Belfast Gonzo

‘Water’ lot to pay – money down the drain?

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THE publication of the General Consumer Council’s report on Government proposals for reforming the water service here has generated much political response…The DUP wants a Government ‘peace dividend’ to compensate for the years of underinvestment in infrastructure. So does the SDLP, who are advocating outright opposition to reform, which is seen as the thin end of the privatisation wedge (which it undoubtedly is). Sinn Fein doesn’t see a need for a separate water charge (as we already pay for water …

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Tax avoidance policy ‘revealed’!

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SINN Fein’s economy spokesman Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin has described revelations that the Irish exchequer missed out on over €8 billion in revenue as a result of tax avoidance schemes as “vindication of Sinn Féin policies on taxation.” Is Caoimhghin really saying smuggling cigarettes and diesel across the border counts as a policy? We knew the paramilitaries were good, but €8 billion? I refuse to believe it!Sorry – couldn’t resist. ;o) Still, is it not a bit rich for a party …

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Republicans to remember…

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SINN Fein is to hold a ‘Day of Reflection’ on 10 December. Trees will be planted (hugging optional) to remember “in an inclusive way, all those who have died as a result of war and conflict”. It will be interesting to see if unionists partipate in any way, post-Maskey. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

DUP to debate any planned deal…

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NOEL McAdam reports that the DUP executive will meet next week to approve any deal that may emerge to restore devolution. McAdam points out that the “80-strong body can ratify a deal without a wider party meeting – unlike the regular UUP Council meetings of recent years – and could be summoned within 48 hours”.Jeffrey Donaldson said: “It would be wrong to go into great detail because negotiations are at such a sensitive stage but at the moment we don’t …

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Charity crime: Government might do something, sometime… maybe

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I RECENTLY pointed out the lack of adequate regulation of charities in Northern Ireland, which has been financially damaging for legitimate charities. The News Letter’s Elinor Glynn reports that the two Governments (south and east) are to crack down on illegal charities.I would take issue with this point though: “New legislation is being prepared in Dublin and, in a coordinated move, a review is under way in Northern Ireland.” This is anything BUT co-ordinated action. The Charities Commission is not …

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De Brun to concentrate on Europe..?

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NORMALLY reliable sources have indicated that Sinn Fein Assembly member and MEP Bairbre de Brun is to resign her West Belfast seat very soon to concentrate on Europe. It is likely that Sue Ramsey will replace the former Stormont health minister. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

McClarty to take on Campbell…

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DAVID McClarty has been selected to take back the East Londonderry seat from Gregory Campbell at the next Westminster election.PA reported Mr McClarty on the UTV site: “I am looking forward to the challenge and while I realise that there remains considerable work to be done to encourage Ulster Unionists to come out and vote, I firmly believe that together we can achieve success.” In the 2001 General Election the DUP`s Gregory Campbell captured the East Londonderry seat with a …

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Murphy accepts Feeney challenge…

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The Secretary of State takes up the challenge laid down by Brian Feeney to the ‘proconsul’ on tonight’s Hearts & Minds. Did Murphy ‘perform’ well? Was Noel too deferential? He rarely is, IMHO… Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Mary’s Molotov moment…

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THE Irish President was nearly a petrol bomber, Maureen Coleman discovers. During an attack by loyalists on Ardoyne, a young Mary McAleese’s father stopped her from throwing the devices, which had a profound effect on how she viewed violence. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Windbag of the Week: Empey rhetoric…

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DON’T know if this is a good idea or not, but sure. ‘Windbag of the Week’ is YOUR chance to put the spotlight on someone who has been expelling hot air. Just cut and paste your favourite quote and add your (non libellous!) comments. I’ll kick things off with a fisking of Sir Reg Empey’s press release from earlier today…Sir Reg said today: “The IMC, whose creation was our idea, is proving to be the useful instrument that we predicted …

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Charity is big business in NI…

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THE IMC has suggested that charities may be fronts for paramilitary money laundering (see pages 33 & 34). This is completely unsurprising, as the law, such as it exists here, on charities is simply not enforced.Whatever the Government might spin to you, I can assure you that charity is more or less unregulated here. Generous people are ripped off every day by NI charities. Some charity workers take most of the donations as income. There is no Charity Commission, as …

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Prods, paramilitaries and poverty…

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AFTER loyalists met with the Secretary of State to find out how to ‘come in from out of the cold’ (or whatever this week’s euphemism is for ‘doing what everyone else does normally’), the BBC takes a look at the issue of deprivation in ‘protestant areas’, while Suzanne Breen examines why low incomes shouldn’t necessarily mean miserable kids.It would be difficult to argue with politicians – even those linked to the paramilitary/criminal mafia-style gangs that the UDA and UVF have …

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Kerry concedes defeat…

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KERRY has just conceded the US Presidential election to Bush and will make a statement in about 25 minutes. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Putting things in perspective…

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SINN Fein members are visiting the site of Auschwitz concentration camp today at the invitation of NI’s Jewish community. One wonders what lessons Gerry Kelly and Martin McGuinness will draw from the experience, but it might make Mr Kelly think about ‘ethnic cleansing’ (and those of his loyalist counterparts) in North Belfast. Frankly, the ‘Troubles’ were nothing compared to the horrors of WWII concentration camps – more people died in Auschwitz than in our entire conflict. In fact, the death …

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Adams paving way for IRA move…?

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GERRY Adams MP is off to America, no doubt to prepare Irish American opinion for whatever the IRA is about to do – probably further acts of decommissioning and finally going away, you know. He will perhaps have a more difficult job without the help of Joe Cahill this time. Meanwhile, Jim Allister MEP has set out the DUP’s bottom line.PA quotes Allister as saying: “The essentials for stable institutions are the following: “Executive office only for those demonstrably and …

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The big freeze is coming…

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SHOULD this put our political squabbling into perepctive? Or is it bad science? Or simply part of a climatic cycle that the human race has yet to experience? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

NIO to clamp down on bad parking…

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MESSAGE to John Spellar MP: We can live with water charges, you can get rid of the 11-Plus, you can close all the railways – but for God’s sake do NOT privatise traffic wardens!Clamping is not something the car happy people of Norn Iron will take lying down, as they have in other parts of the UK, and this is obviously part of the great conspiracy by Labour to annoy/rip us off/irritate us back into devolution again, I can just …

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One for the US readers…

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SO who did you vote for, if you were voting in the US Presidential election? Which candidate would play the better role in NI? Bush has had a more ‘hands off’ attitude, delegating responsibilities to envoys like Richard Haass and Mitchel Reiss. Clinton took a keen interest, even too much, for some. Which approach works best, in your opinion? Or is it just ‘Nationalists for Clinton, Unionists for Bush’?I think Bush will take it, just. Ah well… we’ll know soon …

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Bribing loyalism..?

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IF you were Secretary of State Paul Murphy, what would you tell the UDA/UPRG or PUP/UVF representatives at today’s meeting? On Talkback earlier, Sunday World reporter Hugh Jordan suggested that the UDA was moving into ‘security’ and that they would be offered millions to become legal businesses. That should suit two of the convicted extortionists on the other side of Murphy’s table anyway… Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com