Soapbox – Page 46 – Slugger O'Toole

Sinn Féin to make new councils work for you

Soapbox on April 28, 2014, 5:02 pm

| Readers 51

In our latest installment of our series from the various political parties, Sinn Fein tell us why they deserve your vote in the upcoming elections On May 22nd we will elect people to 11 new super councils in what is the biggest shake-up in local government for over 40 years. Powers will be devolved to councils on planning, the environment, the development of local tourism and the regeneration of deprived communities. These changes will enable local representatives to allocate resources …

Women candidates and Political Parties in the 2014 Republic of Ireland local elections by Claire McGing

Soapbox on April 23, 2014, 8:11 am

| Readers 182

Claire McGing currently lectures political geography at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. She has published research nationally and internationally on gender in Irish politics, north and south. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Local elections are due to be held in the Republic of Ireland on Friday, May 23rd. Compared to the last contest in 2009 the electoral landscape is rather different: 774 town and borough council positions have been abolished and the number of county/city councillors has risen …

“Foras na Gaeilge is centralising resources around a small number of Dublin-based organisations”

Soapbox on April 18, 2014, 11:06 am

| Readers 112

Janet Muller is CEO of Pobal an advocacy organisation that has spearheaded work on Irish language rights since the Good Friday Agreement. Hers is one of the Northern Ireland based organisations facing a restructuring will see all publicly funded Irish language groups headquartered in Dublin and away from Belfast. It is now 3 months since Foras na Gaeilge announced its decision to end core funding to all northern-based core funded Irish language groups and to transfer this funding to 6 …

AN LÁ DEARG was an expression of both a growing sense of anger

Soapbox on April 18, 2014, 7:47 am

| Readers 2331

This is the first of two related pieces we’re publishing today which relate to the funding and status of the Irish langauge in Northern Ireland. The first is on the Dearg le Fearg protest last weekend by campaigner Caoimhe Ní Chathail. In the aftermath of an ‘An Lá dearg’ a pertinent question has yet to be posed, ‘Why was it that thousands of people descended upon the Gaeltacht Quarter on Saturday the 12th of April to march through Belfast festooned in …

Scotland Essay: Why the No side should be looking up in Scotland…

Soapbox on April 16, 2014, 5:07 pm

| Readers 530

By John McTernan The most important three words in any campaign are not ‘Vote For Me’, but ‘Hold Your Nerve’. The independence campaign has reached what Sir Alex Ferguson used to call ‘squeaky-bum time’. The polls are closing – we are told. The No campaign needs to be positive – opine commentators. Scotland is so different, so progressive – pant assorted lefties breathlessly. Wrong, wrong and wrong. Now is the time for the campaign against separation to hold its nerve. …

Victim-Centred Justice: Beyond the Rhetoric

Soapbox on February 12, 2014, 9:23 am

| Readers 294

By Luke Moffett and Kieran McEvoy INTRODUCTION There has been much said about victims in recent months in Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to the Haass negotiations on flags, parades, and dealing with the past. Perhaps the phrase most used is that any process to deal with the past in Northern Ireland has to be ‘victim-centred’. Although the view that the process should be ‘victim-centred’ is laudable, there has been little said as to what this will mean in practice. …

Soapbox: A conflict of interest in CCEA’s dual role in education?

Soapbox on October 31, 2013, 12:08 pm

| Readers 183

By Niall Boyd and Chris Colvin Intentionally or by accident of history, England’s secondary-level education examination system operates as a quasi-market. Ofqual, the government’s regulator, sets down a national curriculum. A host of competing examination boards then set tests that examine this curriculum in subtly different ways. While universities do not tend to differentiate between school-leavers with different boards’ examinations behind them, some boards are nevertheless perceived by teachers to be easier for certain subjects than others, or at least more appropriate for the type of student they teach. Schools choose …

[Soapbox] Shinners, please don’t blame the messenger!

Soapbox on October 15, 2013, 8:10 am

| Readers 100

Gerry Adams is a liar. There. I’ve said it. Cue the wolf circling the sheep and herding them all in. He’s never been in the IRA. (yeah, right) He was in jail when ‘Always look on the Bright Side Of Life’ was written (not true). He is reported to have told the family of Jean Mc Conville that he was also in jail at that time (he wasn’t). Lies have a habit of tripping you up. Not so, if you’re …

Remembering Gerry Fitt…

Soapbox on August 30, 2005, 12:00 am

| Readers 17

Gerry Fitt’s death feels like the passing of an era. A world war coloured his political outlook and his perceptions of conflict. Even so, it never took the edge off his performance in the nightly TV jousts with unionist arch rival Ian Paisley of the early seventies – played out largely against a backdrop of murder campaigns, civil bombings and torturous executions. It intimately connected most political players with their respective audiences in a way that few modern politicians can …

NI Run to Continue?

Soapbox on August 16, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 1

Lawrie Sanchez today named the Northern Ireland squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Switzerland. The match will be the final opportunity the manager has to cast his eye over the team before the eagerly anticipated World Cup Qualifiers which commence next month. Sanchez will be keen to continue the teams unbeaten run, which now stretches some 5 games. However the Swiss, who are in the same World Cup group as the Republic of Ireland, will be no pushovers as they seek …

All-Ireland Club Competition Launch

Soapbox on August 3, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 2

Details of a new north-south competition involving eircom League and Irish League teams are to be unveiled tomorrow morning in Dublin. The deal follows many years of speculation about the prospect of such a tournament and it is understood that a huge sponsorship deal is part of the package. Television coverage has also been secured which will be a further boost to football both north and south The three lucky Irish League clubs who will definitely take part in the …

Ardoyne to Ignite Again?

Soapbox on August 3, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 4

A Nationalist residents spokesman has issued a stark warning to the Parades Commission ahead of its decision on a contentious march in North Belfast later this month. In a rather ominous statement Ger McGuigan warned people “would come out in numbers” to oppose the 14 August parade by the Ligoniel Walker Club past the Ardoyne shops. Mr McGuigan also suggested he was not convinced the protest could pass off peacefully if it was handled in a similar fashion to the …

Raid Was Necessary

Soapbox on August 3, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 2

DUP MLA Ian Paisley junior has told todays Newsletter that the police raid on Stormont had to take place, “for the sake of democracy.” His comments come in the wake of Monday`s statement by Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan, which concluded the operation was justified. The Ombudsman has been heavily criticized by Sinn Fein who believe not only was the search politically motivated, but also that the media had been tipped off about an imminent search at Stormont. SoapboxThis is a …

Glens Do Irish League Proud

Soapbox on July 29, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 1

Glentoran have got through the peliminary round of the UEFA cup for the first time in over 20 years after a 4 – 3 aggregate victory over Finnish full-timers AC Allianssi. The win coincides with an upturn in form for the national team and a new feel-good factor in Northern Irish football as a whole. SoapboxThis is a guest slot to give a platform for new writers either as a one off, or a prelude to becoming part of the …

DUP International Deficit

Soapbox on July 28, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 1

North Down DUP Assembly Member, Peter Weir, has called upon, Senator John Kerry, to “get real” on Northern Ireland. In the article Mr Weir describes Kerry as “out of touch” with politics here, after the Presidential hopeful called for “the full implementation of the Belfast agreement.” Yet again the DUP seem intent on demonstrating, that despite every major nation recognising the GFA as the only way forward, they continue to demand “a new, fair agreement.” It begs the question is …

An Stádas agus an tAcht nua

Soapbox on July 20, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 1

Ós rud é go bhfuair mé cuireadh ó Mhick roinnt seachtainí ó shin cuidiú leis an chuid Gaeilge den tSlugger a choinneáilt ag imeacht, is mithid domh anois an chéad chupla focal a bhreacadh síos, nó tá cúis mhaith ann: buaidh an Stádais. Chan fhuil mé cinnte dáiríribh an dtig liom ná le lucht Stádas go léir iomlán freagrachta as an chinneadh seo a ghlacadh orainn, nó is é mo ghéarbharúil mar shochtheangeolaí go bhfuil na ceisteanna seo go mór …

Eastwoods Odds

Soapbox on June 3, 2004, 12:00 am

| Readers 1

Mr Eastwood has opened his election book. He is taking bets on who will top the poll and he has devised a handicapping system as well. The odds on who will top the poll are as follws: D.U.P 4/7 Sinn Fein 11/10 U.U.P 7 S.D.L.P 12 The handicap bet: D.U.P 11/5 Scratch Sinn Fein 2 +7000 Votes U.U.P 12/5 +45000 Votes S.D.L.P 12/5 +73000 Votes SoapboxThis is a guest slot to give a platform for new writers either as a …