NORTH REPORT

Ken Newell makes the Independent 'Good List'

2006-09-01T11:37:00.000+01:00

Ken Newell, former Presbyterian Moderator, appears on the Independent's 'Good List'. Paul Vallely, executive editor of the Independent said: "Unlike a rich list, which has the objective yardstick of being able to measure or estimate pounds in the bank, a good list depends upon judgements of merit."

A much more enviable position than a mention on the Rich List I'd say.

McLaughlin snubbed with rejection of Economic Development report?

2006-08-30T20:11:00.000+01:00

Despite the fuss last week about the imminent report of the Economic Development sub-Committee, the report was buried today by the main Committee, or more precisely, Sinn Fein. This is despite the fact that The Party's two members on the sub-Committee (including Mitchel McLaughlin, the Party's spokesperson on such things) had already agreed to its contents.

The reason that party bosses have demanded that it be held up before being debated by the main committee? They want more detail on the scale and nature of the Government's 'peace dividend' handout! The future of entrepreneurship is in good hands.

Perhaps even more depressing is the fact that this report - one of the few things many people actually gave a damn about - was shelved today and barely a word was raised in anger. NORTH REPORT would like to say that McLaughlin was 'red faced' on the issue or even 'tight lipped', but unfortunately it appears that no one has even asked him...

Caution for crossing

2006-08-26T13:12:00.000+01:00

In a bizarre incident, Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has been cautioned by Strathclyde Police after blessing himself during a match in February.

The Church has called it 'worrying and alarming' and but The Crown Office in Scotland said Boruc's behaviour had taken place before a crowd in the charged atmosphere of a match between Celtic and rivals Rangers and therefore constituted a breach of the peace.

Various incidents spring to mind over the years where much more serious gestures were made at events, but went without notice by the police.

Repeating Sinn Fein spin doesn't make it true

2006-08-16T12:02:00.000+01:00

On his popular blog Balrog, Chris Gaskin expresses some of what I assume must be widespread Provisional frustration with the outrage over Sinn Fein hijacking Antrim GAA and Casement Park. He says, "no matter what anyone may say this was not a party political rally".

Now I'm always open to a good debate and have changed my mind on many issues over the years in response to decent arguments. "No matter what anyone may say" is not such an argument.

Let's look again at the advertised speakers - Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein President), Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein MEP and would be TD) & Toireasa Ní Fhearaíosa (SF Mayor of Kerry).

The provisional movement was never famed for setting the evidential burden very high - how can they tell us (or their supporters in Balrog's case) that it wasn't a SF event and keep a straight face?

The First Sane Voice on the Raytheon Farce

2006-08-15T17:42:00.000+01:00

Writing in this morning's Irish News, columnist Brendan Mulgrew takes an amusing swipe at the gang of hooligans, led by aging revolutionary Citizen McCann, who raided and vandalised the offices of Raytheon in Derry last week.

He writes: "I am not sure how the dynamics of international politics and international power plays finally converged over the weekend to produce a welcome ceasefire in the Lebanon but I would be prepared to bet that the occupation by the 'Derry Anti-War Coalition' of a software development plant had very little to do with it."

Clearly a man after Urquhart's heart he goes on, "In fact, aside from the further advancement of a Ben Elton style of right-on politics it is difficult to see what actually was achieved by Eamon McCann and his brothers in vandalism."

Not unrelated to a theme from last week's NORTH REPORT, he writes, "The people of the Lebanon and Israel will hardly take much comfort from the sight of a hard drive smashing to the ground as they run for cover from Israeli Defence Forces bombs on the one hand or Hezbollah rockets on the other. (I wonder had Raytheon been trading in defence systems with Syria / Hezbollah, would the protest have taken place?)

In a line that will hopefully draw some sort of response from McCann's Telegraph article he wonders, "it is a strange sort of socialism which seeks to lengthen unemployment queues by denying citizens their right to employment"

Let's hear it for Mulgrew.

And so it begins..

2006-08-14T14:00:00.000+01:00

The DUP point out that the Provisionals have politicised sport by holding yesterday's rally in a GAA ground. Sad to see any anti GAA ammuntion given to Diane and her cronies. The offender? Step forward Geraldo et al.

Whats clear is that SF correctly calculated that Central Council's late decision wouldn't be able to stop the momentum which supported the protest being held in Casement. The GAA is probably the last nationalist organisation in the North which SF doesn't have signifcant control. Sadly, the Antrim GAA showed no signs of being able to spot the Shinners game. Watch this space.

When going backwards is great

2006-08-11T18:07:00.000+01:00

Probably doesn't have any place here, but I saw this and thought it was great. So I wanted to share it.

Aaah.

Modern day ghetto?

2006-08-11T15:24:00.000+01:00

Padua's solution, not typical of socialist administrations, sets a new standard for drug prevention. This may be more to do with Italy's problems with its minorities (extracommunitaria in Italian, literally 'outside society'), than any serious attempt to curb drug abuse. Unlike 1940's ghettos, people are free to come and go.

As an aside, Kenny is thiking of discarding his recently acquired liberal views on drugs following his witnessing of drug fuelled trouble maker at a famous Belfast watering hole during the week.

Why are we supposed to be anti-Israel?

2006-08-10T17:24:00.000+01:00

Over recent weeks and most particularly at the West Belfast Talks Back event in Andersonstown last night, I have been puzzling over a question. Who, where decided that if you are an Irish nationalist / republican, your default position on middle eastern affairs is support for whoever is attacking Israel?

In nationalist areas, the flag of Palestine regularly flies from lamp posts and in recent weeks it has been joined by the flag of Lebanon - how did that become acceptable?

And it's not just Sinn Fein, although they are of course at the vanguard, the normally broader minded SDLP also seems to have bought into the phenomenon. Witness Margaret Ritchie's statement on the current battle with Hezbollah: Iran or Syria (both social democratic strongholds) supply "rockets" to Hizbollah, while the tyrannical USA is supplying "bombs to be used on Lebanese villages and apartment blocks".

What are the rockets being used for? A fireworks display perhaps?

Like most of those in this country who shout loudest about the Middle East, I don't really know my arse from my elbow on the mess there. But my limited understanding of the aims of those supporting her enemies make me at least try to understand the motivation of Israel.

And he's back

2006-08-10T17:04:00.000+01:00

After an extended absence, I'm pleased to return to my beloved blog NORTH REPORT. Thanks to Kenny who has picked up a few bits and pieces in my absence, but we really need to make more of an effort if there's to be any chance of this being the tower of influence it can become.

Over at slugger, I took some abuse recently while questioning the motivation and ability of our old friends at Really Direland. 'Braveheart' (about whose real identity I have my own suspicions) described our effort here as a "short lived pathetic little site" and "full of bile, innuendo, illusion and downright lies".

A bit over the top perhaps, but I have to be honest, it cut me deep Shrek, it cut me deep. So in honour of Braveheart and all those like him, here we go again...

He will be pleased.

An even longer way to Tipperary

2006-07-05T12:55:00.000+01:00

If reports in today's New York Times are correct, its bad news for illegal Irish immigrants currently living in the US. President Bush is now minded to go with the hardler line approach favoured in the House, with tougher enforcement legisaltion passed first, instead of the guest worker 'path to citizenship' legisation which has already passed the Senate, and which he previously favoured.

This probably represents an attempt to shore up his base, while not ruling out 'path to citizenship' legislation in order not to alienate the Hispanic vote which he's appealing to.

To the man currently living in Queens or the Bronx, any trip to Tipp, or any other Irish county, looks further away than ever.

Autonomy to Catalonia

2006-06-19T15:10:00.000+01:00

BBC carries news that 73.9% of those who cast their ballots in Sunday's referendum voted for enhanced regional independence. Turnout was however a rather lowly 49%.

Catalonia will now have enhanced control over tax, ports, airports and judicial matters and will have 'nation' status within Spain. No similar status exists for the Basque region, but the ETA ceasefire may bring it closer.

A crucial difference between Catalonia and the Basque country when compared to Northern Ireland is their disprorportionately large contribution to the Spanish economy, which in turn delivers siginficant levels of clout to those elected in each region.

Compare these to the empty and meaningless calls from our elected representatives to the Chancellor on his visit to Northern Ireland today, and the fact that their pleas will have been forgotten as soon as he jets back to London.

Give it back

2006-05-26T15:14:00.000+01:00

Interesting story on BBC about various bank machines in Belfast which were giving out double the money to punters making withdrawals. Apparently once news spread, queues formed quickly as the citizenry realised there was money for nothing from the Bank of Ireland machines.

Local priest Martin Magill then said that he hoped people should return the cash.

As far as Kenny is concerned the jury's out on this one, but, there was something pathetic about the photo on the front of Monday's Andersonstown News showing a large queue waiting to double their money at one of the miracle ATMs.

A republic's immigration policy

2006-05-26T09:33:00.000+01:00

Dermot Ahern makes the bizarre assertion in yesterday's Irish Times that while illegal immigrants from Ireland are 'entitled' to be in the US, their position cannot be compared with illegal immigrants in Ireland.

While our immigration system in Ireland is effective, I'd take issue with it being described as "second to none." The justification that becuase Irish immigrants in the US have "put down roots" they're somehow entitled have the right to stay in the US is ridiculous.

Also the Irish government has never persecuted its own citizens so we in Ireland would find it hard to justify the seeking of asylum anywhere in the world. The same cannot be said about the various Afghan (current and past) regimes. Afghans who require protection should be given it, those who do not should be returned.

This Republic does not permit immigration for economic purposes, except where we have a skills gap. To expect the Republic across the water to do differently is hypocritical. Illegal Irish have as much right to be in New York as illegal Afghans have to be in Dublin: none.

Carruthers Red Faced in Let's Talk Gaffe

2006-05-25T23:36:00.000+01:00

Chatting about a question on what Derry and Belfast International Airports should be named, presenter of the 'live' and 'unscripted' BBC Let's Talk programme Mark Carruthers let the cat out of the bag on how the show really works. Clearly disappointed with the answers he got from his panelists, Mark did a bit of ad libbing - "everyone in the office was trying to be creative with answers to this earlier" (or thereabouts).

His example of the team's creativity was to bring together the Eurovision and the world of NI airports with Dana International Airport. Strewth.

Answering Ireland's Call

2006-05-24T19:22:00.000+01:00

Searching the You Tube archive I came across this treat, showing Ireland's heroes strike another blow for the Republic. In the first instance they appear to blow up a cable access point, while in the second half we see them cut down one of the CCTV masts installed to halt, or at least monitor the spate of sectarian attacks. All of it is accompanied by a ballad that'd bring a tear to a glass eye.

Net benefits to the cause of Irish unity? No NTL coverage in the area; Confirmation for the local prods that they're under siege from 'republicans'; £100k (?) bill for the taxpayer. Oh, and this video.

Irish Americans...

2006-05-24T13:59:00.000+01:00

I'm no fan of Northern Ireland soccer, have never set foot in Windsor Park and have no plans to change that, but that doesn't stop me being ashamed of the clowns who protested at the arrival of the IFA at Chicago's Gaelic Park yesterday. Carrying black flags and wearing shirts telling the IFA they were not welcome, a spokesperson for these buffoons accused the IFA of being "a polarising political organisation".

No doubt their antics and success in reaching the front page of the Belfast Telegraph will do wonders for tackling the sectarianism they claimed to be protesting against.

Fearghal should have got more juice from this Berry

2006-05-23T14:14:00.000+01:00

On UTV's Insight programme last night, Fearghal McKinney had an exclusive interview with Newry & Armagh MLA Paul Berry. Berry, who continues to reject the Sunday World's story that visited the Ramada Hotel to romp gayly with a chap he met in a gay chatroom, spoke at length about the pain he has been through and his support from both the family and the Lord Jesus Christ.

He talked about how he briefly considered suicide and how he felt abandoned by the party he has loved all his life.

When asked about the encounter that started the whole thing, he magnanimously agreed that he had been foolish, but nothing improper took place other than a massage (like the one he famously got from 'a wee darky girl' on his honeymoon). It was very disappointing that Fearghal didn't press harder for Berry's side of that part of the story. Also, more than once I got the feeling that Berry was trying to take a leaf out of Willy McCrea's book and summon up some tears. In the end he couldn't.

The clips of 'Paul in his natural environment' were also revealing - I never trust a man who shouts needlessly at his dog.

When will we grow out of Celtic shirts?

2006-05-23T13:52:00.000+01:00

Recently, I have found myself wondering more and more at the mindset of those who buy and wear Celtic shirts in the North of Ireland. No public event with even the remotest Irish political or cultural connection can pass, and no riot or street protest is complete without a fair portion of young and old dressed in the hoops.

When you question the appropriateness of it to Celtic fans, the reaction is swift and angry: "Do you not know the history of the club...?" "How dare you question it - do you not know how many people have been killed for wearing the hoops...?" etc.

All of which may be true, but surely these days there are more appropriate ways to express positive and confident Irishness than wearing the symbols of a British plc whose commerical success is largely built on the vicious sectarian hatred between it and Glasgow Rangers? This disconnect is even more nauseating if you make a short stop at the Celtic shop in Belfast or the online store, where innocent children can be branded from birth with a full range of accessories including Celtic bottles and Celtic bibs.

Writing in today's Irish News, Tom Kelly expresses it well: "They say apples don't fall far from the tree and when it comes to sectarianism people need to look no further than the family environment. What are we buying into that is not on the label when purchasing a Rangers or Celtic top for our children?"

A good day for news junkies

2006-05-22T18:50:00.000+01:00

Anyone who has spent time in Dublin will know the joys of having a full time news and current affairs radio station. The good news is that Newstalk 106, which has a number of big name commentators including Eamon Dunphy (left) sadly missed from Today FM's Last Word, has been given a national licence and should be coming to a crackly frequency near you...

Thank God for a decent alternative to Nolan.

Beastly Catholics?

2006-05-19T15:49:00.000+01:00

In a poor attempt at satire in today's Daily Ireland, Robin Livingstone pens a spoof conversation between Charles and Camilla. The photo caption in the print edition: 'I say my good chap, is that one of those beastly Catholics over there?' seems to ignore the fact that Camilla's first husband was Catholic and both her children were rasied Catholic.

I wonder did the poetry on page 8 actually raise a laugh anywhere on the island? And, worse still, the language at the end of the spoof seems, to Kenny anyway, unbecoming of a supposed quality daily newspaper.

Daily Ireland seemed tabloid in design only, but smut and ignorant satire seem to bring it closer to a genre of which the Sun would be proud.

"The taxpayer was let down by almost everyone..."

2006-05-18T13:20:00.000+01:00

With the publication of the Commons Committee of Public Accounts report into shenanigans at DETI, LEDU and the Emerging Business Trust, the full extent of Northern Ireland Civil Service contempt for the taxpayer becomes clear.

In a remarkably frank report, the Committee describes what happened as "one of the worst cases of conflict of interest and impropriety that that this Committee has seen". It also describes the case as having "plumbed new depths".

The lady at the centre, Ms Teresa Townsley - who was the Deputy Chair of LEDU, on the Board of the EBT, owned the accounting firm appointed to provide financial consultancy, and had interests in a number of firms taking grants from EBT, still walks free. In fact, in true Northern Ireland tradition, she claims she's the real victim!

According to the report, "very senior staff in LEDU and the Department, who had knowledge of EBT, did not have sufficient regard for the proper conduct of public business to ensure effective oversight." Yet, how many 'very senior staff' have had to pay any price for their failure?

The Public Accounts Committee investigation and report was one of the few unmitigated successes of the NI Assembly. Could the response to this Commons report and what happens next be an opportunity for our politicians to somehow convince us of their relevance once again?

Meanwhile in the real world...

2006-05-16T10:21:00.000+01:00

If you're looking for evidence of changing attitudes in the North, stop wasting your time looking at the sham Assembly. The first round replay of the Ulster Championship is being put back two hours to accomodate coverage of a rugby match. And not a peep from the fans of Armagh or Monaghan - neither what you'd call traditional rugby strongholds...

Is Reg Empey losing the plot?

2006-05-15T16:45:00.000+01:00

When I first heard speculation that David Ervine was talking about taking the UUP whip in the 'Assembly' I assumed that it was a bit of publicity hunting from the PUP / UVF man.

Not a bad idea I thought - remind everyone that the unionists have no problem associating with those 'close to the thinking' of loyalists; maybe add a bit of momentum to the case for an Executive. Not for a second did I think it was going anywhere.

A number of unionist bloggers, through Slugger O'Toole and elsewhere have sought to justify the move, but NORTH REPORT would like to pose a couple of questions:

1. What has happened to change the UUP position since March 2006 when it was considering its place on the Policing Board because PUP Chairperson Dawn Purvis had been appointed?

2. Does the UUP now share Provisional Sinn Fein's view of the IMC as a discredited securocrat stitch-up? If not, how can the Ulster Unionists effectively merge with the political representatives of the UVF?

3. Assuming that a new Executive can be formed, with the UUP party structure and organisation punching below its weight (ahem) is it really in the best interests of that party (or the North's long suffering taxpayers) to take on responsibility for another Department?

4. In their wildest, most exciting dreams does anyone in the UUP think that they can regain electoral credibility with middle NI by getting into bed with the PUP/UVF?

'Decent People vote Ulster Unionist'? Boy oh boy.

Tweedledum, Tweedledee, and Sinn Fein on Business

2006-05-11T16:52:00.000+01:00

An excellent feature in the current edition of Business & Finance looks at the economic policies of all the main Opposition parties. The most interesting for NORTH REPORT is the interview with PSF Finance man Caoimhghin O'Caolain.

In conversation with Fearghal O'Connor, the Cavan man explains PSF's sound economic policy base and reassures readers of B&F that his party is growing in popularity with the business community.

Part of that reassurance doubtless comes from the party's view on taxation: "We are prepared... to look at the overall taxation situation and to examine what increases in taxation might then be necessary to achieve a more equitable society." Explaining what this means to O'Connor he admits that it could mean a new 50% tax band for those earning more than €100,000 and a rise in corporation tax to 17.5%.

His grip of industrial development and the need to develop a knowledge economy in the new international context will be equally reassuring to the business community: "The indigenous industries that were there as part of my childhood have all up and left. I mean, where is there a tannery operating on the island of Ireland?"

His confidence about growing popularity in corporate circles comes from the party's success up here: "We are now the largest nationalist party in the six county area of our country, so we are clearly enjoying the support of people right across the business spectrum."

"Business people are looking at Sinn Fein as a realistic alternative to the current tweedledee tweedledum politics." When business people look at PSF's economic policies, this may not be the only reference to Alice in Wonderland they'll think of.

Complete No Brainers

2006-05-11T09:45:00.000+01:00

At a hearing in Belfast's High Court yesterday, Justice Girvan upheld a Judicial Review application, halting plans for a massive retail scheme at Sprucefield. The scheme, carefully presented as 'the John Lewis store' was in fact a 500,000 sq ft retail space with one John Lewis and 29 other units. The decision to grant planning permission in the first place flew in the face of government policy and planning guidelines here, but that didn't stop Rooker pushing it through, famously describing his decision as 'a no brainer'.

NORTH REPORT's elation that this crazy scheme is back to square one was tempered however by the report in today's Irish News that the taxpayer may have to foot the significant legal bill for the Judicial Review.

Since Rooker has now been shuffled off and the civil servants are able to point to the fact that their advice was to halt it, it looks like the taxpayer is going to be left once again to grin and bear it, with no one to hold to account.

Where are our local politicians on the issue? Still licking John Lewis' arse of course.

Could SDLP have done better on Ballynahinch Shooting?

2006-04-24T21:16:00.000+01:00

A week or more has passed since the fatal police shooting in Ballynahinch.

Now that it has disappeared into the Police Ombudsman's office and some sources begin the work of discrediting what remaining character the deceased had (Sunday World 23/04/06), it is maybe a good time to look for a second at political reaction to what happened. Specifically the nationalist reaction.

There is little to add to Newton Emerson's analysis of the provisional movement's response (virtual silence given the deceased's background) but despite getting widespread media coverage, the SDLP's reaction (immediate suspension of the cops involved and a review of the policy governing discharge of weapons) has received little or no analysis.

Is it legitimate, for example, for a party that sits on the Policing Board and is asking for a sea change in nationalist thinking towards supporting the police, to have condemnation as the default position in this context? i.e. where the police were involved in apprehending a number of individuals involved in car crime.

NORTH REPORT doesn't suggest that the police should be praised for shooting joyriders - although that might also explain why the Provos were so quiet - but there is a serious issue here of how the nationalist relationship with the police is evolving. We've got the Ombudsman's office and we're satisfied with its independence. We've got car crime spiraling in nationalist areas and innocent bystanders being killed by the lunatics who are stealing the cars. We demand a strong security response. But when a police action against car crime results in a fatality, our knee jerk response is still to condemn the police first and look at what actually happened second.

This attitude and the atmosphere it creates doesn't help the task of building support for policing. Despite this almost certainly being a 'straightforward' car crime incident, within hours stories were appearing about the deceased's relationship with Johnny Adair and conclusions were being drawn about why he was wearing a Celtic plc shirt (that's what Adair and his cohorts wore when they were out to slaughter Catholics...). Around the dinner tables of Ulster (if mine's anything to go by)there was also much speculation about the trigger happy cops and whether this young protestant would have been shot dead had he not been wearing a Celtic shirt.

Would this pre-Patten, pre-Policing Board, pre-Ceasefire tribal tripe have developed or have been as enthusiastically discussed if the SDLP had come out quickly after the incident recognising it as a (perhaps) botched operation against the plague of car crime and waiting for the Ombudsman's investigation before targeting the individual cops involved?

I don't think so. Any thoughts?

Heavy Rain in Ballymena

2006-04-12T18:47:00.000+01:00

That's the only sort of passion I ever thought they had up there. Not so, it appears...

Rooker off the Hook on Rates Hike

2006-04-12T17:41:00.000+01:00

Following the implementation of another hike in the Regional Rate, there has been the usual bleating condemnations from all the usual suspects - consumer groups, political representatives etc.

What infuriates, is the absolutely appalling quality of the challenge to Rooker's decision. Witness Peter Robinson: it will have a "significant impact on many people's quality of life". Francie Molloy said it will "push greater numbers of people into poverty". SDLP's Tommy Gallagher says it will be "crippling to many households".

The utter predictability of these bland and meaningless generalities allowed Rooker to justify the move in another bland and meaningless press statement of his own:

"All the money raised from the rates in Northern Ireland stays here to help pay for public services that bring benefit to everyone in the community." But surely Lord Rooker and his colleagues have been banging on about the structural problems in our public services and is the fact that some of them are incapable of balancing their accounts not relevant here?

“Everyone wants and deserves better public services, but no-one likes paying taxes. It is the job of the Government to strike the right balance those two factors." Hang on a second Rookster! Thanks for the GCSE politics course, but is it not the job of the Government to make sure that money being spent is being properly spent. It is not your responsibility to ensure that the budgets that are currently assigned are being used to maximum effect before you increase them by almost 20%? Any word on this from the locals?

"We are also determined to use public money wisely to invest in the services that make real differences to people’s lives and to remove waste, inefficiency and duplication of service provision wherever it occurs." He goes to on to explain that this is the reason for SoS Hain's 'radical reform programme'. I can almost see him smiling as he dictated it.

It would be an admirable sentiment, if it were genuinely meant. He gets away with it because he knows that not a single one of our politicians will pull him up on it and ask the difficult questions.

Instead of the tiresome bleating, if the politicians were prepared to make difficult calls the revenue generated by this rates hike could have been raised through a proper efficiency programme in our local government and public service sector. Forget about the 'radical reform programme' we're being promised down the line. I'm talking about right now - the wastefulness throughout our 26 district councils, the education boards and the health trusts and the hundred other gravy trains is a disgrace. If it was properly confronted and acknowledged by the politicians so concerned by quality of life, rising levels of poverty etc, they could have saved ratepayers a few quid and convinced us that their concern was real.

As it is, you can forgive anyone for continuing to ignore them.

If this is the best NI manufacturing can do...

2006-04-11T14:52:00.000+01:00

Writing in today's Irish News, Brendan Mulgrew has an interesting piece on what he sees as the flawed campaign to protect industrial derating. He points out that there is little point in the campaign getting excited about 'unanimous political support' when it was the same political parties that agreed in the Assembly to scrap the exemption.

He points out however that the original decision was taken after an agreement by the parties that some other business incentive would replace derating. Neither he, nor the manufacturing lobby, nor the political parties whose 'help' they welcome make any suggestion about what these alternative incentives might be.

Mulgrew's conclusion is very good:
"An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, not for the first time, summed it up well when he challenged local politicians to say if they were comfortable having democratic mandates and not using the power which those mandates carry. It's a good question, but I fear the answer. So too should the manufacturing base in Northern Ireland."

Is this really front page, all Ireland news?

2006-04-11T14:36:00.000+01:00

Following yesterday's discussion (see below) on the motivation behind Daily Ireland's Eddie Espie series, suspicious types received a boost this morning with the appearance of another, even more tenuous front page article on the ex-SDLP man.

The story judged worthy of front-page all-Ireland news was that a former half-term Vice Chair of the SDLP received an instant message on the 29th March. The message, from an anonymous source (believed to be the vice chair of the SDLP youth group) called him a wanker. Worse, his son, who had a temperature, read the word.

At the very worst, this shows the young SDLP guy up as a twit, but can it really be front page news??

Evidence that the reason for the status given to these stories is solely to present a facade of crisis in the SDLP comes from no less a source than the editorial of Daily Ireland itself. It opens: "It's unlikely that the mooted leadership challenge of.. Eddie Espie will come to much".

NI export opportunity?

2006-04-10T21:12:00.000+01:00

In September 1998, President Bill Clinton gave his rousing speech at the Mall in Armagh. He praised us for the courage we had shown and thanked us for the gift we had given to the world. He promised us that when people came to him and told him that political and security situations around the world could not be solved, he would tell them "Look at Northern Ireland".

Well it appears that slick Willy was as good as his word. The Saudis, nervous about trouble spilling into the kingdom from neighbouring Iraq, have taken a lesson out of Belfast's book and have announced plans to construct a 560 mile 'peace wall' along the full length of their border. Grounds for an Invest NI trade mission?

Durkan doing something right?

2006-04-10T11:05:00.000+01:00

It is hard to imagine that news of the hitherto unknown Eddie Espie's leadership challenge against Mark Durkan will cause much concern. What should get people thinking however is the fact that Daily Ireland have reheated Espie's departure, brought out cheerleader-in-chief Martin Morgan and ran another front page story on the developing 'crisis' within the SDLP.

It is hard to imagine Martin Morgan and Eddie Espie as natural bedfellows - the only thing that appears to unite them is their shared unhappiness with certain individuals within the SDLP hierarchy. Belated attempts to cook up a shared protest on policing (this morning's article) don't stand up when you consider that Eddie Espie's rise to 'prominence' in the SDLP (his year as Vice Chair) has only been wihtin the last 12 months - long after Morgan's departure and long after the position on policing had been endorsed by the Party.

So where is this coming from? Given the co-operation between both individuals and Daily Ireland to date, and its very enthusiastic handling of this non-story since it broke, is it unreasonable to think that Daily Ireland is playing the role of matchmaker here? I don't believe so. The interview with the two individuals and the accompanying photoshoot doesn't bear any hallmarks of a credible, reasoned campaign (witness Martin Morgan's monologue on policing, contradicted by his view that PSNI-supporting Fianna Fail should organise here). The only clear campaign I can see is the one that is being constructed by Daily Ireland.

Accepting that, the next question is why.

Given that there is nothing of substance in the story, the only agenda being served is one that seeks to undermine Durkan just as he appears to be finding his feet. Having secured victory on On The Runs legislation and held provisional feet to the fire on the McCartney murder and criminality, Durkan and the uppity stoops may just be starting to worry Teach Basil.

The 'Forgotten Planet'

2006-04-10T01:05:00.000+01:00

On tuesday, our very own ESA Venus Express will enter the Venus orbit and give us all a look at what's in store if we don't dump the Land Cruisers. I for one will be delighted to see a European space programme make positive headlines (hopefully...)

Just a thought though - prepare yourself for the tidal wave of articles on global warming that will follow in the mission's wake.

One way to avoid water rates?

2006-04-09T19:59:00.000+01:00

The victims of PIRA violence are to sue Libya in a class action law suit. Given the billions that had to be spent on security here as a result of the same weapons being used and the attendant lack of investment in water infrastructure, roads, public transport etc, any chance that the taxpayer could get a piece of this action?

No change unless 'Step Change' is real...

2006-04-09T17:52:00.000+01:00

Following last Thursday's performance by the two Governments in Armagh and the mixed messages coming from various quarters since, I thought it worthwhile to look again at Paragraph 10 of the Joint Declaration that has Paisley ready to take to the streets and Peter Hain speaking out of boths sides of his mouth:

Paragraph 10: If restoration of the Assembly and Executive has to be deferred, the Governments agree that this will have immediate implications for their joint stewardship of the process. We are beginning detailed work on British-Irish partnership arrangements that will be necessary in these circumstances to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement, which is the indispensable framework for relations on and between these islands, is actively developed across its structures and functions. This work will be shaped by the commitment of both Governments to a step-change in advancing North-South co-operation and action for the benefit of all.

Hain's wriggling notwithstanding, the sentiment as expressed here is surely the way forward. For how long will the myth at the centre of the current political failure here go unchallenged? Namely, why is it that failure to restore the Assembly and form an Executive is 'punished' by a repeated return to Direct Rule? As long as the only political sanction facing Unionism is direct rule from London, the project is going nowhere. And we don't need to wait until 24th November to see that. The question is, do the two Governments have the balls to change it and make good on the threat hinted at in the Joint Declaration?

And where is the SDLP on this (for PSF will surely follow)? An unwillingness to be part of a shadow Assembly is one thing, but have they the stomach to risk letting it collapse altogether if a meaningful "step-change in advancing North-South co-operation and action" is what replaces it?

Observer misses the point.

2006-04-09T16:09:00.000+01:00

The 80th anniversary indeed!

There are to my mind, many things wrong with today's article in The Observer by Geoffrey Wheatecroft. But looking at just a few of them...

One element that Wheatcroft doesn't bother mentioning in this article is the political imperative behind Dublin's decision to commemorate the anniversary. One possible explanation is that he isn't bothered - the tone throughout the article suggests that we're all as bad as each other in this 'most reactionary corner of Europe'.

The only modern context he offers for the Anniversary plans is his link to the murder of Denis Donaldson (which, given the role of British Intelligence and the Provisional IRA in his life and death I don't quite see). The fact that the Irish Government has tried to put it in a post-GFA context by inviting all Northern MLAs to participate is ignored.

I suggest this is a piece written in anger; anger aimed primarily at Provisional Sinn Fein and the PIRA. To quote, "10 Protestants, two of them children, were blown to pieces in the Shankill Road in 1993, a deed publicly celebrated by Gerry Adams". I fear this anger has made him entirely miss the point of the planned activities. That is, to reclaim history for the entire nation and not allow the provisional movement, which Wheatecroft so obviously despises, claim historical legitimacy for their campaign by linking it with the events that helped found the State.

An audience at last...

2006-04-08T20:30:00.000+01:00

Every monkey has a blog these days - it's time I had one too. Inspired by Slugger O'Toole, I'm going to try my hand at this business and see if I can't add something to the discourse. I imagine every blogger starts from the same premise - i.e. that there's no one else out there with quite the same voice. NORTH REPORT is no different. I have long been frustrated with the assumption in Northern Ireland politics that all nationalists are left wing and all unionists are on the right. While there's some truth in it, the failure to challenge it is, I believe, part of the reason why Sinn Fein and the DUP are currently enjoying their positions of strength.

Both are the loudest and best organised versions of the 'left' and 'right' within their respective communities. But are there no nationalists out there who aren't socialists? Any unionists who aren't rabid right wingers? I think at least I know the answer to the first - I happen to believe that the nationalist people in the North of Ireland are among the most conservative people in these islands and a big part of the SDLP's post-ceasefire struggles are based on their failure to recognise this. Where is the voice of the large and growing nationalist middle class? Similarly, might the UUP have a chance of avoiding extinction if they abandon the race to capture the lowest common denominator?

Anyway, on this blog I hope to give another view on big and small stories in this part of the world and share more general thoughts on life here. All views are welcome...