1 April 2010 Edition

Nuacht na nOibrithe

1 April 2010

Marathon talks conclude between unions and Government, Public sector deal 'raises more questions than answers', says Sinn Féin and Ryanair boss branded a 'liar' by High Court judge Free article

Community stands behind Iñaki de Juana

1 April 2010

An emergency public meeting in Belfast last Friday to raise awareness about the impending extradition of Belfast-based Basque ex-prisoner Iñaki de Juana resolved to strengthen the campaign to stop the extradition from proceeding. Free article

Doherty demands enquiry into Lost at Sea Scheme

1 April 2010

Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty on Wednesday took part in a debate around Frank Fahey's involvement in the Lost at Sea Scheme tabled by himself in conjunction with Fine Gael and independent Senators David Norris and Joe O'Toole. Senator Doherty said: "This motion deals with the special report by the Office of the Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly regarding the design and administration of the Lost at Sea Scheme. This report instructed the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service to carry out an investigation into the report and its findings. The government has refused to undertake this investigation. Free article

Irish activists buy boat to break Palestine blockade

1 April 2010

On Tuesday, the Free Gaza Movement bought a 1,200 tonne cargo ship at an auction in Dundalk. The MV Linda had been impounded a year ago following an inspection by the International Transport Federation (ITF), which found that its owners had exploited its Lithuanian crew members - not paying their wages and subjecting them to humiliating treatment. Free article

Eviction by absentee landlord resisted

1 April 2010

Over 200 people turned up at a house in the village of Gowran, County Kilkenny, on Wednesday 24 March last to support the occupants, who are threatened with eviction by an absentee English landlord. The family have made several attempts to buy the house from Ironclad Limited, which represents the Lord Annaly estate, but Clare Macdonough and her family have been unable to do so. Free article

Disappointment at councillor's resignation

1 April 2010

The sole Sinn Féin councillor representing the party on Banbridge Council in County Down has resigned from the party. The news of Dessie Ward's resignation from the party emerged on Monday evening. Ward claimed to be unhappy with the level of support he had received from the party organisation in Upper Bann. Sinn Féin Upper Bann assembly member John O'Dowd expressed his disappointment at the announcement and pointed out that in the hours before the news broke Ward had been using the party's Lurgan office to carry out constituency work. Free article

U.S. legislatures back United Ireland

1 April 2010

The Massachusetts legislature has joined a growing chorus of U.S. support for Irish reunification. A joint Senate/House resolution supporting Irish reunification was officially signed on 24 March. Noting that the Good Friday Agreement expressly provides for achieving a united Ireland through purely democratic and peaceful means, the legislature affirmed its strong support for the "peaceful advancement of the final reunification of Ireland by all electoral and diplomatic means necessary." The legislature stipulated that the resolution be immediately transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Free article

Castlegregory Commemoration revived

1 April 2010

"The large turnout at this commemoration today is testimony to the high esteem in which these volunteers are still held", said Abbeydorney Sinn Féin activist Morgan O'Flaherty at a commemoration at the republican monument in Castlegregory, County Kerry, on Sunday 21 March. This was the first commemoration at this monument since the 1960s and it was marked by good weather and a large attendance by both residents of Castlegregory and surrounding areas and party activists. Free article

Easter Lily launched in Omagh

1 April 2010

Preparations for Easter commemorations continued apace in Tyrone last week when the Vice Chair of Omagh District Council, Sean Clarke, hosted a local launch of the Easter Lily, joined by Sinn Féin members from across the district. Free article

Monaghan Easter programme launched

1 April 2010

Sinn Féin elected representatives at the launch of the 2010 programme of County Monaghan Easter Rising commemorative events at the O'Hanlon memorial this week. Free article


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