Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit

A Christmas week which was largely dominated by Christmas – not always the case in Green Field Number 4. Yes, Richard Haass did host talks but whatever excitement there may had been at the commencement of his mission had largely given away to muted embarrassment at his departure before Christmas.

 

Even the indefatigable (and excellent) BBC’s Mark Davenport, who had to don his big overcoat atop his political anorak and sit patiently outside buildings various and await news of non-developments couldn’t convey any sense of anticipation or interest when it was announced that Ricky and Meg had gone away empty handed – and then reported that they would be back after Christmas.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/correspondents/markdevenport/

 

If there was little of political interest in the current affairs of Green Field Number 4, then perhaps the past, in the shape of the newly released papers on both sides of the border, offered more hope?

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) – the official archive for Northern Ireland “founded” as it website states “in 1923 (shortly after the partition of Ireland)” sounds as if it might have quite a lot of interesting documents?

But, if the summary provided by the BBC with its exciting (not) headline “Thatcher pressed on plastic bullets” is anything to go by – then PRONI are keeping the interesting stuff to themselves.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25501816

 

Papers released under the 30-year rule by the (Irish) Department of Foreign Affairs are a bit more worthy of attention, with the gen on Garret’s (Fitzgerald) attempt to lure Maggie (Thatcher) gently down the path to joint sovereignty (of Green Field Number 4), via John Hume’s policy of “Not Brits out, but Irish in”.

 

The papers providing the detail on the early manoeuvres which led, a couple of years later, to the Anglo Irish agreement(AIA). (Arguably Garret managing to convince Maggie to accept the AIA was the greatest Irish post-war diplomatic achievement – and the AIA was surely the key building block for the ‘Peace’ of 1998.)

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fitzgerald-approved-overtures-to-thatcher-on-joint-sovereignty-1.1631997?page=1

 

Other Irish government papers which were released reminds us that history does indeed like to repeat itself and that in Ireland there seems to be a resolute determination not to learn from past mistakes – with the details on the coalition government (Fine Gael and Labour) of 1983 wrestling with the economic crisis – following a period of Fianna Fail recklessness.

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/eerie-echoes-of-current-crisis-in-1983-budget-files-1.1637933?page=3

 

So as the year draws to a close it is probably safe to predict a record low turnout at both the European and Council elections in 2014 and probably a further increase in the current ‘acceptable level of violence’ as the report below from over the sea suggests.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/27/northern-ireland-sectarian-intimidation-figures

 

What is not quite as predictable though, is whether Haass has kicked the Union flag controversy into long enough grass and whether the DUP can both go ahead with, and then live with, a reorganisation of Council boundaries that will inevitably lead to the further greening of Belfast (as seems inevitable) in the forthcoming Council elections.

… and as we move towards 2014 the portents are not very good.

Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit/Happy new year*.

*carrickally – Can you be so good as to add the appropriate Ulster Scots?

Sammy

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Have a great Christmas

A quick post to wish you all a fantastic day tomorrow.

I hope Santa delivers more than Mr Haas did to our beloved politicos and hopefully, with a return of my eyesight in the days ahead, I can engage and share some thoughts.

Kindest wishes to all BD (with due thanks to Mrs bd, a good fermanagh unionist- and she doesn’t know I put this bit in)

Don Deireadh Seachtaine (sé)

As has been observed previously, here in the Northern part of Ireland, a good fist has been made of making the Peace but not such a good job of doing the Reconciliation.

..and the presence this week of Richard Haass, US Special Envoy for the wee six, advertises this(unnecessarily) to the world.

From a Nationalist point of view, arguably, any internationalising of Green Field Number 4 is to be welcomed but it does seem that the British and Irish governments should keep the American cavalry for matters they really can’t sort out themselves. Could the governments (Irish and British) not have simply given the parties a deadline to resolve matters – under the threat of an imposed solution?

 

Instead, we had a week dominated by reactions to the Haass (draft) proposals – rumours, counter rumours and leaks – and embarrassing whinging about the proposals by the DUP (Gregory Campbell) in Westminster – followed by an embarrassing defence of Haass (“he is an incredibly impressive individual”) by Davey Cameron.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/cameron-urges-give-and-take-in-haass-talks-1-5757453

Back across the water, in Green Field Number 4, there was also embarrassment – this time for a couple of flag protesters – even though there is a flag-protest-ceasefire(until the new year).

Firstly, loyalist and ‘flag protester’ Elizabeth Bingham was the subject of media speculation – had she broken the law with her sectarian observations on Twitter regarding the Glasgow Police Helicopter crash?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/glasgow-pub-tragedy-catholics-tweet-woman-may-face-charges-29841899.html

..and then former UDR soldier, now councillor and defender of the raising of the Union flag, Ruth Patterson, finally had her day in court for her (allegedly) sectarian Facebook comments. Ruth got off with a warning and walked from the court flanked by a relieved DUP – who blamed everybody except the boul Ruth for their red faces.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/ruth-patterson-facebook-posting-charge-dropped-29855763.html

Note to (female) loyalists: Advertising your bigotry by making sectarian comments on the death (actual or fictional) of  ‘Taigs’ on Social media sites may well (deservedly) land you before the courts.

 

More embarrassment – of a different sort – for another female  politician – this time Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín of SF – as the announcement of the granting of planning permission for CasementPark was interrupted by protesters – thus spoiling the photo opportunity for what seemed like excellent news.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/gaelic-games/25445928

(And it was a good week for other stadia development with both WindsorPark and the Brandywell getting the nod.)

From Green Field Number 4 to the killing fields of Flanders, as Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British Prime Minister David Cameron made the first joint visit by British and Irish (3 Green fields only)leaders to commemorate the WWI dead.

Afterwards, and perhaps it was just as well that Davey was not around, the boul Enda, spoke of the ‘senseless slaughter’ – a (blackadderesque) view that is unlikely to be shared by a British (Tory) Prime Minister – who probably regards the horrendous military losses as necessary in the war against the dreaded hun.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/taoiseach-and-british-prime-minister-pay-respects-to-war-dead-in-flanders-1.1633597

… and so with only 3 posturing, blustering, bluffing, counterbluffing,  grandstanding and perhaps even negotiating days left until Xmas – maybe the best lesson that can be learned from the Richard N. Haass experience, is that the 2 amigos last seen together mulling over the past in Flanders should perhaps look more to the future and to their own backyard – and start doing their job.

Sammy

Don Deireadh Seachtaine (cúig)

Hi everyone,

I have been stricken by an unforeseen eyesight problem in the last few days so please forgive my lack of activity on the sight. Here’s Sammy’s take on the weeks events: BD Edited by Mrs Bangordub!!!!

It was a week that saw the (almost) universal honouring of Nelson Mandela as he lay in state in South Africa – a remarkable achievement for a man who had spent many years as a political prisoner and who had (formerly) supported the violent overthrow of the state.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/obituary-freedom-fighter-turned-premier-1.1618473

…and it was also a week that saw the (at times embarrassing) efforts of western political leaders as they sought to portray themselves and their parties – as Nelson’s bestest friends.

As we know in Ulster, just as in South Africa, being (allegedly) involved in political violence against the state doesn’t always end in tears – as the case of former Ulster Unionist party leaders Trimble and Empey illustrates.  Davey and Wee Reggie, having both striven, in tandem with loyalist paramilitaries during the Ulster Workers Strike to limit Dublin’s influence in the 4th Green field – but both having nevertheless ended up sitting comfortably in Her Majesty’s House of Lords – rather than being detained less comfortably at Her Majesty’s pleasure. 

So too with SF – with Gerry and Marty, who also (allegedly) struggled violently to increase Dublin’s influence in Green field number 4 – as well as (allegedly) assisting Nelson during his less peaceful days. Now the two (former) rebel leaders are to be found sitting equally comfortably in the Dail and Stormo (Although to be fair they did previously spend some time being detained against their will.)

As the politicians from around the world paid their last respects to the great man in Johannesburg concerns about the direction South Africa might take after Nelson’s death were at least partially overshadowed by the embarrassing image of Obama and Cameron trying to squeeze as close as possible to the (blonde) Danish (female) PM, using the cover of taking a photo. (Luckily for Barack his nuzzling took place just out of the handbag range of Michelle). But with the South African President being booed and the American President being cheered there must be a worry that South Africa can continue to be the model for peace and reconciliation which Nelson did so much to put in place.

http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/hello-helle-danish-pm-thorningschmidt-and-how-she-charmed-barack-obama-and-david-cameron-8999818.html

Back in Green field number 4, where the good people of Ulster still await some reconciliation after the peace – and with Obama’s fixer Richard Haas in town to sort it all out – things do not look good. In what may not have been a helpful intervention (another) former Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott compared the IRA to Al Qaeda during the (Haas) talks.  One has to wonder if the Tommy is quite as critical of Reggie and Davey and their colleagues (of the time) in the UVF and the UDA?

http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/roundup/articles/2013/12/12/403333-elliott-compares-ira-to-al-qaeda-during-the-haass-talks/

Down South, as the war waged over Nelson’s (past) affections – each party in the Dail was allowed their spake. It is at times like these that the boul Charlie (Haughey) is sorely missed – he would perhaps have been regaled the House with (tall) tales of the close links between the Haughey and Mandela families. As it was, it was left to Gerry, (allegedly a former insurgent like Nelson) to steal the show by sharing the details of the entry on the 5th May 1981 in Nelson’s prison calendar which marked the death of the SF MP – ‘Martyr Bobby Sands’.  A touché moment for Gerry which the Irish press seemed (un-surprisingly) to ignore.

Of course when it comes to Gerry, the Irish press have other Gerry stories to be telling, with Eilis O’Hanlon in the Irish Independent lamenting the death of Nelson – not because the world’s greatest statesman had passed away but because it ‘sent the Shinners off down memory lane’.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/adams-sees-the-words-but-just-doesnt-get-the-picture-29819297.html

Quality journalism no doubt which was given (badly needed) fresh legs up in Sluggerland where concerns as to ‘how long Gerry can last’ and ‘how has Gerry lasted this long’ continue ad hominem and ad infinitum.

http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/12/09/is-there-anyone-in-sf-telling-gerry-adams-what-he-needs-to-hear/

Still there was genuine good news this week as Ireland (3 Green fields only) exited the bailout

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/most-of-the-people-who-were-involved-in-the-background-of-the-troika-were-very-smart-but-they-weren-t-very-good-at-politics-1.1625850

And more good news as the 4 Green Fields all won in the Heineken Cup – including in one of the biggest ever Ruggerball upsets as Connacht beat Toulouse –  in Toulouse.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/great-weekend-for-the-irish-provinces-might-be-down-to-elite-european-cup-standard-dropping-1.1623490

..in other good news – the battle for the moral high ground between the Dissers and the Flaggers  – the Flaggers have nudged ahead  with their statement

“This decision was taken after listening to city center traders and the local community; and in light of the heightened level of security due to republican terrorism”

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/life/loyal-orders/the-twelfth-2013/orange-order-calls-off-belfast-parade-in-act-of-goodwill-1-5738817

..and that means there are now 10 flag-free-protest-days left till Xmas. 

Euro Visions

Next Year, and it’s not long away, we have the next round of European Parliament elections. It could be fun. The interesting thing from the point of view of this part of the world is the old sectarian headcount canard. As always my own view is that only the votes count. The Euro elections are a strange one in terms of elections here. They tend not to generate a particularly high turnout, probably because we all know that Europe revolves upon our political machinations (ahem) and the finances they tend to send our way is a reward for good (or percieved as good)  behaviour. A lesson not lost on certain elements we are all familiar with who have a certain sense of entitlement without the attendant responsibilities as a result.

Taking a quick look at recent Euro elections, the turnout is typically low.The results are below:

The fly in the ointment is the fragmentation of the Unionist vote.This has happened before of course. The DUP vote collapse transferred en-mass to Jim of the TUV last time out but this time there may be other anti EU forces in play, notably the Fleggers and the UKIP wings of Unionism.

From a nationalist viewpoint the question is whether 2 seats out of 3 is achievable. I think it is. The only question is if nationalist voters can be energised enough to turn out in sufficient numbers. That may depend upon a combined unionist vote transferring more effectively than previously.

	1984	1989	1994	1999	2004	2009
Green Party	0.3%	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.9%	3.3%
TUV	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	13.7%
Sinn Féin	13.3%	9.1%	9.9%	17.3%	26.3%	26.0%
Democratic Unionist Party	33.6%	29.9%	29.2%	28.4%	32.0%	18.2%
SDLP	22.1%	25.5%	28.9%	28.1%	15.9%	16.2%
Ulster Unionists	21.5%	22.2%	23.8%	17.6%	16.6%	17.1%
Alliance Party	5.0%	5.2%	4.1%	2.1%	0.0%	5.5%
Independents	2.9%	5.7%	3.6%	6.4%	8.3%	0.0%
Workers Party	1.3%	1.0%	0.5%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

So what are the odds on a transfer of power? Diane Dodds is an incredibly weak candidate for the DUP. She is very demonstrably petulant, weak and ineffective. She is  vulnerable in the face of a serious challenge. I think the DUP know this. Unlike others, I think the threat of a second DUP candidate is a direct reaction to this reality, not, as reported (and attributed to Jim Allistar) and unchallenged by the msm, as a challenge to the Official Unionists. It is interesting that this went un-commented upon by the DUP.

Anyhow, the interesting thing will be the turnout and how it is affected if combined with council elections. My guess is that nationalism may just squeeze that second seat.

Don Deireadh Seachtaine (ceathair)

A week that was dominated by the publication of the Smithwick Report on Garda collusion with the IRA and then by the death of arguably the most brilliant and (now) most popular politician (and military leader) in recent history.

 ..and it was a good week for apologies – but perhaps we could have done with a few more?

 Of course Nelson Mandela wasn’t always popular, with everyone, and some of those leading the tributes in Ulster (Unionists) and Britain (Tories) had very different views in days gone by – David Cameron having actually lobbied in favour of Apartheid – which provided perhaps a good apology-opportunity for Davey – which he has somehow missed (so far).

For details of some previous local views see below.

http://ansionnachfionn.com/2011/08/29/black-provos-the-anc-and-the-ira/

 Before the sad news of Mandela’s death, the fallout of the Smithwick report and the reaction to it had a predictable twist – with Unionists developing a sudden appetite for enquiries into security force collusion. And with Smithwick to the fore and fulsome apologies from the Irish government – anyone thinking that perhaps a period that was a bit more Gerry-(Adams)-light in terms of media coverage, will have been disappointed. Outpourings of ‘outrage’ followed Gerry’s observation that, as suggested in the Report, the two senior RUC men might not have been wise to drive through (strongly Republican) South Armagh and hold meetings with the local Gardai in (strongly Republican) Dundalk.

..armed now with a fresh angle on the boul Gerry, the usual suspects were quickly out of the blocks – some, no doubt setting aside their ready-prepared Gerry stories for another day.

Micheal Martin, FF leader and SF’s main political adversary in the South, in commenting on Gerry’s statement claimed

 

“Essentially, it almost blames by implication the officers themselves,”

 A statement obviously designed to damage Gerry but qualified so much (in 3 places) that it is rendered almost meaningless. In contrast there was no such qualification from Slugger which stated

 “Adams blames policemen for their own death”.

 A departure from the actual facts there by the boul Mick(Fealty) which would arguably result in a Slugger disciplinary card if added to the comments section.

 http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/12/04/recrimination-of-the-day-adams-blames-policemen-for-their-own-death/

 All Unionists were of course ‘outraged’ by Gerry’s comments and the following offering from the Leader of the (not quite defunct) Ulster Unionists, Mike Nesbitt told us that –

 “Sinn Fein are the self-proclaimed party of respect. They may need to re-evaluate that.”

Note to Mike: If you want to avoid being totally defunct you will need to be a bit more strident in your criticism of SF when opportunity knocks.

Over at Westminster and before the main stories of the week broke, the DUP sponsored a motion on the “Persecution of Christians”. Leading the debate for the DUP, Nigel Dodds, told the (near empty) house that in relation to Iraq

 “we used to have 1.5 million Christians now we probably have only got 200,000”.

 What Deputy (leader) Doddsy didn’t add was that he, along with (all?) other Unionists had voted in the same house to send the British army into that country and unleashed the horrors of wholesale widespread sectarianism that would make his own constituency of North Belfast look like a model of good community relations.

Now I’m not sure if the 1.3 million Christians who have departed and the remaining 200,000 Christians who still live in total terror would have been particularly impressed by a Commons motion apologising for British (and DUP) involvement in this catastrophe – but they would probably be more impressed with an apology than hearing about a meaningless motion which can’t turn back the clock.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131105/halltext/131105h0001.htm

 Whether or not the any of the remaining 18 flag protest days before Xmas will be availed of remains to be seen, but in a week that saw the death of the greatest living statesman – perhaps the poor turnout at last Saturday’s protest also heralded the demise of the latest round of embarrassing and pointless Unionist protests?

 No – probably not. 

Sammy

What to Blog…. A Smithwicks Perhaps?

I admit I have more than a few things to blog on this week. Following on from Faha’s excellent work here I was preparing a blog on the upcoming European elections. I still am and will publish shortly although I am prone to sub-editing to death my ramblings sometimes.

The news story of the week has been the publication of the Smithwick report. I doubt if many have actually read it. Here it is in it’s entirety. I recommend a read before commenting unlike the rank hypocrisy of certain politicians who have jumped on the old populist bandwagon and pressed their jaws into full power prior to engaging their brains.

My opinion? I see no evidence of state involvement, connivance or acceptance in what occurred. Nor do I see any allegation or suggestion in the findings of such. Therefore I fail to see the rationale behind the state apologising. This is in marked contrast to what occurred a few miles North of Dundalk (and indeed South of it) over a prolonged period and with considerable evidence. There is no evidence or suggestion of State or official involvement in the report. I am frankly embarrassed, by Eamonn Gilmore. Given his own background in official Sinn Fein there is a certain irony in his comments today. It is right that this inquiry was held and it is right that the families of the two policemen have seen that a proper examination of the circumstances surrounding their deaths has been held. What exactly is Eamonn Gilmore apologising for?

I trust that the same extension of justice, nevertheless, to others, will now occur in the North.

Other topics? Education North and South, the continued resurgence of the Southern economy (for Sammy)  and a half written piece regarding  a comparison of group psychology in the Jungle (I’m a celeb) with Northern Council politics. Another day perhaps