RTÉ should not threaten the democracy of the State

There is to be a General Election to Dáil Éireann in Ireland on Saturday 8th February 2020. As part of the coverage for this, the national broadcaster RTÉ has decided to have a Leaders’ Debate. Sadly only two political party … Continue reading RTÉ should not threaten the democracy of the State

Rate this:

Homophobic incidents in the North of Ireland up by 12%

The number of homophobic incidents recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland has jumped by 12% in the last year, according to figures released in August. Catríona Ruane MLA, of Sinn Féin, raised the issue of homophobic crime at … Continue reading Homophobic incidents in the North of Ireland up by 12%

Rate this:

Time for the politicians to decide: in or out of the Executive?

The simple question for all members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive is: Do I support the achievement of political ends by purely peaceful means or by terrorism and acts of violence? Continue reading Time for the politicians to decide: in or out of the Executive?

Rate this:

We’re being left behind in Northern Ireland: why I am a proud Liberal Democrat

This afternoon we have seen the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill pass its third reading in the House of Commons. Many people start claiming that Equal Marriage is home and dry. This is quite far from the case. The Bill … Continue reading We’re being left behind in Northern Ireland: why I am a proud Liberal Democrat

Rate this:

English education needed as @sinnfeinireland makes #typo on twitter

Okay everyone makes mistakes – but at least check the heading before posting to a website, especially when that appears to be directly linked to Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/sinnfeinireland/status/189381399273414657 What is, of course, more amusing is that it is the Education spokesperson, Seán Crowe TD, making the comment. Perhaps Deputy Crowe could start ensuring the press team in Sinn Féin have improved their knowledge of the English language as well as the Irish. min·ster noun a church actually or originally connected with a monastic establishment. any large or important church, as a cathedral. (dictionary.com) I think we can safely say that those responsible meant Minister as is stated in the article itself. It really help to proofread something before sending – I know … Continue reading English education needed as @sinnfeinireland makes #typo on twitter

Rate this:

Interesting interests from Sinn Féin’s MLA for South Antrim

Martina Purdy of the BBC has produced some interesting registered activities for our MLAs up at Stormont. One that strikes me as a little strange is that Sinn Fein’s Mitchel McLaughlin declared his trip to Boston last November. He was part of a trade delegation from the north west and the cost was met by Golden Bridges (Boston-North West Ireland). Nothing altogether strange in that you say? Ah, well, now… Mr McLaughlin doesn’t represent a constituency in the North West despite being from there. Some wags have suggested that the times he spends most in his constituency of South Antrim … Continue reading Interesting interests from Sinn Féin’s MLA for South Antrim

Rate this:

and they’ve done it again in @niassembly – D’Oh!

Northern Ireland Assembly logo
Image via Wikipedia

Once again our esteemed MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly have managed to pass a motion with amendments that is not possible to enforce. Continue reading “and they’ve done it again in @niassembly – D’Oh!”

Belfast Pride Festival 2011

Politician states Pride is ‘totally repugnant’ – when will the DUP learn?

With the DUP snubbing yesterday’s Belfast Pride event at Stormont, Michael wonders how long it will be before they come on board on the issue of LGBT rights. Continue reading Politician states Pride is ‘totally repugnant’ – when will the DUP learn?

Rate this:

We’re in a time warp: 1910, 2010, 2110?

Victoria Square, Belfast, 1910

A programme for the reform of the whole system is what is wanted. State built and State equipped school buildings in every district; management by a State department of Education… When a thorough system of secular education is advocated it is by many thought that religion is thereby endangered. This is not so. Religious instruction in schools is apt to be a mere routine which does not touch the finer feelings. Religious instruction in the schools has done much to destroy religious teaching in the home. The indifferent parent has satisfied his conscience by delegating some of his most important duties to the schoolmaster. In a country which has no State Church there is no State religion to be taught in the State Schools and it is the duty of the various religious denominations to see that their children get proper religious instruction without unnecessarily sacrificing their secular education and thereby providing third-rate education and routine religious instruction… Continue reading “We’re in a time warp: 1910, 2010, 2110?”