Parties – Page 84 – Slugger O'Toole

“the conditions still exist for those to resist that rule. Nothing has changed that.”

Pete Baker on February 7, 2010, 8:51 pm

| Readers

If it wasn’t clear from the éirígí video Mark noted last night, the recently elected President of Republican Sinn Féin, Des Dalton, has told the Observer’s Henry McDonald – “The Royal Irish Constabulary became the Royal Ulster Constabulary and they ultimately became the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the PSNI. But while the cap badge might change, the essential point of these forces remain the same. They are there to uphold British rule, they are integral part of the British …

The first item on the agenda: the split

Jason Walsh on February 7, 2010, 2:34 am

| Readers 523

As far as alternative histories go, Philip K. Dick’s ‘The Man in the High Castle’ is my favourite, but how about an alternative history of the IRA? Specifically, if what the late Tómas Mac Giolla claimed about the 1969 split is true, would the conflict have ended a lot earlier – 1970s? 1980s? – without the intervention of just one man? 1969 and all that An interview published today lays the blame for the IRA split of 1969 at the …

“then Stormont remains a mini-model of the old cold war doctrine of ‘mutually assured destruction’.”

Pete Baker on February 6, 2010, 5:07 am

| Readers 6

BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport picks up on the “outstanding politician” Peter Robinson’s reference to “a clever device” to ensure full compliance on today’s “deal”. From Mark’s BBC report Such a swift resort to pressure politics belies some of the high flown rhetoric on display at the launch of the Hillsborough Agreement. If this saga started with Martin McGuinness threatening the so called “nuclear option” then Stormont remains a mini-model of the old cold war doctrine of “mutually assured …

FM and DFM “will promote and support the agreed outcomes of the working group.”

Pete Baker on February 5, 2010, 11:44 pm

| Readers 39

Some of the key elements in the “indigenous” “home-grown” “made in Ulster” deal [pdf file] relating to parading are as follows. The First and deputy First Ministers “have agreed to set up a co-chaired working group comprising six members, appointed by them, with experience of dealing with parading issues which will bring forward agreed outcomes which they believe are capable of achieving cross community support for the new and improved framework. This work will begin immediately and will be completed …

“He is an outstanding politician”

Pete Baker on February 5, 2010, 10:12 pm

| Readers 3

A BBC report notes Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward’s opinion of Peter Robinson et al. Speaking on the BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, Mr Woodward described Mr Robinson as “an outstanding politician”. He said: “I think he has cleared his name. I think he has justifiably done so, everyone is entitled to do that. “He is an outstanding politician, just as Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams and Nigel Dodds have been throughout this process and I’m looking forward …

House of Comments Podcast: (Mostly) on Northern Ireland…

Mick Fealty on February 5, 2010, 1:29 pm

| Readers 5

Recorded on Tuesday night, some of it may already be out of date. It was recorded with Mark of Mark Reckons and Stuart of Sharpe’s Opinion… It starts with a slightly breathless account from me as to how the Robinson affair ‘flipped’ the fortunes of Sinn Fein and the DUP… talks about the complications for Cameron and the Tories and Mark and I have a sharp (but very civil) difference of opinion on the STV PR system… Mick FealtyMick is …

“Over-ruling the regulator undermines independent regulation.”

Pete Baker on February 5, 2010, 1:21 am

| Readers 1

Yesterday the BBC reported that the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator had “published its final determination on NI Water’s Price Control 2010-2013 (PC10), which identifies £91 million of revenue savings. The final determination also supports an investment programme of £564 million.” As the Regulator noted, “NI Water now has two months to accept the Utility Regulator’s final determination or refer it to the Competition Commission.” Except that by the end of the day UTV’s Jamie Delargy was reporting that the NI …

Denis Donaldson inquest adjourned again

Pete Baker on February 4, 2010, 11:29 pm

| Readers 30

RTÉ reports that the inquest into the murder of former senior Sinn Féin staffer Denis Donaldson in 2006 has been adjourned for a futher 6 months, until 26 August. And an Irish News report today anticipating the delay adds. [After a previous adjournment] It later emerged that Letterkenny man Liam McGinley had been taken into protective custody after having given gardai information about the murder. McGinley is understood to have identified the killers to detectives. He is also understood to …

“The amendment would apply only to salaries, not allowances.”

Pete Baker on February 4, 2010, 2:04 am

| Readers 0

According to the UTV report the Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill, currently at the report stage in the House of Lords, has been amended to “prevent local elected representatives from earning a salary from sitting at both Westminster and in the Northern Ireland Assembly.” According to the UTV report The move follows pressure from Tories and Liberal Democrats, and would prevent a politician who receives a salary from sitting in either the Commons or the Lords from also being paid …

Stealth Belfast City Council rates increases?

Pete Baker on February 4, 2010, 1:24 am

| Readers 3

The BBC report on the 3.35% increase in household rates in Belfast neglects to mention that, due to the ongoing freeze in regional rates, the Belfast City Council-set district rate has actually increased by close to 8% [7.81%]. The Belfast Telegraph report, in which councillors talk of concerns about front-line services, does likewise. Although it’s correctedly noted here. On his blog, UTV’s Jamie Delargy has one explanation. The councillors pat themselves on the back for keeping the increase down to …

SWOTing the parties: Weaknesses for the SDLP…

Mick Fealty on February 3, 2010, 8:37 pm

| Readers 21

Now, before you jump into this one, please go back and have a read through the threats to the party here. There’s a logic to the way I am trying to set these threads out which will only work if people try to think about them logically. Remember bullet points only ladies and gents. The DUP analysis is nearly ready, but I think in the meantime, I need to catch up with some of the stories that have gone missing …

“It is for the parties to decide when the time is right” – redux

Pete Baker on February 3, 2010, 6:13 pm

| Readers 6

I’ve mapped out the mostly unacknowledged background to the current “crisis” for the benefit of the Belfast Telegraph readership. Pete Baker

SWOTing the parties: Threats to the SDLP…

Mick Fealty on February 3, 2010, 4:46 pm

| Readers 9

Okay, we’re just processing all the material we’ve gathered on the DUP and hopefully will be producing a shorthand analysis on that for further comment later today. The idea is to get away from careless opinion and to provoke more thoughtful long term responses. Today and tomorrow, I want to focus, in reverse order this time on the SDLP’s strategic position. Please note, this is a controlled exercise. So the comments on this thread are not for debate or discussion, …

“He asked Mr Poots to ‘detail any representations'”

Pete Baker on February 2, 2010, 11:58 pm

| Readers 5

In the Belfast Telegraph David Gordon notes that the Green Party’s Brian Wison, MLA, has tabled some questions about potential DUP lobbying on behalf of certain developers. The questions on the First Minister were tabled by Green Party MLA Brian Wilson. He asked Mr Poots to “detail any representations” made by Mr Robinson since 2000 in relation to planning applications by Mr Campbell, Mr Fraser or “associated companies”. In a question to Mr Robinson’s own department, Mr Wilson asked if …

Déjà vu, all over again..

Pete Baker on February 2, 2010, 3:16 am

| Readers 1

As Mark Devenport says Tomorrow looks like it will involve yet more talks , and as a number of people have pointed out to me February 2nd really is Groundhog Day. Although, I think a different link might be more appropriate. Pete Baker

The chattering classes

Kilsally on February 2, 2010, 3:15 am

| Readers 2

Just picking up on Sammy Wilson`s disregard for the local media in his recent opinion pieces on Unionist Unity and devolution of Policing & Justice! “I don’t usually listen to local radio, watch TV or read local papers, but incarcerated with colleagues who are news junkies and with long periods when we were waiting for papers or meetings, I must have heard and read more local news coverage last week than I have in the previous six months. What I …

“Although I had been reliably informed that the Prime Minister was on his way to Belfast..”

Pete Baker on February 2, 2010, 1:16 am

| Readers 1

As Mick noted, they’re still in play… apparently. Here’s a short clip from the DUP press conference at Stormont this evening followed by a positive interpretation from commentator Jim Dougal in the UTV studio. Video courtesy of UTV Pete Baker

“An Irish language strategy rather than an act..”

Pete Baker on February 1, 2010, 7:15 pm

| Readers 29

The BBC’s Martina Purdy has the latest rumours as the parties brief their MLAs. And remember, “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”. From the BBC report BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent Martina Purdy said consultation on a deal was likely. “Even if the DUP assembly team says yes to the deal, there will have to be a process of consultation, possibly through the executive,” she said. “It’s thought there are four aspects to the deal: devolving justice powers, the …

How are people ever going to face up to their responsibilities as elected representatives

Mick Fealty on January 30, 2010, 7:12 pm

| Readers 14

It’s refreshing to see the Irish Times give some space to the not inconsiderable political intelligence of Stephen Collins to think about the phoney production which may be grinding its way back to a curiously inconclusive end. He points to a Seanad order of business debate in which Northern Ireland comes up. It’s a reflection of how denuded that chamber has become from Northern Irish affairs that the only non platitudinal remarks came from the former PD TD Fionna O’Malley: …

“And still we waited..”

Pete Baker on January 30, 2010, 5:25 pm

| Readers 3

On the local evening news yesterday Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy denied that there had been a “wobble amongst republicans” as Mark Devenport suggested. Interestingly, the Irish Times’ Gerry Moriarty clearly heard similar reports Conscious of mistakes made in previous negotiations, both the DUP and Sinn Féin were anxious not to be wrong-footed. Some sources spoke of disagreements within the Sinn Féin camp. There was no Sinn Féin confirmation, needless to say, while another neutral source put down any republican disquiet …