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September 29, 2006

DUP: We'll Wait For the Right Deal

News About Ireland & The Irish

BN 09/29/06 We'll Wait For Right Deal, Says DUP Chairman
BB 09/29/06 Ahern Under Fire In New Cash Row
IT 09/29/06 'Irish Times' Defends Non-Disclosure Of Ahern Leak Source
BN 09/29/06 Irish 50 Pound Note Breaks World Record Price

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/09/29/story278900.html

We'll Wait For Right Deal, Says DUP Chairman

29/09/2006 - 14:41:09

The Democratic Unionists (DUP) will hold out for the right
deal instead of a rushed one, a senior member of the party
insisted today.

In an attack on the rival Ulster Unionists, DUP chairman
Lord Morrow insisted his party would not be making the same
mistakes Reg Empey's party had made in previous
negotiations.

As the North's politicians prepared for hothouse talks next
month in Scotland aimed at restoring power sharing, the
Fermanagh and South Tyrone Assembly Member said no-one in
his party believed Sinn F‚in would be able to meet its
obligations by the November 24 deadline if republicans
continued at their present pace.

"What matters is that the republican movement meets the
requirements of democracy," he stressed.

"Deeds and not deadlines will lead to devolution.

"The policy of the UUP has been roundly rejected by the
unionist electorate.

"The unionist community does not want to see a repeat of
the errors of the UUP. The DUP will not be making the same
mistakes that the UUP did.

"Our steadfast negotiating style has yielded much more from
the republican movement than the weak, pushover approach of
the UUP.

"We will hold out for nothing short of a complete end to
all republican illegality and we are right to do so.

"Our approach is paying off and we will hold out for the
right deal and not a rushed one.

"It is conditions that must be met and not some contrived
date on a calendar."

Earlier this year Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British prime
minister Tony Blair are set November 24 as the deadline for
political progress.

Next month's talks involving the Ahern, Blair and the
various party leaders at St Andrew's will indicate if a
deal is possible by then.

Both leaders hope a report next week by the four-member
Independent Monitoring Commission will provide the right
mood music for the talks by confirming the IRA has
significantly moved to end criminal and paramilitary
activity.

However the DUP, the North's largest party, remains to be
convinced the IRA has ended all criminal and paramilitary
operations.

Ian Paisley's party has also raised concerns about Sinn
F‚in's attitude to IRA crime.

They have also argued that Gerry Adams' party cannot be a
credible partner in government if it continues its policy
of refusing to endorse the Police Service of Northern
Ireland.

During a visit to the Labour Party conference in Manchester
yesterday, Mr Paisley also called for a fresh election to
endorse any deal.

That possibility was not ruled out by Northern Secretary
Peter Hain on his return to Belfast from the conference.

Following a speech earlier this week from Lord Morrow in
the Assembly, which appeared to rule out the prospect of
devolved government by November 24, Ulster Unionist leader
Reg Empey yesterday queried why the governments were
bothering to hold talks in Scotland.

The DUP peer, however, accused the Ulster Unionists of
having a track record of settling for second best, sharing
power with Sinn F‚in on three occasions while the IRA
remained active.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/5392218.stm

Ahern Under Fire In New Cash Row

Irish PM Bertie Ahern is facing renewed pressure after
revealing that he accepted œ8,000 (11,800 euros; $15,000)
for a speaking engagement in 1994.

The Progressive Democrats, partners in Mr Ahern's
coalition, have spoken of "very significant matters of
concern".

Mr Ahern said earlier this week he received thousands of
dollars in loans from friends when finance minister but
that he had "broken no codes".

An opposition leader said Mr Ahern's position could soon
become untenable.

The Irish Republic's parliament is due to debate the issue
next Tuesday.

A general election is due in the first half of 2007.

'No official script'

The latest concerns over Mr Ahern's finances relate to a
speaking engagement in Manchester in 1994, during his
tenure as finance minister.

Mr Ahern said he received unsolicited money totalling
œ8,000 from about 25 businessmen after finishing a speech.

He was giving the speech in a personal capacity, he said.

"So, no official script, not an official function, not in
my capacity as minister, paid my own way, spoke at the
function and on one occasion the assembled group of about
25, plus the group who were with me from Ireland, gave me
the sum of money that I mentioned."

But the disclosure prompted several politicians to
criticise the prime minister.

Deputy PM Michael McDowell, leader of the Progressive
Democrats, the junior partner in government, said: "Public
confidence and the sustainability of government requires
that these issues be addressed."

Enda Kenny, leader of the main opposition party, Fine Gael,
called for a clear resolution of the ongoing controversy of
Mr Ahern's finances.

"If these matters are not cleared up and continue to
unravel, then the position of the Taoiseach will become
untenable," he said.

Mr Ahern won support from the current finance minister,
Brian Cowen, who said there was "no question" of anything
dishonest or corrupt.

"Where is there any evidence to suggest that he compromised
the performance of his public duties?" he asked.

Speaking on Irish television this week, Mr Ahern confirmed
he received an IRœ22,500 (28,000 euros; $36,000; œ19,000)
loan from eight friends in December 1993 and a further loan
of IRœ16,500 in 1994 from four others.

He said the money was to pay costs during his marital
separation.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/09/29 13:12:56 GMT
c BBC MMVI

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http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/0929/breaking37.htm

'Irish Times' Defends Non-Disclosure Of Ahern Leak Source

By Eoin Burke-Kennedy Last updated: 29-09-06, 15:04

Irish Times public affairs correspondent Colm Keena told
the Mahon tribunal this morning he was unable to give the
source of a leak revealing it was investigating payments to
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern because he did not want to
compromise journalistic sources.

Mr Keena told the tribunal in Dublin Castle this morning he
could not divulge the origin of documents that led to a
front page article on September 21st revealing the tribunal
was investigating a number of payments to Mr Ahern in or
around December 1993, including cash payments.

Under questioning from Desmond O'Neill, SC for the
tribunal, Mr Keena said he could not reveal how he received
information contained in a letter from the tribunal to
businessman David McKenna sent on June 29th this year.

Mr McKenna is one of a group of 12 businessmen who made
payments totalling œ38,500 to Mr Ahern in 1993 and 1994.

Mr Keena confirmed he had seen the contents of the letter
to Mr McKenna and that he stood over his story.

"I feel that if I assist tribunal I will be in breach of my
obligations not to reveal my source," Mr Keena said.

Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy also faced questions
from tribunal lawyers. She admitted destroying documents
received by The Irish Times concerning payments to Mr Ahern
following an order of discovery by the tribunal last week.

"I made the only decision I could to protect journalistic
sources. Providing the documents would assist you in
identifying sources," she told the tribunal.

Ms Kennedy said the content of Mr Keena's article had been
"thoroughly verified", and she defended its publication as
a matter of public interest.

She said she had the utmost respect for the workings of the
tribunal and regretted any offence caused by the article's
publication.

But she remarked on the irony of the fact that the Mahon,
Moriarty and McCracken tribunals would not have been set up
without newspaper leaks.

Earlier the tribunal heard the contents of a letter sent by
Ms Kennedy to the tribunal defending her decision to
publish the article.

"The circumstances of the matter are straightforward," she
wrote. "The Irish Times received an unsolicited and
anonymous communication that I considered important in the
public interest for this newspaper to verify and publish."

This was a "vital issue of public interest" that Ms Kennedy
said she had a duty to publish.

Earlier, counsel for The Irish Times Eoin McGonigal SC said
the issue related to journalistic privilege. The
newspaper's stance was that in fulfilling its duties under
the freedom of expression, it should never reveal its
sources.

He added that the newspaper had destroyed all documentation
referring to the source of the leak.

Mr Justice Mahon said the revelation that documents were
destroyed was "something we have to take very seriously".

Mr Justice Mahon adjourned the tribunal until 2pm on
Wednesday.

c 2006 ireland.com

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/09/29/story278931.html

Irish 50 Pound Note Breaks World Record Price

29/09/2006 - 17:04:43

Believed to be one of the rarest Irish banknotes in
existence, an Irish œ50 note sold in London today for
œ27,600, a new world record price.

The Bank of Ireland œ50 note, dated May 5, 1827, is
probably the only one of its kind in private hands today.
It bears the serial number 1362 and is printed on Bank of
Ireland watermarked paper.

"The room was packed from the start," said Caroline Weiner,
Banknotes Specialist at Spink Auctioneers.

"When the Irish note came up for sale people sat straight
up in their seats awaiting the bidding frenzy. And what a
frenzy it was!

"Four bidders fought it out in the end and the winning
bidder, who must remain anonymous, was thrilled.

"It was exciting to watch and we are very pleased with the
result."

Posted by: Unknown / 11:58 AM
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