Turgon

Following Mary McAleese’s intervention linking a visit by the Queen to the RoI to devolution of policing and justice (later confirmed as Dublin government policy) there was universal anger from unionists; her comments being condemned by the DUP, UUP and TUV. After McAleese’s last set of unacceptable remarks (the infamous “Prods are like Nazis” comments) she had to cancel a visit to Belfast. She has, however, been back in Northern Ireland this week according to her website. She appears to …

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It appears that Seymour Sweeney has been convicted of assaulting a man on private property near the Giant’s Causeway. Mr. Sweeney seems likely to appeal his conviction. If commenting: remember the laws of libel. TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.

A follow up to my previous blog about Arlene Foster’s decisions on councils. Her statement to the assembly on Monday is here. It is fairly unexciting stuff but a few parts are quite interesting. This bit: “statutory safeguards to ensure fair and transparent decision-making and to protect the rights of minority groups. Proportionality will be the touchstone of all that we are doing on equality, and we look forward to presenting that. Between now and 2011, we intend to run …

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I know this will amaze some people but the great leader Jim Allister does seem to have some interests other than specifically political issues. His web site sometimes has other random things which are interesting.The latest one to catch my eye is the issue of MOTs for cars imported into NI. We all know that the Northern Ireland MOT is very strict. Thankfully Emily and Gordon (my son names the cars after Thomas the Tank engine characters and the names …

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One of the quiet heroes of Northern Ireland died today. Noreen Hill was the widow of Ronnie Hill the headmaster of Enniskillen High School who spent 13 years in a coma following the Remembrance Day bombing. She bought a nursing home in Hollywood where she cared for him until his death in 2000. Here is the Impartial Reporter report from his funeral. As Mrs. Hill said in a previous interview: “I used to have a dream that he was walking …

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The general elections have now been held in Zimbabwe. I have previously predicted Mr. Mugabe’s re election, though I hoped to be wrong. Now maybe just maybe I will be (and I will be delighted). The MDC are claiming victory but the results have still not been released and there is concern regarding electoral fraud. To be honest Morgan Tsvangirai is also a relatively divisive figure. In addition leading figures in the army have previously said they would not accept …

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The Human Rights Forum tends to provoke significant reactions from many. The Newsletter is reporting a leak of the draft document outlining current ideas for the Bill of Rights. According to the Newsletter the following may be being proposed: -Raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18 – meaning that rapists, murderers and other criminals under that age could not be prosecuted; -Defining victims as those who have survived “violent, conflict-related incidents” with no distinction between those responsible for atrocities …

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The Belfast Telegraph and BBC are reporting that representatives of the Winning Moves (the makers of Monopoly) were in Belfast yesterday to launch the Belfast edition and indeed to canvass opinion as to which places should be included. There is of course already a Northern Ireland edition of Monopoly. I wonder if they could make a special politically controversial version (or maybe two versions) with various places being worthless or valuable dependent on the appropriate market. We could call it …

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I was brought up quite near Kilrea which contrary to some people’s views is not actually noted for particularly good community relations. The latest problem has been the “tit for tat” flying of flags. Apparently this episode began when the Irish tricolour was raised over the St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church on Easter Sunday. As some form of “retaliation” the Union flag was then raised over the Marion Hall in the town. This unpleasant silliness has been condemned by …

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Jim Allister has made a speech tonight at a meeting in Portrush. He is claiming that part of the deal between the DUP and SF over the 11 councils will include a D’Hondt style mandatory coalition in the councils. This is odd considering that the DUP claim to be aiming to end the mandatory coalition at Stormont. If so surely this will weaken their negotiating position on such matters or maybe agreeing to D’Hondt was part of the price along …

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The Embryo Research Bill at Westminister has been extremely controversial. It may allow the creation of “hybrid human animal” embryos. Here is a link to a number of Q+A’s on the subject. The bill has been heavily supported by the Association of Medical Research Charities. There has also been very significant dissent spearheaded by the Roman Catholic Church. It now seems that Labour MPs will be offered a free vote on the controversial parts of the bill.Proponents of this research …

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A former commander of the IRA in the Maze, Sean Lynch, who was captured by the SAS in 1986 whilst trying to blow up members of the security forces on the Donagh to Rosslea Road is about to join the Fermanagh District Policing Partnership. This has been roundly condemned by Fermanagh UUP MLA Tom Elliott who has demanded to know whether or not Lynch is still in the IRA. DUP MLA Arlene Foster has said “it is a difficult decision …

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The National Union of Teachers has voted to oppose military recruitment activities in schools if they employ “misleading propaganda”. The MoD has denied recruiting in schools and said that its activities are to raise “general awareness of the armed forces in society, not to recruit”. The army can clearly offer a good career to young people; there are also of course very considerable risks. As one of the NUT delegates said of joining the army this is not a decision …

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Almost as predictable as an IRA statement at this time of year is unionists arguing about what it means. Rusty Nail has helpfully provided a link to the text below along with lots of other links to assorted terrorist cheerleading ramblings and some other stuff. Here is another link to Professor O’Neill’s own comments. Jim Allister has pointed out that the IRA still seems committed to a united Ireland and criticises those who try to imply otherwise. Sammy Wilson on …

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Sometimes in Northern Ireland there is a tendency to suggest that because the other lot do something therefore we should not do it. This is a common problem in sport and even the arts and music. I would suggest, however, that this problem is also present in religion. I thought I might, this week, be permitted to make some comment on religion without too many complaints, it is after all part of our culture and even the non religious may …

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A standard thesis of some of our nationalist and republican commentators is that a United Ireland is inevitable, that everyone (practically) knows it and that unionists need to negotiate as good a settlement as they can in the new dispensation. Rather than indulge in the standard rebuttal of this position which is what unionists normally do and rest assured I still do not accept the accuracy of the premise; I thought it would be more interesting as an academic exercise …

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Okay today is the Ides of March: the anniversary of the murder of Julius Caesar. I think that it is long enough ago to avoid whataboutery. My question for the assembled intellects of slugger is who is most likely to have their political career assassinated in the near future? Update: I am clearly not thinking that straight today (I have the cold). With the Julian calender being different to the Gregorian; will we have to wait until 28th March? TurgonThis …

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I blogged yesterday on the deal on reducing the number of councils to 11. It is interesting that initially the other parties apart from SF supported 15 councils, SF wanted 7 whilst it was unclear exactly what the DUP wanted thought they did not like 7. As such I suppose the 11 council model could be seen as a reasonable compromise achieved by the DUP.Indeed in the executive only the UUP opposed the compromise, with Alliance also doing opposing it …

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A row seems to be developing regarding hospitals in Powys; the largest county in Wales. Powys is a very large rural county; much of its hospital provision is by small community hospitals. A recent report has been quite damning of the quality of care for patients admitted to these hospitals stating that they are inadequately staffed, cannot provide safe care and recommending that acute hospital care be transferred to local District General Hospitals. What on earth has this to do …

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