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The trouble with Wikipedia

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
While trying to discover the age of Lt Col Derek Wilford (I have failed, thus far), I stumbled upon a page category in wikipedia called 'Massacres in Northern Ireland'. 

Not immediately recognising all of the named events, I have done some clicking through, and with one exception, all of the events are what might be termed Orange / British on Green. One might think that the Omagh bombing would rate as 'a massacre', what with 29 dead, but apparently not.

Perhaps I should join the select few and do a bit of editing.

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posted by Croydonian

Mildly amusing protocol non-compliance o' the day

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
A staggeringly dull Hansard today, and this is all I have found thus far:

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Turkey on its non-compliance with the Ankara Protocol; and if he will make a statement. 


Chris Bryant: Ministers and officials across Government have frequent contact with Turkish counterparts on all aspects of Turkey's EU accession process, including discussion of the Additional Ankara Protocol, where we urge Turkey to take forward its implementation. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so most recently with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on 25 September 2009.

Fancy having a protocol named for one's nation's capital and then not complying with it.  Apart from sounding like an airport bestseller, the Ankara Protocol would appear to involve our Turkish chums opening up ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus.   

Elsewhere, this:

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the names are of the members of the Prime Minister's working group on the Presbyterian Mutual Society.


Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Ministerial Working Group on the Presbyterian Mutual Society is chaired by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The other members are: the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, the First Minister for Northern Ireland, the Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland, the Minister for Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Northern Ireland.

Well, the Kirk is Presbytarian, so Broon is quite a relevant chairman.  Liam Byrne's religious affiliation has not lept out at me, but I think I can guess...  Ian Pearson - who has the excellent middle name of Phares, with this by far the most interesting thing about him - does not wear is allegiance on his sleeve either.  Peter Robinson is NOT a Presbytarian but rather a Pentecostalist.  Yes, really.  Martin McGuinness - well, you work it out.   And last but not least, Arlene Foster is a DUP bod, so presumably a Prod of some description.  So, were I a Presbytarian and of a paranoid disposition, I might question the credentials of the working group.

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posted by Croydonian

Those Northern Ireland Inquiries - it is not just the lawyers coining it

Friday, February 27, 2009
That lawyers have done very nicely out of their fees for the Saville Inquiry (£98M and counting) is a matter of record, but Owen Paterson, our man in Shropshire North has wheedled out the IT costs - equipment and consultants - for Saville and lesser known inquiries too, and it ain't pretty:




Of the less well known inquiries - all involving dead people, Nelson was a Republican-friendly lawyer, Robert Hamill a civilian and Billy Wright a Loyalist paramilitary. That the costs of the Nelson Inquiry are so lawyer-heavy is doubtless what she would have wanted.

Taking the inquiry with the lowest IT cost, Hamill's at the bagatelle of £4.2m, one gets a worthy looking website, but what else is uncertain. Anyone with IT project management experience who can contextualise costs would win my undying gratitude.

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posted by Croydonian

Ten individuals, 25 degrees between them, and *how* much sense?

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Doubtless we have all been having rage blackouts over the proposals made by 'the Consultative Group on the Past', and I do not think I can add much to the, under the circumstances, extremely measured thoughts of Mr Eugenides, so I will not.

However, I have done a little digging, and this Confederacy of Dunces, this Narrenschiff, this thicket of idiots, has between them at least 25 degrees.

I think I need to lie down in a darkened room for a bit.

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posted by Croydonian

Sinn Féin and DUP in common ground shocker

Friday, November 28, 2008
Who'd a thunk it?

From the Irish Times:

Peter Robinson:

“Let’s be clear, this is swings and roundabouts. There have been many occasions where this has worked in the other direction, it worked in terms of fuel and aggregates when that very clearly damaged the prospects of businesses on our side of the border,” Mr Robinson added.

He said: “Some in the South have said it is unpatriotic to shop in Northern Ireland, but in the spirit of North-South co-operation, I am happy to offer a warm welcome to all of our visitors from the South.”

And Martin McGuinness:

"We all know that human nature clearly tells us that over the course of many years people in the border areas and indeed people wider afield will travel almost anywhere to get a good bargain".

And why are they saying this? Because the Drogheda Chamber of Commerce, inter alia, doesn't like open borders:

"In an open letter to Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan yesterday, the chamber called on them to “act urgently” to assist the commercial and retail sectors in the State to “stem the flow of income and sales North to the jurisdiction of the UK government”.

These are not temporary 2.5% VAT style reductions, but rather more significant savings: "The National Consumer Agency has found a margin of up to 30 per cent in food prices on either side of the Border".

(Yes, I know food is zero VAT rated in these parts)


Meanwhile, as to the two pachyderms in the parlour, there is not much I can add to comment on the Mumbai atrocities and the Stasi raid on Damien Green. However, my ongoing reaction to broadcast news on the former is to hiss, 'Go on, say the 'M' word - I dare you, I double dare you'.

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posted by Croydonian

Makes a change from dealing with the Apprentice Boys

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a meeting has taken place between the organiser of the 2007 Belfast Pride parade and the full Parades Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: I can confirm that a meeting took place between the parade organiser and the full Parades Commission on 30 January 2008.


I bet the Parades Commission did not expect that one.

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posted by Croydonian

A Tale of Two Countries

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Lords Hansard:

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission made to its counterpart in the Republic of Ireland concerning the ban on United Kingdom citizens purchasing property in parts of that country unless they have a major qualification in Irish; and what representations the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission made to its counterpart in the Republic of Ireland concerning the ban on United Kingdom citizens obtaining employment in that country unless they speak Irish.

And the reply:

Lord Rooker: As the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission remains independent of government, the noble Lord may wish to write to the commission directly on this matter.

Meanwhile, in Commons Hansard:

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had with the Irish Government on establishing a dedicated Irish television channel for Irish people living in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: My right hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell) met with Eamon Ryan TD, the Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, on 22 January 2008, to discuss a number of issues. The subject of establishing a dedicated Irish television channel for broadcast in the UK was raised, but no firm decisions have been made.


Ever get the feeling the rest of the planet struggles to keep a straight face when dealing with this government?

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posted by Croydonian

Time to put back together what Sunningdale put asunder

Monday, October 29, 2007
Unnoticed by the press in these parts, the Ulster Unionists have been having a conference, and there is a part of Sir Reg Empey's speech of particular note for friends of the Union in the part of the Kingdom on this side of the water:

"The Ulster Unionist Party has committed itself to a political and policy process which allows Northern Ireland to complete the transition to "normal" politics... As Party Leader I want the Ulster Unionist Party to engage with like-minded allies in Great Britain to promote a pan-UK vision which endorses the over-arching benefits of a United Kingdom as the best framework in which to nurture the benefits available from devolution".

He can only mean the Conservatives, and unless the Ulster Unionists are prepared to do a Trimble and join the Conservatives, it is for the party to make every effort to undo the damage wrought by the still birth of the Sunningdale Agreement and welcome the UUP back into the bosom of the wider Conservative movement. While the UUP is undoubtedly on something of a back foot at present, UUP MPs taking the whip after the next election would aid the electoral arithmetic, and would also be the right thing for all concerned.

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posted by Croydonian

A retrograde step

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Which country have we allowed travellers from to enter the UK without passports for about 85 years? The Irish Republic. And now as part of "a so called e-border system in order to track the movements of terrorist suspects, criminals and illegal immigrants" there will be passport checks in place for sea and air arrivals in Great Britain from the Republic, if not on land crossings to Ulster. And, not surprisingly, our Hibernian neighbours are going to engage in a little tit for tat.

Given the utter chaos that masquerades as border control in this country, and the complete absence of terrorism etc being exported from the Republic to Great Britain, I really would have thought that the government would be focusing on more pressing issues rather than messing about with a bit that actually works just fine. And given that there will not be passport checks when crossing by land, presumably anyone with something to hide will drive to Belfast airport or Larne and hop on a plane or a ferry to the mainland. Still, something must (be seen to) be done, I suppose. This tale, note, is on the 'front page' of the main serious newspaper in the Republic, and the second most circulated Irish daily.

And the gratuitous quote from Bevin, "My policy is to be able to take a ticket at Victoria station and go anywhere I damn well please!"

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posted by Croydonian

Ulster, Northern Ireland or 'The North of Ireland'

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Nomenclature for that part of the Union is quite the shibboleth, and as a conviction Unionist it is Ulster that is part of the United Kingdom (1). For Westminster politicians from the mainland, news journalists and the like it is Northern Ireland, whereas Republicans will insist on referring to it as 'the North', or the 'North of Ireland', the crystal clear implication being that the entire island should be ruled by Dublin.

And why drag up matters Ulster when the Fenians are not doing much killing at the moment and Westminster is not apparently intent on any new attempt to give the barge on which the good people of Ulster have been sold down the river on another hefty shove? Because of this interview in the 'graph with the head of Labour, Scottish Division, Wendy Alexander, covering Barnett, the West Lothian question et al:

"The message of the last 10 years is that the British constitution has proved infinitely more flexible than anybody had expected. I mean, are we also going to remove all the North Irish, are we going to remove London MPs for votes that are covered by the GLA? There is no simple answer here and I think we should allow Westminster to continue to act as the British parliament."

Nice to know she is such a doughty supporter of the Union. Given that her father (and that of brother Wee Dougie) is referred to as a Reverend, it seems reasonable to assume that she is not a Roman Catholic, or otherwise strongly identified with matters Hibernian.


(1). Yes, I am well aware that Ulster contains only six of the nine counties that comprise the historic province of Ulster, but then four départements in North West France continue to be called Bretagne, despite being shorn of Loire Atlantique in 1941 (by guess who...) , which département includes Brittany's historic capital of Nantes.

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posted by Croydonian