I’ve just been listening to an interview with British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers on RTÉ. It raised at least two questions in my mind, neither of which was answered.
When Ms Villiers was asked when she’d first been made aware of An Taoiseach’s proposal for an all-Ireland forum to deal with the fall-out from BREXIT, she told the interviewer “Mind your own business”… No, that’s a lie. She didn’t tell him to mind his own business but she did tell him that she wasn’t going to make public a detail of private negotiations. In other words, mind your own business. This is the woman who, even though her handsome salary is being paid out of the public purse, is not going to tell anything about when she was told about a possible all-Ireland forum. Arrogant, moi?
The second question was raised by the SoS’s confirmation that she’d have nothing to do with an all-Ireland forum. Why not? “Because the present cross-border bodies are working tremendously well”. Translation: because the DUP don’t like it.
I feel safe in saying that most people would be hard put to name the cross-border bodies, let alone identify what they have done for the benefit of the Irish people north and/or south. Either they’re working with noiseless efficiency or (more likely) they’re not doing any work that would merit a mention. And since they were created when BREXIT was only a tiny twinkle in Nigel Farage’s eye, how could they possibly succeed in coping with the massive new problems posed by BREXIT?
What has happened would appear to be the following:
- Enda Kenny sprang the notion of a national forum in response to the present crisis without consulting all who might have been involved. Hence Arlene’s dismissal of the proposal with all the aplomb of Maggie Out-Out –Out Thatcher.
- Theresa Villiers figured she’d better side with Arlene, since if she didn’t the unionists might get cross with her and who knows where that might lead.
- Villiers is following faithfully the pattern of behaviour of BREXIT’s three caballeros, Nigel, Boris and Michael Gove. Detach from Europe, light the blue touch-paper and then run/hope for the best.
I can detect only one possible consolation from the deep shit in which we find ourselves mired – that unionist politicians will see how their welfare and that of the rest of Ireland are inextricably linked. That said, if Arlene’s initial response is to be the model, then even that consolation will be denied us.
Did you ever get the feeling that nationalist/republican sensitivities and ambitions count for less than nothing?
Every now and again Jude – every now and again. Interestingly three of the afore mentioned Breshiters have fallen on their swords hopefully Therea’s sword is well sharpened
I agree 100 per cent that most people could not name the 6 cross-border bodies much less cite anything useful they achieved. This begs the question as to why some SF spokespersons refer to them as “The six poweful all-Ireland bodies”. Delusional!
Happy Birthday for Tuesday, it being the day it is I hope you have a nice walk. As for the SoS, well she does come from an Orange Family so her partiality I is beyond question. Then again neither of the two wi women would be wanting to cause upset at the various fields which might translate as sectarian hate speeches and get the Hoi Polloi all worked up.
I wonder how the petition for a border poll is doing. The last time I looked it wasn’t too healthy at all it’s almost as if no one knows or even cares about it.
Thanks, PJD. I’ll be doing my walking in streets beyond this jurisdiction, I’m happy to say. The border poll seems to me to have no chance – people are too caught up in the BREXIT mayhem. It’d be nice to think we’d all got it wrong but I’m fearful for things economically and politically and any other way you want to put it. The background crunching sound resembles the sound of institutions collapsing.
You are slipping Jude.When did you last hear an RTÉ interviewer use the term “mainland”,not once,but twice in the one interview?
Ha ha – well spotted, Rb. I confess I stopped listening after a couple of minutes. There’s something about Theresa’s nasal tones that sort of corkscrew into my ear and set my teeth on edge…
Thanks Jude, I made the point on all Ireland bodies just a couple of weeks ago, having just driven past with the Daddi agus Mammi, but the lord lieutenant is far from stupid, remember how, post 1992 brit election the brit PM was reduced, because of a party partly divided on eurpoe, on the unionists, does she think, ‘well, if an Taoiseach nua moves me to some nice position where I shan’t have to deal with those horrid micks, will she be better placed to deal with negotiations to maintain her divided party in government for the subsequent thirty months.
Any chance she’ll fall on her cue?
The question is, where will Ms Villiers take her cue? Regime change is in the air, again, with battle lines drawn in the Tory Party. Ms May favours the Remain camp and Ms Villiers remains in the Out Camp.
Mr Blair’s undemocratic attempt to force regime change in Iraq is mirrored in attempts to keep Mr Corbyn’s name off the ballot paper in Labour’s leadership contest. Is Mr Corbyn under pressure? He rejects any such suggestion and argues that it is people without homes, food and adequate incomes who remain under pressure.
Back in the Emerald Isle, cross-border bodies remain safe in the hands of An Taoiseach, Mr Robinson and Mr Bruton. Co-operation Ireland has a vision of a peaceful, stable Ireland where people of all backgrounds live and work together for a better future. Evidence of such a better future is perhaps best illustrated by the manner in which partition ceases to be an impediment when it comes to the disposal of property portfolios. Perhaps regime change is good for a country. According to Oscar Wilde, some people create happiness wherever they go and some create happiness whenever they go.
Delighted to hear Jude state that the much heralded Cross Border bodies are “not doing any work that would merit a mention.” Truth be told we’ve been sold a pup with Sinn Fein complicit in keeping this fiction on the road.
The deceptively seductive snap which illustrates your blog today, Esteemed Blogmeister, reminds one just why TV is such a natural for radio.
Your choice of m-word too – mired – was particularly apt. For it reminded one of the very reason why the SOS was on Liffeyside. To participate as an honoured guest in the Solemn Comm of the Somme. That was the Great Donkey Derby 14-18 which was for so long, erm, bedecked in feckin’ neglect.
There was a special reason for SOS to be the VIP in what some north of the Black Sow’s Dyke rather unfairly consider as the Viper’s Nest of Dublin. For, as noted linguist Gregser Crooked-mouth would be only too happy to confirm, SOS is the Leprechaun for CESSATION and thus, SOS COGAIDH the translation of ARMISTICE.
Myers it was, of course, who single-mindedly and single-handedly hauled the GDD 14-18 out of the monolithic boghole of neglect in the 26C. This he achieved from his daily pulpit/ machine gun nest in the uber-accommodating Unionist Times Warp.
From which emanated remorseless dispatches from the mud of the blood-drenched trenches of gory yore and yesteryear alike.
It is not without a certain significance to note that this charmingly unsettling settler from Leicester had to battle against the odds and oddities of the godforsaken Free Southern Stateen, It was as if he was Kevin the Baptist who anticipated another magnificently unlikely achievement of his native city, and in a year ending in 16 too.
If the messianic Leicester Bigot (one uses the term advisedly) was not physically present there today at the solemn ceremony in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, that would be p. understandable.
Having done all the, erm, Donkey Work when it was neither profitable nor binocular friendly , who could possibly carp if the Brigadier General opted to squat at home in Castle Gaelgotha resting on his hardy rump and his laurels alike. Watching another unsettling settler TV on TV as the guest of honour, and him to be wearing his sweaty T-shirt:
– ‘Been there, Don Key’.
Perhaps TV herself even managed to have a cosy tete a tete with yet another u.s. (this time from the U.S.) who has got to wield influence quite possibly out of kilter with their kilts, on either side of the Black Sow’s Dyke. Call it the Kitchener Cabinet, aka, the Daughters of Anti-Slaughter.
The other, of course, would the Minister of Children (!) Katherine Zappone , the Dworkin Class heroine/ hero from over the water in Washginton State who is busily quarterbacking the Next Big Colour Addish to the Rainbow Revolutiion in the ROI:
– The repeal of the 8TH Amendment.
It is almost as if the Emerald Isle is where the settlers – the more unsettling the more latitude- are allowed to roll in the aisles.
Come into the parlour, if your name is Tess, Kev or, Kat where there’s a welcome on the mat – in CEAD MILE FAWLTY TOWERS, where the only in-house rule is:
-Mention the War!
( especially the Great One).
Why TF is everyone having a go at Theresa? Is it just me or does anyone else think she’s pleasing on the eye, speaks well, and surprised everyone by going against the grain and supporting Brexit & revealing her inner, rebellious, rock-chick self.
To me, Angela Eagles is a scarier replacement than Jeremy ‘Trouser Press’ Corbyn. She’s bright, articulate and lambasts well with a razor sharp, cutting edge tongue, but, unfortunately, she’s also a short arse, who has the un-votable characteristic of being a bulldog chewing a wasp .
It all goes to show that the Assembly is just an empty talking shop and the real power lies with the SoS who just has to say no to anything that does not suit the British agenda.
All Marty’s gestures towards the Unionists and the British count for nothing.
“(more likely) they’re (the cross-border bodies) not doing any work that would merit a mention”
Why are you all so outcome driven?
Can’t you see that if you establish the principle of mutual benefit, you can establish the need for cooperation; and if you can do that, you can establish the need for organised cooperation; and if you can do that, you can you can establish the need for harmonisation; and if you can do that, you can establish the need for implementation; and if you can do that you can establish the need for a common budget, and common services, and common tax rates…
we’re currently at “common services”…
And then you worry about measurable outcomes?
It’s simple, really, I drove over the border a week or so ago, and to be perfectly honest the only barrier I saw was on the toll esplanade at Drogheda.
Time, chaps, time.
Meanwhile in DUP land, the Union is safe; they, like impatient Nationalism are wrong.
I really must get my eyes fixed, my heart skipped a beat there when I misread the title, I thought it said Someone Takes A Cue To Theresa Villiers,