Top Issue 1-2024

15 October 2009 Edition

Budget of Cuts will be the real Programme for Government

15 October 2009

SPEAKING last Saturday evening after the decision of the Green Party to endorse a new programme for Government in the 26 Counties Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said: "The Green Party is obviously terrified of the prospect of a general election. They had the opportunity today to do the right thing by the Irish people and turf Fianna Fáil out of Government. Instead they missed that opportunity and acted in their own selfish interests. Free article

Fianna Fáil Green Party Programme for Government assessed

15 October 2009

COMING in at over 40 pages and a claimed 200 recommendations the new Fianna Fáil/Green Party programme for government reads more like an aspirational general election manifesto, albeit one that won't be vetted by voters. Perhaps that was the real point of the Green Party conference last weekend - it wasn't about the new programme at all. Delegates voted not to leave the coalition government as it would mean the end of the Green Party as a political entity in Ireland, but they wanted some sop to stay in power. Free article

Transfer of Policing and Justice powers should proceed 'with all speed' - McGuinness

15 October 2009

FOLLOWING receipt of written details of the financial package that the British Government will provide to support a department of justice in the Six Counties, the North's First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson of the DUP and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for more talks on the issue on Tuesday at Downing Street. Free article

Greens must give guarantee on registration fees - Doherty

15 October 2009

Welcoming the commitment in the new Programme for Government not to introduce third level fees, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education Senator Pearse Doherty has challenged Green Party leader John Gormley to guarantee that his party will not support further increases in the registration fee - third level fees by stealth. Free article

Coroner forced to stand down from Pearse Jordan inquest

15 October 2009

THE most senior coroner in the Six Counties, John Leckey, is to withdraw from hearing the Pearse Jordan inquest. Lawyers for Leckey revealed the coroner's decision in the High Court in Belfast last week. Leckey was in the High Court last week defending himself against allegations by the Jordan family that he was biased in his handling of the long-delayed inquest into the RUC shooting of Pearse Jordan in 1992. Free article

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SIPTU president attacks ESRI cutback 'cheerleaders'

15 October 2009

IRISH Government budget figures do not add up, there is still no strategic response to the economic crisis and by the way the poor, the vulnerable, and those still working on low to middle incomes will have to carry the can. This was the summary message from two new think thank reports launched this week by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Also giving his opinion was the recently appointed Governor of the Central Bank Patrick Honohan, who has supported further wage cuts for Irish workers. Free article

INLA statement welcomed by Adams

15 October 2009

THE INLA's statement that it has ended its armed activities has received a cautious welcome from Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams. The INLA emerged from a split within the so-called 'Official IRA' in the mid-1970s and was associated with the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) founded by Seamus Costello. Free article

Part-time minister cannot tackle drugs crisis, says CityWide

15 October 2009

THE downgrading of the Irish Government's minister with responsibility for tackling drugs from a full-time position to a part-time one has been criticised by one of the most active grassroots anti-drugs agencies. Speaking at the launch of a response to the Irish Government's National Drugs Strategy on Wednesday, Daithí Doolan, Co-ordinator of CityWide, the Dublin-based organisation which works to promote and support a community development approach to the drugs problem, said it is totally unacceptable that the Government has relegated the battle against the drugs crisis to that of a part-time job. Free article


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