Ireland
Ireland’s “Green” coalition: Environmentalists and Fianna Fail unite
By Steve James, August 14, 2007
Green parties worldwide are already synonymous with spectacular renunciations of principle. Policies advocated, perhaps for decades, are dropped within hours of entering government. In return for some...
Northern Ireland: Apparent suicide and destruction of records mark opening of Billy Wright inquiry
By Steve James, June 26, 2007
John Kenneway was found dead in his Northern Ireland prison cell on June 8. Shortly after his death in Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service announced its regrets. The Northern Irelan...
Fianna Fail wins Irish election
By Steve James, June 2, 2007
The ruling Fianna Fail in Ireland did better than expected in the 24 May general election to the Dáil Éireann. The outcome has been proclaimed a triumph for residing Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who is ...
Irish election likely to be close
By Steve James, May 23, 2007
The outcome of tomorrow’s Irish general election is thought too close to call.
Beyond the hyperbole, what next for Northern Ireland?
By Chris Marsden and Julie Hyland, May 10, 2007
The ceremonial opening of the power-sharing Executive at Stormont, with Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness sitting alongside Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is portrayed as a fair...
Sinn Fein endorse Police Service of Northern Ireland and MI5 operations
By Steve James, February 7, 2007
Sinn Fein’s special convention on January 28 gave its backing to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland criminal justice system.
Northern Ireland: The arrest of Kevin Fulton and the Omagh bombing
By Steve James, December 1, 2006
The arrest of former British spy Kevin Fulton has implications that go beyond its impact on the current trial of Sean Hoey at Belfast Crown Court. Hoey, from South Armagh, has been in jail since 2003,...
Ireland: “Bertiegate” corruption allegations against Taoiseach Ahern
By Steve James, November 21, 2006
Leaks from the Mahon Tribunal into alleged planning corruption in the early 1990s focus on Ireland’s Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern.
Ireland’s unions cement 10-year pay and public spending agreement
By Steve James, August 1, 2006
Ireland’s trade unions, employers and the Fianna Fail-led government have agreed to a new 10-year national pay and public spending agreement, “Towards 2016.”
How deep does the state penetration of Sinn Fein go?
Northern Ireland: the Donaldson affair and the threat to democratic rights
By Steve James and Chris Marsden, January 19, 2006
The exposure of Denis Donaldson, one of Sinn Fein’s leading figures in the suspended Northern Ireland Assembly, as a British intelligence agent of 20 years standing tears a hole in the democrati...
Northern Ireland spy scandal: Questions Sinn Fein must answer
By by Socialist Equality Party (Britain), December 22, 2005
The exposure of leading Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson as a British spy raises profound questions.
Northern Ireland: loyalist riots point to unresolved social and political tensions
By Steve James, September 19, 2005
The eruption of orchestrated rioting in some predominantly working class Protestant areas of Belfast is a sharp indicator of the social and political tensions being generated within the “new&rdq...
