Richard Delevan, in his sicNotes, asks whether, in response to the increasingly critical atmosphere, Sinn Féin is using the PR tactic of “flooding the zone” – Richard, in particular, focuses on a comparison of two recent editions of RTE Liveline. As he points out, ‘flooding the zone’ may be a crude tactic – whether in support of a candidate or a point of view – but it can work. At least as a one-off. And it can give the appearance …
UTV carries a Press association report,Sinn Fein in ‘rogue members’ call, of an ultimatum issued by Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghin O Caolain for “rogue members to leave the party immediately so there can be a speedy implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.“. The acknowledgement that there are rogue elements within Sinn Féin is in itself significant. This seems to be an admission that Sinn Féin have contributed to some of the recent problems and is a welcome change from the posturing …
THE Secretary of State, as expected, has announced financial sanctions against Sinn Fein. Slugger carries a full (draft, but probably the final) copy of his speech below.With permission, Mr Speaker, I should like to make a statement on Northern Ireland. I came to the House on 11 January to make a statement relating to the Northern Bank robbery on 20 December. To recall the background: a highly organised and brutal gang kidnapped the families of two staff from the Bank’s …
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said in Meath today that he doesn’t know the make-up of the IRA army council, directly contradicting his Justice Minister Michael McDowell and Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern who both have claimed that Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams and Martin Ferris are members. Your guess as to why he said this is as good as mine. George
Even the normally staid Observer, regarded by many Unionists as being too soft on Sinn Féin, joins the ‘tabloid’ feeding frenzy. Today’s leader, Sinn Fein has to renounce crime, addresses the alleged links between Sinn Féin finances and the IRA, making one surprising claim along the way…The Northern Bank robbery and the smashing of an IRA money-laundering racket in the Irish Republic a few days ago demonstrate beyond doubt that the continued existence of the republican movement’s armed wing has …
Conspiracy Theory No. #: It was quite a surprise to hear Bertie Ahern change his mind about holding the Meath and Kildare-North by-elections on the same day as Fine Gael demanded until one realises that RTE is now seeking legal advice over screening the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis as it takes place the weekend before the by-elections.The Irish Independent reports that “loss of live television coverage will be a major blow to the party, as the ard fheis takes place …
LET’S Talk is on BBC1 Northern Ireland at 10.35pm this evening. It should be worth watching, as Sinn Fein policing and justice spokesman Gerry Kelly will be on the panel. Also commenting will be Belfast Telegraph columnist, the recently-married UUP adviser Steven King; Eamon O Cuiv from the Irish cabinet; republican and rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey and Alliance MLA Naomi Long. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
As Carrie with the Broom of Anger reminds us, Adams’ re-stating of his remarks from that interview on Madrid radio is the second time in as many weeks that the SF leadership have demanded that their comments should NOT be taken at face-value – “Well it may be literally [what I said] but don’t literally interpret what I say!“, Martin McGuinness on RTE’s Q&A, 7th Feb. Pete Baker
A SPANISH radio station is carrying an interview – reported here by the BBC – in which Gerry Adams says that he “might be wrong” about IRA involvement in the Northern Bank raid. Listen here. Ma Bear points out that this is not the first time the Sinn Fein leadership has deliberately refused to be definitive about an IRA role in the robbery. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
In its editorial today the Irish Times gives its take on the SDLP’s conference message, SDLP offers alternative, and suggests the opportunity exists for the party to regain lost ground – This is the first occasion in many years when the SDLP has been in a position to offer a simple and uncomplicated message to the electorate.The Irish Times Editorial in full – A political strategy designed to capture the high moral ground and to challenge Sinn Féin in the …
Given the conclusion reached by the IMC, in their most recent report – “Sinn Féin cannot be regarded as committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means so long as its links to PIRA remain as they are and PIRA continues to be engaged in violence or other crime” – it’s difficult to see how the report’s recommendations can be viewed as anything other than wholly inadequate.That quote in context (page 7-8, paragraphs 13-14) – In our first report, …
Tom McGurk asks difficult questions in an article, Sinn Fein must find a way, in the Sunday Business Post which greatly increased my respect for him. He neatly manages to both tie and distance SF to and from the IRA and has enough nationalist and republican orthodoxy in the article to allow himself to pursue questions that come close to heresy. Similar questions, less well crafted, will doubtless be written elsewhere, but in this case it won’t be as easy …
The journalist and author of The Secret History of The IRA, Ed Moloney, gave his considered opinion on recent developments on RTE’s Morning Ireland(RealPlayer required) today – the ‘sabre rattling’ statements and the different realities compared to 10 years ago, including an end to the governments’ “destructive” habit of ‘turning a blind eye’. Most interestingly, though, he appears to suspect that there’s been a familiar hand “manoeuvring” the IRA into a position where it now has to make a “tough …
It seems someone’s not happy with the portrayal of yesterday’s IRA statement as a “tantrum” – RTE are reporting that a second 2-line IRA statement has been issued warning “Do not underestimate the seriousness of the current situation”. So, just to clarify then – Was it a threat or not?Update According to the BBC report this new statement, clarifying yesterday’s statement, reads: The two governments are trying to play down the importance of our statement because they are making a …
Re-arrange the above words to make a well known saying – ‘IRA’s patience tried to the limit’ – I’m sure there’ll be more on this tomorrow. Pete Baker
The ever resourceful BBC have found out how much the Leeds Castle talks cost – £250,000 (the cost of security operation, described as one of the largest ever undertaken by Kent police, is not included). Just prior to those talks, though, Tony Blair said this – “This is the chance – there’s no point in us carrying on, continually having these meetings unless that will exists, and we’ll find out next week if it really does.” Time to ask the …
In today’s Belfast Telegraph, Robert McCartney, UKUP, asks the question that the Irish and British Governments are currently contemplating – “Where do we go from here?”. He has some radical ideas of his own, but, as he acknowledges, “It is not suggested that these proposals are any more than a possible, somewhat bare, framework and a tentative answer to the question“. Few though could argue with his starting position – “The answer [to that question] depends on who you are, …
If the Irish and British Governments think that ‘talking tough’ will get results, they may have to think again. Yesterday Gerry Adams claimed that “if the governments want to go with something else, then they should stand up and say the Agreement is finished and we can all negotiate.” Erm.. wasn’t that a DUP line? Pete Baker
Where? “In The Nile. De-Ni-Al.” That’s Gerry Moriarty’s summation of “the Ulster Unionist” position. As he says, The old ones are the worst all right. An interesting piece, though, from the Irish Times, in which he argues “The big and real political danger now is that while time has healed other crises in the peace process, it won’t heal this one”And he’s probably right. Given, as he points out – Republicans, and that includes Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, have …
THE two main unionist parties are to contest the West Tyrone seat in the Westminster election, despite independent Assembly poll-topper Kieran Deeny’s appeal for others to stand aside. The news means that the seat is almost certain to be held by Sinn Fein’s Pat Doherty. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
