Waste:Reviewing waste
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010agendaNi looks to the South where a major review of waste is shaping new policy. Waste is high on the agenda in the Republic, partly due to the Green party leader John Gormley’s involvement in the coalition government. The fact that the Irish tax-payer will have to spend €36 million in repatriating 250,000 tonnes of Irish waste that was illegally dumped on 20 sites in Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2004, through fines, has also brought waste into the spotlight. Illegal dumping occurred when a landfill levy of €15 per tonne was introduced in 2002, prompting an increase in gate...[full story]
North/South:All-island recovery
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Sinn Féin’s Mitchel McLaughlin discusses his party’s proposed all-island economic plan with Peter Cheney, as the UK starts to cut public spending. As the tight Comprehensive Spending Review approaches, Mitchel McLaughlin claims that now is the time for Northern Ireland to start raising its own money, integrate with the Republic’s economy and invest to save jobs. These are the main elements of the party’s all-island economic recovery plan, proposed after the UK’s June Budget. “Clearly there is a considerable amount of concern and trepidation but also a lot of speculation...[full story]
North/South:Fianna Fáil moves north
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Following the opening of a Fianna Fáil office in Northern Ireland, Meadhbh Monahan takes stock of the party’s presence in the province. Since Fianna Fáil launched in the province in 2009 it has formed forums in Armagh, south Down, and Fermanagh, all border areas with a majority of nationalist voters. Ogra Fianna Fáil has also established cumanns (associations) in Queen’s University and the University of Ulster. At the 2009 ard fheis, Mark Hughes from Armagh was voted into the ard comhairle, a council of 20 that is notoriously hard to get elected onto, particularly if you reside...[full story]
North/South:Journey times cut
Friday, July 9th, 2010Travelling throughout Ireland is becoming much easier thanks to modern roads that cut journey times drastically and make previously unconsidered trips more realistic. Gone are the days of police check-points which were symbolic of the Troubles. Ireland’s roads are now a sign of the island’s integration, not division. The 80km M1 Newry to Dublin motorway helped cut the travel time between Belfast and Dublin from around three hours to one and a half. It was opened in August 2007 and cost approximately €1 billion. More recently, in May, the M7 and M8 motorways from Dublin to Cork...[full story]
North/South:Irish justice system
Friday, July 9th, 2010With everyday law and order now run from Belfast and Dublin for the first time since 1972, agendaNi reviews the main parts of the Republic’s justice system. Police An Garda Síochána Founded by Michael Collins as an unarmed force in 1922, following the disbandment of the Royal Irish Constabulary, the Garda became a national force when the Dublin Metropolitan Police merged with it in 1925. It is responsible for the Republic’s national security as well as the traditional crime investigation, public order and road safety duties. The Commissioner handles the day-to- day management...[full story]
Europe:Responsible role
Friday, July 9th, 2010A relatively new MEP, Nessa Childers speaks to Meadhbh Monahan about her wide remit in Brussels and how decisions made now will affect future generations. In a committee that deals with a broad range of topics, Nessa Childers acknowledges that “if you focus on everything there would be no time.” The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee is one of the largest committees in the European Parliament with 64 full members and 63 substitute members. A daughter of former Irish President Erskine Hamilton Childers and grand- daughter of Robert Erskine Childers, who was executed...[full story]
Europe:Learning from the South
Friday, July 9th, 2010Irish Ambassador to the EU Rory Montgomery, points to how Northern Ireland could make better use of Europe, by focusing on policy as well as funding and setting clear priorities. As the head of the largest Irish diplomatic mission in the world, Rory Montgomery’s chief responsibility is to make sure the Irish Government’s views are taken into account in the “enormous number of meetings” that take place every day within the EU. The policy process means that national ambassadors will see proposals before the Council so the Ambassador’s role therefore is to solve any disagreements...[full story]
North/South:NAMA looks north
Friday, June 4th, 2010The Northern Ireland NAMA Advisory Committee has begun its task of protecting the value of the region’s property and assets that are due to be taken into the National Asset Management Agency. Meadhbh Monahan looks at the role of the ‘bad bank’ in the province. An estimated £4.6 billion of Northern Ireland assets will be transferred to NAMA, the asset management agency which was established with the aim of transferring key property-related exposures from the balance sheets of the participating financial institutions in return for Irish Government-guaranteed securities. Initially...[full story]
North/South:Middletown purpose questioned
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010A major North/South project’s purpose has again been questioned, with claims that it will not properly meet the needs of children with autism. Lord Maginnis has said the cross-border Middletown centre on autism should be replaced by assessments by health visitors, followed up by local support services. Middletown has been hailed as a major example of all-island co-operation, having been jointly established by both governments in 2007. It currently trains staff working with autistic children, such as teachers and classroom assistants, and a residential block is due to be built to let...[full story]
