EU – Page 48 – Slugger O'Toole

Brexit and foreign doctors (parking fines and other things)

Turgon on April 12, 2016, 4:44 pm

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David McNarry’s latest foray into controversy has been to float – and then retract the suggestion that foreign workers (specifically a hypothetical Polish surgeon) be deported for minor crimes such as parking tickets. Although this may play well with a few it seems something of a gaffe: maybe UKIP’s leadership will not be too sorry to lose their sole NI MLA when McNarry stands down at the Assembly elections (to be fair retiring at 67 seems pretty reasonable). It also …

One “Why the Government believes” leaflet gets through, but only just…

Mick Fealty on April 11, 2016, 2:02 pm

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Was someone reading the Sun this morning…? Here’s one of them that got through… 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

Does the EU have a referendum problem?

Paul Hagan on April 10, 2016, 11:24 pm

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Eurosceptic hearts were gladdened last week, when they claimed victory in the referendum. Of course I’m referring to the Dutch referendum on the free-trade deal between the EU and the Ukraine, in which a majority of the minority who voted in the Netherlands on Wednesday, chose to reject the deal. Despite insisting that neither Dublin, Washington or anywhere else should tell you how to vote, on Europe, Nigel Farage even went and campaigned for a ‘No’ vote in the Netherlands …

Northern Ireland’s first fact-checking service launched: FactCheckNI

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster) on April 8, 2016, 6:26 pm

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FactCheckNI — Northern Ireland’s first ever fact-checking service — was officially launched at the Skainos Centre in Belfast. The project — funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Building Change Trust — aims to influence public policy in regards to the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, keep politicians right in terms of both their promises and their rhetoric, and also influence the general public by providing access to unbiased facts. Paul Braithwaite explained: “At Building Change Trust, we …

#EUYourChoice – robust debate in Belfast across Tory and Labour lines

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 4, 2016, 9:45 pm

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Tonight’s EU Your Choice debate began with ten minute presentations from the four GB political panellists before moving into a Q&A. The full event was live-streamed and should soon be available to replay. Kate Hoey (Labour MP) – leave Vernon Coaker (Labour MP) – remain Owen Paterson (Conservative MP) – leave John Stevens (former Conservative MEP) – remain The panel was co-chaired by Quadriga Consulting’s Jeffrey Peel and Danske Bank Economist Angela McGowan, making it an interesting format given their …

Tory Uncivil War based on Europe but continued on everything else?

Turgon on March 28, 2016, 5:33 pm

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The dust has begun to settle on the budget and Ian Duncan Smith’s dramatic resignation: not enough that said to know what is going to happen in the medium term. The episode was, however, much worse than the Omnishambles of the 2012 budget. It revealed a series of fault lines within the Conservative Party that do not simply relate to Europe but the coverings over which are cracking under the weight of that juggernaut. The Conservative Party like any political …

Old Empire Allies

Paul Hagan on March 16, 2016, 1:36 am

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David McCann today informed via twitter that yesterday was “Proclamation day”, and the Irish government invited students at schools and universities around the Republic of Ireland to read the 1916 post-office rebels manifesto, and reflect on what it means to be Irish and pen their own ‘Proclamation for a New Generation’. The 1916 rising’s figurehead Patrick Pearse was a talented writer, but not a military tactician, hence the the rising’ successes were not military but rather rather in the communication of ideals. The …

#Brexit from the business view of a border city – #EUDebateNI in Derry

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on March 9, 2016, 3:52 pm

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Introducing the fourth in a short series of EUDebateNI events this morning in Derry~Londonderry, Conor Houston explained that while the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building takes a neutral on the decision of whether the UK remains or leaves EU, it does want to encourage debate. Business journalist Naomi McMullan hosted the debate said there was a lot of information about the EU referendum but very little clarity. She characterised the debate as “a clash of visions”. Danske Bank’s economist …

UUP support remaining in the European Union

David McCann on March 6, 2016, 11:07 am

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The UUP will join Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and the Greens to argue for Northern Ireland staying within the European Union. Here is a statement from the party; The Ulster Unionist Party believes that on balance Northern Ireland is better remaining in the European Union, with the U.K. Government pressing for further reform and a return to the founding principle of free trade, not greater political union. The Party respects that individual members may vote for withdrawal on the 23rd …

When the Saints go Marching – On the Trail of Columbanus by Barry Sloan: Book Review

Gladys Ganiel on March 3, 2016, 11:03 am

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Last November marked the 1400th anniversary of the death of Saint Columbanus, the Ulster monk whose missions on the continent have made him the patron saint of all those who now seek to build a united Europe. This anniversary was marked in various ways on the island of Ireland and in Europe, including a joint BBC/RTE documentary titled ‘Mary McAleese and the Man who Saved Europe.’ The Mary McAleese documentary gave some flavour of the sights and sounds of the …

Sticking to the facts on Europe?

Paul Hagan on March 1, 2016, 10:52 pm

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“On-balance” to use the first Minister’s language, the DUP’s call to vote to leave the EU is likely to be largely cost-free for her party. The vote which is now set for 23 June will come just seven weeks after the Stormont Assembly elections, will mark the end of a three year cycle of elections; local Councils, Westminster and the Assembly. The EU ballot may well therefore strike voters as an epilogue or afterthought to a 3 act play, rather …

The Legal Implications of Brexit: mechanics, criminal repercussions, and perhaps enhanced protection of rights #EUDebateNI

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 26, 2016, 5:06 pm

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Lawyers from across Ireland gathered in Belfast for a conference examining the Legal Implications of Brexit. The complexities of unpicking the UK from the EU were unearthed and discussed, including smuggling, extradition, and the impact on human rights protects. (The Attorney General reckons that Brexit would enhance the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.)

…but they’ll never take our EU membership?

Lee Reynolds on February 26, 2016, 3:49 pm

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The debate on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union has properly begun. In these early days of the debate David Cameron and Nicola Sturgeon have made an unusual partnership to try and add a Scottish question to the European one. The UUP is playing a game of public angst with the Scottish claims one of the issues they list for their dither as they frantically try to assess the direction of the wind. The ability of Northern Ireland …

8 pitches for #EUref: 3 academic, 5 political; 2 to leave, 6 to remain #EUDebateNI

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on February 24, 2016, 10:48 pm

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Eight speakers deliver their pitch for the leaving or remaining in the European Union in QUB Student’s Union – Leslie Budd (OU), Hugo MacNeill (British/Irish Assoc), David Phinnemore (QUB), David McNarry (UKIP), Duncan Morrow (APNI), Declan Kearney (SF), Christopher Stalford (DUP) & Claire Hanna (SDLP)

Continued membership of the EU is the only way that Unionism can survive

Soapbox on February 24, 2016, 4:53 pm

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Dr. David Shiels is College Research Associate in History at Wolfson College, Cambridge and author of a forthcoming biography of Enoch Powell. He argues that if Unionists insist on peeling away the post war constitutional frame by leaving the EU, you risk the unraveling of the British Union too. The Democratic Unionist Party has, at last, come out in favour of Brexit. The party which proudly wears the badge of Euroscepticism in Northern Ireland has until now refused to take …

On #Brexit nothing is certain, even the assumption it would be followed by a Scottish exit

Mick Fealty on February 24, 2016, 4:38 pm

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Much of what happens in the Brexit debate we should probably take with a large pinch of salt, whether or not it comes from a camp you favour or not. It’s a bit of a leap into the dark, so not all of the consequences, either way, can be reliably foreseen. It’s likely to be a class of Project Fear Mk II. One line to be particularly sceptical of is the idea that if the UK comes out of the …

“The politico’s error is to see voters as particles that are acted upon by political forces…”

Mick Fealty on February 23, 2016, 12:38 pm

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My only problem with Janan Ganesh’s piece in the FT today (and the Irish Times) is that’s not possible to quote all of it. I recommend reading it in conjunction with Martyn Turner’s Politics of Fear cartoon as the Irish commentariat works itself up about a whole lot of things that are unlikely to happen. He starts with an invitation to look back a year to look at the news stories from February 23rd, 2015, to see just how utterly beside …

Unionists should be careful what they wish for with a Brexit…

Samuel Thompson on February 23, 2016, 7:19 am

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So it’s official. Turkeys do vote for an early Christmas. Without even waiting to see what David Cameron brought back from Brussels, the DUP and TUV nailed their colours to the Brexit mast. Both explain their position primarily in monetary terms – the UK pays far more into the EU than it gets back, so we’d be better off out of it. The tax payers of England of course could say that about the UK in general and Northern Ireland …

Brexit from the Centre Left

Turgon on February 21, 2016, 9:39 am

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The Remain camp have so successfully monopolised the centre and especially centre left ground that they have reduced the political space for Leave. In reality perfectly valid arguments for both positions (Leave / Remain) can be presented from almost anywhere on the political spectrum.

#Brexit would not be particularly good news for UK’s regions. But it’s not an exit visa either.

Mick Fealty on February 5, 2016, 4:28 pm

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So Brexit. The Tusk negotiations aren’t over yet, but there is a broad outline for a deal that changes the UK’s relationship with the EU. Sceptics say it is not enough. Yesterday’s YouGov poll puts the figure of those who want to leave where it needs to be if the Brexit campaign is to have any chance of success: leading 45% to 34% with 19% undecided. There are of course serious concerns at the implications for British Irish relations, and …