While Senator Mary White remains on the warpath (see article here), Bertie Ahern should count himself lucky there is no currently identifiable Mrs Ahern. Senator White may have an unusual political approach to her opponents but she has hita chord on Aer Lingus. Her outspoken stance on the Shannon issue has struck strong resonances throughout …
Category Archive
for: ‘Northern Ireland’
Bertie’s Finest Hour… Shame He Couldn’t Detach Himself From The Developers For It
It was Bertie’s day in the sun. Behold the Taoiseach, applauded by priests and poets, by businessmen and actors, by princesses and prime ministers. Up there in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster, it was Bertie’s finest hour. His predecessors as guests of honour in the holiest of parliamentary holies included Boris Yeltsin, …
NI Agreement as much Reynold’s Creation as Anybody’s
Following yesterday’s historic agreement in Belfast, tribute must be paid to the Taoiseach for his incredible achievement. Further, we should not forget former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, one of the great unsung heroes of this agreement who took the issue by the scruff of the neck and had the nerve to do things other politicians did …
Extremists Moderated; Moderates Marginalised
Tribute must be paid to people here and in Northern Ireland following the extraordinary agreement reached yesterday between the two largest parties. However, one of the sad results of yesterday’s agreement is that many of the moderates have been sidelined. Whereas the extremists may have been moderated, those who have been responsible for the process …
Archbishop Robin Eames is an Unsung Hero of the Battle against Paramilitarism
I wish to pay tribute to Archbishop Eames who has announced his plans to retire. It must be immensely frustrating to be a clergyman in Northern Ireland where the only weapons one possesses are words to be used against the weapons of action used by politicians and the real weapons used by paramilitaries. Archbishop Eames …
Apologies for Terrorism from Government should not be Tolerated
Reacting to comments by Senator Mary White in the wake of ETA’s ceasefire, I told the Seanad that apologies for terrorism from Government benches should not be tolerated. I am concerned about the apologies for terrorism emanating from the Government benches. If Senator White wants to use the Seanad to praise the president of Sinn …
There are Political Reasons for the Government Ignoring the Extent of Criminality
This country’s attitudes to Northern Ireland have moved on in the most encouraging way. The Leader [of the Seanad, Mary O’Rourke] stated that the Taoiseach’s great flexibility and the fact that he does not carry any baggage are assets. I endorse that view. We can sit back and criticise the Taoiseach for many things. However, …
The Problem of Northern Ireland is Developing into a Problem of Crime
In the Seanad, I called for a debate on Northern Ireland. The problem of Northern Ireland is developing into a problem of crime. Out of the recent welcome outbreak of peace has sprung an incredible amount of cross-Border racketeering, money laundering and co-operation among the former criminals who have committed violent acts and who have …
Sellafield Affects Northern Ireland and Republic Alike
Today the Seanad debated a Government motion on Sellafield. I am delighted this motion has been proposed because I have been tabling motions on Sellafield for a very long time in a similar, but perhaps not quite so detailed, manner. No matter how many times motions are tabled regarding Sellafield and the danger it poses …
Controversy Over Changes to A-Levels Admissions
Trinity College has changed its method of calculating ‘A’-levels requirements. It will now consider results in four subjects (three is the norm). If this affects you or someone known to you, please contact me and I can explain the details of the changes and what can be done.