Britain – Page 16 – Slugger O'Toole

Special Reconnaissance Regiment return to NI service

Pete Baker on March 5, 2009, 11:28 pm

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The MI5 [added link] assessment of the threat of attacks by republican paramilitary groups has been upgraded to “severe” and the UK’s Intelligence & Security Committee Report for 2007/8 has revealed that MI5 allocated 15% of its resources in 2007/08 to countering “Irish-related terrorism”. Full report here and the UK Government response [both pdf files]. Meanwhile, BBC NI home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney reports that members of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment have returned to service in Northern Ireland. Adds At …

“We are seeking assurances..”

Pete Baker on March 5, 2009, 8:38 pm

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PriceWaterHouseCoopers are predicting that Northern Ireland will “fare better” than the rest of the UK during the economic downturn. But, as they prepare to travel to the US, our little pleaders are at it again.. Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are hoping that Dublin sticks to its commitments and that London drops its demands for savings, otherwise they believe there could be a serious impact. “We are seeking assurances. We recognise the difficulties that both governments face but as a …

On our Celtic troubles with the English…

Mick Fealty on March 3, 2009, 2:54 pm

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Picking up from Brian… Peter Murtagh with a paean to the largely unspoken verities of the English. Yet strains of anti English sentiment persist, not just in Dublin but in Belfast (and on both sides of the communal divide), and in Scotland, where 7% of the population is made of English people (there’s a must see Newsnight Scotland report here), the Moderator of the Church of Scotland has likened it to sectarianism…The substantive hook for Murtagh’s piece was Noel Browne, …

By-passing the local administration?

Pete Baker on March 3, 2009, 12:16 am

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As Brian noted, the House of Commons Treasury Committee, chaired by John McFall, MP, was at Stormont today. And what they heard from several businesses and lobby groups strongly suggests that the banks are ignoring Northern Ireland’s Government administration “of all the talents”.. And, as Jamie Delargy pointed out on UTV Live, only one of the banks here is owned by a UK-based parent company. Towards the end of the clip [6min 40s in] John McFall addresses what the UK …

About the economy, Minister..

Pete Baker on March 1, 2009, 10:52 pm

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On the Politics Show today, the Economy Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the DUP’s Arlene Foster, gave a competent performance whilst publicly backing the political chugging of the government administration “of all the talents”, and warned that the Tories would cut donations further. [In response to noises off? – Ed]. Probably. That’s despite acknowledging that we are in a “different economic place” than when “promises were made” and populist policies proclaimed. [What’s that ticking sound? – Ed] Indeed. Pete …

“I would harbour that ambition..”

Pete Baker on February 27, 2009, 11:07 pm

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The Guardian reports that Reg Empey has stated that, as part of those new arrangements, he has a commitment from the Conservatives to designate Northern Ireland as an “enterprise zone” “What we have agreed is that all of Northern Ireland will be designated as an enterprise zone,” the UUP leader said. “It allows us to start to work on tax issues.” Asked if that would allow Northern Ireland to set a lower corporation tax, Empey said: “I would harbour that …

Of all the talents?

Pete Baker on February 27, 2009, 3:56 am

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With the issue of future efficiencies and past mis-accountancies still unresolved, Fionnuala O’Connor provides a useful reminder that Northern Ireland’s government administration “of all the talents” has had it easy, so far. [What about those experts? – Ed] Indeed. Pete Baker

“Had to be dragged kicking and screaming..”

Pete Baker on February 23, 2009, 11:09 pm

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Ahead of the Northern Ireland constituency organisation’s inaugural meeting tonight, the Labour Party’s Boyd Black talked to Jim Fitzpatrick and Mark Devenport on Stormont Live. He was also on Hearts and Minds last week. Pete Baker

“Let’s not contemplate defeat..”

Pete Baker on February 22, 2009, 8:42 pm

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With the focus on the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, the BBC NI’s Politics Show’s Kevin Sharkey reports on the party’s difficulties in connecting with voters there – it’s worth listening out for SF Councillor Killian Forde’s comments about that “hostile” media. Below the fold a “philosophical” Gerry Adams, the “longest serving Irish political leader on the island”, dismisses questions about his position and praises the DUP for “doing their best” in government the Northern Ireland administration. He also points to …

“It wasn’t meant to be like this..”

Pete Baker on February 22, 2009, 5:03 pm

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In the Sunday Times, Liam Clarke has a critical assessment of Sinn Féin’s fortunes following their weekend Ard Fheis. The party is struggling despite conditions that favour it. Parties of the far left and far right traditionally do well in recessions when establishment thinking is seen to falter. Nationalism can also prosper at moments of economic crisis. But to do so, a political movement needs a clear vision, must seize the popular imagination and develop policies that offer hope to …

Geeing up Sinn Féin..

Pete Baker on February 20, 2009, 5:29 pm

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Hearts and Minds‘ Julia Paul’s report on the state of Sinn Féin ahead of their weekend Ard Fheis includes, among contributions from Richard English and Eoin Ó Broin, the declaration from founding editor of Lá, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, that he won’t vote for Sinn Féin again. In the studio interview that followed Gerry Adams responded, “Gearóid Ó Cairealláin’s a friend of mine..”, “I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t vote for Sinn Féin.” Update Adams interview in full below the …

“You know the truth..”

Pete Baker on February 20, 2009, 3:50 am

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I think Rusty may have had this part of the interview with Gerry Adams on Hearts and Minds in mind as Noel Thompson touches on some uncomfortable truths for the still member of the British parliament Sinn Féin leader. [There Is No Alternative – Ed]. One immediately falsifiable statement, given his earlier reference in the interview to Ian Paisley Jnr as “Ian Óg”, is Adams’ declaration that “We should call people what they want to be called themselves.” There’s also …

Conveying vehicles from one jurisdiction to another..

Pete Baker on February 18, 2009, 4:37 pm

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Ahead of a Northern Ireland Assembly adjournment debate on funding for the Lough Foyle Ferry, Stormont Live carried a short report and studio discussion with SDLP MLA Mary Bradley – you can view that below the fold. The BBC report that Assembly members called on the Department for Regional Development to help fund the cross-border ferry service when the current contract with Limavady and Donegal Councils ends in June, although Hansard records that the debate was adjourned at 7.32pm last …

“If I do write something, Whatever it is, I’ll be writing for myself.”

Pete Baker on February 16, 2009, 4:10 am

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In today’s Observer Henry McDonald notes a recent post by Danny Morrison on his blog where he takes issue with an account by Seamus Heaney of a chance meeting between the two on a train – a meeting which informed part of a poem in his 1996 collection The Spirit Level. The account appears in the recently published collection of interviews with Heaney by Denis O’Driscoll, Stepping Stones. From the Observer article. In the recently published book of interviews with …

“All the evidence is here.”

Pete Baker on February 13, 2009, 4:06 am

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On Hearts and Minds tonight, Malachi O’Doherty on the real lessons from The Process™ here – “You don’t need to be sane and reasonable to make peace. You don’t even have to be a good politician.” Of course, it also helps to have well-placed friends.. and to keep moving, however slowly, towards the agreed objective. Even if you we end up with an incomplete, or partial, version of that objective. Pete Baker

There’s [more] gold in them thar hills!

Pete Baker on February 6, 2009, 3:55 am

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Apparently.. At least according to the RTÉ report. For their part Conroy Diamonds and Gold say that the samples taken at the Clay Lake target [pdf file] in County Armagh contain “average gold-in-soil values [] twice the average of those recorded at Clontibret.” The press release states – “More than 80 soil samples were collected at Clay Lake, returning average gold-in-soil values of over 50ppb, with six greater than 100ppb and a highest value of 1,531ppb”. That’s parts per billion …

The politics of the Scottish budget…

Mick Fealty on February 5, 2009, 8:27 pm

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Jeff reckons it puts the Parliament front and centre and that the willingness of all sides to do a deal augurs well for Scottish devolution. He has the SNP as the clear winners. Calum is just relieved. It struck me that although this is new for Scotland, the kind of horse trading and protracted negotiations is not unfamiliar to the erstwhile watchers of Leinster House. Is John Swiney the Bertie Ahern; Scotland’s new fixer-in-chief? Malc thinks no one but the …

1916: the musical…

Mick Fealty on February 5, 2009, 8:16 pm

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A London based production company is looking for a librettist to help them develop a musical on the theme of the 1916 Easter Rising. So if you have a good knowledge in Irish history and the Rising of 1916, and good command of Irish dialects, and you have a latent Les Mis inside you, why not give it a crack! H/T Dave! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …

And now the end is near..?

Mick Fealty on February 5, 2009, 2:33 pm

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The latest on that Northern Irish owned white elephant on the south coast of England. Head office in Belfast is refusing to take calls from the local press… 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

“unusual patterns of dole claimants”

Pete Baker on February 2, 2009, 9:27 pm

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The Belfast Telegraph reports a complaint, by Donegal Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh, of “unusual patterns of dole claimants” in certain towns. Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin confirmed the problem was so serious it had been raised at a formal meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council by her SDLP counterpart Margaret Ritchie. The minister also noted that this activity “wasn’t confined to Donegal but was a feature of all border counties”. She also said: “We were always conscious …