Lee Reynolds

More education is often proposed as the solution to various social problems. However, the latest report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is sceptical if education approaches has delivered any real or lasting success. Full report here.Also among its key conclusions is: “The ongoing debate about how to bring up children should take account of the evidence that good parenting and stable family life can reduce the risks of hazardous drug use by young people.” Lee Reynolds

The Committee for the Administration of Justice report argues that the poorest of Northern Ireland society are worse off today than when the peace process began. Lee Reynolds

Brian Feeney argues that the Irish government and in particular the civil service will be the weak link in northern nationalism’s desires for significant growth in All-Ireland bodies under the potential “joint stewardship” regime. Lee Reynolds

In a radio interview on the Stephen Nolan show Gregory Campbell said the DUP’s approach of allowing repentant paramilitaries to join the party could apply to applicants to the PSNI. Interview here (38 minutes in, Real Player reqd). UPDATE The DUP has confirmed no change on its policy in opposing ex-paramilitaries in the police. Lee Reynolds

Racist intimidation in Armagh. An arson attack in North Belfast. Interface violence in East Belfast. Update Homes attacked in Ballymena. Lee Reynolds

Ian Paisley has been invited to speak at the Labour Party Conference by Tony Blair. Lee Reynolds

Tom Kelly outlines the core contribution Catholicism has made to the development of Irish identity and argues that despite the church’s failings the alternatives of secularism and consumerism offer Irishness little. He believes “It is not unfair or xenophobic to want to prevent Ireland, north or south, becoming as secular as Britain.” He argues it is time to reconnect with a Catholic ethos but a reconnection based on learning from past mistakes. Lee Reynolds

The Social Justice Policy Group, one of the groups charged by David Cameron for new thinking, is arguing for the importance of marriage. Its research claims unmarried parents are five times more likely to split up. Author of the research, Harry Benson, argues that “marriages work better than the alternatives.” Chairman of the Policy Group, Iain Duncan Smith, said: “…the government’s assumption that children’s outcomes are solely dictated by socio-economic factors is wrong. The structure within which they grow up …

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Sometimes you blog a news story with no comment. Sometimes you blog a story and make a political comment. Sometimes you blog something to find out other people’s views on a policy issue. Now and again you blog something because you are still floating on cloud nine and want to share your joy. Last night the GAWA showed why they deserve the European supporters award, I salute you. Lee Reynolds

In a keynote address on his India tour David Cameron has highlighted the downside of globalisation. He highlights how in parts of the UK “…the winds of globalisation feel like a chilling blast, not an invigorating breeze” He also argues that it is the economic forces of globalisation that have driven down wages not growth in immigration. He argues the failure to admit this means “…people project their fears and anxieties on to other ethnic groups or other countries.” Lee …

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Hain had some barbed comments for Raymond McCord Snr today. When challenged with the claim he had dozed off in their meeting, Mark Devenport quotes Hain as saying that he didn’t want to engage tit-for-tat allegations (1hr 3minutes in Real Player reqd) and that: “If Mr McCord wants to influence the government there are ways to do it and ways not to do it.” Lee Reynolds

Applying the approach of Freakonomics, new research in America shows that parental notification and/or consent laws for abortions succeed in reducing unprotected sex among teenagers. Such laws add to the “cost” of unprotected sex leading to a rational teenage sex drive. The conclusion is supported by new trends in teenage sexual behaviour in America. It appears sex education has meant growing awareness of the degree of risk/costs attached to different forms of sexual activity with lower risk forms becoming more …

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Regardless of the speculation, Tony Blair is trying to spark a debate on key policy themes, with a series of lectures under the theme of ‘Our Nation’s future’ . His third lecture is on social exclusion (the previous two were on criminal justice and public health). It charted Labour’s successes on poverty and outlined the case for early intervention with children (video here WMP reqd). He identified four priority groups children in care, 7,500 families with complex problems (alcohol and/or …

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Blair thinks there has been progress. Hain outlines what he thinks are the positive signs. McGuinness wants an action plan. The PUP have dropped their boycott of meeting the Independent Monitoring Commission. PS The previously mentioned dodgy BBC link is now fixed. Lee Reynolds

The Department for Works and Pensions has decided to ditch a major IT project. The streamlined payments system was supposed to deliver savings of £60m by 2008. The project cost to date has been £141m. Anyone still believe a National Database Register and ID scheme is deliverable and within budget? Lee Reynolds

A Presbyterian Church in Toome and a Free Presbyterian Church in Magherafelt were both damaged in attacks over the weekend. Lee Reynolds

Three letters calling for Tony Blair to end his Prime Ministership are circulating among Labour backbenchers. The Daily Mirror has revealed, in typical Blairite style, a memo with a plan of how he is going to leave the stage. Lee Reynolds

A campaign demanding more referendums for local and national decision-making was launched today. An annual referendum day would be held were issues that were supported by 2.5% of the electorate (locally or nationally) would be voted on with the results binding on the national government or local authority. In California such binding votes contributed to the budget deficit. Lee Reynolds

Two teenagers were injured in an attack that used a .22 air rifle in Portstewart at the week-end. In today’s News Letter there are the predictable calls for tighter laws from the father of a victim and a local politician. The father called for “… the law on the sale and licensing of air rifles and pellet guns to be made as stringent as it is for shotguns”. The MLA claims that “There has been a big crackdown on shotguns …

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