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February 07, 2007

N Ireland: Hate Capital of Western World




News about Ireland & the Irish

BT 02/07/07 N Ireland: Hate Capital Of Western World
BT 02/07/07 Hain Will Have Control Of New Justice Body
BB 02/07/07 Hain: Obstacles To Devolution 'Removed'
BT 02/07/07 DUP Will Not Be Forced By Deadlines: Robinson
BN 02/07/07 Don't Sabotage Road To Devolution
BB 02/07/07 PSNI Set To Respond On Collusion
BT 02/07/07 Orde To Dominate Policing Meeting
RT 02/07/07 Met Éireann Warning Of Heavy Snowfalls

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2245817.ece

Northern Ireland: Hate Capital Of Western World

[Published: Wednesday 7, February 2007 - 08:55]
By Kathryn Torney

Northern Ireland is the hate capital of the western world,
according to new research by the University of Ulster.

Not only does Northern Ireland have the highest proportion
of bigots - just ahead of Greece - but the bigots are on
average more bigoted than those in other countries.

The main target of the Ulster bigots are homosexuals,
followed by immigrants or foreign workers.

Anna Lo, Alliance Party candidate for the Assembly,
described the findings as "a very sad reflection of the
state of society in Northern Ireland" .

The disturbing study was carried out by Vani Borooah,
professor of applied economics at the University of Ulster,
and John Mangan, professor of economics at the University
of Queensland.

It is now due to be published in the prestigious economics
journal Kyklos.

Nearly 32,000 people in 19 European countries as well as in
Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US took part in the
human beliefs and values survey.

They were asked: Would you like to have persons from this
group as your neighbours?

The five groups were people of another race, immigrants or
foreign workers, Muslims, Jews and homosexuals.

In Northern Ireland 44% of the 1,000 respondents did not
want persons from at least one of the five groups as their
neighbours. The province was closely followed by Greece
(43%).

The lowest proportion of bigots was in Sweden (13%),
Iceland (18%), Canada (22%) and Denmark (22%).

As regards each of the five groups, the percentage of
respondents in Northern Ireland who would not like them as
neighbours was homosexuals (35.9%), immigrants or foreign
workers (18.9%), Muslims (16%), Jews (11.6%) and people of
a different race (11.1%).

For the same groups, the average of all the countries
surveyed was respectively 19.6%, 10.1%, 14.5%, 9.5% and
8.5%.

Homophobia was by far the main source of bigotry in most
western countries: over 80% of bigoted persons in Northern
Ireland and Canada and 75% of bigots in Austria, the US,
Great Britain, Ireland and Italy would not want homosexuals
as neighbours. Along with Greece, Northern Ireland was the
most homophobic country in the western world.

The study also found that women are less likely to be
bigoted than men and the young (15 to 29 years) and middle-
aged (30 to 49) were less likely to be bigoted than those
aged over 50.

Ms Lo said: "I am not totally surprised by the findings but
this is a sad reflection of society in Northern Ireland.

"I would call on the political leaders, church leaders,
school teachers, community activists and every individual
in Northern Ireland to try and reflect on this and address
it.

"We need a lot of leadership but we also need more
education to change these attitudes. If we do not do this,
we are doomed.

"If we are labelled with such a bad reputation how are we
going to promote ourselves on the global stage?"

c Belfast Telegraph

*********************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2246104.ece

Hain Will Have Control Of New Justice Body

[Published: Wednesday 7, February 2007 - 10:49]
By Mark Hookham

New powers to allow the Government to impose its preferred
structure for a future Justice Ministry have been given the
green light.

Legislation was agreed which would allow the Secretary of
State to break any future political deadlock on the model
for a ministry.

But the move in the House of Commons sparked a heated
debate with the Tories warning that the DUP's "triple lock"
on policing powers had been undermined.

Ulster's political parties are currently split over how any
future Stormont justice department would be structured.

Both the DUP and Ulster Unionists favour a single minister
for the new justice department, while Sinn Fein is
suggesting a jobshare, with two ministers sharing equal
status.

Last night's amendment to the Justice and Security
(Northern Ireland) Bill would allow the Government to
impose its preferred structure if, after May 2008, the
Assembly had agreed to accept the devolution of policing
and justice powers, but still could not agree how the
department would work.

Such an imposed department would have a minister and a
"transitional" deputy minister, whose post would be
abolished after three years. Both ministers would be
elected by the Assembly.

Criminal justice minister David Hanson said: "The Secretary
of State is wishing to look at how we can encourage the
development of devolution of policing by giving an extra
model for consideration.

"The Secretary of State will retain the right to impose
this model if that is the deal-breaker to break the log-
jam."

He stressed that such an imposition would be only a "last
resort" if the structure of the department was the last
"stumbling block".

Secretary of State Peter Hain last month told Stormont's
policing and justice sub-committee that he will give
himself ministerial appointment powers as "a fallback
mechanism" in case a party defaults on arrangements.

But his assurances failed to win around Conservative
spokesman Laurence Robertson who warned: "It seems to be
that the department can be set up.

"I am very concerned about it. I don't think the triple
lock is in place."

Meanwhile, SDLP leader Mark Durkan accused the Government
of trying to give the DUP the impression that the triple
lock still stands, while at the same time convincing Sinn
Fein that it is taking "all necessary steps" to ensure
devolution takes place by May next year.

c Belfast Telegraph

*********************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6337821.stm

Hain: Obstacles To Devolution 'Removed'

All remaining obstacles to devolution in Northern Ireland
have been removed, according to the secretary of state.

Peter Hain was responding to questions in the House of
Commons about the prospects for power-sharing on March 26.

Meanwhile, Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson said if
an executive was not formed by 26 March the assembly would
be dissolved.

He said that date was set down in the St Andrews Agreement.

Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are due to take
place on 7 March.

Speaking during Northern Ireland Questions on Wednesday, Mr
Hain said if there was continued delivery on support for
policing and the rule of law from Sinn Fein, there would be
no reason for any unionist not to join a power-sharing
executive on 26 March.


DUP MP Willie McCrea said the DUP's position was
"condition-led, not calendar-led".

However, Mr Hain described devolution as a "tremendous
prize" for all parties and said if it was missed it would
lead to a "very bleak future" for Northern Ireland for a
very long time.

On Tuesday, Mr Hanson warned politicians against trying to
delay or stop the introduction of devolution next month.

Speaking after the third Reading of the Justice and
Security Bill in the House of Commons, he said: "Anyone who
is basing their political strategy on pushing devolution
beyond March 26 or trying to stop devolution altogether
will find that they will be left behind."

He said the point had come for local politicians where the
process outside office must end so progress in office could
begin.

He warned: "If the executive is not formed on 26 March
2007, the assembly will dissolve and the world will move
on.

"After everything that has been done to get us to this
point it would be unthinkable to fail now."

Mr Hanson said the Northern Ireland of 2007 was not the
Northern Ireland of 1977 and could move forward to the day
when the devolution process was complete.

That, he said, would come with the devolution of policing
and justice powers which the government had said should be
achieved by May 2008.

"All that has happened since the Sinn Fein ard fheis has
reinforced our view that 'delivery' can and will be done by
May 2008," said Mr Hanson.

Road map

The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in 2002 amid
allegations of a republican spying ring.

In October 2006, Ireland and the UK negotiated the St
Andrews Agreement - a road map towards the restoration of
the power-sharing government.

A new power-sharing executive is due to be formed on 26
March.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2007/02/07 13:04:41 GMT
c BBC MMVII

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2246105.ece

DUP Will Not Be Forced By Deadlines: Robinson

[Published: Wednesday 7, February 2007 - 10:50]
By Mark Hookham

The DUP's deputy leader outlined the conditions which
should be met before justice and policing powers are handed
over to a future Stormont Assembly.

Peter Robinson insisted the DUP would be "condition led,
not calendar led" and not "forced by deadlines".

But he appeared to agree that the government's aspiration
of devolving policing powers by May 2008 could be an
achievable aim.

He described the date as at the "very earliest part of the
tolerance of most people".

Speaking during the report stage of the Justice and
Security Bill, he said Sinn Fein had to "build confidence"
before policing and justice powers could be handed over
from Whitehall.

The criteria he described which should be met before this
happens were:

l Is the Assembly itself sufficiently stable to have very
sensitive powers devolved to it?

l Is the model under which the powers would operate
"workable and durable"?

l Does the minister who would exercise those powers have
the support and confidence of the "community as a whole"?

The East Belfast MP said: "Any sensible democrat in that
Assembly will judge it against those kind of issues.

"They will not simply look at the date on their calendar
and say this is the day when devolution should take place.

"They will look sensibly to see are the circumstances on
the ground right where safely we can have those powers
devolved to Northern Ireland.

"I think the date of May 2008 would be at the very earliest
part of the tolerance of most people as to how you would
have the Assembly bedded in, consolidated sufficiently in
order to have those kind of powers devolved. "

c Belfast Telegraph

*********************

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNGBIDQLGB&rss=rss1

Don't Sabotage Road To Devolution, Warns Minister

07/02/2007 - 07:36:10

A British government minister has warned the North's
politicians against trying to delay or stop the
introduction of devolution next month.

Speaking after the 3rd Reading of the Justice and Security
Bill in the British House of Commons last night, Criminal
Justice Minister David Hanson made clear ministers would
not accept any attempt to delay devolution beyond the March
26 date set by London and Dublin.

Mr Hanson stressed that if the Executive was not formed on
March 26 following the Assembly election earlier in the
month, the Assembly would be dissolved.

The March 26 date was set down in the St Andrews Agreement
and the St Andrews Act, he said.

"It will not change and anyone who is basing their
political strategy on pushing devolution beyond March 26 or
trying to stop devolution altogether will find that they
will be left behind," he said in a clear warning to the Rev
Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party.

He said the point had come for local politicians where the
process outside office must end so progress in office could
begin.

He warned: "If the Executive is not formed on 26th March
2007, the Assembly will dissolve and the world will move
on.

"After everything that has been done to get us to this
point it would be unthinkable to fail now."

Northern Ireland's politicians from all sides had shown
immense endurance, courage and leadership during the
darkest days, he said.

"They must not lose that endurance, courage and leadership
now when it is needed most," said the minister.

Mr Hanson said the Northern Ireland of 2007 was not the
Northern Ireland of 1977 and could move forward to the day
when the devolution process was complete.

That, he said, would come with the devolution of policing
and justice powers which the Government had said should be
achieved by May 2008.

"All that has happened since the Sinn F‚in Ard Fheis has
reinforced our view that 'delivery' can and will be done by
May 2008," said Mr Hanson.

He added: "Provided Sinn F‚in continue to follow through on
the clear commitment that they have given to support for
policing and the courts - in the terms set out in paragraph
six of the St Andrews Agreement - then there is absolutely
no reason why those powers will not be devolved in May
2008."

*********************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2246106.ece

Orde To Dominate Policing Meeting

[Published: Wednesday 7, February 2007 - 10:54]
By Deborah McAleese

The row over Sir Hugh Orde's appointment as Chief Constable
was expected to be discussed during a public meeting of the
Policing Board today.

Last week the Belfast Telegraph revealed details of a
leaked memo to nearly 10,000 officers from the Chief
Constable which showed his anger at comments from SDLP
leader Mark Durkan that his party had played a pivotal role
in Sir Hugh's appointment.

In the memo Sir Orde accused nationalist politicians of
insulting the PSNI and using policing as a political
football.

The SDLP comments also angered unionist and independent
members of the policing board and board chairman Sir
Desmond Rea has written to Mr Durkan demanding an apology.

Today's meeting will be the first public meeting of the
board since the row erupted and the DUP is expected to call
on Sir Desmond to hold an inquiry into the SDLP's claim.

The UUP is expected to call for a retraction and a public
apology to board members.

During the meeting the PSNI is also expected to give its
response to the Ombudsman's report into collusion between
Special Branch officers and loyalist killers in north
Belfast.

Nuala O'Loan's report found that officers colluded with
loyalists behind more than a dozen murders in the 1990s.

c Belfast Telegraph

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http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0207/weather.html?rss

Met Eireann Warning Of Heavy Snowfalls

Wednesday, 7 February 2007 12:51

Met Eireann is warning of significant snowfalls across
parts of the country over the next 24 hours.

Forecasters say a band of rain and sleet will move up from
Munster tonight and fall as heavy snow over Leinster,
Connacht and the Midlands overnight.

Combined with strong easterly winds, it will make for very
unpleasant outdoor conditions.

Up to 6cm of snow could accumulate on the
ground, and maybe up to 10cm in parts of the north Midlands
and Ulster.

Local authorities are being asked to make preparations, and
farmers in some areas are being advised they may want to
bring animals indoors.

It comes after road temperatures reached -7C in parts of
the country this morning, leaving driving conditions
hazardous.

This morning motorists were being warned about hazardous
driving conditions across the country.

Counties Wexford, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Cavan, Monaghan, and
Dublin and its hinterland had all been identified as
dangerous.

Disruption to Aer Lingus flights expected

Aer Lingus flights to and from Dublin Airport will be
disrupted today due to early morning delays caused by a
problem with an aircraft de-icer.

Almost 2,000 passengers were delayed, some by up to three
hours.

The affected flights are short-haul services to the UK and
Continental Europe.

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