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“History will judge..”

Pete Baker on June 6, 2008, 3:22 am | Readers 2

Interesting to note that the only out-right laughter from former DUP leader Ian Paisley Snr on his resignation as Northern Ireland First Minister came as a result of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams’ speech. The DUP’s Lord Morrow didn’t spring any surprises. But the other parties present [all below the fold], both inside and outside the Executive, were not laughing. As for the resignation itself.. First the DUP’s Lord Morrow And SF leader Gerry Adams. And the UUP’s Danny Kennedy, …

“difference between leverage and crisis..”

Pete Baker on June 4, 2008, 12:17 am | Readers 2

More from Stormont Live today. Two representatives of parties outside the Northern Ireland Executive, the Alliance Party leader David Ford and the PUP’s Dawn Purvis, give the view from there of that potential crisis. Pete Baker

“Contributing to instability..”

Pete Baker on June 3, 2008, 11:18 pm | Readers 0

Two representatives of parties within the Northern Ireland Executive, the UUP’s Danny Kennedy and the SDLP’s Patsy McGlone, give their respective parties’ views of the potential crisis. Pete Baker

“He did sneak out the backdoor..”

Pete Baker on June 3, 2008, 10:25 pm | Readers 0

Mark Devenport might have thought about reminding the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, that he had previously responded to a ‘stupid’ question by praising the “indigenous” deal “put together by SF and the DUP” but, with Adams avoiding the cameras, he didn’t get the chance. Instead Mark Devenport reported from Downing St while Martina Purdy sat in the Stormont Live studio. Pete Baker

“That remains to be seen..”

Pete Baker on June 3, 2008, 9:23 pm | Readers 6

When Sinn Féin’s visit to Downing St was revealed yesterday it was reported that both party leader, Gerry Adams, and Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, would be going. As it was, Martin McGuinness stayed at Stormont where the BBC’s Gareth Gordon put a quick question [see below the fold], and he’s recently stated the position in relation to devolving policing and justice powers “as you well know”. Meanwhile Stormont Live provided the only evidence that an unusually camera-shy …

“Bubbling beneath the surface..”

Pete Baker on June 3, 2008, 12:59 am | Readers 6

Along with the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams’ statement this afternoon, UTV’s Ken Reid reported [below the fold] that, along with Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams will be heading to Downing St tomorrow to meet Prime Minster Gordon Brown.. who might have other things on his mind. It’s not quite what Jonathan Powell had hoped for.. although he did mention a particular addiction. Earlier today on Stormont Live the BBC NI Political Editor, Mark Devenport, was …

Lisbon Treaty.. and the iceberg..

Pete Baker on June 2, 2008, 1:34 pm | Readers 1

The BBC’s Politics Show yesterday had a report, from Cork, on the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum and used an unfortunate analogy for a potential low turn-out.. Pete Baker

“If it’s not broke, why fix it..”

Pete Baker on May 30, 2008, 6:38 pm | Readers 1

Part one of the Hearts and Minds interview with the Environment Minister, the DUP’s Arlene Foster, is here, but the clip below begins with the key question of why we remain the only region of the archipelago not to have an independent Environmental Protection Agency despite the Review of Environmental Governance’s recommendation. The minister’s claim that she hasn’t rejected that report is based on her apparently cherry-picking some of its proposals. But when those proposals all followed on from the …

“as you well know..”

Pete Baker on May 28, 2008, 4:44 pm | Readers 40

After months of claiming “very firm” British Government commitments, and alternatively a DUP commitment, to devolving policing and justice powers by May 2008, Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, finally gives a straight answer on that question. Not sure it meets the requirements of his own party’s Ard Fheis.. but better late than never, eh Jim? Key quote from his answer [scroll down] “However, agreement between the political parties (as you well know) remains the key determinant …

Self righteous brothers and the ungentle art of creative futuring…

Mick Fealty on May 28, 2008, 3:04 pm | Readers 15

They can’t have been thinking of Slugger’s commenting zone, but it seems to me that this Enfield/Whitehouse sketch captures one of its little foibles reasonably well… 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

Wondrous Mars

Pete Baker on May 27, 2008, 3:07 am | Readers 2

A wondrous image, and provided so soon after the event itself, of the Phoenix lander parachuting down towards the surface of Mars – as taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. An animated depiction of how that image was taken is below the fold. As is a clip showing the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars, as seen by NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander shortly after touching down on the Red …

“I remember everything..”

Pete Baker on May 26, 2008, 3:46 am | Readers 6

Johnny Cash. Pete Baker

“Information is (still) power..”

Pete Baker on May 24, 2008, 6:52 pm | Readers 18

Another good, and interesting, discussion from Thursday’s Hearts and Minds. Starting with the film Hunger and the competing claims about that time, the report goes on to reference The Blanket, and talks to editor Carrie Twomey, bringing into the conversation historian Eamonn Phoenix – covering, in a timely fashion, revisionism, the use of propaganda, The Process™, censorship, and how, to misquote Francis Bacon, “information is still power” in Northern Ireland. Pete Baker

“undermining old certainties..”

Pete Baker on May 23, 2008, 7:10 pm | Readers 23

Thanks to PJM in the comments zone at this previous, related, post. Poet Michael Longley’s filmed contribution to the Digging Deeper project discussing his sense of Irishness and Britishness and neither in a region of the archipelago where identity has been reduced to a “pathological political form”. Also related thoughts on identity from Hugo MacNeill.. and John Hewitt.. and John Banville on his own personal culture. Pete Baker

David Trimble interview from Hearts and Minds

Pete Baker on May 23, 2008, 3:45 pm | Readers 118

Also from last night’s Hearts and Minds, former UUP leader David Trimble, now Lord Trimble of Lisnagarvey, did well in the face of a, properly, sceptical line of questioning from Noel Thompson. Interesting to hear the reference to US pressure. The final outcome of that pressure is not yet clear. Pete Baker

Entwined Lives

Pete Baker on May 23, 2008, 3:08 am | Readers 14

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, …

“If it wasn’t so serious it would be farcical.”

Pete Baker on May 20, 2008, 2:42 pm | Readers 2

The Guardian reports that a teenager may face prosecution after police confiscated a placard describing Scientology as “a dangerous cult” – image here – at a recent demonstration in London. The dangerous cult’s charm offensive in London has raised concerns before.. and this year’s Londonderry’s Jazz Festival has also seen recruitment efforts. At which point I was going to repost the World in Action 1967 documentary featuring L Ron Hubbard, founder of the cult.. but that particular video appears to …

“Do we call academic selection something else?”

Pete Baker on May 18, 2008, 10:55 pm | Readers 2

BBC NI’s Politics Show today kicked off with political correspondent Martina Purdy talking about what was “by no means a normal Executive meeting”. Followed by the Chairman of the Assembly’s Education Committee, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, clashing again with Sinn Féin’s new education spokesman, John O’Dowd – I’ve put that discussion below the fold. Next on the education agenda, some lateral thinking, considerable brain-storming, real debate, discussion, dialogue and indeed negotiation.. Or perhaps not.. And Sammy Wilson and John O’Dowd. …

“I’m hoping the Minister’s answer will help me understand the question…”

Mick Fealty on May 13, 2008, 12:30 am | Readers 1

Anyone who knows Francie Brolly, also knows he is his own man. Was he gently poking fun at the party machine which had provided him with a near unintelligible question to ask his own party’s Minster of Agriculture? Some of his colleagues at the front clearly got the joke (including the Minister herself), the back bench boys (including Francie Molloy, just out of shot) remained fairly stoney-faced throughout. Which raises another question: are our MLAs being allowed by their parties …

Conditions.. and investments – Redux

Pete Baker on May 9, 2008, 1:46 am | Readers 2

Mick mentioned the Hearts and Minds interview with New York City Comptroller, William Thompson. He opens by futuring on the Investment Conference, but his position on the MacBride principles [3min 40s in] and the Emerald Fund are worth comparing to his previously stated position – noted here. Whereas he had said, of projects selected by the Emerald Fund, “I think that they understand that we are still committed to the MacBride Principles and I think that they’ll make that clear …