Looks like the Guardian may have jumped the gun. In recent days there has been feverish speculation within certain political inner circles about a possible act of completion by Christmas. But in this case it seems someone has jumped before the IRA.
More from UTV and The Examiner.
30 November 2002
IRA: war is over?
It seems like the IRA believe that their day has come. The fact that the Guardian's chief political correspondent has signed his name to an article on that paper's front page seems a significant enough omen in itself, (though check the updates for the latest on this story).
"...the IRA will announce a comprehensive act of weapons decommissioning - in effect giving up its secret arms dumps."
And the story that might have otherwise have been NI's only big headline of the day, is that the next big job is to take down the so-called Peace Walls that separate communities in Belfast like it was embedded in some latter day Cold War.
Update: here's the story from Reuters, but it was Emily Jones who picked this up first. More from the Mirror, Ananova, Sky News.
Update to the Update: Looks like this was all a little previous.
"...the IRA will announce a comprehensive act of weapons decommissioning - in effect giving up its secret arms dumps."
And the story that might have otherwise have been NI's only big headline of the day, is that the next big job is to take down the so-called Peace Walls that separate communities in Belfast like it was embedded in some latter day Cold War.
Update: here's the story from Reuters, but it was Emily Jones who picked this up first. More from the Mirror, Ananova, Sky News.
Update to the Update: Looks like this was all a little previous.
29 November 2002
Vote early, vote often
The importance of trade
The subscription only Irish News reports on President Mary McAleese's emphasis on building cross border trade partnerships:
"...synergies between our respective indigent business sectors, to send fleets of consumer goods both ways across the border, to spread the benign embrace of jobs and prosperity widely as never before. The transition from a culture of conflict with all its wastefulness and woundedness to a culture of peace, prosperity and consensus is unfolding little by little.
"In this context, the one factor that will make the greatest contribution to European competitiveness on the island of Ireland is political stability."
"...synergies between our respective indigent business sectors, to send fleets of consumer goods both ways across the border, to spread the benign embrace of jobs and prosperity widely as never before. The transition from a culture of conflict with all its wastefulness and woundedness to a culture of peace, prosperity and consensus is unfolding little by little.
"In this context, the one factor that will make the greatest contribution to European competitiveness on the island of Ireland is political stability."
Derry name change?
SDLP councillor suggests Sinn Fein's recent motion was:
“...only a matter of putting the boot into the SDLP. I think on the whole that the people of this city will be relieved that a motion aimed at further heightening tension in this city, creating further alienating and marginalisation of the Protestant people, has not gone through.’’ More on the Letter.
“...only a matter of putting the boot into the SDLP. I think on the whole that the people of this city will be relieved that a motion aimed at further heightening tension in this city, creating further alienating and marginalisation of the Protestant people, has not gone through.’’ More on the Letter.
McCartney enters talks
Long term anti agreement politician Bob McCartney seems to have conceded that simply bringing down the Assembly will not change the institutions set up under the Belfast Agreement. On the face of it, this is pretty much an acceptance of Brian Feeney's analysis at the time of the collapse of the Assembly in early October.
It's also possible McCartney is testing the waters for a possible entry to the talks by his long time allies in the DUP.
It's also possible McCartney is testing the waters for a possible entry to the talks by his long time allies in the DUP.
Policing drama
Brian Walker considers the possibility of break through over the latest crux - policing. He also reckons that St Patrick's Day is to be the new Good Friday, as a deadline for a fresh agreement.
28 November 2002
Derry name change
Reader Ian makes an observation on the Derry name plebiscite issue. He states that he is in favour changing the official name from Londonderry to Derry, but:
"The argument in favour [of the plebiscite] is that the people should decide, and not accepting this is 'anti-democratic'. But do people follow this through? Should 80% of the population of Derry (which notably would also be the proportion in an all-Ireland state) get to make 100% of decisions? Was not the problem for 51 years that 65% of the population got to make 100% of the decisions?"
"The argument in favour [of the plebiscite] is that the people should decide, and not accepting this is 'anti-democratic'. But do people follow this through? Should 80% of the population of Derry (which notably would also be the proportion in an all-Ireland state) get to make 100% of decisions? Was not the problem for 51 years that 65% of the population got to make 100% of the decisions?"
DUP: the jolly party
Susanne Breen's sketch of the DUP is irrepressively optimistic about its future.
"The message was there are no DUP dinosaurs. This is a modern, dynamic party. The DUP was written off after the Belfast Agreement. The road had been long and hard, said Peter Robinson, 'but the dark days and tough times are in our rear view mirror.'"
"The message was there are no DUP dinosaurs. This is a modern, dynamic party. The DUP was written off after the Belfast Agreement. The road had been long and hard, said Peter Robinson, 'but the dark days and tough times are in our rear view mirror.'"
Ireland importing wood for hurleys
Makers are now importing almost half of the ash needed to produce the 250,000 hurleys sold annually in Ireland, mostly from Scotland and Wales. A big increase in the sport’s popularity over recent years means demand for sticks now far outstrips the supply. More in the subscription only Irish Post.
Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
The delegations at the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation include Fianna Fail, SDLP, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin, the Progressive Democrats, the Alliance Party, the Green Party, independent Dail deputies, the Women’s Coalition, independent senators, the Socialist Party and the Workers Party. In the chair is Senator Maurice Hayes, a former Ombudsman in Northern Ireland, who also served on the Patten Commission on Policing.
There are no Unionist parties in attendence, although the Irish Independent has a short direct message to Unionists; 'just turn up and we'll hear what you have to say'. It's doubtful if they will have many takers.
There are no Unionist parties in attendence, although the Irish Independent has a short direct message to Unionists; 'just turn up and we'll hear what you have to say'. It's doubtful if they will have many takers.
Democratic accountability needed
Eric Waugh mulls over the growing cynicism of local people with regard to politics, asserting that it's the low level of official political discourse that has brought it into disrepute. Greater accountability is the answer:
"If the Executive is to fill the role of government it must behave in public with the spirit of a Cabinet, not like a committee of tomcats. If the Assembly is to fill the role of a parliament it must have an Opposition. If Ministers fall down on the job they must be answerable, ie capable of being dismissed."
In other words, the Agreement must be re-negotiated. It is hard not to speculate that in Waugh's thinking, we are glimpsing the, as yet unveiled, agenda of Robinson's DUP.
The directness of this analysis is appealing. But it seems to ignore some of the basic reasons why NI has a democratic system that can be grasped only by "...the few proficient in higher mathematics". Sean Swan puts the Worker's Party case for a bill of rights.
"If the Executive is to fill the role of government it must behave in public with the spirit of a Cabinet, not like a committee of tomcats. If the Assembly is to fill the role of a parliament it must have an Opposition. If Ministers fall down on the job they must be answerable, ie capable of being dismissed."
In other words, the Agreement must be re-negotiated. It is hard not to speculate that in Waugh's thinking, we are glimpsing the, as yet unveiled, agenda of Robinson's DUP.
The directness of this analysis is appealing. But it seems to ignore some of the basic reasons why NI has a democratic system that can be grasped only by "...the few proficient in higher mathematics". Sean Swan puts the Worker's Party case for a bill of rights.
Derry name change?
Having had their motion defeated in council, Sinn Fein move on to the second phase of what increasingly looks like a concerted strategy, especially in view of the fact that Sinn Fein refused to support an SDLP compromise motion allowing both names.
The latest is a call for a local plebiscite on the potential name change. Although, as the Daily Telegraph pointed out yesterday, the power to change the name officially lies with Westminster, there is little doubt that such a poll of people within the City boundary would return a serious majority for change.
The latest is a call for a local plebiscite on the potential name change. Although, as the Daily Telegraph pointed out yesterday, the power to change the name officially lies with Westminster, there is little doubt that such a poll of people within the City boundary would return a serious majority for change.
27 November 2002
Is the DUP pro-agreement?
David Trimble raises a question we firsted noted in September; is the DUP substantively pro- or anti-Agreement?
"There will be no tearing up of the Agreement if Robinson gets his way. The basics will remain the same. The Robinson wing of the DUP has accepted the politics of inclusion, the DUP is effectively a pro-Agreement party - albeit one that cannot be trusted to deliver good partnership government or benefit for unionism."
"There will be no tearing up of the Agreement if Robinson gets his way. The basics will remain the same. The Robinson wing of the DUP has accepted the politics of inclusion, the DUP is effectively a pro-Agreement party - albeit one that cannot be trusted to deliver good partnership government or benefit for unionism."
Voluntary sector feeling the squeeze
Conal McFeely argues that voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland has a key role in regenerating urban communities, but that "there is a failure of government structures to get resources to local groups that effectively address the challenge of rebuilding areas of weak community infrastructure in Northern Ireland."
One sided forum needs Unionists
Sean Farren of the SDLP has called for Unionists to partake in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation which begins proceedings in Dublin Castle on Wednesday. At this stage the body is being looked upon as a sounding board rather than a means for developing new proposals to bring back to the negotiating table.
No change on monarch's religion
Former shadow Northern Ireland spokeman Kevin McNamara has had a bid to repeal the Act of Settlement, which prevents Catholics or members of the royal family who marry Catholics from succeeding to the throne, rejected by Tony Blair.
The Abbey and the Gate
In trying to define the term canard, weblogger Kieran Healey rambles comically off the point.
School, guns and informing
Derry name change ruled out
Murphy: quantum leap
Again the Irish News carries an article by the Secretary of State for NI Paul Murphy, laying out the positive arguments for the reforms that have already taken place, in particular highlighting the work of the new Chief Constable Hugh Orde and the police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan. He then reiterated the words of Blair's speech back in October:
"I do not underestimate the difficulties for republicans in making what some have called this ‘quantum leap’ – the final transition away from violence. Neither has the Prime Minister nor I suggested that there is no work left to be done by the governments and the parties, as well as the paramilitaries. But there is simply no escaping the fact that we have reached a ‘fork in the road’ at which republicanism will have to make a clear choice."
Also: Details of Murphy's original announcement on Monday. There seems to be a thaw in relations between Murphy's office and the DUP
"I do not underestimate the difficulties for republicans in making what some have called this ‘quantum leap’ – the final transition away from violence. Neither has the Prime Minister nor I suggested that there is no work left to be done by the governments and the parties, as well as the paramilitaries. But there is simply no escaping the fact that we have reached a ‘fork in the road’ at which republicanism will have to make a clear choice."
Also: Details of Murphy's original announcement on Monday. There seems to be a thaw in relations between Murphy's office and the DUP
Polcing drama: ex-prisoners
The Irish News points out an important anomaly in the public perception over whether ex-prisoners should be allowed to take their places on the new police partnership boards:
"While this background may be generally associated with Sinn Féin, it is worth pointing out that it is a provision which has also been utilised by the DUP. Indeed, one former loyalist prisoner has also been endorsed as a DUP candidate in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections scheduled for next year. Former prisoners are fully capable of making a significant contribution to society, although they must at all stages give careful consideration to the feelings of other sections of the community."
"While this background may be generally associated with Sinn Féin, it is worth pointing out that it is a provision which has also been utilised by the DUP. Indeed, one former loyalist prisoner has also been endorsed as a DUP candidate in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections scheduled for next year. Former prisoners are fully capable of making a significant contribution to society, although they must at all stages give careful consideration to the feelings of other sections of the community."
Policing drama: political gamesmanship
The latest editorial in the Belfast Telegraph believes policing is the key to to finding a solution that will stick:
"Policing has always been the key test of the Good Friday Agreement, because it goes to the heart of any arrangements that could reconcile unionist and nationalist aims. If a solution can be found that fully involves both communities, the future would be much brighter, and the government's new approach is a blend of the carrot and stick."
"Policing has always been the key test of the Good Friday Agreement, because it goes to the heart of any arrangements that could reconcile unionist and nationalist aims. If a solution can be found that fully involves both communities, the future would be much brighter, and the government's new approach is a blend of the carrot and stick."
Trimble: fuller context
Abdon Pallasch, of the Chicago Sun-Times gives a fuller account of Trimble's interview by that paper's board. Perhaps the most interesting corrective within this account is that Trimble admits that he was not comparing the South unfavourably with the North, but the South with mainland Britain, where multiculturalism is rapidly becoming embedded in public life and consciousness.
Paisley: an tús den deiridh?
Tharla an chomhdháil bhliantúil is mó agus is fearr a riamh ag an DUP, dar leis an gheall bolscaireacht DUP, ag an deireadh seachtaine seo caite. Ach dar le Foinse, seo an tús den deiridh ré Ian Paisley.
26 November 2002
Haass: 5 pillars of progress
Thanks to Emily Jones for the communique from the US Embassy in London. It contains five points he delivered to a business group in Belfast on the 20th November 2002:
-- Elimination of all paramilitary capabilities and an end to all paramilitary behavior, including, but not limited to, targeting and so-called punishment beatings;
-- Effective community policing and continued police reform;
-- Continued and ultimately complete demilitarization or normalization of the British military presence;
-- Strengthening institutions and practices that guarantee human rights and equality; and,
-- Restoring local power-sharing institutions, namely the Executive and the Assembly.
Acutally coming to think of it, they are not that different from the DUP's demands yesterday. Like the disagreements over policing, the measures between one option and another are getting incredibly fine.
Hit the comments if you disagree, or email me if you think I am missing something.
-- Elimination of all paramilitary capabilities and an end to all paramilitary behavior, including, but not limited to, targeting and so-called punishment beatings;
-- Effective community policing and continued police reform;
-- Continued and ultimately complete demilitarization or normalization of the British military presence;
-- Strengthening institutions and practices that guarantee human rights and equality; and,
-- Restoring local power-sharing institutions, namely the Executive and the Assembly.
Acutally coming to think of it, they are not that different from the DUP's demands yesterday. Like the disagreements over policing, the measures between one option and another are getting incredibly fine.
Hit the comments if you disagree, or email me if you think I am missing something.
Six arrested in Belfast and N Antrim
Policing drama: pressure on the IRA
With major legislative concessions in the pipeline, the Belfast Telegraph speculates that the ball will now lie in the IRA's court, to make a decisive move and kick-start the process again.
Trimble and the Republic
Emerging from a tradition that many would characterise as anti-intellectual, this piece from Roy Garland charting a plausable defence of Trimble's outburst last week is all the more interesting:
"There are two kinds of unionism. One rejoices in intimate links with a pluralist, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic British state whose openness to the world and tolerance of difference holds people within its orbit. Their attachment to the union is compatible with a love of this island and appreciation of Anglo-Irish and sometimes even Gaelic traditions and culture. There are other unionists for whom being British means little more than being not Irish."
He goes on:
"David Trimble and his colleagues do not always speak from a position of strength because of the virulence of opponents who are ostensibly wearing liberal clothes. However, it is not only unionists who live in a less than perfect world and Trimble seems to be saying that the credentials of the Irish state also require examination and reform."
And:
"The Republic now needs to initiate changes that can end the dominance of one set of traditions in favour of a multiplicity of others in a broad tapestry of pluralism."
"There are two kinds of unionism. One rejoices in intimate links with a pluralist, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic British state whose openness to the world and tolerance of difference holds people within its orbit. Their attachment to the union is compatible with a love of this island and appreciation of Anglo-Irish and sometimes even Gaelic traditions and culture. There are other unionists for whom being British means little more than being not Irish."
He goes on:
"David Trimble and his colleagues do not always speak from a position of strength because of the virulence of opponents who are ostensibly wearing liberal clothes. However, it is not only unionists who live in a less than perfect world and Trimble seems to be saying that the credentials of the Irish state also require examination and reform."
And:
"The Republic now needs to initiate changes that can end the dominance of one set of traditions in favour of a multiplicity of others in a broad tapestry of pluralism."
DUP: not an alternative, yet
In the wake of the DUP's annual conference, the Belfast Telegraph still believes its lack of an expressed political vision is the party's greatest weakness:
"The weakness of the DUP's position has always been its failure to come up with any alternative which would command cross-community support. The latest defiant refusal to negotiate with "the representatives of terrorism" does not suggest that anything has changed."
Update: William Graham in yesterday's Irish News reported on Ian Paisley's list of demands, and on the face ot it, it doesn't look much different from the UUP's. Trimble on the possibilty of divergence within the DUP.
"The weakness of the DUP's position has always been its failure to come up with any alternative which would command cross-community support. The latest defiant refusal to negotiate with "the representatives of terrorism" does not suggest that anything has changed."
Update: William Graham in yesterday's Irish News reported on Ian Paisley's list of demands, and on the face ot it, it doesn't look much different from the UUP's. Trimble on the possibilty of divergence within the DUP.
First Ministers's staffing too high?
Democratic Dialogue is in the news again, defending its attack on the high staffing levels of the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister in it latest bulletin.
Police move on Loyalists
25 November 2002
Big brother works?
Henry McDonald reports on the effects of CCTV in an interface area of North Belfast.
Cad a bhfuil le rá faoin Phoblacht?
Pléigheann Ian Malcolm ar an substaint den ráiteas deifreach a thainig ó David Trimble ar na mallaibh.
Tá Robert Fisk ag teacht go Doire
Tá an t-iriseoir, Robert Fisk, le 30ú léacht chuimhneacháin Dhomhnach na Fola a thabhairt i nDoire, Dé Luain seo chugainn. Is é “Crimes Without Punishment” teideal na léachta ina gcuirfidh sé an próiseas síochána anseo i gcomórtas lena mhacasamhail sa Mheánoirthear. Níos mó. Faighte againn trí Bheo.
In support of Trimble?
One unlikely supporter of David Trimble came in the form of Eilish O'Hanlon. Never is her wit so wry and biting as when it has a clear target in mind. This time she went after Trimble's various critics. We'll begin by quoting her last line, first:
"FINALLY, a correction. In the Sunday Independent last week, Jody Corcoran wrote that the Troubles began 'in 1968'. This should, of course, have read 'approximately 800 years ago with the arrival of those filthy colonialist dogs from across the water.' Apologies to anyone who was offended by this inexcusable mistake."
"FINALLY, a correction. In the Sunday Independent last week, Jody Corcoran wrote that the Troubles began 'in 1968'. This should, of course, have read 'approximately 800 years ago with the arrival of those filthy colonialist dogs from across the water.' Apologies to anyone who was offended by this inexcusable mistake."
UUP: the Orange link
Protestant support holding
The US Consulate took the unusual step of releasing figures from one of their private polls, which seems to contradict the impression that support for the Belfast Agreement is fading fast amongst the protestant population. Interestingly, there seems to be no single reason unifying those opposed.
Derry/Londonderry: name change?
Gregory Campbell complains that the proposed name change is sectarian and divisive.
Paisley in good voice
Veteran politician Ian Paisley proved that at 77, he is still capable reproducing his own inimitable brand of rhetoric at his party's annual conference at the weekend. Though there is a certain incongruity between the character of the leader's speech and that of party secretary Nigel Dodds, who spoke of "...a good and viable alternative and only the DUP has the strength and ability to negotiate a better deal."
Update: Paisley has told his party that anyone making contact with Sinn Fein will be expelled.
Update: Paisley has told his party that anyone making contact with Sinn Fein will be expelled.
Policing drama: new deal?
Henry McDonald says that the government is ready to offer Sinn Fein a deal, in which former prisoners will be allowed to sit on the district policing boards, if they take their seats on the central board, giving their approval to the PSNI as the legitimate police force in the North for the first time.
But there are signs that if this move were attempted without substantial moves towards IRA disbandment, Unionists would simply walk out of the central board.
However, it is likely that these messages are little more than straws in the wind at this early stage of negotiations. According to Chris Thornton, while Sinn Fein have welcomed new legislation, they have as yet no plans to join the central board.
Update: more detail from the Examiner. And the Newsletter.
But there are signs that if this move were attempted without substantial moves towards IRA disbandment, Unionists would simply walk out of the central board.
However, it is likely that these messages are little more than straws in the wind at this early stage of negotiations. According to Chris Thornton, while Sinn Fein have welcomed new legislation, they have as yet no plans to join the central board.
Update: more detail from the Examiner. And the Newsletter.
McIntyre: intimidation in Derry
This is the first of a series of three articles telling the story of a family in Derry that has been in dispute with local Republican paramilitaries. It's a bit of a long read, but worth it.
Although Republicans are by no means the worst offenders in terms of intimidation and the use of exclusion orders - the semi state body charged with mediating in such circumstances dealt with over 900 cases in the last year, the majority victims of Loyalist exclusion - this story throws most light on the difficulty Sinn Fein faces in having to straddle the gap between their former revolutionary existence and their coming role as part of government within a new civic dispensation.
Although Republicans are by no means the worst offenders in terms of intimidation and the use of exclusion orders - the semi state body charged with mediating in such circumstances dealt with over 900 cases in the last year, the majority victims of Loyalist exclusion - this story throws most light on the difficulty Sinn Fein faces in having to straddle the gap between their former revolutionary existence and their coming role as part of government within a new civic dispensation.
Paul Durcan outraged
In a week in which the poets of Ireland have held more space on the Letter than usual, Paul Durcan joins Paul Muldoon and Tom Paulin in the headlines.
24 November 2002
The middle ground is crucial
Eoghan Harris is annoyed with with David Trimble over his remarks attacking the Republic last week.
"...why has Trimble twice attacked an Irish State that no longer exists? Some people think he's trying to flank the DUP. But as Professor Robert Mahoney remarked to me this week (returning from America to his current beat in Belfast) the UUP can't go further right than the DUP, so it might as well stay in the decent centre. That insight is crucial to the conduct of politics. Mass democratic parties should not try to flank delinquent parties. Because they end up being found out."
"...why has Trimble twice attacked an Irish State that no longer exists? Some people think he's trying to flank the DUP. But as Professor Robert Mahoney remarked to me this week (returning from America to his current beat in Belfast) the UUP can't go further right than the DUP, so it might as well stay in the decent centre. That insight is crucial to the conduct of politics. Mass democratic parties should not try to flank delinquent parties. Because they end up being found out."
23 November 2002
Gerry Anderson on airports
"There was a time when a man could bring almost anything on to an aeroplane providing it wasn't alive and bent on savaging people. Not any more." More here.
DUP successors to unionist power?
In an article in the print version of last night's Belfast Telegraph, Noel McAdam asks some interesting questions about the real intentions of the DUP. He suggests that in some government circles in Dublin are muttering about the idea that a post Paisley DUP might be the only Unionist party able to make any deal stick.
He charts the party's move from 'no direct negotiations with enemies of Ulster' to the suggestion that 'an agreed honest broker could flit between them'. And he identifies the main internal movers:
"Robinson and Nigel Dodds have nimbly walked the tightrope of eshewing the institutions while working effectively within them. Opposition yet operation. It's a dodge that has worked so far."
However he goes on to note that unusually for a party used to a more comand and control structure there has been recent incidents of public rancour, which McAdam says is "being interpreted as showing that the powerbase has spread beyond the leader, though Paisley still has the final word".
He charts the party's move from 'no direct negotiations with enemies of Ulster' to the suggestion that 'an agreed honest broker could flit between them'. And he identifies the main internal movers:
"Robinson and Nigel Dodds have nimbly walked the tightrope of eshewing the institutions while working effectively within them. Opposition yet operation. It's a dodge that has worked so far."
However he goes on to note that unusually for a party used to a more comand and control structure there has been recent incidents of public rancour, which McAdam says is "being interpreted as showing that the powerbase has spread beyond the leader, though Paisley still has the final word".
22 November 2002
Trimble needs to say more
Discussing Trimble's seemingly rash words on the Irish Republic, Ruth Dudley Edwards says, "it is a universal truth that Irish nationalists can dish it out but can't take it."
In general she echoes the Newsletter's sentiments, that this may be a stimulus to an important debate. But she ends with an acute observation:
"If he wants nationalists anywhere to listen to him, now that he has more time on his hands, it would help if he explained his views on Irish history and society at somewhat greater length and with rather more tact."
In general she echoes the Newsletter's sentiments, that this may be a stimulus to an important debate. But she ends with an acute observation:
"If he wants nationalists anywhere to listen to him, now that he has more time on his hands, it would help if he explained his views on Irish history and society at somewhat greater length and with rather more tact."
A walk on the wild side
Dublin bombing papers emerge
The subscription-only Irish Times, carries a story about British government papers that have emerged that may throw light on the Dublin and Monaghan car bombings in May 1974. 33 people were killed and 200 wounded. It was the worst single atrocity of the Troubles.
O'Donahue's Croke Park appeal
The Republic's sports minister outlines how Croke Park is crucial to the success of the joint Ireland-Scotland bid for the European Football Championship.
Whatever happened to the 'peace dividend'
Another subscription-locked Irish News story. James Stinson interviews Graham Gudgin on the once much heralded 'peace dividend':
“If peace has made a difference we should expect our share of UK employment and GDP to rise. Northern Ireland’s share of the UK total in terms of employment and GDP was fairly flat until about 1990. From 1990 to 1994, Northern Ireland’s share of UK GDP and UK employment surged. After 1994, when the first ceasefire occurred that new level was maintained. But in terms of the overall UK picture, it didn’t improve much more. The real leap came before 1994.”
“If peace has made a difference we should expect our share of UK employment and GDP to rise. Northern Ireland’s share of the UK total in terms of employment and GDP was fairly flat until about 1990. From 1990 to 1994, Northern Ireland’s share of UK GDP and UK employment surged. After 1994, when the first ceasefire occurred that new level was maintained. But in terms of the overall UK picture, it didn’t improve much more. The real leap came before 1994.”
Adair consolidating power base
According to the subscription only Irish News, things in the Lower Shankill are on the move again:
"Former UDA ‘brigadier’ William ‘Winkie’ Dodds was among six families who left Belfast’s lower Shankill estate yesterday under armed police guard. Adair and Dodds, who was the UDA’s west Belfast brigadier until he suffered a stroke two years ago, fell out after Adair expelled the UDA leader’s brother-in-law William ‘Mugsy’ Mullan over a row about money. Among the 50 loyalists who helped move the families into houses on the White City estate were UDA leader John Greg and senior loyalists Andre Shoukri, Tommy Kirkham, Frankie Gallagher and Sammy Duddy."
"Former UDA ‘brigadier’ William ‘Winkie’ Dodds was among six families who left Belfast’s lower Shankill estate yesterday under armed police guard. Adair and Dodds, who was the UDA’s west Belfast brigadier until he suffered a stroke two years ago, fell out after Adair expelled the UDA leader’s brother-in-law William ‘Mugsy’ Mullan over a row about money. Among the 50 loyalists who helped move the families into houses on the White City estate were UDA leader John Greg and senior loyalists Andre Shoukri, Tommy Kirkham, Frankie Gallagher and Sammy Duddy."
Economic re-generation
Highlighting Northern Ireland’s dependence on the public sector and its risk-averse business culture, Dr Pauric McGowan of Nicent extolled the virtues of entrepreneurship:
“Entrepreneurs are individuals who calculate their risk. Their decision to establish an entrepreneurial new venture must be seen as a career choice. Universities in Northern Ireland have a responsibility to support those ambitions and, in doing so, to encourage the emergence of an increasingly widespread culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.”
“Entrepreneurs are individuals who calculate their risk. Their decision to establish an entrepreneurial new venture must be seen as a career choice. Universities in Northern Ireland have a responsibility to support those ambitions and, in doing so, to encourage the emergence of an increasingly widespread culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.”
Belfast Agreement: Ulster apartheid?
Robin Wilson, director of Northern Ireland's first think tank Democratic Dialogue, argues in Fortnight magazine that the Belfast Agreement has set conditions for government and political discourse that have led to the equivalent of a Cold War. One of the practical outcomes, he suggests, is that:
"... thinking is suffused, ironically, with the ‘group rights’ of apartheid, recruiting individual Catholics, Protestants and other- or non- believers to the ‘nationalist’ or the ‘unionist’ ‘community’"
Importantly, at a time when the talks are in full swing at Stormont, he states that interparty negotiation is insufficient in itself and that a serious injection of new thinking is required to get the institutions into a working condition for the long term.
"... thinking is suffused, ironically, with the ‘group rights’ of apartheid, recruiting individual Catholics, Protestants and other- or non- believers to the ‘nationalist’ or the ‘unionist’ ‘community’"
Importantly, at a time when the talks are in full swing at Stormont, he states that interparty negotiation is insufficient in itself and that a serious injection of new thinking is required to get the institutions into a working condition for the long term.
Ireland in search of an ethos?
Interesting reaction to David Trimble from Sean McCann, a northerner, now living the South.
Derry/Londonderry: name change?
There's a row brewing over the name of the Maiden City, in the Oak Leaf county. Confused? The BBC has more on this long running story.
Stormont talks: round-up
Though little of any sustance has emerged, there has been a plethora of comment by various papers and individuals.
Marina Purdy reports on the seemingly irreconcilable agendas. Ian Paisley is angry at the presence of Sinn Fein and Brian Cowan, the Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Andersonstown News takes the view that Nationalists should continue to back the process.
Marina Purdy reports on the seemingly irreconcilable agendas. Ian Paisley is angry at the presence of Sinn Fein and Brian Cowan, the Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Andersonstown News takes the view that Nationalists should continue to back the process.
21 November 2002
Catholics employed rising
According to figures released by the Equality Commission shows that Catholic employment is in an upward trend:
"The overall rate of catholics being employed in Ulster currently stands at 39.5%. However, the Equality Commission said this was set to improve with new figures showing that 45% of people appointed to new jobs in 2001 were Catholic."
Update: Belfast Telegraph welcomes the figures as a sign of positive change. And previous figures from 1997 on CAIN.
"The overall rate of catholics being employed in Ulster currently stands at 39.5%. However, the Equality Commission said this was set to improve with new figures showing that 45% of people appointed to new jobs in 2001 were Catholic."
Update: Belfast Telegraph welcomes the figures as a sign of positive change. And previous figures from 1997 on CAIN.
Country in search of an ethos?
David Trimble's remarks to the Chicago Sun-Times have been seized upon by many nationalists as proof that despite the apparent changes brought on by the Peace Process, little of substance has changed in Unionist thinking.
Not everyone agrees. Eric Waugh in last night's Belfast Telegraph believes that Trimble is wrong only insofaras he is walking away from an important debate that needs to take place. For example:
"...the state defines itself overwhelmingly in terms of what it is against, not in terms of what it is for. This negativism can lead to the quite devious manoeuverings which can result from the necessity to sieve every possible policy through the sieve of anti-Britishness. Nato cannot be embraced because it would conflict with the national policy of neutrality. But the recent tradition of neutrality sprang from the hostile core's objection to fighting alongside the British in a World War."
Mind you, some might say that this negativism is the key problem affecting both sides of northern political life.
Apology: the Belfast Telegraph site has been down for the last couple of days, so I have not been able to provide working links to the relevant stories.
Not everyone agrees. Eric Waugh in last night's Belfast Telegraph believes that Trimble is wrong only insofaras he is walking away from an important debate that needs to take place. For example:
"...the state defines itself overwhelmingly in terms of what it is against, not in terms of what it is for. This negativism can lead to the quite devious manoeuverings which can result from the necessity to sieve every possible policy through the sieve of anti-Britishness. Nato cannot be embraced because it would conflict with the national policy of neutrality. But the recent tradition of neutrality sprang from the hostile core's objection to fighting alongside the British in a World War."
Mind you, some might say that this negativism is the key problem affecting both sides of northern political life.
Apology: the Belfast Telegraph site has been down for the last couple of days, so I have not been able to provide working links to the relevant stories.
Stormont: back to talking
Most of the Assembly parties are going back into talks. But Mark Simpson thinks it's yet another Groundhog Day. Other views from Blair and Ervine and again.
With Bertie Ahern insisting that this cannot be a renegotiation of the original agreement, it is hard to see where the DUP, who want precisely that, can be brought into the process.
Update: the focus of the talks is to be the impasse.
With Bertie Ahern insisting that this cannot be a renegotiation of the original agreement, it is hard to see where the DUP, who want precisely that, can be brought into the process.
Update: the focus of the talks is to be the impasse.
20 November 2002
Paulin re-invited
Ulster poet, and latterly rough-house polemicist, Tom Paulin was re-issued with the invitation that he lost a week ago to deliver the annual Morris Gray Lecture at Harvard. The issue has sent a number of academic institutions into chaos:
"The University of Vermont originally scheduled a talk by Paulin on its campus for today, but canceled it some time after the lecture at Harvard was canceled, according to a receptionist for the University of Vermont’s English department."
Update: John Flemming disagrees with Paulin but upholds the principle of freedom of speech.
"The University of Vermont originally scheduled a talk by Paulin on its campus for today, but canceled it some time after the lecture at Harvard was canceled, according to a receptionist for the University of Vermont’s English department."
Update: John Flemming disagrees with Paulin but upholds the principle of freedom of speech.
More on was 'Q' an Ulsterman?
In playful response to yesterday's piece, reader Donald Matheson writes:
"The Bond worlds have a curious number of connections with Irishness. There's Brosnan (and Connery's from not so far away across the water), Sidney Reilly, the pseudonym of the man reputedly the origin of the bond character, Kevin McClory, the Irish Bond film screenwriter, then there's your Q reference, then (according to Google) in From Russia with Love, there's a half-Irish psychotic out to kill Bond."
"What it probably means is that the old imperial Britain thrives best through cultural products like Bond. Britain and Ireland are most successfully entwined still in these images and values that hark back to some mystical time when guns and sex made the hero."
This has some merit. Clearly Flemming spent quality time with the old big house Unionist class for whom the figure of the wild and unpredictable Irishman must have been more real than fictional. And it's not the first creative re-interpretation of Bond mythology we've noted here on the Letter.
See Phil Murphy's Hidden Hand for a new political definition of Shaken or Stirred?
"The Bond worlds have a curious number of connections with Irishness. There's Brosnan (and Connery's from not so far away across the water), Sidney Reilly, the pseudonym of the man reputedly the origin of the bond character, Kevin McClory, the Irish Bond film screenwriter, then there's your Q reference, then (according to Google) in From Russia with Love, there's a half-Irish psychotic out to kill Bond."
"What it probably means is that the old imperial Britain thrives best through cultural products like Bond. Britain and Ireland are most successfully entwined still in these images and values that hark back to some mystical time when guns and sex made the hero."
This has some merit. Clearly Flemming spent quality time with the old big house Unionist class for whom the figure of the wild and unpredictable Irishman must have been more real than fictional. And it's not the first creative re-interpretation of Bond mythology we've noted here on the Letter.
See Phil Murphy's Hidden Hand for a new political definition of Shaken or Stirred?
Prison officers dispute
Apparently 85% of Northern Ireland's prison officers have called in sick. Police are going in to man the prisons.
The 'power' of the Blog
A interesting description of the weblog phenomenon, from the Sydney Morning Herald. Thanks to the main subject of the piece Instapundit.
Stormont legislation diverts to Westminster
A total of 22 bills prepared at Stormont are now being prepared to be enacted at Westminster through Orders in Council. Paul Murphy:
"I freely acknowledge that the Order in Council process at Westminster is not as satisfactory as scrutiny of legislation in the Assembly. It is, however, a regrettable necessity and highlights once again the importance of restoring the devolved institutions."
"I freely acknowledge that the Order in Council process at Westminster is not as satisfactory as scrutiny of legislation in the Assembly. It is, however, a regrettable necessity and highlights once again the importance of restoring the devolved institutions."
Prison Officers unofficial action
Prison Officers in NI are to take a mass action in protest against the lack of government help with re-location costs after a comprehensive list of officers' names and addresses were discovered in a security sweep in October.
Adams: IRA will not be forced
Gerry Adams flashed up a key note before heading into interparty talks suggesting that the IRA would not be forced into any response. He outlined his priorities for the discussions:
"This week's discussions must address the failure of Mr Blair`s Government to implement its commitments under the Agreement as acknowledged by him in his recent Belfast speech."
"This week's discussions must address the failure of Mr Blair`s Government to implement its commitments under the Agreement as acknowledged by him in his recent Belfast speech."
Trimble: triggering debate
It seems that no one individual can inspire comment and debate to the extent that David Trimble can. The Newsletter calls for a wider debate, suggesting:
"Opinion-shapers in the Republic and nationalists in Northern Ireland have, so far, been restrained in their reaction: their focus is on how the Stormont institutions might be restored, and they will not allow what appears to them as a party-political side-issue to generate a row with the Ulster Unionist leader."
"That is, perhaps, a pity. The Republic is sufficiently mature as a democracy and confident in its modern Europe-focused identity and in its powerful ethnic relations with the United States, to engage in an interesting debate."
"Opinion-shapers in the Republic and nationalists in Northern Ireland have, so far, been restrained in their reaction: their focus is on how the Stormont institutions might be restored, and they will not allow what appears to them as a party-political side-issue to generate a row with the Ulster Unionist leader."
"That is, perhaps, a pity. The Republic is sufficiently mature as a democracy and confident in its modern Europe-focused identity and in its powerful ethnic relations with the United States, to engage in an interesting debate."
19 November 2002
Northern Ireland: background
James Bond: was 'Q' an Ulsterman?
Jeffrey Dudgeon speculates in his latest book, Roger Casement: the black diaries to be launched on Thursday, that Ian Flemming based his character Q on Ulsterman Major Frank Hall. Hall became Military Secretary of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) formed to resist Home Rule for Ireland in 1912.
Gudgeon's main premise seems to be based around the fact Hall went under the codename Q when he became chief of MI5 in Belfast two years later.
Update: According to reader Nick Whyte, the story is given greater plausibility by the fact Flemming was a close friend of Terrence O'Neill's (former PM of Northern Ireland) brother. According to a review of Flemming's biography:
"...from the late 1930s on, he kept up an affair with Ann O'Neill, eventually marrying her. Two months before the wedding - to soothe his nerves - Fleming sat down to write his first book, Casino Royale. So began the long line of Bond novels."
Gudgeon's main premise seems to be based around the fact Hall went under the codename Q when he became chief of MI5 in Belfast two years later.
Update: According to reader Nick Whyte, the story is given greater plausibility by the fact Flemming was a close friend of Terrence O'Neill's (former PM of Northern Ireland) brother. According to a review of Flemming's biography:
"...from the late 1930s on, he kept up an affair with Ann O'Neill, eventually marrying her. Two months before the wedding - to soothe his nerves - Fleming sat down to write his first book, Casino Royale. So began the long line of Bond novels."
Paul Muldoon: poet scholar
Trimble: a summary
In a recent issue of Ha'aritz, David Trimble gave an extensive interview to Sharon Sadeh.
He began by making the political case for the process, and then quantifying some of the gains of the transition from war to peace. He admitted his own mixed feelings about dealing with his former enemies. Identifying two issues yet to be resolved, he explained why these were crucial to moving the next stage.
After giving his appraisal of Clinton's role in the process, he concluded with his own Unionist view of what John Hume labelled post-nationalism.
He began by making the political case for the process, and then quantifying some of the gains of the transition from war to peace. He admitted his own mixed feelings about dealing with his former enemies. Identifying two issues yet to be resolved, he explained why these were crucial to moving the next stage.
After giving his appraisal of Clinton's role in the process, he concluded with his own Unionist view of what John Hume labelled post-nationalism.
Trimble: the demise of nationalism
In the Ha'aritz article, Trimble is perhaps at his most interesting on ideological change; it is mostly confined to a Unionist perspective on the journey Republicans have made.
It stands in marked contrast to the blunt nature of his recent remarks to the Chicago Sun that have dominated the headlines of the last few days.
"Among Northern Irish nationalists, there were two main streams, the militants in the IRA and the moderates in the SDLP. South of the border, the Irish republic consistently supported the moderates. If the southern state had supported the IRA, we could never have had an agreement, because the moderates would never have been able to make an agreement against the wishes of the state, which they regarded as their state."
He draws from a European context to assert the political demise of territorial nationalism:
"While the southern state of the Republic of Ireland felt that it still owed something to northern nationalists, it was no longer supportive of the military project because old-fashioned 1930s territorial nationalism is inappropriate here. It is over, as far as Western Europe is concerned."
He reserves a sting in the tail with which no doubt Bernadette McAliskey would concur:
"The ideology that motivates the attacks on Israel - attacks which take place, in part, because of its identification with Western values - has not been neutered in the way that the ideology of the militant Irish republican has been neutered."
Previously on Clinton
It stands in marked contrast to the blunt nature of his recent remarks to the Chicago Sun that have dominated the headlines of the last few days.
"Among Northern Irish nationalists, there were two main streams, the militants in the IRA and the moderates in the SDLP. South of the border, the Irish republic consistently supported the moderates. If the southern state had supported the IRA, we could never have had an agreement, because the moderates would never have been able to make an agreement against the wishes of the state, which they regarded as their state."
He draws from a European context to assert the political demise of territorial nationalism:
"While the southern state of the Republic of Ireland felt that it still owed something to northern nationalists, it was no longer supportive of the military project because old-fashioned 1930s territorial nationalism is inappropriate here. It is over, as far as Western Europe is concerned."
He reserves a sting in the tail with which no doubt Bernadette McAliskey would concur:
"The ideology that motivates the attacks on Israel - attacks which take place, in part, because of its identification with Western values - has not been neutered in the way that the ideology of the militant Irish republican has been neutered."
Previously on Clinton
McAliskey on the changes and the past
The Blanket reprints the text of Bernadette McAliskey's speech last month, which touches on the changes in the Republican movement, and Sinn Fein in particular, from the point of view of anti-agreement Republican. She sums up the reasons for the process:
"Those things only came to an end when the British government had another agenda. Not because anybody changed their mind, not because the fundamental conditions of this country had changed, not because the needs or principles of the struggle had changed or because the people involved in the struggle had changed. We have been embarked from the 1980s until now in separating out those who could be bought, those who could be fooled and those who could be intimidated for the rest."
"Those things only came to an end when the British government had another agenda. Not because anybody changed their mind, not because the fundamental conditions of this country had changed, not because the needs or principles of the struggle had changed or because the people involved in the struggle had changed. We have been embarked from the 1980s until now in separating out those who could be bought, those who could be fooled and those who could be intimidated for the rest."
UDP to rise again?
Johnny Adair, or more precisely his close advisor John White, is talking about resurrecting the UDP, formerly the poltical wing of the UDA.
Trimble: on Clinton
In his Ha'aretz interview, Trimble describes his thinking on the presidencies of Clinton, and hints at the future with Bush:
"Trimble goes on to say that the only leverage Clinton had was on the nationalists, because they depended on support and aid from Irish Americans. 'So while Clinton's supporters point to his decision to grant a visa to Gerry Adams in 1994 as being a significant action, the only leverage he had was refusing visas to Irish republicans. And he was reluctant to do that, even when it became clear that ... the biggest difficulty was the failure of the Irish republicans to deliver. Clinton used to argue with them - and I know that for a fact, having sat in private sessions, just Adams, myself and Clinton. President Bush ... looks more likely to use the lever.'"
Previously two crucial issues
"Trimble goes on to say that the only leverage Clinton had was on the nationalists, because they depended on support and aid from Irish Americans. 'So while Clinton's supporters point to his decision to grant a visa to Gerry Adams in 1994 as being a significant action, the only leverage he had was refusing visas to Irish republicans. And he was reluctant to do that, even when it became clear that ... the biggest difficulty was the failure of the Irish republicans to deliver. Clinton used to argue with them - and I know that for a fact, having sat in private sessions, just Adams, myself and Clinton. President Bush ... looks more likely to use the lever.'"
Previously two crucial issues
Trimble and the south
The negative reaction to David Trimble's remarks on the Irish Republic continues. Rosie Cowan reports on a broad sweep of nationalist reaction.
In its editorial the Irish News echoed Trimble's own remarks to his leading dissident Jeffrey Donaldson, when it cautioned Mr Trimble to bridle his tongue. The Examiner today warned in it's comment:
"His reference to the Union Jack being trampled on the floor reflects the language of backwoods loyalism. It is music to the ears of extreme nationalists who espouse the crude anti-British sentiment he is criticising."
Mark Durkan, Trimble's Deputy First Minister in the Executive was particularly sharp in his criticism:
"David Trimble will try to present this as pointed analysis but most people will see these comments as sectarian ramblings. Trying to denigrate political ideals and the religion of others is only demeaning his own prejudice."
In its editorial the Irish News echoed Trimble's own remarks to his leading dissident Jeffrey Donaldson, when it cautioned Mr Trimble to bridle his tongue. The Examiner today warned in it's comment:
"His reference to the Union Jack being trampled on the floor reflects the language of backwoods loyalism. It is music to the ears of extreme nationalists who espouse the crude anti-British sentiment he is criticising."
Mark Durkan, Trimble's Deputy First Minister in the Executive was particularly sharp in his criticism:
"David Trimble will try to present this as pointed analysis but most people will see these comments as sectarian ramblings. Trying to denigrate political ideals and the religion of others is only demeaning his own prejudice."
Haass back for briefings
Richard Haass is back to meet various players, some of them like Paul Murphy newly in post since his last visit, to discuss developments in the process.
18 November 2002
Trimble: two crucial issues
He talks about decommissioning and policing in relation to the Belfast Agreement:
"'There was a deliberate decision not to try and resolve policing and weapons decommissioning in the peace talks themselves,' he says. 'If we had attempted to solve these issues during the talks, the chances that we would have an agreement were practically nonexistent. We've had a difficult decision to make, because it was pretty clear from the text that while there was commitment for decommissioning, the link between that and upholding office [in the Northern Ireland executive] was very weak. We had our doubts whether it would be of any practical value.'”
And the failure?
“The most crucial part of the agreement was a two-year period of weapons decommissioning, which was to parallel two years of prisoner release. There was no expressed linkage between the two, but there was an implicit linkage. Many of us believe that the British government, by implementing the agreement, has made a huge strategic error, in that it went ahead, implementing the prisoner-release scheme without being more explicit in the linkage. If they had done it - and they could have - the story of the last couple of years would have been radically different.”
Previously personal paradox
"'There was a deliberate decision not to try and resolve policing and weapons decommissioning in the peace talks themselves,' he says. 'If we had attempted to solve these issues during the talks, the chances that we would have an agreement were practically nonexistent. We've had a difficult decision to make, because it was pretty clear from the text that while there was commitment for decommissioning, the link between that and upholding office [in the Northern Ireland executive] was very weak. We had our doubts whether it would be of any practical value.'”
And the failure?
“The most crucial part of the agreement was a two-year period of weapons decommissioning, which was to parallel two years of prisoner release. There was no expressed linkage between the two, but there was an implicit linkage. Many of us believe that the British government, by implementing the agreement, has made a huge strategic error, in that it went ahead, implementing the prisoner-release scheme without being more explicit in the linkage. If they had done it - and they could have - the story of the last couple of years would have been radically different.”
Previously personal paradox
Billy Wright: a biography
There has been some controversy over a recent biography of former LVF leader, Billy Wright. The Down Democrat has a useful review of the book itself.
Trimble: personal paradox
Trimble is believed by some to be 'inwardly conflicted', with his personal feelings diverging drastically from his pragmatic approach to 'achieving the possible' within the currently split body politic of Northern Ireland.
In the Ha'aretz piece he articulates some of this 'conflict':
"It is an embarrassment that we have to deal with the likes of Gerry Adams [president of Sinn Fein] at the moment, but we are not going to be able to get past him. We have to deal with the present representatives of that society, the people elected by that society."
Previously peace facts
In the Ha'aretz piece he articulates some of this 'conflict':
"It is an embarrassment that we have to deal with the likes of Gerry Adams [president of Sinn Fein] at the moment, but we are not going to be able to get past him. We have to deal with the present representatives of that society, the people elected by that society."
Previously peace facts
Loyalist split continues
At this stage it is words rather than actions. Johnny Adair and his close colleague John White, defend themselves against that accusation that the organisation had made much progress since their departure.
Trimble regrets 'pathetic' remark
But apparently none of the rest of his attack on the Republic of Ireland at a meeting of the UUC last March. In fact he's gone one better:
"If you took away Catholicism and anti-Britishness, the state [Republic of Ireland] doesn`t have a reason to exist"
Though many took great affront at the original remark, it also had some humorous spin-offs: here and here.
Update: Local reaction to the renewed insult.
"If you took away Catholicism and anti-Britishness, the state [Republic of Ireland] doesn`t have a reason to exist"
Though many took great affront at the original remark, it also had some humorous spin-offs: here and here.
Update: Local reaction to the renewed insult.
Trimble: peace facts
There are some interesting 'peace facts' quoted:
"Since the peace accords, foreign investors have taken a greater interest in Ireland, and the country is enjoying an upswing in building and commercial development, the likes of which has not been seen for decades. The rate of unemployment, particularly in the Catholic community, has gone down significantly, from 23 percent in 1991 to 9 percent in 1999. Among the Protestants, unemployment has dropped from 11 percent to 5 percent. The number of terror victims has also declined, from an annual death toll of 500 when the conflict was at its peak, to less than 20 dead last year."
Previously reviewing the process
"Since the peace accords, foreign investors have taken a greater interest in Ireland, and the country is enjoying an upswing in building and commercial development, the likes of which has not been seen for decades. The rate of unemployment, particularly in the Catholic community, has gone down significantly, from 23 percent in 1991 to 9 percent in 1999. Among the Protestants, unemployment has dropped from 11 percent to 5 percent. The number of terror victims has also declined, from an annual death toll of 500 when the conflict was at its peak, to less than 20 dead last year."
Previously reviewing the process
Reaching agreement: policing
Seán Mac Cárthaigh believes that St Patrick's day has been set as the unofficial deadline for the successful conclusion of the interparty talks. This would accord with Hillary Clinton's planned visit to Enniskillen at around that time.
However he also believes that the task of reaching consensus at that time is deeply problematic, particularly with regard to the policing issue:
"The British see the key issue as getting Sinn Fein onto the Policing Board, believing that it would boost nationalist confidence in the PSNI and help propel the IRA towards disbanding. But, while the Irish side also wants Sinn Féin to join the Board, it is focused on making the PSNI behave like a real, impartial police force, not one partial to loyalists."
However he also believes that the task of reaching consensus at that time is deeply problematic, particularly with regard to the policing issue:
"The British see the key issue as getting Sinn Fein onto the Policing Board, believing that it would boost nationalist confidence in the PSNI and help propel the IRA towards disbanding. But, while the Irish side also wants Sinn Féin to join the Board, it is focused on making the PSNI behave like a real, impartial police force, not one partial to loyalists."
Trimble: reviewing the process
In a piece we'll come back to several times today, the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz draws some revealing thoughts on the peace process from the leader of the UUP David Trimble:
"If you are going to have a stable political structure, then you are going to have [to have] some way in which that 30-40 percent [his estimate of the proportion of Nationalist voters in NI] becomes involved and participant. You can tolerate a situation where a small percentage completely withdraws from participation in society, but when you get to that sort of percentage, if they wish to disrupt and cause problems, they can do so.
"It is much better to have a decent structure within the society, to find some way of ameliorating and encouraging people to participate. So it was in our interest - and we keep saying that in meetings - to make Northern Ireland work. It is not in our interest for Northern Ireland to appear to be a failed political entity, or something that does not work."
Thanks to the inestimable Newshound for this one!
"If you are going to have a stable political structure, then you are going to have [to have] some way in which that 30-40 percent [his estimate of the proportion of Nationalist voters in NI] becomes involved and participant. You can tolerate a situation where a small percentage completely withdraws from participation in society, but when you get to that sort of percentage, if they wish to disrupt and cause problems, they can do so.
"It is much better to have a decent structure within the society, to find some way of ameliorating and encouraging people to participate. So it was in our interest - and we keep saying that in meetings - to make Northern Ireland work. It is not in our interest for Northern Ireland to appear to be a failed political entity, or something that does not work."
Thanks to the inestimable Newshound for this one!
Davies to stay with interface families
The Tory shadow spokesman on Northern Ireland is to spend a week living with families in interface areas.
17 November 2002
Loyalist suspicion
Jim Dee talks to members of a Loyalist community on the very edge of South Belfast, and finds little but suspicion of Sinn Fein and their motives.
16 November 2002
Stormont crisis: hidden invitation?
Interesting interpretation on events around the time of the suspension of the Assembly, by Republican Tommy McKearney. Again thanks to the Badger's Radio.
This interview with McKearney in July 2000 provides another view of Sinn Fein's political motivations.
This interview with McKearney in July 2000 provides another view of Sinn Fein's political motivations.
McCann on Cahill
Eammon McCann on another book review, this time for the Sunday Tribune, kindly reproduced in The Blanket.
Of the book he is, frankly, disparaging. But the interest lies less in the book and more in McCann's view of the life of Joe Cahill; one of the last republicans to have been born before the partition of Ireland. The author, McCann says:
"...gives no impression of him as a irregular individual riven with the complications inevitable from half a century's immersement in a clandestine armed group which, for most of the period, imagined itself the legitimate government of the land."
McCann then tells his story of why Cahill was crucial to success of the Adams/McGuinness project within the Republican movement.
Found via Badger's Radio.
Of the book he is, frankly, disparaging. But the interest lies less in the book and more in McCann's view of the life of Joe Cahill; one of the last republicans to have been born before the partition of Ireland. The author, McCann says:
"...gives no impression of him as a irregular individual riven with the complications inevitable from half a century's immersement in a clandestine armed group which, for most of the period, imagined itself the legitimate government of the land."
McCann then tells his story of why Cahill was crucial to success of the Adams/McGuinness project within the Republican movement.
Found via Badger's Radio.
Mark Durkan: interviewed
I was out at a conference yesterday, so the blogging was not as comprehensive as I would have liked. Gail Walker explored the human angle on Mark Durkan in Thursday's Belfast Telegraph.
McClarty on loyalist violence
David McClarty one of the Unionist representatives on the recent South African trip defends his decision to talk with representatives of Loyalist paramilitaries in the face of accusations from Alban McGuinness of hypocrisy.
From Basingstoke to Lisburn
Andrew Hunter, currently MP for the Hampshire town of Basingstoke, is making overtures to the voters of Lisburn.
The DUP may see his defection to them from the Conservative party as part of its strategy to push their credentials as a mainstream Unionist party, and decisively take a position, which has been held, historically, by the Ulster Unionist Party.
Mind you, not everything is light and roses in the good ship DUP.
The DUP may see his defection to them from the Conservative party as part of its strategy to push their credentials as a mainstream Unionist party, and decisively take a position, which has been held, historically, by the Ulster Unionist Party.
Mind you, not everything is light and roses in the good ship DUP.
Ooops...
I owe this one to Newt at the Portadown News. The Irish Independent in its editorial on Thursday said:
"Earthquakes and floods are rare indeed in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Malfunctioning traffic lights are about the nearest that favoured location ever comes to a disaster."
But in less that 24 hours flooding in the area was severe enough to prompt calls for the setting up of a new strategic government agency.
"Earthquakes and floods are rare indeed in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Malfunctioning traffic lights are about the nearest that favoured location ever comes to a disaster."
But in less that 24 hours flooding in the area was severe enough to prompt calls for the setting up of a new strategic government agency.
15 November 2002
Policing drama: discrimination
Jude Collins feels like no one is listening. No one who is Unionist that is; he has something approaching a cult following amongst some online nationalists. This week he poses a series of rhetorical, questions. But of all of them, point one is by far the most enlightening:
"At the rate of 400 recruits a year, with a 50/50 split between Catholics and Protestants, it will take the Police Service of Northern Ireland between 15 and 20 years before the service as a whole reflects the religious make-up of the North's population."
"At the rate of 400 recruits a year, with a 50/50 split between Catholics and Protestants, it will take the Police Service of Northern Ireland between 15 and 20 years before the service as a whole reflects the religious make-up of the North's population."
Contradictions?
Anthony McIntyre is critical of the public splitting of Sinn Fein, the political party and decision makers on the IRA Army Council, in his reveiw of Eammon Maille and David McKittrick's Endgame in Ireland.
American opinion shifting?
Further thoughts on the subtle change in the attitudes of Irish American, particularly with regard tot he Republican movement. As over fifty percent of the Letter's readership is in the US, please let us know if this accords with your own understanding of the situation in the comments field.
Three men shot
Ian Graham reports on multiple punishment shootings in South Armagh, Co Down and Co Antrim.
NY Post boycott?
Delay in elections
14 November 2002
Policing reforms
Offside in the War on Terror?
Steven King is not always consistent but he is always worth reading for an intelligent view of the Unionist case.
This week he interprets some of the finer nuances from Blair's interview with Frank Millar in the Irish Times last week, and suggests that any coming globalising conflict involving the US's War on Terror campaign is likely Sinn Fein at a much greater distance from Irish America.
This is something of a reprise of a previous theme.
This week he interprets some of the finer nuances from Blair's interview with Frank Millar in the Irish Times last week, and suggests that any coming globalising conflict involving the US's War on Terror campaign is likely Sinn Fein at a much greater distance from Irish America.
This is something of a reprise of a previous theme.
Sinn Fein First Minister?
This one had passed under my notice until I picked it up from Paul Dunne at the Shamrockshire Eagle. Reg Empey warns Unionists of what he calls the 'Fermanagh and South Tyrone syndrome' (in which the two Unionist parties split their vote) and raises the possibility of leaving Sinn Fein opportunity of becoming the largest party after the next elections.
It's not clear from the report where such vulnerable seats are to be found.
It's not clear from the report where such vulnerable seats are to be found.
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?
Or who is guarding the guards? The Newsletter argues that without the Asssmbly to scrutinise the acts of the direct rule ministers, the public needs to keep a vigilant watch. It quotes Stormont Strategy:
“It is simply not good enough that we should all have to rely on questions put down in the House of Commons by MPs, and the odd press release, as the only way of dragging information out of ministers, who, with limited time each week in Northern Ireland, and, with perhaps three departments to oversee, can only be expected to devote less than 10 hours per week to each.”
“It is simply not good enough that we should all have to rely on questions put down in the House of Commons by MPs, and the odd press release, as the only way of dragging information out of ministers, who, with limited time each week in Northern Ireland, and, with perhaps three departments to oversee, can only be expected to devote less than 10 hours per week to each.”
Unhappy unionists: need for trust
The veteran correspondent Eric Waugh identifies three things holding back the resolution of the current crisis:
"The arms issue is the first. The second is unionist restiveness over the steady advance of the involvement of Dublin in the administration of Northern Ireland. The third, recently, has become the most combustible: and that is the presence within the Executive of Ministers unwilling to acknowledge the status of the territory they helped to govern."
By the end he concludes that trust is missing:
"Sinn Fein should reflect that, without it, we can forget about making a go of inclusive devolution."
"The arms issue is the first. The second is unionist restiveness over the steady advance of the involvement of Dublin in the administration of Northern Ireland. The third, recently, has become the most combustible: and that is the presence within the Executive of Ministers unwilling to acknowledge the status of the territory they helped to govern."
By the end he concludes that trust is missing:
"Sinn Fein should reflect that, without it, we can forget about making a go of inclusive devolution."
13 November 2002
Omagh report to be released
Louisa Nesbitt reports that the Garda are to release findings of a three-strong committee on events around the Omagh bombing in 1998 in two weeks time.
Derry: cold house for protestants
The Clintons
Former President Bill Clinton is to receive an award from Irish American Democrats during St Patrick's week. His wife Hilary, now Senator for New York, is planning to visit Enniskillen for the anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
Wilson on Stormont reform
Sammy Wilson goes into bat for the DUP.
With his customary predilection for hyperbole - he twice within the space of two sentences accuses McGuinness of having a Stalinist vision over education reform. But he also raises serious shortcomings in the institutions established under the Belfast Agreement.
Roughly speaking these are: the power and scope of the First and Deputy First Minster's Office - the target for almost 50% of the article; lack of accountability of Minsters, particularly to the committees charged with overseeing their work; and a similar charge of unaccountability against the cross-border bodies.
He finishes by suggesting that Ministers rule by dictat, but doesn't say whether his own party's representatives are more or less guilty than those of others.
With his customary predilection for hyperbole - he twice within the space of two sentences accuses McGuinness of having a Stalinist vision over education reform. But he also raises serious shortcomings in the institutions established under the Belfast Agreement.
Roughly speaking these are: the power and scope of the First and Deputy First Minster's Office - the target for almost 50% of the article; lack of accountability of Minsters, particularly to the committees charged with overseeing their work; and a similar charge of unaccountability against the cross-border bodies.
He finishes by suggesting that Ministers rule by dictat, but doesn't say whether his own party's representatives are more or less guilty than those of others.
Pelosi: strong interest in Ireland
Sean O'Driscoll speculates that a leading candidate for leadership of the Democrats in the House of Representatives has a close interest in Irish affairs. However with the party's poor showing in the recent mid-term elections, even if she is successful, it is hard to see when Nancy Pelosi will be in a position to exercise much influence.
Northern deficit in welfare
An academic paper to be published later this month suggests that Northern benefit payment levels lag significantly behind that those of the Republic.
Stormont spy: inquiry call
Known by the codename Hezz, the latest operation investigating a so-called spyring at Stormont, has prompted Michael McGimpsey to call for a public inquiry.
Reaction from Gerry Kelly and David Trimble, with background from Brian Rowan.
Reaction from Gerry Kelly and David Trimble, with background from Brian Rowan.
12 November 2002
Bloody Sunday: innocent or not?
General Sir Robert Ford questioned Tony Blair's suggestion before the beginning of the Inquiry, that the casualties of Bloody Sunday might be innocent.
Brendan O'Neill put together an extensive piece on this earlier this year.
Brendan O'Neill put together an extensive piece on this earlier this year.
Adams: on unionism
John Farmer interviews Gerry Adams for the first time in twenty years, this time they are in Manhattan. He notices a change from their last meeting:
"...some of the hard edge one heard 20 years ago seems softened. He may or may not have been a gunman, but Adams is a politician now -- with a politician's sensitivity to the requirement for patience, even for an understanding of the other side."
Update: However, not everyone in the US is impressed. The New York Post editorialises - via Hawk Girl.
"...some of the hard edge one heard 20 years ago seems softened. He may or may not have been a gunman, but Adams is a politician now -- with a politician's sensitivity to the requirement for patience, even for an understanding of the other side."
Update: However, not everyone in the US is impressed. The New York Post editorialises - via Hawk Girl.
What is it to be Irish abroad?
Irish in Britain has a short piece on what it is to be, well... Irish in Britain. They are looking for opinions.
Former Tory arrives in NI
Stormont crisis: spyhunt continues
An investigation to find 'moles' within the Civil Service has taken 2,000 statements and interviewed 500 people, with police still examining 79 computers and 1,000 disks.
Stormont: unloved but effective in places
Graham Gudgeon, a close advisor to First Minister David Trimble, suggests that few in NI have yet learned to love the devolved institutions, but provides a useful rundown of where its impact was greatest.
Morality of agreement
Barrie Penrose's article has kicked off a brief discussion here. It seems to raise another question that might be worth airing.
Beyond the practical question of whether the piece is likely to inflame feelings and encourage people to break the boundary between press and players, there is an underlying question of morality. Most attempts at arriving at judgement either make it strictly personal or attempt to vindicate one side at expense of its opposite.
The morality of the solution has largely been bypassed. Yet when de Klerk spoke at Glencree in August he said that this had been in the first consideration the National Party before negotiating with the ANC:
"It was a moral decision to do what we did. Had we failed to bring justice to the majority it would have be immoral."
Perhaps a similar focus on the moral virtues of the overall solution would yield more productive results.
Beyond the practical question of whether the piece is likely to inflame feelings and encourage people to break the boundary between press and players, there is an underlying question of morality. Most attempts at arriving at judgement either make it strictly personal or attempt to vindicate one side at expense of its opposite.
The morality of the solution has largely been bypassed. Yet when de Klerk spoke at Glencree in August he said that this had been in the first consideration the National Party before negotiating with the ANC:
"It was a moral decision to do what we did. Had we failed to bring justice to the majority it would have be immoral."
Perhaps a similar focus on the moral virtues of the overall solution would yield more productive results.
The last week in NI: a summary
For new readers, particularly those arriving here from Tim Blair's blog, a brief recap on the last week on Letter to Slugger O'Toole.
The week began badly for Belfast with the news that it's bid to become Europe's City of Culture was stillborn. The moderate nationalist SDLP began to shift pressure onto Sinn Fein to have the IRA disarm.
We also 'sluggered' two longer essays this week: Richard Kelly on the perceived demoralisation of protestants; and Eammon McCann's take on the IRA in light of a recent book by Ed Moloney. New secretary of state for NI, Paul Murphy called for disarmament of all paramilitaries.
For the rest, just scroll down.
The week began badly for Belfast with the news that it's bid to become Europe's City of Culture was stillborn. The moderate nationalist SDLP began to shift pressure onto Sinn Fein to have the IRA disarm.
We also 'sluggered' two longer essays this week: Richard Kelly on the perceived demoralisation of protestants; and Eammon McCann's take on the IRA in light of a recent book by Ed Moloney. New secretary of state for NI, Paul Murphy called for disarmament of all paramilitaries.
For the rest, just scroll down.
11 November 2002
Book reveals journalist's past
Hugh Jordan, is shortly to publish a book called Milestones in Murder, which apparently discloses details of murdered journalist Martin O'Hagan's early life as an Official IRA volunteer. Barrie Penrose reports in the Spectator - via Newshound.
Last of the Behans
Brian Behan, younger brother of the more famous playwright Brendan, has died in Brighton.
A tale of two sports
British voice in US
Belfast mayorality: inconsistency
In the wake of the failure to find a Unionist to fill the post of Alex Maskey's deputy, Barry McCaffrey pinpoints some awkward inconsistencies about the way Unionists have handled the office office of Belfast's Mayoral position in the past. Namely the fact that they have chosen to elect protestant paramilitaries to the same office:
"In the late 1980s unionist councillors elected the PUP’s Hugh Smyth as deputy mayor, four years before the UVF’s ceasefire. In June 1994, Mr Smyth was elected first citizen – four months before the UVF ceasefire. In December 2000 deputy mayor Frank McCoubrey, who despite being a member of the UDA-linked UDP was elected to the post by mainstream unionist councillors, was a character witness for a man in court on attempted murder charges relating to the UDA/UVF feud."
He claims this closeness extends further:
"In 1986 DUP leader Ian Paisley defended his decision to attend the wake of murdered UVF leader John Bingham. A number of other high-ranking unionist councillors attended Mr Bingham’s funeral. Those present when John Bingham’s coffin – draped in a UVF flag, beret and gloves – was carried from the church, included the then north Belfast MP Cecil Walker, former DUP councillor George Seawright, former UUP mayor John Carson and councillors Joe Coggle, Frank Millar and Hugh Smyth."
He also points out that the current stance is not kept elsewhere:
"The Rev McCrea holds the chairmanship of Magherafelt District Council with Sinn Féin’s John Kelly as his deputy. Strabane DUP councillor Tommy Kerrigan last year took the position of deputy mayor alongside Sinn Féin mayor Ivan Barr."
Alban McGuinness, who proposed a motion last week to call off the search for a deputy until Maskey steps down, accused Unionists of living in a 'twilight zone'.
"In the late 1980s unionist councillors elected the PUP’s Hugh Smyth as deputy mayor, four years before the UVF’s ceasefire. In June 1994, Mr Smyth was elected first citizen – four months before the UVF ceasefire. In December 2000 deputy mayor Frank McCoubrey, who despite being a member of the UDA-linked UDP was elected to the post by mainstream unionist councillors, was a character witness for a man in court on attempted murder charges relating to the UDA/UVF feud."
He claims this closeness extends further:
"In 1986 DUP leader Ian Paisley defended his decision to attend the wake of murdered UVF leader John Bingham. A number of other high-ranking unionist councillors attended Mr Bingham’s funeral. Those present when John Bingham’s coffin – draped in a UVF flag, beret and gloves – was carried from the church, included the then north Belfast MP Cecil Walker, former DUP councillor George Seawright, former UUP mayor John Carson and councillors Joe Coggle, Frank Millar and Hugh Smyth."
He also points out that the current stance is not kept elsewhere:
"The Rev McCrea holds the chairmanship of Magherafelt District Council with Sinn Féin’s John Kelly as his deputy. Strabane DUP councillor Tommy Kerrigan last year took the position of deputy mayor alongside Sinn Féin mayor Ivan Barr."
Alban McGuinness, who proposed a motion last week to call off the search for a deputy until Maskey steps down, accused Unionists of living in a 'twilight zone'.
10 November 2002
Putting NI at the centre
The poet Peter Makem suggests that the institutions established under the Belfast Agreement need to be able to grow organically rather than be pushed into boxes of others' convenience:
"In other words, Northern Ireland must work to become the centre of the new Ireland, a centre of Europe, of everywhere, and no longer a limb of anywhere. Otherwise we have only moved from the jungle of night into the desert of day."
"In other words, Northern Ireland must work to become the centre of the new Ireland, a centre of Europe, of everywhere, and no longer a limb of anywhere. Otherwise we have only moved from the jungle of night into the desert of day."
Unification: consent or dual consent?
Interesting thoughts from Martin Mansergh on what it might take to effect a democratically determined unification of Ireland:
This is largely written in reply to an article by Frank Millar a few weeks ago suggesting that such an outcome depended upon consent within both communities. Danny Morrison was one of the first to challenge this premise.
Speaking about the attitudes of the minority Catholic community Mansergh says:
"They have almost all accepted, however reluctantly, that, if there is to be peace now and peaceful change perhaps in the future, the question has to be decided by a majority of the people of the North in the first instance, as has been the formal constitutional principle in one form or another going back to 1920, from which unionists until now have been the beneficiary. The Ulster Unionist Party and loyalist parties also accepted that in 1998, and it was endorsed by a substantial majority of the people of the North."
On the mechanics of the process he points out:
"In reality, a border poll, resulting in a majority for a united Ireland, an event that is not a realistic prospect at present, could only be a first step in a much longer and more intensive process. Detailed negotiation would be required that would provide the essential guarantees needed on all sides to provide a workable, stable and harmonious unity."
He concludes:
"The real poll would be one held North and South that ratified concurrently (or rejected) a negotiated agreement, leading to the enactment of consequential parallel legislation in the Westminster and Dublin parliaments. Consent is sufficient to put a united Ireland on the table. Parallel consent North and South (and parliamentary legislation) is required to bring it into being."
This is largely written in reply to an article by Frank Millar a few weeks ago suggesting that such an outcome depended upon consent within both communities. Danny Morrison was one of the first to challenge this premise.
Speaking about the attitudes of the minority Catholic community Mansergh says:
"They have almost all accepted, however reluctantly, that, if there is to be peace now and peaceful change perhaps in the future, the question has to be decided by a majority of the people of the North in the first instance, as has been the formal constitutional principle in one form or another going back to 1920, from which unionists until now have been the beneficiary. The Ulster Unionist Party and loyalist parties also accepted that in 1998, and it was endorsed by a substantial majority of the people of the North."
On the mechanics of the process he points out:
"In reality, a border poll, resulting in a majority for a united Ireland, an event that is not a realistic prospect at present, could only be a first step in a much longer and more intensive process. Detailed negotiation would be required that would provide the essential guarantees needed on all sides to provide a workable, stable and harmonious unity."
He concludes:
"The real poll would be one held North and South that ratified concurrently (or rejected) a negotiated agreement, leading to the enactment of consequential parallel legislation in the Westminster and Dublin parliaments. Consent is sufficient to put a united Ireland on the table. Parallel consent North and South (and parliamentary legislation) is required to bring it into being."
Crucifixion: joyrider
It has taken most of the week for some clear background to come out on this story. Henry McDonald talks to residents, police and paramilitries to get the bottom of this gruesome case. He finds it was not simply a sectarian 'beating':
"The UDA's south Belfast brigadier denied that McCartan was attacked solely because he was a Catholic. 'Listen to the silence from republicans. Their silence is deafening because they know joyriders have tormented their own people over there.'"
McDonald comments: "on the ground, in republican and loyalist working class areas, even in stable communities like Seymour Hill, paramilitary law rather than community policing prevails."
"The UDA's south Belfast brigadier denied that McCartan was attacked solely because he was a Catholic. 'Listen to the silence from republicans. Their silence is deafening because they know joyriders have tormented their own people over there.'"
McDonald comments: "on the ground, in republican and loyalist working class areas, even in stable communities like Seymour Hill, paramilitary law rather than community policing prevails."
Parades Commission: controversy
Sir George Quigley's proposal to split the Parades Commission into two bodies to deal separately with adjudication and mediation is meeting with some opposition, primarily from nationalists who feel that the current body is working perfectly well. As Alex Attwood said before the publication of the proposals on Thursday, "Our position is that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'."
Unionists have not been happy with the working of the current body, the second such set up to deal with contentious parades in Northern Ireland. Early indications are that they are happy with the proposed move. A changed dynamic holds out the promise of a reversal of previous outcomes, such as the banning of the controversial Garvaghy Road parade.
Quigley was prompted on Friday to qualify them in the Belfast Telegraph.
Unionists have not been happy with the working of the current body, the second such set up to deal with contentious parades in Northern Ireland. Early indications are that they are happy with the proposed move. A changed dynamic holds out the promise of a reversal of previous outcomes, such as the banning of the controversial Garvaghy Road parade.
Quigley was prompted on Friday to qualify them in the Belfast Telegraph.
Blair ups the ante
Brian Walker reports Tony Blair's current hardening stance on paramilitaries, and his continuing focus on Sinn Fein:
"Let me make it clear that the activites of the loyalist paramilitaries are not just totally and completely contrary to law but contrary to any decent sense of humanity," he said, adding, "The only difference is that that loyalist paramilitaries are not connected to political parties and government, that is why we have a different situation here. But in terms of paramilitary activity, of course it has got to cease and cease entirely."
"Let me make it clear that the activites of the loyalist paramilitaries are not just totally and completely contrary to law but contrary to any decent sense of humanity," he said, adding, "The only difference is that that loyalist paramilitaries are not connected to political parties and government, that is why we have a different situation here. But in terms of paramilitary activity, of course it has got to cease and cease entirely."
Greater confusion amongst Loyalists
08 November 2002
History resource
Interesting educational resource on a little recollected event of the 19th Century; the Fenian invasion of Canada. Thanks to Smoke Signals.
Murphy: twin track is coming to an end
Paul Murphy was reported in fairly direct terms in today's FT:
"The time is up in many ways. The transition period is over where you can get a situation where the democratic political parties work in a system and at the same time having paramilitary activity accompany it."
"The time is up in many ways. The transition period is over where you can get a situation where the democratic political parties work in a system and at the same time having paramilitary activity accompany it."
UUP: the Orange link
The Belfast Telegraph has a slew of letters from various Unionists on the vexed subject of the Orange Order's block vote with the ruling council of David Trimble's UUP. This discussion has been in play for some time now. Indeed a seminar on the subject is to take place shortly.
Three are pro- breaking the link. Young Unionist, Newry suggests that it harks back to a golden age of Unionism that cannot be part of the future. MJ Wilson points out that the Unionist party has little hope of attracting any of the supposed 20% of 'pro-union' Catholic votes whilst the link continues. And Unionist, Drumbo believes that religious discrimination has no place in modern party politics.
Democratic Orangeman, agrees that it can take place, but claims that the Order staked the UUP financially at the outset and that it continues to hold equity in various of party's assets, for which they might seek compensation.
And Terry Dick offers an alternative; the Tory party.
Three are pro- breaking the link. Young Unionist, Newry suggests that it harks back to a golden age of Unionism that cannot be part of the future. MJ Wilson points out that the Unionist party has little hope of attracting any of the supposed 20% of 'pro-union' Catholic votes whilst the link continues. And Unionist, Drumbo believes that religious discrimination has no place in modern party politics.
Democratic Orangeman, agrees that it can take place, but claims that the Order staked the UUP financially at the outset and that it continues to hold equity in various of party's assets, for which they might seek compensation.
And Terry Dick offers an alternative; the Tory party.
IRA army council shake up
There have been major changes in the IRA's controlling body for the first time in five years.
07 November 2002
Parade Commission review
The report on the Parades Commission chaired by Sir George Quigley has just been published.
Moloney sacked
Journalist of the moment, Ed Moloney, has been sacked from his job on the Sunday Tribune newspaper, so reports the subscription only Irish News:
"Mr Maloney, who has reported for the paper for 16 years, said he was “shocked” when a letter from the paper’s outgoing editor Matt Cooper, terminating his contract, was delivered to his New York home. Speaking to the Irish News from New York, Mr Maloney last night said “basic natural justice” had been ignored and that he was taking legal advice."
Update: more detail.
"Mr Maloney, who has reported for the paper for 16 years, said he was “shocked” when a letter from the paper’s outgoing editor Matt Cooper, terminating his contract, was delivered to his New York home. Speaking to the Irish News from New York, Mr Maloney last night said “basic natural justice” had been ignored and that he was taking legal advice."
Update: more detail.
David Ervine: biography
IN review of the book in this month's Fortnight magazine, Newton Emerson of the Portadown News, says of his subject :
"David Ervine played a key role in delivering the loyalist ceasefire. He negotiated directly with Albert Reynolds to secure promises essential in securing the Good Friday Agreement promises which have been kept. He humanised unionism before the American political establishment. He stopped Mo Mowlam undermining the consent principle. He did all this under fire from mainstream unionism and under a very real IRA death threat. None of this is any secret, but it is important to be reminded of it."
He muses:
"Reviewing Ervine’s contribution, in full and in one volume, is sobering. It bids the question: ‘If only our elected representatives had such imagination’. But then the question turns around ¾ ‘If only people with such imagination could get elected’ and we’re back to square one. Ervine could make his remarkable personal journey, but he couldn’t bring enough people with him."
But he concludes:
"A little less reliance on class war clichés could have made all the difference for the PUP. It would certainly have made all the difference to this book."
"David Ervine played a key role in delivering the loyalist ceasefire. He negotiated directly with Albert Reynolds to secure promises essential in securing the Good Friday Agreement promises which have been kept. He humanised unionism before the American political establishment. He stopped Mo Mowlam undermining the consent principle. He did all this under fire from mainstream unionism and under a very real IRA death threat. None of this is any secret, but it is important to be reminded of it."
He muses:
"Reviewing Ervine’s contribution, in full and in one volume, is sobering. It bids the question: ‘If only our elected representatives had such imagination’. But then the question turns around ¾ ‘If only people with such imagination could get elected’ and we’re back to square one. Ervine could make his remarkable personal journey, but he couldn’t bring enough people with him."
But he concludes:
"A little less reliance on class war clichés could have made all the difference for the PUP. It would certainly have made all the difference to this book."
Business: collapse unwelcome
500 chief executives of NI companies were polled for BBC by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. It confirms the impression that business people are amongst the strongest supporters of the devolved institutions:
"...almost 80% saying an assembly was the best option for running the economy - while two thirds also favour closer ties to the Republic of Ireland's economy."
"...almost 80% saying an assembly was the best option for running the economy - while two thirds also favour closer ties to the Republic of Ireland's economy."
Stormont crisis: another suspect on spy charge
Murphy: an end to paramilitaries
In his first substantial interview as Secretary of State, Paul Murphy tells Chris Thornton that we are at the stage when paramilitaries must be taken out of political life:
"We've seen no end to the violence amongst paramilitary groups. I mean, this crucifixion (of 23-year-old Harry McCartan in Dunmurry) is such an obvious example of savagery and brutality that everybody must see this as being something which really has now to stop. That of course was on the loyalist side. However, on both sides you've come to that point where paramilitary activity has to stop.
"If there is going to be democratic devolved government here that has to be done on the same basis as anywhere else in Ireland or the United Kingdom. And I think we have come to that point now. Time in a sense has run out."
"We've seen no end to the violence amongst paramilitary groups. I mean, this crucifixion (of 23-year-old Harry McCartan in Dunmurry) is such an obvious example of savagery and brutality that everybody must see this as being something which really has now to stop. That of course was on the loyalist side. However, on both sides you've come to that point where paramilitary activity has to stop.
"If there is going to be democratic devolved government here that has to be done on the same basis as anywhere else in Ireland or the United Kingdom. And I think we have come to that point now. Time in a sense has run out."
Decommissioning shortcomings
Stephen King asks whether the decommissioning body has credibility without powers of sanction.
"...why have they been so unsuccessful? De Chastelain gives the answer: 'We are in a somewhat difficult position because we have no means of coercion.'"
"...why have they been so unsuccessful? De Chastelain gives the answer: 'We are in a somewhat difficult position because we have no means of coercion.'"
06 November 2002
Frankenstein: fictionalisation of conflict
Carrie Twomey highlights the literary and political seriousness underlying a seemingly humorous remark.
Policing drama: branch changes
A new set of changes are being proposed for the intelligence branch of the PSNI.
Demoralised prods: a response
In the subscription-only Irish News, Brian Feeney picks out Chris McGimpsey's assertions over the electoral politics in North Belfast in Richard Kelly's article in Prospect magazine for a detailed rebuttal:
"The most depressing aspect of McGimpsey’s tendentious contribution is this: Commentators criticise middle-class unionists for opting out of the political process and leaving it to the yahoos. Yet, when a middle-class unionist like McGimpsey, admittedly one who masquerades for political purposes as a ‘mawn of the peepull’, does engage in the process, his language stokes the fears which lead to the Protestant pessimism described in Prospect."
Update: The full text is now available on Newshound.
"The most depressing aspect of McGimpsey’s tendentious contribution is this: Commentators criticise middle-class unionists for opting out of the political process and leaving it to the yahoos. Yet, when a middle-class unionist like McGimpsey, admittedly one who masquerades for political purposes as a ‘mawn of the peepull’, does engage in the process, his language stokes the fears which lead to the Protestant pessimism described in Prospect."
Update: The full text is now available on Newshound.
RIRA moving into the North
Sharon O'Neill in the subscription only Irish News reports:
"The successful crackdown on Real IRA activity in the Republic has led the organisation to shift its power base to Northern Ireland, the latest security assessments have revealed. Evidence from Derry city points to it being the only area of the north where the Real IRA seems to have established a base from which to launch regular attacks. Suspicions that the Real IRA was now being led by members based in the north are also confirmed by a security source tracking the organisation’s development."
"The successful crackdown on Real IRA activity in the Republic has led the organisation to shift its power base to Northern Ireland, the latest security assessments have revealed. Evidence from Derry city points to it being the only area of the north where the Real IRA seems to have established a base from which to launch regular attacks. Suspicions that the Real IRA was now being led by members based in the north are also confirmed by a security source tracking the organisation’s development."
Irish soccer civil war
The recent resignation of Mick McCarthy has presaged a minor civil war in the Republic over who was to blame: Keane, the FAI or McCarthy himself.
Henry McDonald discusses the little talked about tension between two of the biggest teams in Belfast, which broadly splits the city east and west.
Found via Newshound.
Henry McDonald discusses the little talked about tension between two of the biggest teams in Belfast, which broadly splits the city east and west.
Found via Newshound.
Unionist silence over crucifixion
No decommissioning; no devolution
05 November 2002
Richard Perle attacks Sinn Fein
McCarthy quits
Finally the strain of the World Cup spat with Roy Keane has taken its toll on the Republic's manager, and he's gone.
McCann on the IRA: summary
Eammon McCann seems to have been around since the troubles first kicked off for real back in 1968.
He has finally produced what is probably the best review so far what is probably the most celebrated books on Northern Ireland of recent times, The Secret History of the IRA. IN fact this is more than a review, it is an essay by an acute observer who is intimate with the many intricate and subtle theologies of the Irish Republican movement.
He begins by putting the character of Adams centre stage. But then he considers the historical break with the 1916 tradition, suggesting that the Northern organisation had been founded in Nationalist defence, rather than classic Republicanism.
But his most contenious claim, he leaves till last - the movement now sits more right than left in character and its policies.
He has finally produced what is probably the best review so far what is probably the most celebrated books on Northern Ireland of recent times, The Secret History of the IRA. IN fact this is more than a review, it is an essay by an acute observer who is intimate with the many intricate and subtle theologies of the Irish Republican movement.
He begins by putting the character of Adams centre stage. But then he considers the historical break with the 1916 tradition, suggesting that the Northern organisation had been founded in Nationalist defence, rather than classic Republicanism.
But his most contenious claim, he leaves till last - the movement now sits more right than left in character and its policies.
McCann on the IRA: right not left
McCann finally suggests that the substantial change in the political character of the northern Republican movement is demonstrated in Adams' pragmatism:
"...when he veered off the path of armed struggle he veered to the right and not to the left. Having ditched the ideas that underpinned armed struggle, discarding any notion of wanting to turn the world, or even the constitutional status quo, upside down, Adams and the group around him set out to recruit the most powerful allies potentially available--the Catholic hierarchy, the Dublin government, corporate Irish-America, the White House. This has meant resiling from positions that might alienate persuadable interests."
This creates an apparent contradiction:
"Thus, although still generally presenting itself as an anti-imperialist party, Sinn Fein has been careful in recent times not to mobilize against the planned oil war on Iraq. The party's campaign for the release of three men recently arrested leaving FARC-held territory in Colombia has been built on a soft-liberal basis, concentrating on the unlikelihood of the three receiving a fair trial, eschewing any defense of association with the left-wing guerrilla organization.
In conclusion, this has brought plaudits from Washington, even under the less friendly Bush administration:
"Small wonder that Bush's point man, Richard Haass, has no ideological complaint against Sinn Fein. He just wishes it would move more speedily toward completion of what he calls its 'necessary transition'. As a matter of fact, it's almost there. Ed Moloney's book is the best and necessary account of the long trek across dangerous terrain that brought Sinn Fein to this point, and of the role of Gerry Adams, the political genius who, with guile and daring, has led the way."
Previously defenders.
"...when he veered off the path of armed struggle he veered to the right and not to the left. Having ditched the ideas that underpinned armed struggle, discarding any notion of wanting to turn the world, or even the constitutional status quo, upside down, Adams and the group around him set out to recruit the most powerful allies potentially available--the Catholic hierarchy, the Dublin government, corporate Irish-America, the White House. This has meant resiling from positions that might alienate persuadable interests."
This creates an apparent contradiction:
"Thus, although still generally presenting itself as an anti-imperialist party, Sinn Fein has been careful in recent times not to mobilize against the planned oil war on Iraq. The party's campaign for the release of three men recently arrested leaving FARC-held territory in Colombia has been built on a soft-liberal basis, concentrating on the unlikelihood of the three receiving a fair trial, eschewing any defense of association with the left-wing guerrilla organization.
In conclusion, this has brought plaudits from Washington, even under the less friendly Bush administration:
"Small wonder that Bush's point man, Richard Haass, has no ideological complaint against Sinn Fein. He just wishes it would move more speedily toward completion of what he calls its 'necessary transition'. As a matter of fact, it's almost there. Ed Moloney's book is the best and necessary account of the long trek across dangerous terrain that brought Sinn Fein to this point, and of the role of Gerry Adams, the political genius who, with guile and daring, has led the way."
Previously defenders.
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