The Green Ribbon

Identity cards and the Irish - part four

The LSE's report on Identity cards is fairly sanguine about the impact of the scheme on the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland.

In the event that the UK identity card proposals pass into law, there is a perception that the existence of the Common Travel Area of the UK & Ireland will necessitate the establishment of an Irish identity card, otherwise the Common Travel Area would present a fundamental security loophole in the ID card proposals. This view is not supported by evidence.

However, the LSE Report does note practical concerns raised by human rights group Justice similar to those expressed by the DUP in this week's debate.

Britain at the tipping point?

The indispensible Tom Nairn has a piece out today arguing that Labour's election victory on 20 per cent of the electorate has discredited the current constitutional set-up.

Identity cards and the Irish - part three

The DUP and the SDLP both voted solidly against the Government in last night's Commons vote on the Identity Cards Bill. Lady Sylvia Hermon was the only Northern Ireland MP to contribute to the Government's reduced majority of 31.

During the debate, there were a number of mentions of the bill's implications for the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland. I have set out one of them below, in which the Home Secretary signally fails to answer the salient question raised by Andrew MacKinlay.

McBride killers to remain in the army

The family of Peter McBride, a Belfast man shot dead by two British soldiers in 1992, have lost their legal bid to have his killers kicked out of the Army.

Guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher served three years in jail for the 18-year-old Catholic`s murder, but were allowed to rejoin the regiment and remain in the army.

Mr McBride`s mother, Jean, lodged an application for judicial review at Belfast High Court against the armed forces minister.

But, in a 13-page ruling issued today, her application was refused.

Speaking outside the High Court after the decision, Mrs McBride said: "I don`t think there is a judge in Northern Ireland with the bottle to stand up against the establishment so it looks like we`ll have to take our case to Europe." (UTV)

Identity cards and the Irish - Part two

The Identity Cards Bill will have its second reading later this afternoon, so I suppose I'd better fulfill my promise to have a look at the stance of the Northern Ireland MPs on the issue.

The most significant player will be the DUP who have 9 seats. Frank Millar of the Irish Times had a very interesting report on their stance yesterday. It looks as if they are viewing the vote as a chance to test their parliamentary leverage, and to push for concessions such as seats in the House of Lords.

RTE to drop sport from LW

Thousands of Irish emigrants in Britain and overseas will lose access to RTÉ radio coverage of Irish sport if new plans by the national broadcaster go ahead.

RTÉ aims to replace sport with other programmes on its medium wave and long wave services by July 1.

Foreign affairs minister Dermot Ahern said today that the Irish emigrant community abroad depend on the coverage to keep in touch with Irish sport and he urged RTÉ to reconsider its plans. (Ireland Online)

Fugitive financier accused of running British boiler room

There was news from Canada at the weekend of Rakesh Saxena, the man who helped to precipitate the Arms to Africa Affair.

Aegis Iraq contract extended

Tim Spicer's Aegis Defence Services has had its security contract in Iraq extended, the Sunday Times reports:

Spicer’s company was first chosen for the co-ordination role in a one-year deal signed last year. The selection sparked protests from American companies that were passed over, with Dyncorp, a defence and security contractor, questioning the decision in a formal complaint to the Government Accountability Office, the audit arm of the American government.

Blog interrupted

I won't be posting over the weekend as i will be in Ireland for a wedding.

There may be some changes around here when i come back next week so stay tuned.

Zim mercenary returns to SA trial

For the first time in just over a year, Simon Witherspoon - one of the men who recently returned from prison in Zimbabwe - joined his co-accused in the dock at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday charged with the murder of a suspected saddle thief.

The trial of Witherspoon, businessmen Grant McIntyre, Owen Nelson and EnviroWatch security guards Dennis Msawenkosi Mchunu and Welcome Hlela will resume next February. Another accused, guard Zwelakhe Maga Dladla, has died. (The Witness, South Africa)

Witherspoon could yet be prosecuted under the Foreign Military Assistance Act in relation to last year's failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.