SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph

By David Gordon
14 June 2006

Stormont Assembly members may soon be facing a travel expenses cut - thanks to a Belfast Telegraph campaign.

This newspaper revealed earlier this year that MLAs are being paid more per mile than other politicians across the UK.

But Secretary of State Peter Hain has now told the Commons that the situation is under review.

MLAs currently receive 56.1p per mile for their first 20,000 miles, and 25.9p for each mile after that.

MPs, by contrast, are paid the standard Inland Revenue rate of 40p per mile for up to 10,000 miles and 25p per mile after the 10,000 mark is passed.

This newspaper has been running a ‘Fair Dues’ campaign to promote greater transparency over Assembly expenses.

Mr Hain disclosed his intentions in reply to a written parliamentary question from DUP MP Gregory Campbell.

Mr Campbell asked the Secretary of State “whether he intends to bring the mileage allowance paid to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly into line with that paid to honourable Members of this House”.

In reply to the question, Mr Hain told the House: “This matter is currently under consideration and I hope to make an announcement shortly.

“I will write to the honourable Member informing him of the outcome and will arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library of the House and sent to the Speaker of the Assembly.”

The Ulster Secretary has previously stated that MLAs should address the mileage expense disparity.

He told DUP MP David Simpson last month: “The Assembly is perfectly free to set up a working group to resolve the issue and to make recommendations to me, and I hope that it does so.”

Mr Hain also stated on that occasion that “many people in Northern Ireland” are “asking a question” about the Stormont mileage rate.

As part of its ‘Fair Dues’ campaign, the Belfast Telegraph has written to the main party leaders at Stormont.

The UUP Assembly Party responded by voting for Assembly mileage payments to be brought into line with the rest of the UK.

Belfast Telegraph

By Katie Nixon
14 June 2006

A handwritten letter by CS Lewis, explaining the whole meaning of the Narnia story was being donated to Queen’s University today.

Anne Jenkins, from Hertfordshire, was just 10 years old when she wrote to Lewis asking him to explain the meaning behind a passage in his novel ‘The Silver Chair’.

Although the reply failed to answer her question, it did give a fascinating insight into the background of the Narnia story.

Anne said she chose Queen’s as the home for her letter after speaking to Belfast author Derick Bingham whom she met at the unveiling of the CS Lewis statue at Holywood Arches in 1998.

She said: “I’m very glad that I called him, because when he told me of all the work Queen’s had put into their fundraising campaign for the new library and its plans for the CS Lewis reading room, it all clicked into place and I knew Queen’s would be the right home for my letter”.

Professor Ken Bell, Pro-Vice- Chancellor who was accepting the letter, said: “Queen’s is honoured to have been chosen as the home for this precious correspondence and is indebted to Anne Jenkins for her generosity and public spiritedness.

“In donating the letter she has ensured that future generations will be able to view this wonderful part of Northern Ireland’s literary past.”

The valuable collector’s item, written in 1961, will be displayed in the university’s CS Lewis Reading Room, part of the university’s £44m library due to open in 2009.

Sinn Féin

Published: 14 June, 2006

Sinn Féin International Affairs and Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said documentation has come into his possession which shows that “not only is Shannon Airport being used as a pitstop for US troops on their way to and from their war in Iraq, but also to facilitate the sale and transfer of arms to human rights abusers throughout the world.”

Speaking in the Dáil this evening Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, “Documentation which has come into my possession seems to show that not only is Shannon Airport being used as a pitstop for US troops on their way to and from their war in Iraq, that it has been used by planes involved in the illegal extraordinary renditions programme, but also to facilitate the sale and transfer of arms to human rights abusers throughout the world, including a breach of the arms embargo on the Indonesian government and other dubious arms transfers.

“In September of last year, at least six months before the lifting of the embargo, the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance in the US State Department ferried ammunition, explosives and arms through Shannon Airport via Canada and then onward on a military transporter plane to a Bulgarian airport used by the military and then to the US embassy in Indonesia. This was supposed to be for an “anti-terrorism training course” for a government whose impunity for serious human rights violations according to Amnesty International remain a concern.

“Other flights involving the same plane during Sep/Oct 2005 for which I don’t have complete details would suggest this is regular traffic with 2,600 kilos of dangerous goods going back and forth from Canada via Shannon to Bulgaria. The actual origin and the final destination of these flights cannot be confirmed on October 15th, 17th, 21st and 28th. On September 3rd boxes with undisclosed contents weighing 6,985 kgs were transported and on October 8th M16 rifles were ferried through. Sikorsky Helicopters were ferried through Shannon to another Human Rights abuser Turkey on October 30th. This comes on top of details which emerged of Shannonairport being used to facilitate the sale of Apache Attack helicopters to Israelfrom the United Stateslast February.

“The Minister must clarify whether the government, and the Ministers for Transport and Foreign Affairs, in particular were aware of the details I have just disclosed; Whether the Department of Transport gave the required authorisation for the above activities; Whether upon consultation, as required by the 1973 Order, the Department of Foreign Affairs approved of the use of Shannon for the above activities; Whether he agrees that the role played by this state in the sale and transfer of arms to human rights abusers is absolutely unacceptable and must cease immediately, And what steps he will take to ensure that this affront to Irish neutrality is brought to an immediate end.” ENDS

:::u.tv:::

By:Press Association
13/06/2006 15:53:21

A mural of a world kickboxing champion has been unveiled in south Belfast as part of a drive to eradicate loyalist paramilitary artwork from the area.

Local schoolchildren painted the tribute to Gary Hamilton on Broadway in the Village area of the city.

The move follows the removal of four other murals and sectarian graffiti.

Daily Ireland

by Mick Hall

The lord mayor of Belfast Pat McCarthy last night officially opened a new family centre at the site of one of west Belfast’s best known landmarks - the historic St Matthias’ ‘tin church’ on the Glen Rd.
The Glen Community Family Centre, which is being run by local residents, will now be used as a meeting place for groups and parents to run community support programmes.
The project has received financial support from EU Peace II funds and Belfast City Council, while local business have also contributed £14,000 (€20,500).
A decision to transform the listed building was taken after a meeting between the clergy, local politicians and the Glen Road Residents Association (GRA). The Catholic Church has agreed to give the building over to GRA and will begin leasing it out next year.
GRA sectretary David Irving told Daily Ireland he was delighted with the support shown for the project. The church, originally built by the Church of Ireland at the turn of the century, was given to the Catholic Church in 1970 after it had been long made redundant as a Protestant place of worship after demographic changes in the area.
The church had been designed to resemble the western ‘frontier churches’ of 19th-century America. The building had lain disused for over two years after a new chapel was built alongside it.

Daily Ireland

Haughey pulled off one of the greatest political comebacks in Irish history after weapons trial

By Connla Young

A leading player in politics for over three decades Charlie Haughey will always be remembered for pulling off one of the greatest political comebacks in Irish history.
For many the Arms Trial in 1970 is the enduring memory of a political career characterised by conflict. Haughey’s enemies within and without the Fianna Fáil party were many.
‘The Boss’, as he was known, dealt with opponents and those who showed less than total loyalty with an efficiency and ruthlessness that came to characterise his leadership.
Although an Irish cabinet minister since early 1960s, it was the outbreak of conflict in the North that gave Haughey an international profile.
Taoiseach Jack Lynch appointed a cabinet sub-committee to examine ways of providing emergency assistance and relief to beleaguered nationalists in the North.
No stranger to republican politics, Haughey’s father was an IRA commander in Co Derry before he joined the Free State army and his mother became a member of Cumann na mBan.
Both Haughey, who was minister for finance, and his cabinet colleague Neil Blaney, who was agriculture minister, were known to disapprove of Jack Lynch’s cautious approach to the emerging Northern conflict.
When allegations emerged that the hardline duo had allocated £100,000 worth of relief funds to purchase weapons for the fledgling Provisional IRA, Liam Cosgrove, who led the opposition Fine Gael party, demanded action from Taoiseach Lynch.
On May 6, 1970, Haughey and Blaney were sacked from government after they refused to resign.
Social welfare minister, Kevin Boland, subsequently resigned in protest at the sackings.
The alleged arms smuggling plot was said to have failed because the weapons haul could not be smuggled successfully past customs at Dublin Airport.
At the end of May, Haughey, Blaney, Irish army intelligence officer James Kelly, senior Belfast republican John Kelly and Belgian businessman Albert Luykx went on trial charged in connection with the alleged arms plot.
Blaney was found not guilty in July 1970 while the other accused were cleared in October of the same year.
John Kelly, who lives just a few miles from Mr Haughey’s ancestral home in south Derry and who stood trial with him in 1970, is saddened by his old friend’s death.
“I came to know him through an accident of history,” he said.
“I was part of a delegation that went to meet the Irish government in 1969 and Charlie was one of the people who were there and things rolled on from there.
“His parents were from south Derry and he had a greater understanding of any minister in the Irish government of the dilemma faced by nationalists and the trauma of partition and the disadvantage it brought politically and socially. You didn’t have to bridge any gaps in his understanding of the North.
“His father died a young man. Charlie was just 11 and the northern connection was very strong when he was growing up. He had the support of uncles and aunts in the North as his mother was left to raise six children.
“People will criticise him and they will highlight things for political reasons. But when we are weighed on the scale of life, we hope good will outweigh bad.
“He was a human being and the good does outweigh the bad. He was a good friend of the North and the first to say the North is a flawed political entity.”

IAIS

06/14/06 09:44 EST

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today rejected claims by the Democratic Unionist Party that the full decommissioning pledged by the IRA has not happened.

However, Mr Blair stressed that it was ultimately a matter for the Independent Monitoring Commission to decide and that political judgments must flow from that.

Speaking in the British House of Commons, Mr Blair also emphasised the IMC’s ‘crucial role’ in providing independent verification amid the myriad “claims and counter claims” from all sides.

He was challenged about decommissioning by the DUP’s David Simpson, who referred to last week’s haul of 10,000 bullets in a sealed pipe in woods near Sligo.

Mr Simpson, MP for Upper Bann, said that a senior Garda had alleged that the ammunition belonged to the IRA.

“Would you agree with me now that the full decommissioning that was promised to the people of Northern Ireland in fact did not happen?” Mr Simpson said.

But Mr Blair told him: “I can’t agree with that, no.”

He added: “Throughout the whole course of the peace process over these last few years we have sought to get some form of independent verification about whether the claims of the IRA, or indeed the claims of others, are justified or not.”

“For that reason we introduced the IMC. They will look at all the evidence including statements that have been made by those in the Republic or indeed those in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and they will make up their minds as a result of that. But we have got in the end to make our judgments on the basis of what that IMC says,” Mr. Blair said.

“If we do not do that then we are losing the essential objectivity which is the only way that you can determine claim or counter claim. There are claims and counter claims made on all sides of this issue. Here is only one way of determining them finally and that is the process that we set up and actually that you supported at the time,” Mr. Blair concluded.

BBC

**This is such great news! See ‘Save our son!’ Now he needs prayers.

A health board has agreed to fund an operation in Germany for a seriously ill child in need of a bone marrow transplant.

Leukaemia affects white blood cells - part of the body’s infection defence

James Hynes is 13-months-old and is suffering from leukaemia.

Last week, doctors at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast told his parents nothing more could be done for the child.

However, it has been confirmed he will go to Germany for an operation funded by the NHS.

As James is not in remission, current medical guidelines mean that he is not a candidate for the operation in Northern Ireland.

‘Chances of success’

BBC NI reporter Conor Macauley said: “The family got onto the internet and were frantically searching around for options.

“They found a consultant in Germany who was prepared to do the operation privately.

“The family then went public in an effort to raise the money and there was a massive public response.

“This morning, the Eastern Health and Social Services Board said if the doctors in the Royal think it appropriate to send little James to Germany for the procedure, they will be prepared to foot the £100,000 bill.”

After telephone consultations with doctors at the Royal on Wednesday, medical experts in Germany have agreed to treat the child.

“James seems to be in good enough form - the lump is swelling a little, but the doctors are telling us that they are going to get the chemotherapy ready for him.”
James Hynes
Baby’s father

He is expected to travel to Germany on Thursday.

The toddler’s father, also named James, is delighted with the development.

“We are just waiting on James to get more chemotherapy,” said Mr Hynes.

“He will hopefully be going to go on the plane tomorrow (Thursday) and we are just trying to find out what time we will be flying out at.

“James seems to be in good enough form - the lump is swelling a little, but the doctors are telling us that they are going to get the chemotherapy ready for him.”

The baby is expected to have more chemotherapy in Germany ahead of the procedure, which will involve the use of bone marrow from one of his parents.

They have been told that the operation only has a 20-30% chance of success.

In a statement, the Eastern Health Board stressed it “acted immediately to consider funding for the on-going treatment in Germany” of James.

The board said it was “following well-established procedures that govern circumstances of this nature”.

It said it would “meet the cost of further treatment as considered appropriate by clinical staff at the Royal Hospitals”.

Sinn Féin

Published: 12 May, 2006

Sinn Féin National Chairperson and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has this morning questioned the Irish Government Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea on whether or not Irish troops would be under the command of British forces in the new European Battle Groups.

Ms McDonald made her comments after it emerged that the battle group which Ireland will likely join will have its headquarters in Northwood, Britain.

Speaking today Ms McDonald said:

“The Irish Government has clearly committed itself to the European Union‚s fledgling military ambitions as a regional power on the global stage. These EU Battle Groups are the first step along this road and will allow the European Union to deploy troop platoons in conflict zones around the world.

“Sinn Féin has serious reservations about these EU Battle Groups. Not only are they a gross infringement of the principle of Irish neutrality but in addition they will weaken the United Nation‚s ability and capacity to respond to international crises effectively, since European troops will be diverted to these battle groups.

“I want to take this opportunity to challenge Willie O’Dea, and to ask him whether or not Irish troops will be expected to fight alongside British forces and if Irish troops will be under the command of the British Army. Many Irish people will have serious reservations regarding the further erosion of the principle of neutrality and also the fact that Irish troops could potentially take orders from an army who continue to occupy the north eastern six counties of Ireland.

“If this is indeed the case, then the Irish people have a right to know that Ireland has become inextricably associated with the concept of a fledgling EU army, military intervention and the British army - which has murdered Irish citizens, colluded in the murder of Irish citizens and continues to occupy part of the nation.” ENDS

BN.ie

13/06/2006 - 21:02:32

Hopes of a peaceful summer marching season in the North grew tonight after an accommodation was reached between rival groups over a highly contentious parade due to take place in North Belfast .

Dialogue between loyalist and nationalist groups over the Tour of the North Orange parade on Friday evening prompted the Parades Commission to announce it would make no ruling on the main parade or its feeder parades.

The parade has often sparked violence between marches and nationalist residents and set the tone for further trouble in the weeks following.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey said: “This is a significant breakthrough which I warmly welcome.
“It is a very significant step forward and creates a positive context over the Whiterock Parade the following week.”

Last year the Whiterock parade was postponed when the Parades Commission refused to allow Orangemen to follow their chosen route.

When it did go ahead weeks later it sparked some of the worst street violence seen in the North in recent years.

The Parades Commission said tonight it had heard from a joint delegation representing the loyalist North and West Belfast Parades Forum and the nationalist Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group regarding the outcome of discussions facilitated by the commission.

Commission chairman Roger Poole said he was pleased to note the progress which had been made in the discussions and the emergence of an accommodation between the two sides in respect of the feeder parades associated with the Tour of the North parade.

Mr Poole said: “We acknowledge that the discussions are at a very early stage and that the whole question of parades in north Belfast requires a long term and sustainable solution.”

But he said: “Both sides in the area have committed their organisations to a prolonged process of dialogue which will continue into this summer and beyond. This is a significant commitment which the commission welcomes.”

He added: “The communities on both sides deserve a huge amount of credit for the way in which they have approached this very sensitive matter.

“They have brought to the discussions a degree of respect, trust and a willingness to resolve these issues in a way which benefits the entire community.”

He said while the developments were very welcome he wanted to emphasise that they were the first steps on a long road.

“What has been agreed in advance of Friday is the beginning of a process rather than a conclusion.”

Mr Poole said since he had arrived in Northern Ireland to take over as chairman of the Commission last November, he had been told people on the ground wanted to resolve matters over marches.

“The efforts of all concerned in this dialogue demonstrate that fact very clearly.”

He said he had also been told the Tour of the North parade often set the tone for the remainder of the marching season, especially in Belfast.

The Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group and the North and West Belfast Parades Forum had “demonstrated that accommodation can be reached without the surrender of valued principles.

“Hopefully that lesson can be taken on board across Belfast and across Northern Ireland,” said Mr Poole.

The Parades Commission had decided, at the request of both sides, that it would not issue a determination with respect of feeder parades along the Crumlin Road on Friday, he announced.

BN.ie

13/06/2006 - 22:09:20

A Dublin man was charged with membership of an illegal organisation at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court tonight .

Cillian Kelly (aged 23) of Riverwood Grove, Carpenterstown, Dublin 15 was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on June 12.

Detective Sergeant Donal Prenty, Special Detective Unit, gave evidence of arresting Kelly at the North Circular Road at 6.10 pm on suspicion of membership of the IRA. The Detective Sergeant said that Kelly made no reply after caution and he was conveyed to Mountjoy Garda Station.

Prosecuting solicitor Mr Denis Butler said there would be no garda objection to bail and the court remanded Kelly in custody until Thursday when a bail application will be heard.

Fresh guidelines for the way buildings in Northern Ireland are designed have been published.

NIO minister Maria Eagle launched a new architectural policy to raise the standard of design of publicly funded buildings.

It will apply to hospitals, schools and offices, as well as public open spaces and physical infrastructure.

The idea is that attractive, well designed buildings can improve health, well-being and quality of life.

However, the minister also emphasised the need to protect the natural heritage from any insensitive development.

It is thought that over the next 10 years, the government will invest at “unprecedented levels” to improve the quality of the built environment in Northern Ireland.

‘Creativity’

The government began a consultation process on Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland in April 2005.

In May 2006, NIO minister David Hanson said the government was preparing to publish the policy.

He said at the time: “The policy, whilst promoting creativity and innovation in design, will also advocate the protection and enhancement of the architectural and natural heritage.

“By making the goal of design quality a priority, government aspires to excellence in the design of buildings, landscapes, urban spaces and infrastructure.”