Posted by Jim on January 8, 2018
The head of British government in the north of Ireland, James
Brokenshire, has quit the Tory cabinet ahead of a major reshuffle by
Prime Minister Theresa May.
The British government confirmed the resignation but gave no further
details officially. However, it was claimed the 50-year-old minister
decided to stand down because he is facing a surgical procedure on his
right lung.
It is Britain’s first major reshuffle since Ms May took office. Up to
six ministers are expected to be sacked — but the MP from Kent in
southeast England was not among ministers who were predicted to go.
Brokenshire’s spell at the head of Britain’s ‘Northern Ireland Office’
was marked by dismal failure, even by the standard of his office, and he
became known chiefly for his robotic delivery of NIO holding statements.
During his period in the job, he presided over the collapse of the
devolved institutions and the effective return of full Direct Rule. In
particular, his decision to impose himself as the hopelessly compromised
chair of talks between Sinn Fein and unionists, despite his party
critically depending on the DUP for a majority at Westminster, fatally
undermined negotiations.
His stance on Brexit was implacably in support of May, his former boss
at the Home Office, and failed to take into account his brief in the
north of Ireland. In addition, his decision to continue a Tory policy of
selective internment of former republican political prisoners caused him
to become a hate figure for hardline republican groups, but won favour
with with the DUP.
His replacement could abandon these policies and lay the groundwork for
a new impetus to restore the Stormont Assembly in Belfast. However, any
new Direct Ruler sent by May while under the malign influence of the
DUP, and is likely be seen to be tainted. His replacement is likely to
be revealed later today.
Posted by Jim on January 4, 2018
Posted by Jim on January 3, 2018
January 3rd
NEW YORK ISLANDERS FIRE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATION NIGHT
Join the New York Islanders on Thursday, January 18th at 7 PM for Fire Department Appreciation Night when they face off against the Boston Bruins. All participants that purchase a special ticket will receive an exclusive New York Islanders Fire Department T-shirt. A portion of each special ticket sold will benefit the FDNY Foundation.
For more information, please visit https://www.fevo.com/…/New-York-Islanders-vs-Boston-Bruins-… or contact Patrick Bogan at 718-942-9689 or patrick.bogan@newyorkislanders.com.
Posted by Jim on January 1, 2018
“The Tory/DUP deal is a major obstacle in the path of a full return to duty by our MLAs as it is difficult to see how Secretary of State James Brokenshire can maintain that he is an independent chair of the negotiations while being inextricably linked to one of the conflicting parties.”
Irish News Editorial. Belfast. Monday, January 1, 2017
As we enter a new year today, there can be no doubt that our two main political priorities are addressing the Brexit crisis and ending the suspension of our devolved institutions.
Avoiding disaster over Brexit is an absolute imperative, and we would be in a much stronger position to achieve this objective if our power-sharing administration was back in place.
While the recent history of Stormont may have attracted little enthusiasm among ordinary citizens, the idea that its absence could allow a discredited Westminster pact between the Conservatives and the DUP to take unchallenged and extremely damaging decisions is not sustainable.
The Tory/DUP deal is a major obstacle in the path of a full return to duty by our MLAs as it is difficult to see how Secretary of State James Brokenshire can maintain that he is an independent chair of the negotiations while being inextricably linked to one of the conflicting parties.
However, if Mr Brokenshire manages to take a back seat, the other issues on the table, particularly the campaign for an Irish language act, are all fully capable of being resolved.
What is even more important is for all of our politicians to accept that no one has an overall majority in the Assembly and that progress can only be made in a climate of mutual respect.
In the first instance, the DUP needs to realize that a 28 per cent share of the overall vote entitles it to be an equal partner in government and not in any sense the dominant force.
If the Executive can be restored, one initiative which could surely be supported by ministers on all sides would be extending an invitation to the UK Brexit minister David Davis to make a long overdue visit to the Irish border region.
Nationalists and Unionists tend to have different perspectives on the EU debate but there is general agreement that an Toutcome which undermines trade in any part of Ireland and restricts the free movement of people would be appalling.
It is shocking that Mr. Davis knows that these questions are at the top of his department’s agenda but, during his 18 months in office, has managed a single brief trip to Belfast during which he conspicuously failed to go anywhere near The border and take on board the concerns of residents there, from all sections of society.
Security considerations cannot be a factor, as Margaret Thatcher, a Tory icon as prime minister between 1979 and 1990, was able to regularly arrive at locations from Derry to south Armagh during the height of The Troubles.
Attempting to follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Thatcher may not transform the reputation of the hapless Mr. Davis or transform the wider process but it would at least represent a small and symbolic step in the right direction.
Posted by Jim on December 31, 2017
Unionists have protested after republican party Saoradh opened a new
office in the centre of a County Tyrone town of Dungannon.
The group, which was formed last year, put signs up outside the office
in the town square in Dungannon last week. The square is often used as a
route for sectarian unionist parades and is home to a British Army war
memorial, prompting fears of confrontations.
The group describes itself as an “unashamed revolutionary party” and is
strongly left-wing — last week it condemned an open letter by prominent
nationalist professionals urging greater involvement by Dublin in the
North as “a Catholic Bourgeois letter”.
It already has offices in Derry and Belfast and national chairman Davy
Jordan said the party also intends to open an office in Dublin. It plans
to fly the Irish tricolour from its office in Dungannon on specific days
each year.
“We are definitely not meaning to cause offence to anybody, that’s not
the reason for being in the square,” Mr Jordan said. “We have as much
right to be in the square as anyone else.”
It is understood the new office will also function as a base for the
Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association, a support group for
republican prisoners.
Two signs bearing the image of 1916 Easter Rising leader Thomas Clarke,
a native of Dungannon, and Kevin Barry, a republican executed by the
British in 1920, also raised unionist hackles.
Ulster Unionist councillor Walter Cuddy said he was “disappointed” by
the development but powerless to prevent it.
“If they are a legal organisation and allowed to have an office we can’t
stop that in a democracy,” he said.