DUP Dog That Didn't Bark

The DUP spent many years shouting from the roof tops that they were the only Unionist party that could deliver for the people of Ulster. Yet in Government, their brand of Unionism has been muted.

They promised us to re-balance the relationship between North-South and East-West. However, no improvement in East-West co-operation has taken place while the North-South bodies continue. Some may say that they can't do much on this without the support of Provisional SF/IRA and the UK Government. But the DUP haven't pushed the idea e.g. Ulster-Scots groups in Scotland and the rest of the UK can't get funding from the Ulster-Scots Agency.

However, another item which the DUP has failed to do has been highlighted by a posting from oneill in which he talks about promises from the DUP leader. Peter Robinson told us he was going to set up a Unionist Academy to increase the understanding of history and heritage of the British Isles (in addition to the more local and cultural Ulster-Scots Agency). A couple of years on, no progress. He also said he would set up a "British Cultural and Equality Unit to provide legal advice to the public on fighting the removal of British emblems from Northern Ireland society". A couple of years on, no progress.

Are the DUP turning into the Dog that didn't bark ... because they are now over-familiar with the SF/IRA criminals in Government?

Ireland and Rugby

I've blogged on this in the past: the Ireland rugby team and their political symbols. Yesterday I watched Ireland vs Australia. It was a good entertaining game. Yet the IRFU have once again shown their political side by their choice of flags at the start of the match. They had two flags leading them out: The Republic of Ireland flag and the 9 county yellow Ulster flag. That means three counties were represented twice!

If the IRFU had any decency they would either have both the RoI and NI flags or a common flag e.g. Cross of St Patrick, rugby flag. Either it is a joint Northern Ireland + Republic of Ireland team or it's not. When we had a DUP minister for sport, nothing was done about the issue. So there isn't much chance of the current convicted SF/IRA terrorist who occupies that office doing anything. But why are the Unionist politicians so quiet about it all? Yes, some of our best Grammar schools play rugby to the exclusion of football - something that doesn't help the NI football team. But have most of our Unionist grammar school boys and girls been so indoctrinated by their schooling that they're willing to cheer for the tricolour team when Ireland are playing and then go back to being Unionists at the end of the game? I for one haven't been indoctrinated and demand that the IRFU recognise the Northern Ireland state - otherwise, let's have a Northern Ireland rugby team.

McGuinness needs to confess crimes

Lord Tebbit has rightly said that Martin McGuinness should confess his crimes before standing for the presidency of the Republic of Ireland. The Provisional Sinn Fein/IRA group keep saying they favour a truth commission to hear accounts from all sides. The only problem is that the Provos have been telling lies as part of their strategy for many years. We are supposed to believe that Adams was never in the killing side of their organisation. McGuinness told us for many years he was also never in the terrorist death squads until he changed his mind and gave 'evidence' to the inquiry about the incident on 30 January 1972 in Londonderry. He has failed to give any evidence on the many people he has murdered or told others to murder. So Martin, let's hear the truth for once. Any chance?

Are Provisional Sinn Fein-IRA Scum?

There has been much talk about Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott calling some Sinn Fein supporters scum.

I would have to agree with the following:

"Terrorists around the world don’t get called nice names except in this part of the UK: we call them Deputy First Minister, Sinn Fein Ministers etc. Yes, Sinn Fein now support the PSNI. But they continue to defend the murders they carried out against their neighbours. Their message is not clear especially when it comes to the so-called dissidents.

Tom Elliott may have been provoked into using such a term as 'scum'. But many people in the Republic of Ireland, the UK and further afield would also call Sinn Fein 'scum' until they say sorry for the broken lives and heartache they caused to their families."

Spotlight on Northern Ireland Water

The recent BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme examined the crisis at Northern Ireland Water.

Items which should have been of interest to BBC NI are:

• The appointment of Sinn Fein/PIRA member Mairtin O’Muilleoir to the board (he was interviewed, but no mention of his political connections) along with a Republican trade union member;
• The appointment of Padraic White - husband of Fianna Fail member Mary White who co-founded Lir Chocolates and also visited Colombia seven times during the trial of the Sinn Fein/PIRA terrorists in Colombia. Senator White hasn't shown the same interest in human right abuses by Sinn Fein/PIRA;
• The confidence Sinn Fein/PIRA Minister Murphy had in the interim board; convicted terrorist Murphy said at the time: "The new interim board members have a great depth and breadth of experience which will enable them to meet the challenge of their future roles."
  

When the BBC has reported on other scandals, they have pointed out such political connections. Yet, silence about them in this programme. And the questions towards Minister Murphy were soft to say the least.

Murphy can continue on in his role as a result of the Belfast Agreement/St Andrew's Agreement form of Government in Northern Ireland. In any true democracy, he would be sacked.