Republic – Page 39 – Slugger O'Toole

“We need a single independent body in Northern Ireland..”

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

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If the Northern Ireland First Minister is looking for examples of multiple layers of bureaucracy to trim the NI Marine Task Force may have a suggestion. Ahead of a NIMTF workshop with fishermen, wind farm developers, and government officials, the BBC reports “It’s crazy if somebody wants to set up a marine business in NI, to get a licence they have to apply to multiple departments and agencies,” [NIMTF policy officer Eddie Mayhew] said. “Many of which do not communicate …

Lisbon Essay (12): Three decades of building Irish independence inside the EU…

Mick Fealty on September 17, 2009, 2:30 pm

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Today Conall is the first of our Yes essayists to tackle the question of what has happened to Irish sovereignty through its thirty six year membership of what began as the European Economic Community, then became the European Community, and is now known as the European Union. He notes that in 1973, Ireland went in in lock-step with – and on terms largely negotiated by – the UK, but that in the time that has elapsed since the Republic has …

Agit prop floor show distracts from the substance of the Dail’s Nama debate…

Mick Fealty on September 17, 2009, 1:31 pm

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Apparently Gerry Adams was in serene form in the ‘distinguished visitors gallery’ (H/T Suzy), whilst all on the floor of the Dail was mayhem during today’s Nama debate… eventually leading to Sinn Fein TD Arthur Morgan being bounced from the chamber ‘for being bold’… by An Ceann Comhairle… Miriam Lord clocked the (agit prop) barrack busting episode from the press gallery (erm, just three minutes into session): Step forward, Arthur Morgan, and take a bow. He chose this occasion to …

The Lisbon Essays in 3.17 minutes (nearly)…

Mick Fealty on September 17, 2009, 3:11 am

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Nicely balanced video assay of the social issues arising from the Lisbon Treaty… 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

The NAMA figures

Pete Baker on September 16, 2009, 10:46 pm

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From the RTÉ report, NAMA will pay €54billion for €77billion worth of loans from the banks. According to the Minister, the market value of the properties underpinned by the loans is approximately €47billion. [Adds should have linked Mick’s post]. From the detail * The breakdown among the five institutions is: Anglo Irish €28bn, AIB €24bn, Bank of Ireland €16bn, EBS €1bn, Irish Nationwide €8bn. * The average loan to value (LTV) rate for these loans is approximately 77%. * Around …

Lenihan about to announce his borrowing for Nama…

Mick Fealty on September 16, 2009, 6:14 pm

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Sadly, I’ll be in transit when the Dail sits down today to debate the detail put before them by Minster of Finance Brian Lenihan. Shame, because it would make for a great live blog… The government has been brigading the beneficiaries of their upcoming largesse in to their offices partly, one assumes, to din into them just how crucial it is that they’ve been honest in their estimates of their exposure. Dermot Desmond is of a mind with David McWilliams …

Lisbon Essay (11): Both long and short term investors require certainty…

Mick Fealty on September 16, 2009, 2:30 pm

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Today Senator Paschal Donohue rises to Stephen Kinsella’s challenging essay (LE5) makes a case that actually a Yes or a No does have the capacity to influence Ireland’s economic future. The result either way, he argues, will affect two crucial factors: confidence in those who will be asked to shoulder the country’s substantial and growing debt; and the potential for the country to continue to attract FDI if and when the ‘faucet’ resumes its flow. He argues that a No …

“One of the ‘four freedoms’ of the Single Market is the free movement of goods.”

Mick Fealty on September 16, 2009, 2:57 am

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Nice follow up from Gerard on Pete’s post on the National Dairy Council initiative… in which he notes that “someone should tell them we’re in a Single European Market – and have been for some time now.” 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

Zoe gets yet another bite at the cherry

Pete Baker on September 15, 2009, 8:15 pm

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RTÉ has the latest news on the long running saga of Liam Carroll’s Zoe group. And from the Irish Times report Two companies in troubled property group Zoe are to be wound up, a High Court judge has ruled, but a stay has been granted pending a Supreme Court appeal of the court’s rejection of the group’s bid for examinership. Dutch-owned ACCBank, which is owed €136 million, yesterday asked Mr Justice Clarke to appoint a liquidator to group’s two holding …

There are no snakes in Ireland..

Pete Baker on September 15, 2009, 8:09 pm

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Well, there are no native species.. A python measuring 10ft (3.08m) in length has been removed from the River Slaney. Update iol reports that the python was “believed to have been about 10-years-old and recently dead” and adds Dr Cathal Gallagher, Central Fisheries Board director of research, warned about keeping exotic and dangerous animals. “The real message from our point of view is that we have a lot of problems with invasive and non-native species,” he said. “Although this is …

[Irish] National Dairy Council to mark milk and cream “sourced and packaged in the Republic”

Pete Baker on September 15, 2009, 5:05 pm

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I noted the launch of the Love Irish Food campaign previously. Now RTÉ reports that the Irish National Dairy Council is introducing a new mark on milk and cream packaging “to show consumers it has been sourced and processed in the Republic.” From the RTÉ report NDC Chief Executive Helen Broffey said the mark allows consumers to select products that contribute to the tax returns of the Republic. Ms Broffey denied suggestions the move is part of a cross-boarder economic …

“We are told to move forward patriotically without ever looking back…”

Mick Fealty on September 15, 2009, 1:41 am

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Elaine Byrne telling like it really is in today’s Irish Times, when she fingers Alan Dukes (damned!) Tallaght strategy which released Fianna Fail from any sense of responsibility for the political consequences of their actions since that time. So that now, more major tribunals than you can shake a stick at later, the consequences are (bleedin’) obvious: Ireland is at an extraordinary, critical juncture but we have been here before. And on each occasion our innate Irish conservatism kicks in …

“Futuring” on the subject of the Second Republic…

Mick Fealty on September 15, 2009, 1:25 am

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With apologies to Pete for the futuring thing… a bunch of nare-do-wells on Twitter today started whimsically kicking round Michael O’Sullivan’s call for a Second Republic (search Twitter under the hashtag #inthe2ndrepublic)… Here’s my favourite of their various prognostications: @ManAboutCouch John O’Donoghue will be Minister of Explaining to the Germans what the Hell we’ve done with their Money #inthe2ndrepublic Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

Lisbon Essay (9): They have not secured a single change to the text of the Lisbon Treaty

Mick Fealty on September 14, 2009, 3:00 pm

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Eoin O’Broin lays out the core of Sinn Fein’s objections to the Lisbon Treaty. In line with the party’s position just after last year’s vote, their objection is primarily that nothing of any substance has changed in the meantime. The guarantees and the solemn declaration in favour of workers rights do not change in slightest the text of the document. He also points out that the self amending clause in the treaty undermines the Crotty (et al) judgements and means …

Zoe survival plan “at the further ends of optimism”

Pete Baker on September 13, 2009, 12:33 am

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After refusing the application for receivership by 7 companies in Liam Carroll’s Zoe Group on Thursday, on Friday Mr Justice Clarke postponed making the winding up orders requested by Dutch bank ACC until Monday at 2pm. Just in case they wanted yet another bite of the cherry with another appeal.. Although the Irish Times reports that “Sources with inside knowledge of Zoe’s position said there was little appetite for appeal given the judge’s forensic rejection of its survival plan in …

How much for TD’s expenses? €2,440. And we’ll charge you more for the ones we’ve actually lost

Mick Fealty on September 12, 2009, 12:22 pm

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Over at thestory.ie for the ten years between 1998 and 2008, Gavin has the latest on unearthing TDs expenses. If you are a genuinely patriotic citizen of the Irish Republic, it may be your duty to help see these records make the light of day and onto the public archives of the Kildare Street website… Find the paypal button over there and give what you can… It’s the kind of cheque book journalism worth paying for. And the money goes …

“either presented in a very poor way or is just plain wrong”

Pete Baker on September 10, 2009, 7:19 pm

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The Irish High Court has adjourned for a short break before the expected ruling on the Liam Carroll controlled Zoe Group’s second attempt at securing court protection. Apparently Mr Justice Clarke wanted to allow the group a chance to explain its financial position.. Again. From the current RTÉ report This follows detailed questioning by Mr Justice Frank Clarke on aspects of Zoe’s business plan, which he said was ‘either presented in a very poor way or is just plain wrong’. …

“Lisbon will steal your children…”

Mick Fealty on September 10, 2009, 5:35 pm

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Our Lisbon essays are ticking along nicely… Seven down, just fifteen to go… The intention is to create a calm space in which all sides a get a fair crack of the whip… But then there are other places… where the truth is negotiable (until the end of the campaign at least)… 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 …

Lisbon Essay (7): Slowness, endless negotiations and bureaucracy are the EU’s strength…

Mick Fealty on September 10, 2009, 2:30 pm

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It seems sometimes that the integrity of Ireland’s ancient struggle with its neighbour has left it in a semi detached mode in its relations with (and historical memory of) the wider interests (and the conflicts therein) of the rest of Europe. Rónán O’Brien writes of his conviction that the European Union has done much to mediate the effects of raw nationalism and brought peace to much of a continent that was previously continuously shaped by ethnic and nationalist warring… He …

Wilson: Northern Ireland must be consulted on Nama…

Mick Fealty on September 8, 2009, 7:54 pm

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H/T to Fin… I heard this on Radio Ulster earlier, but I was in such a rush I didn’t time to properly listen… Sammy Wilson wants to be consulted on the Nama legislation… Why? In April the Republic’s communications minister Eamon Ryan April said he believed about 15% of the bad loans Nama planned to buy would come from Northern Ireland, though some observers believe that estimate is on the high side. Speaking after Tuesday’s meeting Mr Wilson said: “Nama …