Republic – Page 79 – Slugger O'Toole

“A safe and valid conclusion”

Pete Baker on November 29, 2006, 8:46 pm

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The Irish Times fills in some of the details[subs req] – also available in this RTÉ report[RealPlayer audio] – from the Irish Court of Criminal Appeal’s dismissal of appeals by two Dublin Sinn Féin members, Niall Binéad, a former secretary of a south Dublin Sinn Féin cumann, and Kenneth Donohoe, against their convictions for IRA membership in 2004. – see also yesterday’s RTÉ reportFrom the Irish Times report Niall Binéad (36), Faughart Road, Crumlin, and Kenneth Donohoe (27), Mountain View, …

“they deserve great credit for everything they are doing”

Pete Baker on November 28, 2006, 7:36 pm

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A BBC report highlights comments by Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters after leading a delegation to visit the site at the Battle of the Boyne where the Irish Government is building a visitors’ facility and associated works – although there’s an element of self-interest involved..From the BBC report Mr Saulters said it was fascinating to see the work that was being done at the Boyne. “At the moment it is a bit like a construction site but the plans …

Relatively stable..

Pete Baker on November 27, 2006, 1:53 am

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While a one-off poll can only give a limited snapshot of public opinion at any given time, the value of the Sunday Business Post’s Red C tracking poll lies in identifying the general trend in parties’ support. Red C managing director, Richard Colwell, on the latest poll in the Post The story told by this data is that underlying support for Fianna Fail is on an upward trend, with gains across each of the past two months. Conversely, for Fine …

Catholic Church needs to develop a Plan B, quickly

Mick Fealty on November 21, 2006, 1:50 pm

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There is little doubt that Catholic priests are under immense pressure. I heard one PP sounding off earlier this year that some in his congregation expected the same service they had had twenty years previously. But regularly two priest parishes are becoming one priest parishes, and within a few years may even have to share a single priest with the parish next door. In yesterday’s Irish Times, Fr Gerard Moloney had some scary statistics that demonstrate that even if Ireland’s …

On the importance of keeping politics and law separate…

Mick Fealty on November 21, 2006, 4:06 am

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Alan Ruddock with some thoughts on the discreet way the Republic chooses its judges, contrasting it with the complexity and intense public interest in the selection of judges in the US. The sheer public bafflement and panic on the backbenches recently when a Supreme Court ruling struck down a 130 year old law of statutory rape, indicates a degree of public misunderstanding of the proper relationship between the judiciary and the legislature. In Ireland, though, we barely notice when a …

Rossport and the dead hand of Northern politics?

Mick Fealty on November 20, 2006, 8:05 pm

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There was an interesting piece in the Sunday Independent on the Shell to Sea campaign. Recent protests at Bellanaboy and a heavy police response has galvanised some attention online, with some exaggerated claims of parallels with the brutalisation of the Ogoni in Rivers State and the Niger Delta. But it was the involvement of Sinn Fein in the campaign that caught Declan Lynch’s eye: …here is their schedule for one day, according to an internet source. Sinn Fein picket at …

Dingle Redux

Pete Baker on November 18, 2006, 3:39 am

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RTÉ reports an apparent u-turn by the Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív at a meeting of Kerry County Council, except for the proviso that “he will not oppose any decision on the renaming of An Daingean as long as it is within the law.” It is, though, a change from his previously stated position. And there’s a telling paragraph in the RTÉ report Mr Ó Cuív admitted to a special meeting of the council …

Social mobility versus keeping the middle class satisfied?

Mick Fealty on November 16, 2006, 7:16 pm

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Gerry O’Quigley provides me with the opportunity to cut back what is likely to be a crucial issue for both government and opposition in the Republic’s next election. From the midterm elections in the US to Blair’s long trek into middle England it is clear to most political pragmatists that if you don’t attract the middle classes, you don’t get political power (in English speaking western democracies at least). But, says Noel Whelan, what if those policies don’t make long …

When the BIIPB came to town…

Mick Fealty on November 16, 2006, 5:45 pm

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Gary Kent with an overview of the recent meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in the Waterfront Hall. I was struck particularly by this quote which seems to net a real paradox for some: “As an Ulster Unionist I have to resist north south co operation but as a businessman I cannot get enough of it.” Although it may not be the paradox it seems, since sovereignty and interdependence are not the rigidly consonant issues that some, on both sides …

Ahern to rid Dublin of that troublesome bridge?

Mick Fealty on November 15, 2006, 3:14 pm

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On the front page of the (all new, all signing and dancing) Irish Times site is the story of what exactly Bertie plans to do with all those scrimped up tax Euros. No tax cuts (maybe), but he is going to buy back that hideous bridge on Dublin’s West Link for the state. If you are unfamiliar with the problem, check out Shane Ross’s motion in the Seanad. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

An unintended communication…

Mick Fealty on November 8, 2006, 5:13 pm

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Looks like politicians in the Republic are getting the net quicker than those in Northern Ireland. But it seems this Fine Gael Limerick Councillor may have given away more than he originally intended! 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 Pope’s Children tomorrow…

Mick Fealty on November 6, 2006, 1:17 am

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David McWilliams is bringing his fascinating snapshot of prosperous Ireland (thanks TCL) to the screens of RTE 1 on Monday evening. HIs bestselling book, The Pope’s Children is a fascinating mash of economic and demographic metrics, sociological insight and lively contemporary anecdote of a country that has changed out of all recognition even (and maybe most especially) to its own citizenry. Whereas the book was mostly upbeat, McWilliams has been brooding on the potentially flimsy base for the Republic’s new …

Gardaí believe they have foiled a Real IRA bomb plot

Pete Baker on October 28, 2006, 4:40 pm

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It’s undoubtedly good news that any potentially lethal explosive device is seized before it reaches its intended target… but I’d be more enthusiastic about it if the reports also detailed a number of arrests. Pete Baker

Ahern confirms terrorists are in Ireland..

Pete Baker on October 25, 2006, 4:32 pm

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Not that he had much choice in the matter, since RTÉ had already obtained documents dating from 2003, under the US Freedom of Information Act, from the US State Department revealing that “up to six Islamist groups have had cells operating in Ireland.” and that the information was based on intelligence gathered by gardaí. The Irish Times also had these details[subs req] Asked if any “foreign terrorist groups” had a presence in Ireland, the embassy named the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, …

Irish Islam and the unspoken problem of integration…

Mick Fealty on October 23, 2006, 3:11 pm

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The situation in the UK viz a viz the radicalisation of Islamic youth is clearly much further on than it is in Ireland, north or south. The discussion of the veil controversy (video file) on a recent edition of the Late Late Show accordingly had an air of unreality about it. Mary FitzGerald, has been out and about amongst Irish muslims, asking them for their estimation on both sides of the border.Several of her sources, requested their names not be …

It’s all about patience and timing

Mick Fealty on October 23, 2006, 2:19 pm

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From Gary Kent in Belfast: Timing is everything in politics. It has taken time and determination to overcome official objections to holding the Body in Belfast. It took time for the DUP to swallow hard and send a delegation to the last meeting of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body in Northern Ireland in the south. It was expected that the meeting in Belfast would be addressed by Tony Blair and perhaps joined by the DUP but the dominant timeline is now …

The vote is in!

Pete Baker on October 20, 2006, 8:33 pm

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As highlighted previously, the people of An Daingean have voted.. and RTÉ reports that over 90% of the, approximately, 1000 people who voted want the name changed, again, to Dingle/Daingean Uí Chuis. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has, however, repeated his view that he has no power to act on the results of the plebiscite. Adds BBC reports the result as “1,005 out of an electorate of 1,222 voting in favour”.. hmmm Pete Baker

Serious cartoonist talent…

Mick Fealty on October 20, 2006, 11:03 am

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I remember Steve Bell saying that getting a cartoonist’s job at the Guardian was the toughest, most unlikeliest ‘gig’ it’s possible to imagine. The vacancies don’t come up very often. Well this guy at Green Ink looks like a talent worth keeping an eye on. 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 …

Leviathan: Selling the Family Silver?

Mick Fealty on October 19, 2006, 6:37 pm

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As Aer Lingus employees and the Government battle to save the national airline from the clutches of Ryanair, David McWilliams asks a panel of experts and you, the audience, whether modern Governments have any business running businesses; if stubborn unions have spoiled it for all of us and where should we go from here. There will also be savage musical satire from tortured genius Paddy Cullivan aka Clint Velour; and Slam Poetry from Mary Mulligan. Panel details will be announced …

Sinn Fein’s leftist identity at odds with voters’ politics?

Mick Fealty on October 19, 2006, 3:25 pm

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According to Dr Eoin O’Malley, Sinn Fein’s voter base in the Republic tends to be more right wing than the party’s leftist agenda would suggest. The conclusions are drawn from an examination of the National Election Study Data, by the ESRI. It’s already been subject to a lengthy discussion at Politics.ie.Fionnan Sheahan in the Independent: It is a radical nationalist and populist party but is “at odds with its supporters except on the national question”, the lecturer from the School …