Budget aims to counter blow from Tory-led British Government

THE Assembly’s draft Budget released for public consultation on December 15th contains several measures aimed at countering the severe economic blow inflicted by the British Tory/Liberal Democrat coalition government.
In its October Comprehensive Spending Review, the British Government announced not only massive cuts... Free article

Finance & Famine

BY LAURA FRIEL

“I DON’T KNOW WHY, they must have just liked potatoes.” Speaking of what is known here as ‘The Great Hunger’ and elsewhere less accurately as ‘The Irish Famine’, a tour-guide expressed ignorant bewilderment.
Along with others, my daughter and I were in England on ‘The Shakespeare Trail’ and I can’t even remember why the potato blight came up. Aoife... Free article

WITH the temporary stay of execution granted on Brian Cowen’s leadership of Fianna Fáil after his vote of confidence move, the election campaign can begin (of course, that’s if the whole House of Cards hasn’t collapsed between me typing this and it rolling off the press over 24 hours). But it’s not the posters, leaflets, canvasses of shopping malls, church gates, GAA clubs, I’m... Free article

Sleeping with the enemy

BY MARY NELIS

I AM SHOCKED. Undercover British agents operating in the 26 Counties. Who ever would have guessed it? Hope Michael D Higgins hasn’t to wait as long for answers from Government Buildings or Garda HQ as the relatives of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings for an explanation as to why undercover British agents were involved in an atrocity which... Free article

Conor Murphy speaks out

SINN FÉIN Minister Conor Murphy is calling for changes in the way water and sewerage services are delivered in the North.
The water crisis over Christmas and New Year, which saw thousands of homes and businesses without water for days, led to many people questioning the role of the Assembly Executive and the minister’s current relationship with the... Free article

Vital water service should be in public hands

BY PAUL MASKEY MLA

THE experience of thousands of people across the North during the freeze and thaw over the Christmas and New Year period - and the response of statutory agencies, particularly NIWater (NIW) and the Housing Executive - was unacceptable.
The apparent shortcomings of these agencies included a failure of preparation,... Free article

‘When your back is against the wall, you get the strength from somewhere’

THE 1981 Hunger Strike was a direct result of the withdrawal by Margaret Thatcher’s British Government of political status for Irish republican prisoners and her administration’s intransigence after the 1980 Hunger Strike. MARY DOYLE took part in the 1980 Hunger Strike as a POW in Armagh Jail.
Mary was... Free article

SO, BRIAN, you finally made the trip to the Áras and the ball has finally been thrown in to get the game underway.
I have my own memories of visiting Áras an Uachtarain, more pleasant visits than your own than that fateful day of Thursday 20th January when you threw in the towel. (I am mixing my sporting metaphors, I know.)
I have had occasion to accompany groups from Tyrone to... Free article

Seachtain na Gaeilge ag teacht

LE NÍOS lú ná sé sheachtaine fágtha do thús oifigiúil Seachtain na Gaeilge 2011 tá obair ar siúl cheana le pleanáil agus eagrú imeachtaí; le poiblíocht a shocrú agus le hurraíocht a lorg ag coistí ar fud na tíre.
An tseachtain seo caite seoladh Lámhleabhar na Seachtaine, leabhrán a scaipfear ar scoileanna, clubanna agus coláistí le heolas agus... Free article

‘I’d accept Irish unity if it was fair and equal’

ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY MLA John McAllister has told an Government of Ireland Act anniversary event organised by Queen’s University Sinn Féin that he would accept Irish unity if there was a majority consensus for it:
“Yes, I suppose I would have to if it was fair and equal to all . . . but I probably wouldn’t like it very much!”Free article