Ireland – Page 22 – Slugger O'Toole

“Not only did they not tell the public that they allowed a child sex abuser to remain in the party…”

Mick Fealty on September 13, 2018, 9:47 pm

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So the Ombudsman has delivered his latest report (or letter) to Mairia Cahill, not simply on the deficiencies of, first the RUC and secondly the PSNI in handling her case, but some damning news for Sinn Fein too. The BBC reports: …the RUC, Northern Ireland’s police force before the PSNI was formed in 2001, had information about allegations of child abuse by an IRA member 10 years before the complaints were made but failed to act. He also found that there …

Brexiteer border plan is not a game changer, nor a government wrecker for the DUP

Brian Walker on September 12, 2018, 3:30 pm

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Will Arlene Foster proclaim the merits of the Brexiteer European Research Group’s plan for the border when she meets Theresa May? She will come under immediate pressure to give her verdict – for or against the Chequers plan on which May refuses to compromise; or in favour of the ERG’s? Nigel Dodds has declared the plan which is rival to the prime minister’s plan “positive and timely.” But is this an implied threat to withdraw support from the government? It …

As the practicalities of the border issue are wrestled with, the pressure on the DUP is mounting. Are the hardline Brexiteers preparing to rat?

Brian Walker on September 11, 2018, 11:41 am

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Now what? On the border issue, the EU Commission and the Brexiteers are coming closer together than either to the government, according to the Guardian. This report shows that both sides are getting down to the practical options, instead of political grandstanding. Do the options appeal to the DUP? Downing St are sticking with ” no EU officials” at British ports but for how long? Does ” no EU officials ” rule out categorically different rules for the island of …

Micheál Martin: “the core of nationalism is to secure a unity of people and not just a unity of structures…”

Mick Fealty on September 10, 2018, 6:49 pm

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In his recently published book, my old Slugger partner in crime Paul Evans describes the rise in the populism as a form of anti-utilitarianism in which political gaming is gradually crowding out representative democracy. Whilst keen not to paint Brexit or the election of Trump as civilisation’s end, he highlights the capacity for hidden interests to manipulate any electorate through dark money and by sending radically different political messages even to people living under the same roof is rising. The resulting squeezing of …

The EU may shoot Boris’s fox and bail Theresa out

Brian Walker on September 10, 2018, 11:06 am

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The FT has discovered a blink of light for Theresa May amid the general Brexit gloom. The Daily Telegraph is among other papers lifting the story, labelling it, “Operation Save Theresa.” The EU is preparing to give its Brexit negotiator new instructions to help close a deal with Britain, in a conciliatory move that will bolster Theresa May as she suffers savage attacks from Brexiters at home. An informal summit in Salzburg this month between the EU’s …

When oh when will the UK government stop stalling on the backstop?

Brian Walker on September 8, 2018, 2:19 pm

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Why is Michel Barnier being messed about over the backstop and the border? On Tuesday he said this to the Commons Brexit Select Committee. I am very concerned about Ireland. We need to find a solution that avoids the return of a hard border and that remains today the main obstacle on our road to an agreement between the British and ourselves. On the ground, ladies and gentlemen, it is impossible—this is nothing new—to distinguish between customs checks and other …

The time has come for the next Assembly to vote on a border poll

Brian Walker on September 6, 2018, 12:01 pm

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In a brave attempt to discuss a border poll dispassionately, Newton Emerson is tentatively suggesting that it might be a good idea to hold a sort of test poll outside the terms of the GFA “to clear the air.” Unfortunately his analysis is better than his prescription, as a poll of any sort under official sponsorship, even one declared in some way not to count, would inevitably still stimulate the seven year itch among nationalists he rightly identifies , to …

From the London broadsheets, rare interest in Irish developing positions is to be welcomed

Brian Walker on September 5, 2018, 10:42 am

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The criticism is well made that British interest in Irish positions is generally self serving and fails to recognise their independent validity. Any slight shift in this is to be welcomed. The London broadsheets have paid Sinn Fein the rare compliment of taking seriously the party’s think-in at Cavan. It’s worth noting that they have yet to broach the notion that a Brexit solution would be so much easier if Northern Ireland were to join the Republic. Quite apart from …

The arrest of two journalists is a symptom of a bankrupt system for dealing with the Troubles legacy, with no solution in sight

Brian Walker on September 4, 2018, 12:11 pm

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The arrest and interrogation of two journalists suspected of stealing documents in connection with the making the film documentary No Stone Unturned on the Loughinisland murders, is a perfect example of how the current handing of the Troubles legacy is deeply unsatisfactory. In the present vacuum, the PSNI, which still retains front-line legacy responsibilities, seems to feel bound to be seen doing something, even in cases where they look self interested, counterproductive and downright foolish. On the face of it …

Future Ireland: Where Can The North Thrive?

Claire Mitchell on September 4, 2018, 12:01 pm

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For some masochistic reason, I feel umbilically connected to the soil and the soul of this island. Especially this messed up northern corner of it. But there is no point in drawing borders in the soil, and driving flags into it, when it only has 60 more years of harvests left to give. It occurred to me recently that the best case scenario for Northern Ireland, as things stand, is to have a mediocre Brexit, for Stormont to limp back, for orange …

Brexit crisis point is arriving even faster than expected

Brian Walker on September 3, 2018, 2:16 pm

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At the opening of the Westminster season, no time has been wasted for open warfare to break out inside the Conservative party. Theresa May’s Chequers plan is assailed from both left and right, in the old terms, between Leave and Remain. Its main thrust – separating the authority to lay down rules for goods from regulations for services – is now specifically rejected by Brussels. Crying wolf is easy but this looks really serious. Boris slaps down his challenge in …

The Pope’s visit revealed a Church at war between left and right and over the authority of the Pope. The result is deadlock

Brian Walker on September 1, 2018, 12:26 pm

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Two characteristics of the papacy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged more clearly as a result of his brief visit to Ireland, neither of them encouraging. One was the local hierarchy’s relative powerlessness to influence what went on. Over the dashed hopes that he might come North, they talked like onlookers in the crowd. This goes flatly against all I ever assumed about the pledges of collegiality with local bishops after Vatican 2. The second is the relative powerless of the …

Faith beyond the Shadow of the Abuse Crisis: Review of Aidan Donaldson’s The Beatitudes of Pope Francis

Gladys Ganiel on August 29, 2018, 7:06 pm

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There is no doubt that Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland has been overshadowed by the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. On Radio Ulster’s Talkback discussion on the eve of the visit, presenter William Crawley strained to steer the conversation in any direction other than abuse. Slugger’s own Brian Walker focused on abuse in his post-visit analysis. And in my own reflections, I argued that the visit ‘had become an unofficial referendum on the Papal handling of clerical sexual abuse …

Rees-Mogg brazen in his ignorance of Ireland

Fionnbharr Rodgers on August 28, 2018, 4:08 pm

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“I don’t think my visiting the Border is really going to give me a fundamental insight into the Border beyond what one can get by studying it,” said Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North-East Somerset. This comes from footage of a public meeting where Rees-Mogg euphemistically stated that the British government could “keep an eye on” the border, and suggested that there should be a return to the sort of inspections at border-crossings that existed during the Troubles. Historians may, by …

The Pope calling those involved in abuse and coverup “caca”- excrement – will be remembered. But will it be significant?

Brian Walker on August 26, 2018, 1:10 pm

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In a statement, the representatives from the Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes group said Francis condemned corruption and cover up within the Church as “caca”, an Italian and Spanish word for human excrement. The statement said that after the pope used the word, his translator explained that it meant “literally filth as one sees in a toilet.” A Vatican spokesman had no comment on the details of what was said in the meeting. A Vatican official said he …

Sustaining hope for peace: Global Conflict 2018 #GFA20

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster) on August 25, 2018, 2:25 pm

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Sustaining hope for peace: Global Conflict 2018 #GFA20 by Allan LEONARD 23 August 2018 In partnership with the University of Chicago and its Pearson Institute, Queen’s University Belfast hosted a two-day conference, “Global Conflict: The Human Impact”. This report recounts the first day’s events, which focussed on sharing learning from the peace processes in Northern Ireland and Colombia. Professor Ian Greer, recently installed Vice-Chancellor at Queen’s, welcomed delegates with some explanatory remarks about the partnership between the two universities. This …

What lingers is Pope John Paul’s charisma, not his messages

Brian Walker on August 24, 2018, 10:49 pm

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Thirty nine years ago, I’d just completed a tour of the key sites for the momentous visit of Pope John Paul 11 in my role as commentator for the continuous coverage by BBC Northern Ireland. We were to comment off- air from RTE in Donnybrook. There was no way to get round the island in time between Dublin, Drogheda, Knock, Galway and Limerick. Swift movement from site to site was only possible by helicopter and flights were strictly restricted. Among …

Brexit Secretary tells NI businesses to ‘speak to Dublin’ if no deal…

Brian O'Neill on August 24, 2018, 9:59 am

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The Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said Northern Ireland businesses trading across the Irish border should contact the Irish government for advice in the event of a ‘no-deal‘. My translation – ‘We have enough problems of our own, you Paddies sort yourselves out.’ Is it reading too much into it that the Government would happily throw NI under the bus if needed? So much for the DUP/Conservative bromance. That’s in the context of the Ashcroft Poll from June which revealed that ‘Six out …

To challenge Northern Ireland’s weightless politics, any Fianna Fail move must change the conversation

Mick Fealty on August 23, 2018, 5:26 pm

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A potential SDLP/Fianna Fail electoral arrangement was the top read story on the Irish Times on Tuesday. That’s the silly season for you. However, Fiach Kelly is a serious journo and Micheal Martin’s 2019 deadline is approaching. There’s little detail other than something will be announced in September. Kelly suggests it could involve some form of “a phased process which would eventually bring both under the Fianna Fáil banner”. It’s the latest hint matters are starting to get serious. No detail …

Could the lights go out next March?

Brian Walker on August 22, 2018, 8:46 am

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The inanities of managing Brexit reach new depths. Times exclusive Emergency Brexit energy talks as ministers hide no deal plans Greg Clark, the business secretary, has held urgent talks with officials in Dublin on an emergency agreement to keep the lights on in Northern Ireland after a “no-deal” Brexit. Downing Street wants to avoid publishing its plans for a worst-case scenario that include importing thousands of generators north of the border. The electricity industry has operated a single wholesale market …