Media – Page 21 – Slugger O'Toole

“You can’t put people in one of two boxes, it is much more complex now”

Pete Baker on July 13, 2013, 9:59 pm

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In the Irish Times Gerry Moriarty talks to five northern “unicorns” – Catholics who believe Northern Ireland is better off in the UK “for economic and cultural reasons”. From the Irish Times article If five people from a Catholic background, two of them from nationalist west Belfast – Goss and McKenzie – are so readily prepared to declare their allegiances, there must be more. These people are far removed from the current tensions over yesterday’s Twelfth parades. They have no emotional …

North Belfast kicks off…

Pete Baker on July 12, 2013, 9:27 pm

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The BBC are reporting that water cannon and baton rounds have been used in north Belfast after a sustained attack on police in the Woodvale area. Four police officers and one civilian, to date, are reported to have been injured in the disorder. And there have been a number of clashes between rival loyalist and nationalist groups in the area. The Guardian is live-blogging events. • The first violent clashes erupted around twenty minutes to eight in the north end of …

“The Commission has heard the decision of the judge late this evening and cannot agree with his view…”

Pete Baker on July 12, 2013, 12:35 pm

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We’ll have to wait to see the detail. But, in the meantime, the News Letter has the he said/she said response to a High Court ruling overturning a Parades Commission determination in Castlederg. From the News Letter report A spokesman for the band, which was supported by TUV leader Jim Allister, said the case was won through a resident who protested that he was being denied the right to see the parade. “The commission could not explain their position,” he said. “They …

Louth County Council Suspend Narrow Water Bridge Project

Pete Baker on July 9, 2013, 4:05 pm

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Looks like the Northern Ireland Finance Minister’s caution was justified. As the BBC report Plans to build a cross-border-bridge between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic have been put on hold. Louth County Council said tenders had been significantly above the figure expected for the Narrow Water bridge project, leading it to halt it. RTÉ has the figures involved. The council today said the tenders for the 195m cable-stay bridge across the river Newry at Narrow Water ranged from €26m to €40m, …

The New York Times hails Game of Thrones boost for Northern Ireland

Brian Walker on July 8, 2013, 4:00 pm

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Great that the New York Times has noticed that Northern Ireland is now suffused with a different sorts of “ intrigue sex and moody landscapes” which is drawing then in rather than keeping them away.. Chronicling a war among dynasties for an Iron Throne in the imaginary land of Westeros, the HBO fantasy series is a cult hit suffused with intrigue, sex and moody landscapes. The latter is making Northern Ireland a magnet for fans who want to visit places like …

“The Board has no confidence in the leadership of the Historical Enquiries Team…”

Pete Baker on July 5, 2013, 6:25 pm

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The Northern Ireland Policing Board has agreed a response to the critical HMIC Report on the Inspection of the PSNI Historical Enquiries Team. The BBC’s headline may be somewhat misleading, it’s the leadership of the HET that the Board have no confidence in. From the NI Policing Board statement The following has been agreed: The Board has no confidence in the leadership of the Historical Enquiries Team and the Chief Constable has been asked to review and action the management …

Military covenant: “I may need your help publicly on this…”

Pete Baker on July 2, 2013, 7:39 pm

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For the second year in a row, an Irish Government Minister has taken part in the Battle of the Somme commemoration at Belfast City Hall – this time it was the turn of Labour TD, Joe Costello. Also present were the Northern Ireland First Minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, and representatives from the Ulster Unionists, the Alliance Party and the SDLP. The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Féin’s Máirtín Ó’Muilleoir, has continued his party’s boycott of the official ceremony. [Are you serious?! – Ed] As the …

G8 Summit: “Of course, the event did not come for free…”

Pete Baker on July 2, 2013, 4:09 pm

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As the BBC reports, the Northern Ireland Finance Minister, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, has revised, upwards, his estimate of the cost of the recent G8 Summit in Fermanagh. Here’s the relevant extract from Hansard There has been much focus on the cost of the G8 event. The most important thing is that we successfully delivered a safe and secure event, and, for that, I give my sincere thanks to the PSNI. Of course, the event did not come for free, and, …

Why we need a political opposition, Part 327: To toughen up our thin-skinned politicians

Mick Fealty on July 1, 2013, 11:15 am

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Tony Grew in the Bel Tel quotes Lord Black of Brentwood… “As a journalist, I can tell your Lordships that it is not so much what happens in the courts but the prospect of what might happen which has such a chilling effect on free speech and encourages the imposition of self-censorship. And he added: “After talking to diverse journalists in the Province, it seems to me that many of the Province’s politicians are notoriously thin-skinned about criticism. “Journalists and …

#AngloTapes: A good week for the Irish MSM..?

Mick Fealty on June 29, 2013, 3:10 pm

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On the face of it, it was a good week for the Irish Independent. You might call it cynical, or you might call it strategic, you might even call it both, but the release of sound files on Independent.ie got the website the kind of coverage some bloggers would die for… Questions of course, remain. Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail are both asking how they got these confidential tapes that were previously in the custody of the Garda, and the …

Permanent revolution by facebook is replacing ideology

Brian Walker on June 22, 2013, 5:42 pm

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Why are demos and riots breaking out all over? It’s the economy stupid. But Newsnight’s Paul Mason has a contemporary twist, writing in the Independent to give a taster for his book Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere: The New Global Revolutions’ Velocity of information matters as much as action itself. It is striking how badly the incumbent elites in each case totally lose the information war. Whether it’s Greece, Turkey, Egypt or Brazil the unspoken truth is it is hard …

“Adding more weapons to this volatile situation could destabilise the entire region…”

Pete Baker on June 15, 2013, 6:42 pm

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The Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers were in a sunny Downing Street garden yesterday, welcoming that suspect package, and extolling the virtues of demonstrating “peacefully, positively, constructively” [Is that with, or without, a Thompson sub-machine gun? – Ed] Without, probably… ANYhoo, on the same day Sinn Féin released the text of what appears to be a different speech to that delivered in Downing Street by the Mid Ulster MP Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness – made at …

G8 Summit: “Gardaí will place a particular emphasis on securing the Border…”

Pete Baker on June 6, 2013, 5:27 pm

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According to the Northern Ireland Finance Minister, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, the NI Executive will face a bill of £6 million from the £60 million total cost of hosting the G8 Summit in Fermanagh on June 17th and 18th – the UK Treasury is expected to provide the rest of the funds required. But, as the Irish Times reports, the neighbouring state on the island is also making preparations. Some 900 gardaí will be in the region for the period covering the …

“still much to be done in those communities that have not previously, or only partially, engaged in peace building and reconciliation activities…”

Pete Baker on June 5, 2013, 2:57 pm

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The Irish Times reports on, what would appear to be, the International Fund for Ireland’s (IFI) response to the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers bullshit distraction about “Building a United Community”. From the Irish Times report “The community transformation strategy recognises the new reality on the ground and looks to support communities that are still affected by the threat of violence,” said the IFI chairman Dr Adrian Johnston. “It is particularly focused on addressing the root causes of sectarianism and, in …

“As usual, few things are as unreliable as Obama’s speeches and rhetoric…”

Pete Baker on May 30, 2013, 6:52 pm

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At the Big G’s Comment is Free, Glenn Greenwald follows up on his excellent analysis of US President Barack Obama’s recent ‘war on terror’ speech to focus in on one of those domestic political problems I mentioned – “the serious threat posed by the Obama administration to press freedoms”. From Glenn Greenwald’s post Outside of the most hardened Obama media loyalists, it’s virtually impossible to find any defenses or even offers of excuses or mitigation for what the Obama administration has been doing …

“Obama may do things you progressives find distasteful, but at least marvel at how thoughtful and torn up he is about it all…”

Pete Baker on May 28, 2013, 2:48 pm

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With growing domestic political difficulties – the continued fall-out from Benghazi, the IRS caught targeting political opponents, the increased invocation of the 1917 Espionage Act against troublesome journalists, to name but three issues – US President Barack Obama is probably looking forward to his short June break at Lough Erne. In the meantime, though, take the time to read Glenn Greenwald’s excellent analysis of Obama’s recent ‘war on terror’ speech. From Glenn Greenwald’s post But whatever else is true, what should …

Harry Fitzsimons arrested in Senegal

Pete Baker on May 26, 2013, 8:28 pm

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As the BBC reports A west Belfast man has been arrested in Senegal in west Africa. It is understood Harry Fitzsimons was detained in the capital Dakar last month. Earlier this year Italian police issued an arrest warrant for Mr Fitzsimons in connection with an alleged mafia money-laundering operation in Calabria in Italy. The report also notes that the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin has confirmed his detention and is providing consular assistance to Mr Fitzsimons. When news broke, on …

ODI: Ireland v Pakistan

Pete Baker on May 26, 2013, 4:46 pm

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A four from the last ball of the game by Kevin O’Brien saw Ireland secure a draw in Thursday’s rain affected One-Day International against Pakistan [Duckworth-Lewis applied]. Ireland’s 275 for 5 included 103 runs from 107 balls by Paul “that kid is a freak” Stirling. Going into today’s second ODI in the two game series, Ireland were confident of an upset against the test match playing Pakistan. Put in to bat, Ireland made a defendable 229 for 9. And they’ve picked up some early Pakistan wickets with the …

Azerbaijan Presidential Inquiry over Eurovision Vote

Pete Baker on May 20, 2013, 11:12 pm

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Denmark may have won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, due to last year’s winner, held in Malmö, Sweden, but Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev is reported to have ordered an inquiry into why his country, apparently, failed to provide any points to their neighbour, Russia. Russia gave maximum points, 12, to the Azerbaijan entry. From the BBC report Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, disclosed that President Aliyev had ordered an investigation and votes were being recounted. He said that a …

OFMdFM: “as open and transparent as possible”

Pete Baker on May 18, 2013, 7:40 pm

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After much foot-dragging, the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers have released the cost [to date – Ed] of their 12-day March junket trip to Brazil and the USA to “Develop and promote political, investment, trade, university and tourism links” – an eye-watering £155,509. As Mark Devenport tweeted So were FM and DFM’s recent investment trips value for money? Costs breakdown published here tinyurl.com/c75mymq — Mark Devenport (@markdevenport) May 16, 2013 It’s difficult to answer the ‘value-for-money’ question in the …