Republic

“partitionist nonsense”

Pete Baker on September 30, 2009, 8:41 pm

| Readers 9

Apparently a group of Sinn Féin protesters, including Councillor Tomás Sharkey, took exception to the presence of out-going SDLP leader Mark Durkan, MP, MLA, at a boisterous press conference with Irish Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore, promoting a ‘Yes’ vote. From the Irish News report [subs] it would seem that Mark Durkan’s northernness was an issue.. but what does Tomás think of Gerry campaigning for a ‘No’ vote? From the Irish News [subs] However, a Sinn Féin spokesman said councillors …

Lisbon Essay (26): A ‘No’ vote would show solidarity with the Charter and a social Europe

Mick Fealty on September 30, 2009, 8:39 pm

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Jimmy Kelly of the Unite Union is one of the most respected figures of the No platform. His position is relatively straightforward. In Ireland workers protections lag hugely behind that of much of Europe. In particular he argues that the Charter for Fundamental Rights is being sold as a fait accomplai, when in fact there is no obligation for national governments to comply with its imperatives: “In effect, the Government is asking us to support the ‘form’ of fundamental rights …

Vote early..

Pete Baker on September 30, 2009, 4:10 pm

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At Irish Election, Cian is collecting voting cards ahead of Lisbon II. Pete Baker

Lisbon Essay (25): As Iceland discovered the EU is the firebrigade…

Mick Fealty on September 30, 2009, 3:30 pm

| Readers 34

Jason O’Mahoney lays out a scenario he believes the No side is studiously avoiding: what happens to Ireland’s national interest within Europe if there is a No vote and Lisbon is abandoned for a more centralised, bi or tri-lateral decision making processes in its stead. The Treaty itself is dry and technical because it is dry and technical, not because anyone is trying pull a fast one. And he believes that counter to Nigel Farage’s assertions in LE10 the “alternative …

Lisbon Essay (23): Why Ireland can’t afford the Lisbon Treaty…

Mick Fealty on September 29, 2009, 7:30 pm

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Niamh Uí Bhriain of Cóir sites her anti Lisbon argument in the material crisis of the Tiger economy. Nevertheless she notes that “the Lisbon Treaty is not about providing jobs or encouraging enterprise – it’s a treaty designed to centralise political power in the European Union”. She denies there are any short term economic consequences to signing up to the EU, but that in the longer term it leaves Ireland strategically weaker inside the EU… The attraction for foreign firms …

“That’s a decision for the Irish government”

Pete Baker on September 28, 2009, 11:35 pm

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The DUP took on the mantle of “defenders of Irish sovereignty” in the Northern Ireland Assembly today [Added link to the debate]. Being debated was a Sinn Féin private members’ motion calling for “an All Ireland economic summit to find alternatives to NAMA and an all-Ireland strategy towards mutual economic recovery” – the party’s statement is here. It’s as if they haven’t noticed what’s been happening in Ireland. RTÉ notes that the motion was defeated, and reports the NI Finance …

Lisbon Essay (21): Europeans cannot opt out of globalisation and its problems…

Mick Fealty on September 28, 2009, 7:17 pm

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Richard Gowan notes that with the changing of the guard at the US Whitehouse President Obama is not likely to constrain himself to old alliances to deal with the problems of a much larger and more complex (not to mention more dangerous) world than most of us knew growing up… Richard notes that already huge amounts of time are being chewed up in 27 sets of bilaterals on different sets of policy initiatives … And he argues that since the …

What comes after next week’s referendum for Lisbon?

Mick Fealty on September 25, 2009, 7:49 pm

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Interesting line from the director of the European Strategy Forum, Peter Ludlow on what happens in next but one thing in the big treaty debate on the Euractiv site… For the moment, the position is that if [the second appeal] is referred to the Czech Constitutional Court on 29 September, Klaus has grounds for not signing until that appeal is resolved,” said Ludlow. On that day, the Constitutional Court would have to decide whether to launch a second appeal procedure, …

No posters out gunning the Yeses with young voters (and non voters)…

Mick Fealty on September 24, 2009, 5:35 pm

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As one exhausted Yes campaigner might have said, “why does the devil have all the best tunes?” Certainly, the Yes campaign posters are all pretty bland and distant. There is no clear messaging, other than Yes, Yes, Yes… Of the Nos I’ve seen, this is my personal favourite… who could beat a strapline that goes “Would you buy a second hand Treaty from these chancers…” It’s an ad man’s dream.. Harry McGee followed JOhn Gormley to St Louis High School …

“the opportunities a single island market can present”

Pete Baker on September 23, 2009, 8:21 pm

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Apparently the Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, has been adressing those gathered at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Lunch at the Culloden Hotel. “The importance of inter-trade on a North/South basis is also of critical importance in going forward, for the development of the island economy and the opportunities a single island market can present local businesses.” Which is fine. Although those in the other part of the island may not agree.. Pete Baker

Vince Cable: Cutting public services in order to retain public value…

Mick Fealty on September 23, 2009, 12:16 pm

| Readers 3

Talk to a Tory of any standing and bring up the subject of Vince Cable and they all mumble something about him being in the wrong party or wishing for some kind of pact with the Lib Dems so he can be the next Chancellor. There is – comparatively speaking – very little confidence in the shadow Chancellor George Osborne, at least at the base. Cable launched this paper he’d written for the think tank du jour in London at …

Lisbon campaign: “Our age group is more independent-minded and willing to question authority…”

Mick Fealty on September 23, 2009, 3:07 am

| Readers 3

This one’s been sitting in the jug since yesterday, when Mary Fitzgerald wrote about one of the most disaffected groups by age in last year’s Lisbon referendum, when: 55 per cent of those aged 18-24 voted No, and 45 per cent Yes. In the 25-34 year age group, the No vote was even more pronounced: 59 per cent against, 41 per cent who voted Yes. According to the latest Irish Times opinion poll it is only the 18-24 age group …

“Choose Lisbon”

Pete Baker on September 23, 2009, 2:06 am

| Readers 10

We’ve seen a possibly adulterated “Yes” campaign poster. At Irish Election Cian has an unadulterated “Yes” campaign poster. It’s Generation Yes’ clever clean riff on Trainspotting. Reproduced below the fold.GenYes Train Spotting Banner Pete Baker

“I do say that we have to back our own..”

Pete Baker on September 22, 2009, 4:30 pm

| Readers 2

With a rush to label produce from the Republic of Ireland exclusively Irish, the Irish Times notes Taoiseach Brian Cowen striking a patriotic pose. Interestingly, although he doesn’t define who “our own” are, Brian Cowen suggests that there may be problems with the public procurement process. From the Irish Times report. In comments which suggested the current system may go against some Irish companies, he said he had been contacted by people, both at local and national level, who said …

Slugger ‘got’ by partisan Euro ‘pollster’…

Mick Fealty on September 22, 2009, 1:30 pm

| Readers 8

So what happened to Slugger’s great ‘scoop’ of last night? Well, first thing I tune into “What is says in the Papers” on Morning Ireland and… well, nothing… Then I go and look at the thread, and Dewi reports Mike Smithson at Political Betting (who’s parted with £100 on the strength of the same ‘tip off’ I got) is now suspicious its an elaborate hoax… So I give the guy I spoke to at Gael Poll last night, Tom Prenderville, …

How Ireland shifted from rapid immigration to full-on recession…

Mick Fealty on September 22, 2009, 1:26 am

| Readers 3

Just picked this report up on the massive fluctuation in the migration flows over the last fifteen years or so; and the changing nature of Irish citizenship to keep up with those changes… It includes data which show the recession’s impact: immigration flows decreased 23 percent from 2007 to 2008 while emigration increased to levels not seen since the early 1990s. In particular, flows from Eastern Europe have dropped to about 40 percent of all inflows, compared to 48 percent …

1st ever Frontline live blog…

Mick Fealty on September 22, 2009, 1:19 am

| Readers 2

… For those interested Questions and Answers may be dead, but Frontline and Pat Kenny takes it’s place… Live blog courtesy of Simon at Tuppenceworth… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

“Little People!”

Pete Baker on September 21, 2009, 3:20 pm

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At Irish Election, Mark Coughlan has footage of a possibly adulterated “Yes” campaign poster.. Pete Baker

Irish Government to introduce “national postcode”

Pete Baker on September 21, 2009, 1:47 am

| Readers 5

RTÉ reports that the Irish “Government has approved the introduction of a national postcode.” Although, as Wikidepia reveals, we’ve been here before. And more than once. But they seem to be serious this time. From the RTÉ report. The Minister for Communications said tenders for the design and implementation of the system will be issued shortly. Minister Ryan said he expects new postal codes with digits and letters to be introduced in 2011. Pete Baker

Why Ireland’s economy may not be sc*wed but its newspapers may be…

Mick Fealty on September 20, 2009, 3:18 pm

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On Wednesday night, I took part in an experiment the results of which may indicate that the Irish economy is not entirely screwed, but the Irish newspaper industry just might be. McConnells advertising company invited an irregular bunch of Irish bloggers (to declare an interest, in my case they paid for my flight) to the offices of the IDA to meet and be briefed by their polymath CEO, Barry O’Leary on the IDA Ireland’s new US ad campaign in the …