AN UNBEATABLE IRA, an incompetent, uncaring Irish Government and a British political establishment whose deviousness and deviance, already well-catalogued, now stands at the precipice of a new era as the Thatcher years commence and more than a decade of her malicious vehemence is unleashed on the world. Welcome to 1979. The Six Counties in particular felt the sharper end of the Thatcher era, from the No Wash Protest to the hunger strikes, intensified shoot-to-kill policies, social welfare cutbacks and deliberate economic discrimination. It was clear even before Thatcher took office, however, that no section of the weak or poor in society would be spared her savagery. Free article

GOVERNMENT Minister Willie O'Dea has been forced to withdraw defamatory comments he made against Limerick City Sinn Féin Councillor and joint party Treasurer Maurice Quinlivan in the run-up to the local government elections last June. Free article

THE Sinn Féin Group leader on Dublin City Council, Larry O'Toole, says that the party opposed the Dublin City Council budget for 2010 because it will "impose additional charges on those households least able to afford them". Clarifying the position in the wake of the City Council's Estimates Meeting on Monday 21 December, Cllr. O'Toole said: "Sinn Féin councillors on Dublin City Council worked to achieve a budget for 2010 that would preserve council services and jobs. We argued that the commercial rate should remain the same as 2009 and that no charges should be imposed on those households who benefit from the waiver of refuse charges. Free article

RESPONDING to recent comments by Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin in relation to possible cuts to the lone parents' allowance, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Welfare Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said that, coming on the back of social welfare cuts coming into effect next week, her remarks will cause panic amongst those dependent on the payment. Free article

THE movement in support of Catalan independence received a powerful boost last month when residents in 167 towns and villages voted overwhelmingly for a "social, democratic and independent Catalan state" in symbolic referenda. Although the poll, held on 13 December, was non-binding, the massive 'Yes' vote by hundreds of thousands of people - 94% of those who voted - reflects the growing support at all levels of Catalan society for independence from Spain. Free article

SINN FÉIN Dáil Finance Spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD, responding to the release of recent Exchequer figures by the Department of Finance in the 26 Counties on Tuesday, said that waiting for the Department to get forecasts correct is like playing the lottery and that this inconsistency offers no security in these troubled times. The Louth TD added that the country remains in huge deficit and is about to embark on NAMA, which will seriously hit economic stability. Free article

SINN FÉIN TD Martin Ferris has described the Government's response to the current cold weather conditions as completely inadequate. Ferris said cutbacks at local authority level are now having an effect as many thousands of people have been isolated. "Many thousands of people in rural communities have been completely isolated over the Christmas period as the cold snap made roads impassable. The Government's response has been completely inadequate. Free article

THE annual wreath-laying ceremony by the Republican Movement took place at the grave of Volunteer Feargal O'Hanlon at Latlurcan Cemetery on New Year's Day. It was the 53rd anniversary of the death of the young Park Street, Monaghan, republican alongside his comrade, Volunteer Seán South of Limerick, in the IRA attack on Brookeborough RUC Barracks in County Fermanagh on New Year's Day 1957. Free article

OVER 40 people climbed to the top of Camlough mountain in south Armagh early on Christmas morning in a symbolic act of solidarity with the many Irish undocumented living in the USA who could not get home for Christmas. Free article

FRIENDS and acquaintances of Frances-Mary Blake will be saddened to hear of her death, aged 70, in December. A reseacher and writer on the Irish Civil War, she was a member of the Troops Out Movement, a supporter of Irish political prisoners and their families, and an activist on human rights and justice generally Free article