Posted by Jim on November 16, 2018
This article gives a general Northern Ireland-reaction to to the “draft Brexit Deal.”—Fr. Sean McManusNigel Dodds criticizes May over agreement’s handling of North
Northern Irish “ remainer” politicians meet Varadkar to discuss Brexit deal
Irish Times. Dublin. Thursday, November 15, 2018
Speaking in the House of Commons the deputy leader of the Democratic Union Party (DUP) Nigel Dodds, criticised prime minister Theresa May over the draft Brexit deal’s handling of Northern Ireland. Video: Parliament TV
The deputy leader of the Democratic Union Party (DUP) Nigel Dodds has criticised prime minister Theresa May over the draft Brexit deal’s handling of Northern Ireland.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he told MPs: “I could today stand here and take the prime minister through the list of promises and pledges she made to this house and to us, privately, about the future of Northern Ireland in the future relationship with the EU.
“But I fear it would be a waste of time since she clearly doesn’t listen.”
Mr Dodds, the DUP’s leader in Westminster, went on to praise the five ministers who quit on Thursday morning, saying: “The choice is now clear: we stand up for the United Kingdom, the whole of the United Kingdom, the integrity of the United Kingdom, or we vote for a vassal state with the breakup of the United Kingdom, that is the choice.”
DUP’s Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said the deal was a case of “Northern Ireland being put on a platter as an object to surrender to the EU”.
On Thursday morning a group of Northern Ireland politicians met the Taoiseach in Dublin to discuss the draft Brexit deal.
Sinn Féin’s leader for Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill, SDLP leader Colm Eastwood, The Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry and Green Party leader Steven Agnew attended a joint meeting with Leo Varadkar .
Outside Dublin’s government buildings, Mr Eastwood said difficult days lay ahead for prime minister Theresa May, but the group’s focus was on Northern Ireland.
“We have to make sure the backstop is fully backed, and that’s what we’re focused on, protecting people across this island,” he said.
“I think people should take some time to read the full implications of what this will mean.”
Ms O’Neill said the group in Dublin represented the majority of Northern Ireland on a cross-community basis.
“It’s a very fluid situation, and I think it’ll be a very interesting day.
“For us, we want to remain in the customs union and the single market and we want protections for the Good Friday Agreement, our message is as consistent today as it was yesterday.”
After the meeting Ms O’Neill said: “We have had a very positive meeting with Taoiseach and Tanaiste, a meeting where we were able to seek some assurances over what has been achieved in the agreement so far.
“We set out as four pro-Remain parties with a common objective, in the first instance we speak for the majority in Northern Ireland, and we’re conscious that the DUP do not speak for the majority in the north.
“We come at it from a number of basis, firstly that we need to protect the Good Friday Agreement, we need permanency in the backstop and no room for withdrawal from the British Government, and that has been achieved thus far.
“We are broadly positive.”
Mr Varadkar announced he would meet with the Northern Ireland parties on Wednesday night. However, the DUP and Ulster Unionist parties were not in attendance.
The Taoiseach added that he had not spoken to DUP leader Arlene Foster on Wednesday but said: “The door is always open and the phone is always on.”
Waste of Time
The DUP which is propping up British prime miniser Ms May’s government signalled it could not support a deal that included different conditions for Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdom.
On Wednesday night, DUP leader Arlene Foster told the media “we cannot have the fact that it would be the break-up of the union.”
In the House of Commons on Thursday,What has the reaction been in Northern Ireland to the draft negotiated deal i?
The Newsletter
The News Letter’s Morning View described the deal as an “almost complete victory for Ireland and the European Union,” and a “complete climbdown” from Ms May.
“The DUP cannot possibly support this capitulation — the effective impossibility of NI leaving the EU trade zone,” the Belfast paper, which takes a unionist perspective, stated.
“Grim though the prospect of a Brexit no deal is, it is better than this agreement. But the deal will get through if enough Labour MPs back it, which will be a black day for the UK,” the Morning View leader said.
The Belfast Telegraph
Writing in The Belfast Telegraph, Jane Morrice, former European Commission chief in Northern Ireland, said the backstop agreement, which would effectively keep Northern Ireland in the EU customs zone, “would mean the best of both worlds.”
The backstop arrangement to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland, which would ensure the same customs arrangements are maintained across the island, should be seen a “generous concession” to Northern Ireland, Ms Morrice wrote.
“By possibly staying in the single market and the customs union, Northern Ireland could become the envy of the British Isles, attracting foreign direct investment from far and wide in its position as a gateway to Europe, the UK and the rest of the world” she wrote.
The Irish News
The Irish News editorial said following the agreement it was beginning to dawn on the DUP that its relationship with the Conservative Party “would end in tears.”
“Brexit was always going to be a disaster for all sections of our society and it is now dawning on the DUP that it will result in a catastrophe of historic proportions for unionism in particular,” the newspaper’s leader on Thursday stated. The Belfast newspaper takes a nationalist position .
“None of this is going to turn out well for the DUP, and its ordinary members, including the slowest of learners in their ranks, must surely wish that they could turn the clock back and reverse their approach to the 2016 poll,” the editorial said.
The reaction of both Sinn Féin and the SDLP centred around repeated calls that it was key the withdrawal conditions included a backstop against a hard border being put up between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
On Thursday morning, Northern Irish political columnist Newton Emerson tweeted: “For the first time since the referendum, I think it’s possible Brexit may not happen. But still very, very unlikely.”
According to the agreement released on Wednesday night, a protocol on Northern Ireland provides a backstop guarantee that will safeguard Ireland’s soft border, guarantees continued security co-operation, protects the Common Travel Area and safeguards both human rights and the 50 or so cross-Border programmes that have come out of the Belfast Agreement.
Northern Ireland will remain in the same customs territory as the rest of the UK, but will be subject to the EU customs code and to some EU regulations.–Additional reporting PA
Posted by Jim on November 14, 2018
California Wildfire Disaster Relief for IAFF Members
Help your brothers and sisters by donating at my.iaff.org/disaster or send checks payable to IAFF Disaster Relief Fund, 1750 New York NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006.
As the California wildfires continue to rage across the state, already more than 60 IAFF members’ homes have been destroyed, while hundreds more who have been evacuated — many who continue to work on the fire lines — don’t yet know the status of their homes.
To date, more than $163,000 in direct financial assistance has been distributed to members and their families, with more requests for disaster relief anticipated as the IAFF works to determine the status of members’ homes currently listed as unknown. Read more by clicking here, or by visiting https://client.prod.iaff.org/#contentid=80313.
The best way you can help your brothers and sisters is to donate to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund, which provides assistance to IAFF members and their families in their times of need. Donate today with a tax deductible contribution online.
To learn more about the IAFF, visit https://foundation.iaff.org/. To learn more about the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund, visit https://foundation.iaff.org/disaster-relief/.
Posted by Jim on
“Here is yet another old case of State-sponsored assassination of Catholics in The North/ Northern Ireland, and over 40-years of cover-up by the British Government. Full disclosure: Councilor Kelly was a family friend, and I attended his funeral. His case still cries to the heavens, while the British government and the police in The North continue to deny justice to the Kelly family.”—Fr. Sean McManus
Kelly murder remains dark stain on policing and justice systems
Attorney Patrick Fahy.Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Letters to Editor. Irish News. Belfast. Wednesday, November 14, 2018.
The murder of Trillick, Co Tyrone councilor Patsy Kelly, in 1974 remains a dark stain on our policing and justice systems. This was an abduction and killing widely believed to have been carried out by members of the Ulster Defence Regiment in uniform.
That no-one has been brought to justice is a common and understandable theme of complaints made by the families of many victims of our conflict.
But what makes this case stand out from other such unsolved killings is the fact that, indisputably, various forces of the state have collaborated in ensuring that those who killed Clr. Kelly would escape justice.
As solicitor for the Kelly family, I can attest to the massive cover-up which arguably swung into action and has remained in place to this day, since immediately after the murder.
At the Inquest in 1975 a crucial piece of forensic evidence was withheld by the RUC – this was the fact that a footprint matching army issue boots had been found at the spot where Clr. Kelly was abducted. Only in very recent years has this information come to light. When pressed on the issue the excuse given by police was that it had been overlooked to include this in the inquest depositions.
Now another piece of critical information about the killing has been found by researcher Ciaran MacAirt within British army records at the Ministry of Defence in London – this is that two days after Cllr Kelly’s body was found weighted down with two 50 pound weights in Lough Eyes some 15 miles away from where he was abducted, the British army found 95 bullets in Lough Eyes. Among these bullets were a number matching the calibre of those used in the killing of Clr. Kelly.
It truly beggars belief that police at the time did not follow up on this important evidence. But what is even worse is that police, including the PSNI have to this day withheld this evidence from the Kelly family. There can be no credible explanation other than that this non-disclosure was deliberate.
How can the Kelly family, or the public at large, be expected to respect a policing system which has purposely placed the protection of the state killers of a husband and father above the interests of justice?
These are serious questions which will not go away. There must be a Public Inquiry if there is to be any chance of the reputation of our policing system being salvaged.
Posted by Jim on November 13, 2018
Irish E3 visa bill is introduced in Congress – would mean 5,000 work visas a year
Niall O’Dowd @niallodowd Nov 13, 2018
Things are looking up for the Irish, and US alike, with the introduction of an E-3 visa.RollingNews
A bipartisan bill has been drafted in the House of Representatives to allow Ireland access to the E3 visa program which currently allows 10,500 Australians a year to come and work legally in America.
Australia takes up about half of their allotment and the new bill would allow the Irish to take the remainder.
The White House is said to be strongly behind the bill which was negotiated by Irish special envoy John Deasy, a member of parliament for Waterford and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Deasy was appointed by Irish leader Leo Varadkar to seek a solution to the lack of access to America and the undocumented Irish issue. The issue was raised in the St.Patrick’s Day talks in the White House between Varadkar and President Trump.
A key factor in the bill is that it does not increase the number of immigrant visas, merely redirects visas currently not used.
Read more: Bill for 5,000 annual US visas for Irish sent to Congress, says envoy
Irish figures in the White House from OMB Director Mick Mulvaney to Chief of Staff John Kelly are said to be deeply involved. Mulvaney, in particular, has pushed the proposal within the administration where it has been accepted.
Half of the visas would be available to Ireland for a total of 5,250 but spouses are also eligible so the real number would be higher. The bill is co-sponsored by Republican James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Richie Neal of Massachusetts.
The bill is being closely watched by House Speaker Paul Ryan who has agreed to it and it will come before the lame duck session of Congress after Thanksgiving. The Australian government is also said to have signed off
The bill will also need to pass the Senate where Senator Orrin Hatch has signed on and Senator Schumer and Senator Patrick Leahy will be likely sponsors on the Democratic side.
Read more: Irish worse than Trump when it comes to harsh immigration policy
The bill addresses future flow from Ireland which has almost ground to a halt but does not address the issue of the undocumented Irish.
However, it remains to be seen if qualified undocumented who return home to apply for a job can obtain a waiver forgiving their undocumented period at the US Embassy which has discretion on the matter.
The E3 came into existence on May 12, 2005, when the provision creating these new visas was put forward by Senate majority leader Bill Frist and was tacked onto a bill providing an additional $81 billion for American operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
There was no debate on the provision, which was passed unanimously by the Senate during a late night session.
The requirements to qualify for an E3 visa mean an applicant must demonstrate:
that he or she must have a legitimate offer of employment in the US
that the position he or she is coming to fill qualifies as specialty occupation employment
that he or she is an Irish citizen
that he or she has the necessary academic or other qualifying credentials
that his or her E3 must be renewed every two years.
Spouses but not children are eligible for the E3 visa.
Posted by Jim on November 12, 2018
After almost 50 years, an inquest has opened into the deaths of eleven
civilians killed by British soldiers in Ballymurphy in west Belfast.
The inquest is expected to last up up to six months.
Scores of relatives walked together behind their campaign banner to the
Laganside Court Complex to the applause of members of other justice
campaigns who were present to lend their support, as well as political
representatives and national and international media.
It was “a step closer to the truth”, said John Teggart, whose father
Daniel was one of those killed. Speaking before the session began, he
said: “It’s mixed emotions going into court today but the determination
of the families to get to the truth has brought us to here.”
Lawyer Padraig O’Muirigh, who represents some of the families, added:
“Today, 47 years after these families lost their loved ones, 46 years
after the original inquest, seven years after the direction for a new
inquest, we are finally here.
“It’s a tribute to the adversity and resilience of these brave families,
so I want to commend them through all the difficult days. Hopefully this
is a new start of a process to find out what happened to their loved
ones.
“Over the next few months the court will examine the evidence and we are
very confident that their loved ones’ innocence will be clear and their
names will be cleared, finally.”
But hopes for justice had to be immediately tempered when barrister Sean
Doran, representing the Coroner’s Service, told them the inquest would
be “complicated and difficult”.
He said the complications were a result of the time which has elapsed
since the alleged war crimes took place. In legal proceedings up to this
point, delays have also been linked to British tricks and deceptions.
Counsel for the inquiry said records into the deaths originally held by
the British Ministry of Defence were “missing”. Some witnesses could
also not be traced or were now deceased, he noted.
The massacre followed the introduction of internment without trial as
the British government struggled to gain control in the Six Counties in
August 1971.
The inquest heard the British Prime Minister Ted Heath ordered “military
support” for Operation Demetrius, the codename for internment, to quell
“widespread civil disorder and rioting across Belfast and Northern
Ireland”.
Ten deaths took place during five separate shooting incidents over a 36
hour period. The dead included Joan Connolly, a mother of eight shot in
the face, and Father Hugh Mullan, a Catholic priest shot while giving
the last rites to a wounded man. An eleventh victim died later of a
heart attack, apparently after a ‘mock execution’ by soldiers.
The original inquest was held into the ten deaths in 1972, but was
widely dismissed a whitewash. At the time the British Army claimed those
killed were either “members of the IRA” or “caught in the crossfire”,
claims debunked as military propaganda.
“My daddy was a good, loving, family man. He was labelled a terrorist
and a gunman. That was a stigma that the family had to endure,” said Mr
Teggart.
The families have had to battle decades of official obstruction and
deceit, starting with the original military investigation.
“It’s been hard taking on the British establishment because everything
was put in the way to block it,” said Mr Teggart.
For example, a week before the inquest was originally due to begin in
September, the Ministry of Defence handed the coroner a spreadsheet with
4,773 entries of individuals from the Parachute Regiment, the Queen’s
Regiment and the Queen’s Division who had been serving at the time of
the killings. This was a cynical attempt to “swamp” and delay the
inquiry, Mr Teggart said.
Mr O Muirigh said missing paperwork from the “deeply inadequate”
original investigations had helped veil shooters’ identities. “The big
difficulty has been in tracing soldiers,” he said.
Even so, the families were happy to finally have an inquest that should
supply an official, credible narrative of the killings, he added.
“It’s been a long, long road for them. They would argue that it is a
basic human right to find out what happened to their loved ones.”