9 March 2000 Edition

RIR in, Nationalists out

9 March 2000

Organisers of this year's Belfast St Patrick's Day Parade have reacted angrily to the news that the Royal Irish Regiment is to be given the use of the City Hall for a St Patrick's Day dinner dance. Free article

Loyalists pull out of meeting with residents

9 March 2000

Organisers of a contentious loyalist parade through North Belfast pulled out of a secret meeting with nationalist residents on the eve of the Parades Commission's ruling, An Phoblacht has learned. The Parades Commission was aware that a meeting between the parade organisers and some local residents was scheduled to take place on Sunday night. But at the last moment, and without giving a reason, organisers of the loyalist parade refused to go ahead with the meeting. Free article

Under Fire

9 March 2000

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has failed to deliver justice to the people of the Six Counties. It has pursued the interests of the state to the detriment of the citizen. It has failed to protect the community from illegal actions by the British crown forces, such as shoot to kill and collusion. It has perpetuated the use of torture and ill treatment as a means of securing convictions. Free article

Families organise ``State the Truth'' conference

9 March 2000

On the night of her husband's killing, Betty Leonard was driving towards Derrylin from Lisnaskea when her car was overtaken by a number of RUC vehicles. Betty was stopped and detained by the RUC patrol. When she eventually reached her husband's butcher's shop it was in darkness and no one knew where he was. The next day Betty went with her sister to Kinawley RUC barracks and reported her husband missing. Free article

British bugged jail interviews

9 March 2000

Confidential intervews between Irish political prisoner Michael O'Brien and his lawyer, Gareth Peirce, were bugged by the British secret services while O'Brien was on remand in an English jail, former MI5 officer David Shayler has revealed. Free article

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Coalition back tracks on flawed minimum wage bill

9 March 2000

When is a minimum wage not really the minimum wage? When it is one introduced by the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat coalition. The Minimum Wage Bill debated by Leinster House Deputies last week plans to introduce a whole range of minimum wages below the meagre £4.40 an hour proposed by the new legislation. The £4.40 rate does not apply to workers who earn tips, who are under 18 or who are in their first year of work. Free article

Minister considers imprisonment of refugees, and suppresses report on EU standards

9 March 2000

Minister's proposals are Catalogue of Injustice - worse than standards in Fortress Europe says UCD Law report. Free article

Unemployment dilemmas

9 March 2000

The elimination of long-term unemployment is now in sight, according to Enterprise and Employment minister Mary Harney. The minister was commenting on the latest Quarterly National Household Survey figures that showed over 1.6 million people working in the 26 Counties at the end of 1999, up over 100,000 on 1998. Free article

Sligo Council slams suspension of institutions

9 March 2000

Sligo County Council has adopted a motion expressing opposition to the British government's decision to suspend the Six-County institutions set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. The motion, which was proposed by Sinn Féin Councillor Sean MacManus, was seconded by Fianna Fáil Councillor Jimmy Devins and was adopted unanimously. Free article

End prejudice against Travellers - O'Toole

9 March 2000

``For once Sinn Féin, which has campaigned down the years to close Sellafield, was able to make the running against the cosy consensus of politicians on Dublin City Council''. Christy Burke took the other parties by surprise with an emergency motion calling on the government for the closure of Sellafield in the light of the most recent scandalous revelations concerning safety at the plant. Free article


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