Republic – Page 60 – Slugger O'Toole

Entwined Lives

Pete Baker on May 23, 2008, 3:08 am

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BBC NI’s Hearts and Minds was packed with good and interesting discussion tonight. Here’s one of the examples. Starting from the Lives Entwined essays the subsequent studio discussion between three contributors to that project, Olivia O’Leary, Susan McKay and Richard English, referred, directly or indirectly, to the need to change our understanding of Britishness and Irishness, the Republic of Ireland’s view of the “mad old uncle” in the [Northern] attic, the effect of amending DeValera’s constitution, and, among other things, …

Ireland: land of hard knocks and long held grudges…

Mick Fealty on May 22, 2008, 12:19 pm

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I’ve not managed to get hold of a copy of the latest version of LIves Entwined, the British Council sponsored assay of relations within and between these islands. For us nordies it is likely to be the most compelling read of all three, since it teams with names familiar to Slugger readers. Indeed it includes work by some of the best journalistic talent including Olivia O’Leary, Mary Fitzgerald, and David McWilliams. Davy Adams has a fulsome piece based on his …

“the Taoiseach regrets any offence caused..”

Pete Baker on May 22, 2008, 12:11 am

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Taoiseach Brian Cowen has apologised for the use of the word “fuckers” in the Dáil today. He wasn’t speaking on record, it was in a side conversation with Tánaiste Mary Coughlan.. although the Dáil microphones still picked it up. But RTÉ need to listen to the recording again because their quote isn’t accurate. Admittedly the version played on RTÉ Radio News at One may not be clear.. [near end of Realplayer file] but the version at the Irish Times is. …

Turkey, stuffed..

Pete Baker on May 21, 2008, 2:03 am

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Alan [in Belfast] was hoping for great things.. but the signs were not good. Even if RTÉ continued to promote their employee’s entry’s chances. But the first Eurovision semi-final has confirmed that Europe didn’t get the joke.. or, more likely, it did.. but didn’t think it was funny – Dustin the Turkey has failed to qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest Final in Belgrade on Saturday night. Only the top ten in the semi-final went through. The BBC’s Denis Murray’s …

“I’m going to write to the minister for justice..”

Pete Baker on May 16, 2008, 3:53 pm

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Monaghan District Court Judge Sean Martin McBride has been making headlines again.. This time it’s Tyrone and not Londonderry that was the target of his judicial displeasure. Strange story all round, it should be said, with the wrong woman summonsed to court in the first place. Apparently required to pay 50 euro to have the case dismissed, the woman in court only had sterling.. This, according to the reports, resulted in Judge McBride telling her she was “showing the typical …

Polls as referendum nears..

Pete Baker on May 16, 2008, 2:25 pm

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Possibly the most interesting point to consider from the Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll on political party support is how it may affect the Lisbon Treaty referendum on 12th June.. although the question wasn’t actually put. doesn’t appear to have been put – George tells me that it was and the results will appear in tomorrow’s paper. Anyhoo.. The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a representative sample of 1,000 voters in face-to-face interviews at 100 sampling points in …

“They are paying for it, at the end of the day..”

Pete Baker on May 15, 2008, 8:09 pm

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The failure of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to provide convincing answers to the questions put at the Mahon Tribunal undoubtedly led to his eventual resignation. Those questions have continued and yesterday one of Ahern’s “long-term personal friends”, Joe Burke – a builder and former Fianna Fáil councillor in Dublin, who was appointed chairman of the Dublin Port Company in 2002 – has been providing equally unconvincing answers. The absence of a money trail featured heavily. From the Irish Times [subs …

“In a climate of growing secularism..”

Pete Baker on May 13, 2008, 12:51 am

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The pastoral letter from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference [pdf file] should probably be seen as an opening gambit in a conversation with all their partners in education – including the State. There’s an early reference in the letter to Pope Benedict XVI’s Spe Salvi, and the attempt, through an appeal to a “still greater form of reason”, to re-entwine faith and reason – aka The Un-Enlightenment – although the reports have focused on other elements. RTÉ picks up on …

SDLP suffering from Durkan’s indecision…

Mick Fealty on May 8, 2008, 4:10 pm

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If there is a raging debate going on inside the SDLP it is barely obvious to those on the outside. Yesterday we noted Conall McDevitt laid down an elegant case for the SDLP going on its own. in yesterday’s Irish News, Brian Feeney argued that Mark Durkan’s ‘weakness and indecision’ as a leader is the primary political quality currently defining his party’s future: After the SDLP’s breakfast in bed with Fianna Fail at the Carrickdale, Fine Gael finally woke up …

Cowen’s new Cabinet live blog…

Mick Fealty on May 7, 2008, 10:06 pm

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6:20 Whilst I work to try and get this thing to work (given up and gone fishing), the first thing of note: Cowen made the Dail wait fifteen minutes and then announced that the debate on his appointment of the government would only be allowed two hours. Kenny and Gilmore have asked for three, with Kenny citing day long debates on past occasions. RTE pushing out that Batt O’Keefe is to take over Education; Brendan Smith Agriculture; Mary Hanafin goes …

Rogha Cowan beagnach ann…

Mick Fealty on May 7, 2008, 8:00 pm

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Beidh Brian Cowan ag tabhairt mionchuntas ar a cinneadh cé go mbeadh isteach leis an chomh-aireacht am éigin ina iniadh a se a chlog inniu dar leis Irish Election. Idir an dá linn, seo rogha Choncubhar… 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

“new taoiseach’s in-tray is heavy with problems..”

Pete Baker on May 7, 2008, 4:45 pm

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Out-going Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s final public engagement wasn’t at the Boyne yesterday, it was at Arbour Hill today where, as RTÉ reports, “along with President Mary McAleese, he attended the national commemoration for the leaders of the 1916 Rising” – More here. The new leader of Fianna Fáil, Brian Cowen, is to be confirmed as the next Taoiseach later today and, while some focus may be on a limited reshuffle of the cabinet, the Irish Examiner’s Paul O’Brien sets out …

“But we’ve had a good run..”

Pete Baker on May 6, 2008, 8:21 pm

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In [one of] his final public engagements before he officially resigns, out-going Taoiseach Bertie Ahern opened a new visitor’s centre on the site of the Battle of the Boyne with the also out-going First Minister Ian Paisley – they both wielded original 17th century swords. RTÉ has all the audio/video links you could want [and more – Ed]. And there are texts of the speeches – Bertie Ahern’s here and Ian Paisley’s here. [Adds Paisley’s full speech here, there’s some …

“the culmination of a shift in Irish Government policy..”

Pete Baker on May 3, 2008, 9:16 pm

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As well as his report on the Taoiseach’s farewell [?] tour, Stephen Collins has a companion article in the Irish Times Opinion section – “American eyes turn away as we return to normality.” [subs req] In it he identifies a part of the Ahern legacy which was implicit in the Taoiseach’s RTÉ radio interview noted here. Ahern’s political legacy is that not only did he work tirelessly to bring the peace process to a conclusion over the past 10 years, …

“After all their triangulating, formulating, circle-squaring and thinking big thoughts..”

Pete Baker on May 3, 2008, 2:35 pm

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Has the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body’s period of existential angst ended? Perhaps, perhaps not.. In the Irish Times Miriam Lord gives her reaction [subs req] to the news Gary Kent brought us earlier. The 36th conference of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body took place in Whites Hotel in Wexford earlier this week, and, in a gesture to unionists who have finally indicated they will send representatives to future gatherings, the BIIPB decided to change its name. Wait for it. It will …

“If he had led a successful referendum campaign..”

Pete Baker on April 30, 2008, 7:34 pm

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Hmm.. Not necessarily his “last day in the political sun”, Mick. Irish Eagle spotted the Bloomberg news service coverage of the out-going Taoiseach’s speech. His speech, before a joint session of Congress at 11 a.m. in Washington, “may be a pitch for a future international role, whether on behalf of the European Union or otherwise,” said Noel Whelan, a former adviser to Ahern’s Fianna Fail party. “Bertie Ahern certainly has the mix of skills that might play in conflict resolution.” …

Bertie to speak in Congress today…

Mick Fealty on April 30, 2008, 6:59 pm

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Bertie gets his last day in the political sun today. You can pick up his speech to the US Congress on line here. Expect mention of his role in bringing constitutional matters to a close in Northern Ireland. And possibly for Hillary ‘instrumental’ role in bringing peace to us natives? Of course, the opening scenes began on the Clinton watch. But the Bush adminstration played a more discreet, but possibly decisive role in bring final closure. Mick FealtyMick is founding …

Reasons to vote against Lisbon…

Mick Fealty on April 29, 2008, 11:34 pm

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Earlier today I spoke to Naoise Nunn, once (and possibly again) of this parish. These days he’s executive director of Libertas, a think tank and pressure group that seems to be successfully applying some attention to the issue of the Lisbon referendum due to take place on June 12th. He’s been travelling recently in the north and west of the Republic and reports that they are getting positive responses from people who whilst happy with the EU and the benefits …

Still waiting for the Unionists…

Mick Fealty on April 28, 2008, 7:42 pm

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The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body still cant’ get Unionists to come along, but Gary Kent, reporting from Wexford, reckons that that is only a name change and year away. The group of bank bench parliamentarians met as usual, but with our former Secretary of State for Wales, etc. in the chair (he hasn’t gone away you know)… The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body today in Wexford agreed a fairly bland motion on continuing progress in Northern Ireland which Tory MP Robert Walter described …

The Un-Enlightenment continues..

Pete Baker on April 28, 2008, 6:46 pm

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When out-going Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, complained of a “growing hesitation” to reference religious belief in public debate I argued that “the only issue of matter is whether any argument put forward is rational.” As this recent case proves supernatural beliefs can conflict with necessary medical treatment. And there is an attempt to influence public policy in this area. As this Irish Times report notes, the author of Health Research Board-funded report from Trinity College Dublin’s Irish School of Ecumenics – …