Monthly Archives: March 2012

 

The Roman Catholic Church is planning to enlist the support of more than a million regular worshippers in opposition to Government plans for same-sex marriage.
Senior bishops are preparing to draw up a letter to be read at Masses across England and Wales when the Government consultation on plans to redefine marriage gets under way later this month, it is understood.
It would be only the second time in recent history that a joint pastoral letter on behalf of all Catholic bishops in England and Wales has been issued on an issue of political importance.
The move is being proposed as the debate over extending marriage to homosexual couples gathers momentum. At the weekend Cardinal Keith O’Brien (left), the most senior Catholic cleric in Britain, accused the Coalition of trying to “redefine reality” and branded the proposals a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”

 

Catholics Will Be Called To Oppose Gay Marriage (Telegraph)


On Friday, the IMF hinted at a possible debt reduction for Ireland. The Minister For Social Protection took the ball and ran with it.

Another sporting analogy, anyone?

JOAN BURTON’S linking of better terms for Ireland’s bank debt with the fiscal treaty referendum is causing problems for the Government’s campaign, her Labour colleagues have claimed.

Labour Ministers are angry over remarks Ms Burton made in recent days. The Minister for Social Protection has twice linked a reduction in Ireland’s bank debt burden to support for the Yes side.

However, Government sources yesterday told The Irish Times while they are confident a deal reducing the debt will be reached, it is unlikely to be finalised before the vote.
“Joan has deliberately created unnecessary difficulties for the Government and you would have to wonder what game she is playing,” said one senior Labour Party figure.

That’ll do nicely.

Previously: Ireland’s Shoulder Angels

Burton intervention on treaty provokes Labour fury (Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

 

Meanwhile, Miranda Wright writes:

I am very surprised you haven’t seen fit to draw the attention of your readers to the behaviour of Mr Mannix Flynn towards the Occupy Dame Street protest. Why is this? It would seem the good councillor is somewhat to the fore of having this protest removed. So,why not let your readers know about that and comment? From Saturday’s Irish Times:

The Independent councillor Mannix Flynn, who describes the protest as “past its sell-by date”, raised it at the council’s economic and planning strategic policy committee last week. It is examining the issue “as a matter of urgency”. “The council is not very proactive on these things,” he says. “It won’t act unless they receive a complaint.”An “official complaint” has now been received about alleged planning violations by the erection of semi-permanent dwellings, according to the council. “That matter is being investigated,” says a spokesman.

And here is the good councillor himself, thanks to the audio on RTE.ie: (about 0:21 in)