Importance of whistle blowers…

One way to lose friends but perhaps gain wider influence is to blow the whistle on what your conscience tells you is sharp practice, by government or employer. Katherine Gunn tells of her personal experience of becoming a whistleblower over US plans to bug UN delegates in the run up to a crucial vote. Although there’s a clear political angle in her own motives, there remains an important democratic principle of transparency attached to the practice. Katherine’s helped set up …

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Internment a good precident for the US?

There’s a fascinating disussion going on over Crooked Timber on whether Internment and the Diplock system might give the US an effective means to deal legally with what it sees as the terrorist threat. It’s based on an original article by Thomas F. Powers (an Irish American?). Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …

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Blogging for businesses…

It’s not all politics and personal diaries. It looks like the blog concept is beginning to penetrate the business world. About.com have just produced a guide to blogging for small business. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Ford: what’s wrong with accountable Ministers?

The Alliance party leader David Ford has just spoken about progress and the lack of it at Leeds Castle. He’s attending the Liberal Democrat conference, just down the road from Slugger Central in Bournemouth:”I am bemused that some people are suggesting that creating greater accountability and collective responsibility in the institutions is inconsistent with power-sharing or the Agreement. What we have at the moment is a political carve-up, with Ministers exercising majority-rule within their own domains. By contrast, power-sharing is …

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One Scotland many cultures…

Meanwhile over in Scotland, their working Executive has just launched a website aimed at tackling sectarianism/racism amongst young people. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Republic still benefits from EU…

It seems that, up until enlargement at least, the Republic and Portugal have been recipients of the largest amounts of subsidy from the EU – with the Netherlands providing the biggest per capita input to European coffers. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Unionists need a direct line to IRA

After being attacked by Ian Paisley on his suggestion last week that the DUP should cut out the middle men and talk directly to the IRA’s Army Council, Alex Kane argues that this is simply what successive British governments have been doing since 1972.Being taken to task by Ian Paisley is a little like being sat upon by a large jelly—it does no real harm and leaves no lasting impression. In an article in Wednesday’s News Letter, he wrote: “I …

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Imeachtaí shoisialta atá de dhíth anois

Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, fear a bhfuil ina entrepreneur soisialtach is oirirc i dTuasceart Eireann, le deich beartaithe bunasach don fhostaíocht an teanga ina measc saol na gnathdaoine. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Political cabaret in Dublin…

This Friday I’ll be chairing another of the Leviathan debates. This time between Eamon McCann and Steven King of the UUP at the Famous Spiegeltent, as part of the ESB Dublin Fringe Festival. It’s part of a political cabaret hosted by economist, broadcaster and journalist, David McWilliams Top British political commentator and stand up Mark Steel provides the comedy!Tickets are €15 and available from the Fringe office at 43 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, on 1850 374643 (or International +353 16792320) …

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Different songs, same technique…

For more than twenty years Ruth Dudley Edwards has been a keen watcher of the Northern Irish political pot and has even stirred it a few times herself. Whatever her political dislike of the two main parties of the moment, she believes they have been hard working and diligent in developing their craft in democratic politics. And not above learning from each other!By Ruth Dudley Edwards It was twenty years ago, as we listened to Peter Robinson of the DUP, …

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Accountability’s the thing…

So aside from the now highly ritualised game of political chicken between Republicans and Unionists over decommissioning, it appears that ministerial accountablity is the main stumbling block after several days of hermetically sealed talks in Kent.In fact, accountablity comes in at number two in the party’s seven tests, and above the one about only having ministers ‘committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means’. The key problem, from a DUP point of view, comes in paragraph 24 of the Belfast Agreement: …

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Scotland’s multilingual parliament…

There are no less tha n 14 languages on the Scottish Parliament’s website, including Urdu Scots and Gàidhlig where the density of inf. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

On the commerical uses of blogging

Interesting comment from one time head of internet consultancy nua.ie, Gerry McGovern on some of the commerical uses and misuses of blogging. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Writing next Tuesday’s headlines?

Whilst we’re all sitting around twiddling thumbs, I thought it might be fascinating to see what readers (and other bloggers) imagined what the headline reports will be next week when the final outcome of the Leeds Castle talks is finally revealed. No prizes, but endless glory if your most improbable scenario wins! Enjoy!! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular …

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DUP reidh chun cumhacht a roinnt?

“Má chuireann an IRA deireadh leo féin go críochnúil, beimid in ann gnó a dhéanamh”. Bá seo an caint on Fheisire Jeffrey Donaldson in agallamh le Lá areir. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Adams could destablise the DUP?

This fascinating op-ed in the Belfast Telegraph sees most of the negotiating cards stacked with Gerry Adams. It argues that his internal position within the party and the wider movement is unassailable.It further suggests the DUP has mismanaged its constituency’s expectations of a deal, that Adams might look in that area for further advantage over Unionism: “…should Adams decide to play for high stakes, he would either come away with a deal or he would have revealed a great weakness …

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Adams: a deal is inevitable

On his way into Leeds Castle this morning, Gerry Adams has told reporters that a deal is inevitable between his party and the DUP. Although clearly he was not committing to a timeline for such an accord it would, he suggested, take shape within the confines of the Belfast Agreement. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking …

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Morgan retires at 37

Martin Morgan, the SDLP’s candidate in the recent European elections and former Lord Mayor is to retire from active politics when the local elections are held in Belfast next May. It will undoubtedly be a blow for a party that in recent years has consciously tried to build the profile of its younger members. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a …

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Irish interests best served in English?

Having lost (albeit temporarily) our archives, I’m not sure if I have already posted this spirited argument against the campaign to have Irish recognised as an official language in the EU. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Negotiations: the cost of further inaction

Gary Kent looks at a number of related issues in the run up to negotiations at Leeds Castle. He warns that the inability of the main political parties to come to an agreement has already had major cumulative and detrimental effects, and that these only stand to increase in the face further and prolonged inaction.By Gary Kent Northern Ireland’s peace process is moving like a glacier towards a final settlement with key talks between the major players taking place this …

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