Queen’s University recently hosted the launch of a new book edited by Dr Katy Hayward (Queen’s) and Dr Mary Murphy (University College Cork), The Europeanization of Party Politics in Ireland: North and South (Routledge, 2010). At the launch, some of the academics who contributed to the volume presented their perspectives on the impact that the EU has had on political parties within Northern Ireland.
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson was on hand to offer his thoughts on the proceedings. I was the author of the chapter on the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and along with the others who had written on Northern parties, we were asked to address the question:
Continue reading ‘The Europeanization of Party Politics in Ireland, Book Launch – Has the EU Encouraged Reconciliatory Politics?’
Why are the Irish Catholic bishops complaining about the Civil Partnerships Bill, which is being debated this week in the Dáil?
The bishops’ criticisms have not been welcomed by government ministers, who say they have taken great pains to make sure it does not undermine marriage or the Irish constitution.
Continue reading ‘The Irish Catholic Church & the Civil Partnerships Bill: What’s ‘Morally Wrong?’’
With the Saville Report, the City of Derry and Northern Ireland now have a document that has, in the main, satisfied the families of the victims who were shot dead by the British Army in 1972. The families and other citizens of the Bogside have for years said that they knew the truth. But the Bloody Sunday Inquiry was about receiving public acknowledgement from the British state about what happened on that day.
By now the facts of the Saville Report are well known: the Army fired the first shot, all of the victims were innocent in that they posed no threat to the soldiers, and some soldiers lied about what happened on the day. By acknowledging all of this and more, the Saville Report can be seen as a significant step in promoting healing for the families of the victims and for others who stood in solidarity with them.
Continue reading ‘Bloody Sunday and the Saville Report: David Cameron and How to Say Sorry’
Irish economist David McWilliams takes to the stage this week at the Abbey’s Peacock Theatre in Dublin for a rather unorthodox theatrical offering – a 90 minute monologue on what’s wrong with the Irish economy, why our political leaders and civil servants aren’t getting Ireland out of the mess, and what might be done to fix it.
McWilliams has become a popular public figure, known now as one of the few economists who predicted the collapse of the housing market and the subsequent credit crunch. Through books like The Pope’s Children and The Generation Game, and special television series such as ‘Addicted to Money,’ McWilliams has been something of a wet blanket on the party like there’s no tomorrow approach to the Irish economy. During a stint as a host on the RTE comedy series ‘The Panel,’ one of the comedians once referred to him as ‘the ginger horseman of the apocalypse.’
Continue reading ‘David McWilliams: Review of the Outsiders’
Norman Hamilton was installed as the new moderator last night at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. A pastor for the past 22 years at Ballysillan Presbyterian, in a tough part of north Belfast, Hamilton can speak from experience about the urgent need for improved community relations.
In his first speech as moderator, Hamilton used strong and vivid language to highlight the community relations issue, calling sectarianism ‘the demon among us’ and saying that the failure of politicians to agree a community relations strategy is ‘a public disgrace.’
Continue reading ‘Norman Hamilton Takes Presbyterian Post: Moderating a Shared Future?’
Earlier this week, the NGO Social Justice Ireland (SJI) published ‘An Agenda for a New Ireland,’ a 250-page socio-economic review of what went wrong in Ireland, what hasn’t changed, and what state and citizens might do to improve living on this island. The entire text of the document is available on-line.
The Irish Times’ Jamie Smyth summed up SJI’s recommendations this way,
Continue reading ‘Social Justice Ireland & ‘An Agenda for a New Ireland’’
Are atheists marginalised in our public conversations, even in the largely secular West? Last week, atheists had their first ever official visit to the White House. Sixty representatives from the Secular Coalition for America met with officials and discussed issues ranging from child medical neglect, military proselytizing, and faith-based initiatives. USA Today reports that ‘this is the first time an administration has met with a non-theist community.’
This has, of course, prompted outrage from the expected quarters in the US, where there is a significant minority that believes that atheism and secularism will be the downfall of the country. USA Today quotes the chairman of a group called In God We Trust, who claims:
Continue reading ‘Atheism in the Public Square: Marginalised or Militant?’
One issue that is sure to bring Christian voices out in the public sphere is gay rights. The overwhelming impression that one gets is that Christians are opposed to extending gay rights, particularly when it comes to marriage or civil partnerships.
A surprising exception to this has been the Evangelical Alliance in the Republic of Ireland (EAI). In December, EAI published a document, endorsed by its General Director Sean Mullan, which essentially supported the bill that is still being debated in the Irish parliament (the Dail).
Continue reading ‘Evangelicals & Gay Rights in Ireland: Evangelical Alliance’s Surprise Support for Civil Partnerships Bill’
Queen’s University recently hosted the launch of a new book edited by Dr Katy Hayward (Queen’s) and Dr Mary Murphy (University College Cork), The Europeanization of Party Politics in Ireland: North and South (Routledge, 2010). At the launch, some of the academics who contributed to the volume presented their perspectives on the impact that the EU has had on political parties within Northern Ireland. 
In the recently published book, 
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