Parties – Page 54 – Slugger O'Toole

“If it turns out that the explosives found were Semtex…”

Pete Baker on April 7, 2011, 4:34 pm

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In a major police operation on the eve of Constable Ronan Kerr’s funeral the PSNI seized a quantity of weapons and explosives in Coalisland, County Tyrone – which they have described as “the most significant in recent years”. Which was interesting timing… There have been two arrests in connection with Constable Kerr’s murder and further searches in the north Dublin area. From the BBC report The arms found were: • Four Kalashnikov rifles • Six loaded ammunition magazines • Timer power …

“Due to constraints on the nature of the funding…”

Pete Baker on April 6, 2011, 4:20 pm

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The News Letter reports that Sinn Féin have been forced to change the venue for a commemoration in Enniskillen of Provisional IRA hunger striker, Bobby Sands, after their original choice [reportedly] checked the conditions of their EU funding. Their original choice being the Clinton Centre, which was built on the site of a Provisional IRA bomb attack on Remembrance Day 1987 in which 11 people were killed and 63 injured – a twelfth victim died after 13 years in a coma. From the News …

“it is necessary to extend the Non-Jury Trial system at this time…”

Pete Baker on April 5, 2011, 12:29 pm

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In March 2010 the then-Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins announced a “comprehensive review [], including a full public consultation” of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 provisions for non-jury trials “before it next falls to be renewed in July 2011” – those provisions had previously been extended in 2009. Today the NI Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, announced that he is “laying before Parliament an Order to extend the Non-Jury trial provisions for a further period of two years”. From the NI Secretary of State’s …

“somehow it still fails to address or secure the foundations of a quite different future…”

Pete Baker on April 4, 2011, 10:32 pm

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Despite the statements by the ‘great and the good’, as the BBC reports Police officers have come under petrol bomb attack during disturbances in Lurgan, County Armagh. The police said there were also reports of a firearm being seen during trouble in the Bell’s Row area of the town. Several attempts were made to hijack cars and one hijacked vehicle was later recovered. The officers were attacked while carrying out searches in relation to a hoax object in Victoria Street. …

“There’s nothing impossible about such progress”

Pete Baker on April 4, 2011, 12:01 pm

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In the Guardian, Peter Preston, with echoes of a point he made in 2007, identifies the limits of the “politics of peace” – and our current ‘indigenous’ arrangements. From Peter Preston at Comment is Free Yet this commonsensical chorus only takes you so far. It clears the bloody detritus of the past; it provides a suitably united response to the murderers who remain; but somehow it still fails to address or secure the foundations of a quite different future. Nationalism (as chronicled …

“On the face of it, that is slightly disappointing…”

Pete Baker on April 2, 2011, 1:50 pm

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The Belfast Telegraph’s Insider column brings us OFMDFM officials Dale Heaney and James McEldowney’s verdict on the Northern Ireland Executive’s delivery, or not, on the Programme for Government 2008-2011. They were appearing in front of the relevant Assembly committee. From the Belfast Telegraph article Mr Heaney argued that, in spite the impact of the economic downturn, ministers “have made, and continue to make, a significant difference to people’s lives”. In introductory remarks to the hearing, he went on: “Delivery reports …

NI Executive member supplies reference for McGeough

Pete Baker on April 1, 2011, 2:32 pm

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The BBC reports from the pre-sentencing hearing of Gerry McGeough – who was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier, then working as a postman, now DUP councillor Sammy Brush, in 1981. From the BBC report An unnamed member of the Northern Ireland Executive has supplied a reference for Gerry McGeough ahead of his sentencing. The former IRA member was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier 30 years ago. Sammy Brush, …

“I hope the people of Ireland will give him a brilliant and wonderful welcome…”

Pete Baker on March 31, 2011, 11:56 pm

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Another post possibly related to the point Mick was making… As the BBC notes US President Barack Obama will not cross the border into Northern Ireland when he visits the Republic of Ireland, the Irish prime minister has said. From the breakingnews.ie report The Government is gearing up for the historic May visit after President Obama announced on St Patrick’s Day that he wanted to return to his roots in Moneygall, Co Offaly. But the Taoiseach said that under diplomatic rules …

“It is unacceptable for the Minister and his Department to suggest…”

Pete Baker on March 31, 2011, 3:08 pm

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Possibly related to the point Mick was making… The former leader of Sinn Féin in the Dáil, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, TD, has taken exception to part of a statement by Irish Health Minister, James Reilly, TD, committing the Irish Government to work in partnership with their Northern Ireland counterparts on the development of a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin. Although, the same lines were first delivered by Labour TD, Kathleen Lynch, on the Minister’s behalf, in the Dáil on 24th March without …

“the reports will be published after the Assembly elections…”

Pete Baker on March 31, 2011, 1:37 pm

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As the BBC reports, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, has announced the dissolution of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD). The IICD archive is to be held at Boston College, as Kevin Cullen reports Thomas E. Hachey, executive director of the Center for Irish Programs at Boston College and a professor of history, said getting the archive was a coup for BC. “This is an incredibly valuable collection for future …

“We are going to proceed with the Altnagelvin extension [] and that’s the end of the matter.”

Pete Baker on March 29, 2011, 9:31 pm

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The Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers’ separately declared commitment to reverse the NI Health Minister’s decision to postpone the funding of a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin hospital is yet another populist move without regard to budgetary considerations – this time just ahead of an election. It also undermines the position of the smaller parties at the NI Executive table and the authority of the Executive itself. From the BBC report Mr Robinson said it could be overturned on the …

“The [Justice] department dissolves on 1 May 2012 unless…”

Pete Baker on March 29, 2011, 3:54 pm

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As BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport reminds us, one of the oddities of our current ‘indigenous’ arrangements is that we can be fairly sure of one outcome of this election for the Alliance Party. As long as at least one member of that party is returned to the NI Assembly it’s virtually guaranteed that they – most likely David Ford – will be the next NI Justice Minister. As Mark Devenport points out. Yesterday, on Inside Politics, I presented the first …

“Sinn Féin needs to change”

Pete Baker on March 25, 2011, 3:49 pm

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At the time it was announced, the BBC reported that Sinn Féin MLA Paul Butler “denied he was retiring from party politics because of disappointment at not being given a chance to run in West Belfast”. Although, as I noted, someone was briefing the Irish News otherwise… And in an interview in today’s paper, political correspondent Diana Rusk reports For the first time, [Paul Butler] confirmed reports that he had wanted to run for the party in West Belfast after boundary …

‘Temporary’ 50:50 recruitment provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 to End

Pete Baker on March 22, 2011, 4:58 pm

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It shouldn’t have come as a surprise… As the BBC reports, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, published the Government’s response [pdf file] to the public consultation on the temporary 50:50 recruitment provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. From Owen Paterson’s statement Owen Paterson said: “Some ten years after the introduction of the provisions, a significant proportion of serving officers – currently 29.76% – are now from a Catholic community background. This is at the top …

Martin McGuinness, Liam Clarke and the Big Picture

Brian Walker on March 22, 2011, 12:30 pm

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A different aspect of Martin McGuinnness’s latest from Mick’s. (I’ve started so I”ll finish). I know from my own experience and observation of long ago that it makes you a better reporter if you have two outlets: the daily skirmishing for the local audience and the bigger field for clearing away the smoke of battle to try to explain what it all means to the wider world. How do the benefits accrue? The devil is often buried in the frustrating and repetitive …

NI Executive: “Never mind the quality, feel the width…”

Pete Baker on March 19, 2011, 4:40 pm

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An interesting analogy from BBC NI’s Jim Fitzpatrick in an accurate depiction of the dysfunctional nature of our ‘indigenous’ arrangements. From Jim Fitzpatrick’s article It would be unfair to criticise the parties for a lack of delivery, whenever all they were expected to deliver was “themselves” to the finishing line. But as they head into an election seeking a mandate for a new term in office, it will be interesting to see what expectations are for the new term. And …

“Martin McGuinness’s “veto” throws down challenge to “voluntary” coalition

Brian Walker on March 14, 2011, 6:33 pm

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One of the most predictable pre-election statements of the season, vouchsafed to Liam Clarke. However sound according to the system, Martin McGuinness’ “veto” seems rather less than absolute in practice, should the UUP and the SDLP refuse to take up Executive seats after the election – and boycott D’Hondt. It would surely provoke a crisis in the Assembly. But to what end? Could it really force a ” voluntary coalition?” Is this really what voters want? Above all, how keenly will …

“If the Executive took a needs based approach rather than a politically expedient route…”

Pete Baker on March 11, 2011, 3:09 pm

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As BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport says of the announced Northern Ireland Executive approval of a “package of circa £138million [to] be used to upgrade regional stadiums at Windsor Park, Ravenhill and Casement Park, and take forward sub regional stadium developments for football.” …one aspect of the announcement which is questionable is its very symmetry. If the Executive took a needs based approach rather than a politically expedient route, would both the GAA and Soccer require exactly £61.4 million? I know …

Sinn Féin suspends Billy Leonard, MLA, from party

Pete Baker on March 10, 2011, 12:11 pm

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Odd one this. The BBC are reporting that Sinn Féin have suspended Billy Leonard, MLA, from the party due to a “disagreement over his support arrangements”. Leonard, and the party, announced in November last year that he would not stand as a candidate in the forthcoming Assembly election saying that there were “a number of other interests [he wished] to pursue, including writing a book.” From the BBC report East Londonderry Sinn Fein MLA Billy Leonard is refusing to comment on his apparent suspension by …

“the largest capital grant scheme ever run by the Department of Agriculture”

Pete Baker on March 9, 2011, 5:34 pm

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The BBC’s Martin Cassidy notes the NI Audit Office report into the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme, through which some 4000 farmers received grants worth £121million – the largest capital grant scheme ever run by the Department of Agriculture. When, in June 2007, the NI Finance Department gave its formal approval to extend the scheme to provide grant aid to all applications received before 31 March 2006, they had raised concerns about the affordability of the scheme. One of the conditions of the formal …