Category Archives: Politics

from the Dail to the White House and back via Downing Street and elsewhere.

24/5/2013 Third National Patient Safety ConferencesBottler.

He simply can’t help himself.

All the money so far provided from a funding boost for autism services announced by Minister for Health James Reilly last year has been spent on cutting waiting lists for children with the condition in his political heartland in north Dublin, newly released documents show.

Just €300,000 of the €3 million promised over three years by Dr Reilly in January 2012 has so far been allocated, all of it to north Dublin, according to the documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Dr Reilly’s announcement in January 2012 of an additional €3 million in funding for children with autism appears to have taken his own officials by surprise, the documents show. One told a colleague in an internal email that it was “news to me” while another referred to the matter as coming “out of the blue”.

 

All the money.

All €300,000 allocated from autism fund spent in Reilly’s north Dublin heartland (Paul Cullen, Irish Times)

Analysis: Minister’s indecision blocked €3m autism support (Paul Cullen, Irish Times)

Meanwhile, why does Dr Reilly’s personal website reilly.ie forward to the Department of Health’s site?

Anyone?

Any excuse

(Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland)

uda

The RUC George Cross Widows Association has called for a halt to plans to build a peace and reconciliation centre at the site of the former Maze prison. They addressed their plea to Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson.

Mr Robinson’s DUP colleague Jeffrey Donaldson, who is MP for the area, said he could guarantee that “there will be nothing in the new peace centre that will glorify terrorism”. “I put on the uniform of the Crown to fight against the IRA, I had members of my family circle murdered by the IRA,” Mr Donaldson told the programme. “I am not going to stand over anything that would glorify the actions of the IRA in any sense whatsoever.”

 

Meanwhile, 50 yards from the entrance to the former prison is a shrine (above) to UDA/UFF prisoners.

Maze peace centre: RUC widows call for halt to ‘shrine’ (BBC News NI)

Via Squinter

Long Kesh / HMP Maze

Screen-Shot-2012-12-19-at-16.53.3311

There is always a tiny minority of individuals who behave inappropriately. When someone on the pro-life side does so, we must not hesitate to name it and make it clear that such behaviour is wrong and counterproductive. But we cannot allow it to distract from the main issues in the debate.

There will be plenty of time after this phase of the campaign to expose the lies and misrepresentation that has gone on.

And let’s encourage everyone we know to stay positive and do the cause proud.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

Caroline Simons
Pro Life Campaign

A message from Caroline Simons at this important time (Prolife Campaign)

Previously: Over To You Caroline

More Pro Lies

An Easy Thing To Forget

When Is A Termination Not A Termination?

Pro-Life’s ‘Lunatic fringe’ And The Special Olympics

Come Dine With Me (Pro-Life Edition)

 

Judgment points to legal lacuna on forced marriages (Ruadhan Mac Cormaic, Irish Times)

Thanks Justin Moran

Orange Order Parades in Belfast

 

Chair of Culture Company 2013, Martin Bradley, said: “It’s fantastic that as Derry-Londonderry glories in its status as UK City of Culture the city is playing host to an extensive programme of Orange Order events.

“Given that 2013 is such landmark year for the city, marking as it does the 400th anniversary of the granting of the city charter and the building of the city walls, it’s particularly fitting that Derry-Londonderry will be the location for key elements of the Orange Order’s flagship celebrations.”

 

UK City of Culture to host Flagship Twelfth (Grand Orange Lodge)

(Albert Gonzalez / Photocall Ireland)

claredaly

This morning.

Independent TD Clare Daly to the Taoiseach in relation to the G8 meetings

“But is it not a reality that you have showcased us as a nation of pimps prostituting ourselves in return for a pat on the head?”

 

Via Páraic Gallagher

Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said that media reports that pro-life activists had carried out a protest at Enda Kenny’s home were “entirely incorrect and had no basis in fact”, and that the Irish media had engaged in “sloppy and unprofessional journalism”.

Ms Ui Bhriain said that reporters had got the facts inexcusably wrong.

“It is inexcusable that the media are printing misinformation of this sort, and it smacks of a rush to try to demonise pro-life activists,” she said.

“The media need to get their act together and politicians need to discuss the reality of this cruel and unacceptable abortion legislation and stop trying to deflect from the issue with unsubstantiated claims and false allegations,” added the Life Institute spokeswoman.

Media get it wrong: protestors at Enda’s house not there about abortion (The Life Institute)

False stories?

Baseless allegations?

“But what was lost in the hysteria that arose was that the tragic death of Savita was actually nothing to do with abortion at all”

“It’s important that people know this and they know that the hospital records show that Savita never asked for a termination.”

“And in Ireland, the people decided thirty years ago that we can offer better answers to women than abortion and that we can protect our mothers and our babies and that’s made Ireland like a ‘safe haven’ for mothers and babies.”

Niamh Uí Bhriain on Fox News following the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Meanwhile….

Threat to burn minister’s home over abortion bill (Michael Brennan, Irish Independent)

Gardaí probe threats to TD from anti-abortion pair (Louise Walsh / Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner)

Previously: Uí Heart Huckabee

Why This Ad Is Misleading

Going Postal

Precious Tiny Feet

 

 

Grand day to take off in Fimnegans in Dakkey and all that.

Meanwhile….

Anger over ‘vigil for life’ leaflets given to pupils in Dublin primary school (Patsy McGarry, Irish Times)

Previously: Mind The Step

 

The Case for a Wealth Tax (patricknulty.ie)