Parties – Page 93 – Slugger O'Toole

‘Together Towards Entitlement’.. and Beyond!

Pete Baker on November 18, 2009, 2:04 am

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An area-based planning strategy for the Northern Ireland post-primary schools’ estate was a key recommendation of George Bain’s 2006 report and the, now capitalised, “Area Based Planning” featured in the NI Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitríona Ruane’s “visionary” proposals to reform the education system – as announced in December 2007. In February 2008 the minister responded to criticism of delays in producing that strategy “I believe in the benefits of designing local solutions to address local circumstances and that is …

And how was your weekend?

Pete Baker on November 17, 2009, 5:52 pm

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Did anything happen at the weekend’s “nice diversion” for the First and deputy First Ministers, et al, of the 13th British-Irish Council summit in Jersey? Apparently Peter Hain vetoed Edinburgh as a proposed site for the permanent secretariat, but on the theme of the summit – indigenous, minority and lesser-used languages? Here’s Northern Ireland Minister Paul Goggins’ statement The Minister also welcomed recent comments by the Northern Ireland Culture Minister Nelson McCausland. “The St Andrews Agreement acknowledged the importance of …

“This confidentiality clause is due to expire on 31 October 2010.”

Pete Baker on November 17, 2009, 4:20 am

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The BBC reports that the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission will tell the NI Assembly tomorrow [Presumably at the closed meeting of the Business Committee? – Ed] that, “Most people” are in favour of ending the confidentiality surrounding donations to political parties in NI. According to the Electoral Commission, the “research was conducted through [small and somewhat oddly constructed] focus group research (pdf) and through additional questions we asked as part of tracking research on our public awareness campaign for the …

Rejunvenation of Sinn Fein’s forturnes is not the same as Irish unity…

Mick Fealty on November 16, 2009, 10:58 pm

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Anthony McIntyre Mike Burke is in pensive mood after returning from Canada as a guest speaker at Sinn Fein organised conference on Irish unity (which is a considerable step forward in the party’s treatment of its contemporary critics). Still, Burke suspects that Irish unity is not foremost of the party’s motivations for this, one of a series, event in Toronto: The first is to respond to the emerging critical opinion in Ireland that the peace process and the GFA represent …

Would you be a Labour plotter quitter or fighter?

Mick Fealty on November 16, 2009, 8:43 pm

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Not sure I’d like to be in the current Labour government, but Nick Robinson casts those members into three different camps: Plotters; Quitters; and Fighters.. But along the way he notes something I’m not sure many mainstream commenters have fully recognised. The reason many of us are thinking in terms of a guaranteed sizeable Tory majority, is not the fact that the Tories have not hit the 50% + rating that Blair got, but that Brown lags Major by a …

“every euro you spend in your local community is a stake in the community”

Pete Baker on November 16, 2009, 5:46 pm

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The Irish government’s criticism of those un-patriotic shoppers just got a little more pointed. From the Irish Times Referring to cross-Border shopping, the Tánaiste said that most people shopping in the North “go to get alcohol. It’s true. People who don’t have a lot of money are not the people going shopping in their cars across the Border”. She said that “every euro you spend in your local community is a stake in the community”. It was making a positive …

“It was organised by Soca which is a front for the MI5..”

Pete Baker on November 15, 2009, 11:14 pm

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On the Politics Show today Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd clarified his party’s position on the seizure of the assets of Sean Hughes and the previous comments by Northern Ireland Executive Ministers, SF’s Michelle Gildernew and Hughes’ “good friend” Conor Murphy. [John O’Dowd] “The concerns around the raid on Sean Hughes house is this. It was organised by Soca which is a front for the MI5 and other organisations who still believe that they can defeat republicanism whether it be in …

How much more will Sinn Fein take from the DUP?

Eamonn Mallie on November 15, 2009, 2:50 pm

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Last week I brought you a DUP ‘ insider’s ‘ view. On Monday — A Republican ‘insider’s’ view. Don’t miss it.. Eamonn Mallie

“Kennedy accused the church of fanning ‘flames of dissent and discord’ on Capitol Hill”

Pete Baker on November 15, 2009, 3:55 am

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An Irish Times report identifies one potential rock upon which US President Obama’s Public Government Health Insurance Bill might founder. It was a Democratic congressman, Bart Stupak from Michigan, who put forward an amendment demanding not only that the government insurance option in the healthcare Bill be banned from covering abortion, but that private insurance companies participating in an insurance market or exchange to be established under the Bill also be forbidden from paying for abortions. The Bill would give …

“but, with no political agreement on a replacement..”

Pete Baker on November 15, 2009, 2:42 am

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Worth noting that today saw more than 7000 children take the first of the new privatised post-primary transfer tests. As the BBC report notes Next Saturday, 6,700 pupils will take a different test aimed mainly at those seeking places in Catholic grammars. Pete Baker

“I’m a farmer and have no other income. My books are there for anyone to see.”

Pete Baker on November 14, 2009, 10:56 pm

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In yesterday’s Irish News Sean Hughes, describing himself as “a member of Sinn Féin”, ran with the “politically motivated” line on the seizure of his and his extended families’ assets which SOCA has claimed came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud – a line generously gifted him by his “good friend” the Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, SF’s Conor Murphy. It’s perhaps worth remembering at this point that another “good republican” eventually allowed his …

Reservists can join the police but only through the front door…

Eamonn Mallie on November 13, 2009, 6:11 am

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Chief Constable Matt Baggott has told Slugger O’Toole there will be no change in his decision to phase out “FTR” or full time reserves. Jim Allister says about three dozen reserves have moved to protection of judges. According to Mr Baggott two hundred and twenty former full time police reserves who left the service returned to the police as full timers through the normal channels. That approach is a constant. Those having to leave under Patten by 2011, where eligible, …

Baggott tells Policing Board there is no turning back on Reserves…

Eamonn Mallie on November 12, 2009, 10:27 pm

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Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott says there is no turning back on the fate of the full time police reserves. According to a Board member who listened to Mr Baggott this afternoon at a committee meeting of the Board he made it clear there will be no U turn. The source said he is satisfied with the Chief Constable’s explanation on how he plans to deal with the current dissident threat. The same Board member told Slugger O’Toole Mr …

“Emperor’s New Clothes”

Pete Baker on November 12, 2009, 5:40 am

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The BBC reports on comments by Norman Baxter, former Head of Serious Crime Branch of the PSNI, appearing in front of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee as part of their continuing investigation into the handling of intelligence relating to the Omagh bombing. From the BBC report Mr Baxter, who is also the former head of the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, said there was a policy of running down security in Northern Ireland which dates back to the …

Crilly charged with Nairac murder

Pete Baker on November 12, 2009, 5:17 am

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Kevin Crilly, 59, has been charged with the murder of Captain Robert Nairac in 1977 and has been released on bail – Nairac is on the list of those under the remit of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains and his abduction, murder, and secret burial has been acknowledged by the Provisional IRA. Crilly, who spent 29 years in the US and who had been charged with the kidnap and assault of Nairac in 2008, was revealed …

McGuinness: if Policing and Justice slips past Christmas we are in deep trouble…

Eamonn Mallie on November 11, 2009, 8:32 pm

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Martin McGuinness has thrown down the gauntlet for Peter Robinson on the return of policing and justice powers. The deputy first minister said: “What we have to do is lead. It is not easy leading. Leadership is a lonely post. We need to confront those people who would wish to hold us back.” The deputy First Minster went on to say: “What is absolutely an imperative is to have an agreement on the transfer of power and a date for …

Why is the SDLP still wet-nursing Johnny-Come-Lately converts to Policing & Justice?

Mick Fealty on November 11, 2009, 8:12 pm

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After playing the unofficial bag carriers to a larger constitutency rival, Tom Kelly argues in Monday’s Irish News that the SDLP would be better off prosecuting their case from the backbenches and that their ‘opposition in government’ is failing badly… the real challenge of the week lies at the door of the SDLP’s Ormeau Road HQ or in the in-trays of the two pretenders for the SDLP crown of thorns. For some the forthcoming SDLP leadership election is an internal …

“If and when charges are laid, then her position really would be untenable.”

Pete Baker on November 11, 2009, 7:12 pm

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The BBC reports a further wrinkle following SOCA’s seizure of assets belonging to Sean Hughes – Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy’s “good friend”. Sean Hughes wife, Annette, who was named in the court order as co-owner of the properties seized, is an independent member of the local District Policing Partnership. From the BBC report Mrs Hughes, who is a member of Sinn Fein, is one of a number of people who serve as independent members while …

DUP and the cross border bodies…

Eamonn Mallie on November 11, 2009, 4:09 pm

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With a meeting taking place today of the North South Ministerial council there is increasing contempt for these meetings in DUP circles. Sources close to the DUP ministerial team ‘snigger’ at the cross-border bodies. They view them as an unnecessary expense which is not giving money for value. No one has said that the existence of these cross-border bodies served by a dedicated secretariat in Armagh will become another precondition for the transfer of policing and justice powers. The sense …

“a good friend of mine”

Pete Baker on November 11, 2009, 12:04 am

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I mentioned the reaction of Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, MP, MLA, to the operational matter of the seizure of assets and searches in south Armagh this morning – “Sean Hughes is a sound Republican.” [Is that like being a “good republican”? – Ed] Possibly. He also told BBC NI’s Martina Purdy that Sean Hughes was “a very good friend” of his “a good friend of mine and has been for very many years and I’m very proud of that.” [BBC …