorism, again..?
IDENTITY cards are to be brought into Northern Ireland, as they will be in the rest of the UK. Part of the reason given is that they will help fight terrorism. I don’t want to burst the Home Secretary’s bubble, but we’ve had photo ID in Northern Ireland for many years that didn’t exist in GB (eg photographic driving licenses). Can he tell us what difference it made before he repeats the exercise? What do readers feel about having to …
NI future depends on immigration: unionist
TANGLED Web slinger and hardline unionist commentator Andrew McCann (formerly of this parish) uses his own very detailed breakdown of population trends (AKA a ‘sectarian headcount’) to justify increasing immigration by ethnic minorities into Northern Ireland. No, you didn’t read it wrong, I said ‘justify’. It’s for very selfish reasons that some will disagree with, but that’s the first I’ve seen this unusual rationale in print. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Parties co-operated for economic package…
THE BBC is reporting that Sinn Fein’s Dara O’Hagan and the DUP’s George Dawson* were part of talks with the business community that led to the call for a £1 billion economic package for Northern Ireland as part of any deal to restore devolution. The DUP is stressing this was not part of the negotiations – one wonders what caveats are now left to avoid direct talks.* The others were reported as Sean Farren (SDLP), Sir Reg empey (UUP) and …
Badges of honour..?
PIN collectors might have noticed that there are quite a few RUC badges, official and unofficial, being auctioned on ebay at the moment. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Mood music good for SF/DUP courtship…
IT wasn’t so long ago that Ian Paisley was calling for the disbandment of Sinn Fein, saying that the party should “have no part nor be in any negotiations”. Contrast that with his statement yesterday, and you’ll see how far the DUP has belatedly come – now they are prepared to accept the IRA continuing in the form of an ‘old boys’ association’. Wasn’t it Trimble who used that phrase first? Anyway, how times change…For those who watch events closely, …