Top Issue 1-2024

5 June 2008 Edition

With seven days to go, make sure it's 'No'

5 June 2008

On Wednesday, the Referendum Commission in the 26 Counties confirmed Sinn Féin's position that the Irish veto on international trade agreements will effectively be gone if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified. As Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris pointed out earlier in the week, assurances from Taoiseach Brian Cowen on the use of a veto on trade agreements not in Ireland's interests are simply not worth the paper they are written on. The Irish Government cannot commit to using a veto if in fact that veto does not exist. Free article

Outstanding St. Andrews issues need to be resolved - Adams

5 June 2008

AS An Phoblacht went to print on Wednesday evening, talks continued to resolve difficulties facing the North's Executive. There has been mounting media speculation about Sinn Féin's attitude to the nominating process for First and deputy First Ministers for the past week or so. Free article

Sinn Féin's Tom Hartley elected Mayor of Belfast

5 June 2008

FALLS Sinn Féin Councillor Tom Hartley has been elected as Mayor of Belfast City. He is only the second Sinn Féin member to be elected as mayor of Belfast, the first being Alex Maskey in 2002. Tom was elected on Monday evening in a close-run vote, pipping the DUP's Diane Dodds to the post by 25 votes to 23. Free article

AMBUSH The deaths of Tyrone IRA Volunteers Tony Doris, Lawrence McNally and Pete Ryan

5 June 2008

IRA Volunteers Tony Doris, Lawrence McNally and Pete Ryan died as a result of a SAS ambush in County Tyrone in 1991. This month is marked not only by the anniversary of their deaths but also the emergence of inconsistencies concerning the way in which they died which have sinister implications. It has always been known that the three Volunteers, who were on active service at the time of their deaths, died as a result of an SAS ambush. In classic shoot-to-kill style, presumably acting on information, the SAS established a killing zone and waited for the IRA ASU to enter the area. Free article

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Cowen assurances to farmers 'not worth the paper they're written on'

5 June 2008

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen's assurances to the Irish Farmers' Association that he'd use Ireland's veto on international trade agreements not in Ireland's interests if farmers voted for the Lisbon Treaty are "not worth the paper they're written on", Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Martin Ferris TD said. The North Kerry TD was speaking on Tuesday after the IFA urged its members to support the Lisbon Treaty following a meeting with the Government. Free article

Sinn Féin and Unite launch Dáil Bill on union rights

5 June 2008

A SINN FÉIN Dáil Bill to give workers the right under the Constitution to collective bargaining and mandatory trade union recognition was jointly launched this week by the party's Workers' Rights spokesperson, Arthur Morgan TD, and Unite the Union's Regional Secretary for Ireland, Jimmy Kelly. Unite is the second largest trade union in Ireland. Free article

SIPTU will not support Lisbon

5 June 2008

SIPTU, the largest trade union in Ireland, has said it will not support the Lisbon Treaty unless the Irish Government commits to legislating for collective bargaining for workers. Free article


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