O'Conall StreetBorderless thoughts on Politics, Public Affairs, the media and anything else that matters from Conall McDevitt, SDLP MLA for South Belfast
Posted on November 30th, 2008Conall McDevitt4 comments
The Irish Labour Party will continue to endorse a partnership with SDLP if the 21st Century Commission Report which was debated at its conference in Kilkenny this morning is finally adopted next March.
The report uses Mark Durkan’s own words to the 2006 Labour Party conference to justify continuing a thirty year partnership in Social Democracy.
Speaking at the time Durkan said:
When many so-called experts were predicting that voters would walk away from us, you walked the streets and knocked the doors with us. And the voters stood by us and came out for us. I thank you for your hard work, just as I also thank all those from the other parties here in the South who supported us.
That broad solidarity reflects the unique position the SDLP holds in national democratic life. Just as the very warm response our good result got all over the country underlines the uniquely positive role for the whole island that the SDLP plays in the North:
Leading and shaping the democratic nationalist consensus.
Defending resolutely the honourable ideals of partnership, equality and respect for diversity.
Rejecting absolutely sectarianism, violence and the divisions they foster.
Fighting for social and economic justice for all. In Larkin’s terms, narrowing the gap between what is and what ought to be. An anchor for stability: An engine for change
Standing up for true patriotic expression. Measured not in the standards raised to hang tattered on lampposts. But in the standards we raise in our schools, our hospitals and across all our public services.
Working not just to unite Ireland, but to unite the people of Ireland as well in equality, in prosperity, in peace. Truly a better way to a better Ireland.
This will not please some of those who are members of the Irish Labour Party in NI but does allow both parties to move on and focus on building their respective mandates and offering genuine and credible choices to the electorate North and South at future elections.
Posted on November 30th, 2008Conall McDevittNo comments
James Connolly famously said “the cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland and the cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour”. This weekend the cause of Ireland’s 21st century sons and daughters of Connolly and Larkin is the cause of the internet.
The Irish Labour Party under the virtual leadership of Tom Duke has served up an impressive online conference to match the real one taking place in Kilkenny.
There is Live streaming from the confernece hall, an open picture gallery on Flickr, all the highlights on YouTube and a plethora of bloggers following all the action. You can even have a Twitter on the side.
Eamon Gilmore hit Fianna Fail hard during his conference speech last night focussing on the stewardship of the failing Irish economy. He called for an Irish New Deal, a stimulous package like the UK’s which see massive government intervention to get people back to work. A
The other big theme was sustainability with commitments to sustainable energy and waste management.
Nearly 100 years after Connolly’s immortal words, Labour is still the third party in political terms but its leadership online cannot be questioned. Whether this will translate into votes is a matter for the people.
There are few people on this island who do not know someone from Mumbai. Even on our little street here in Belfast the phones were ringing red in search of news about family and friends. The thoughts of O’Conall Street are with the victims of these indiscriminate attacks.
The bloggers have been commenting on the unfolding situation and many in Mumbai were using Twitter to send messages and news to the outside world and Flickr to share images from the scene. There is plenty of analysis including a good summary on the Foriegn Policy Blog of just how confused the situation actually is:
A few more supposed details from the interrogation of Ajmal Kamal, the militant who was captured, are trickling out in the Indian press. It seems pretty clear from all of the reports that 10-12 bad guys entered the city by inflatable boat. (The New York Times has some good coloron their arrival at the Mumbai docks.) Beyond that, accounts differ widely.
Some stories say that there were eight terrorists already waitingin the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels. The Times of Indiaclaims that all of the terrorists were Pakistani citizens, and that they had expected to make it back on the fishing trawler they hijacked. This was not a suicide mission.
To give you an idea of how disparate the accounts can be, the Times names the skipper of this purloined vessel as Amarjit Singh, while The Hindusays his name was Balwant Tandel. Rediff says there were two fishing boats. The Times says the terrorists left from “an isolated creek near Karachi,” while Rediffreports that “Intelligence Bureau officials are trying to verify if the terrorists came in through the Persian Gulf.” Rediffalso mentions that its information comes from the interrogation of “Abu Ismail,” while according to the Timesa terrorist named “Ismail” was killed at Girgaum Chowpaty, a local beach.
All of the Indian press accounts I’ve read, however, point explicitly to Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani militant group.
CNN has also a video round up of the cyber-reaction to these terrible events.
Posted on November 28th, 2008Conall McDevitt2 comments
It appears racism is alive and well in Newry.
This week’s edition of the Newry Democrat reports on the Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane’s role as a judge at ‘De X Factor’ which included a racist short film that depicted the simulated rape of a black man.
According to the Newry Democrat:
The audience including the south Down MLA was stunned into silence as the film featured extreme violence, a burning cross in front of a house akin to those once placed by the Klu Klux Klan, and the scandalous simulated raping of a painted-up black man gagged with an apple in his mouth.
Ms Ruane, who was judging the final alongside GAA legends Benny Tierney and Ross Carr, reportedly objected to the film later in the show, describing it as a disgrace which had no place in the competition.
However it is understood that some of the crowd was horrified that the Education Minister continued to participate in the night, and did not illustrate her disgust by leaving the hotel.
In a statement issued yesterday to the Democrat, Ms Ruane said: “I am enjoying my time as a judge on the GAA X Factor and have been extremely impressed by the quality of the acts on offer, all of whom have performed magnificently in what is a keenly contested competition.
“The audience had differing views on the performances and I enjoyed some acts more than others, which I made clear in my comments as one of the judges.”
I think many would expect a much firmer condemnation from an Executive Minister.
Posted on November 28th, 2008Conall McDevitt5 comments
Northern Ireland’s Public Relations industry was out in force last night at the annual CIPR PRide Awards, acknowledging the success of one of Northern Ireland’s most influential industries.
Honours were even on the night with the 24 awards being split between 15 different companies. Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland, Morrow Communications and JLPR all walked away with three Gold Awards with JLPR also named as Consultancy of the Year. Fair dues to Jane Wells and her talented team at JPR. Proof if every you needed that small can be beautiful.
I also had the great pleasure of presenting the inaugural ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award to the joint managing directors of Smarts PR, Pippa Arlow and Leontia Fetherston, for their leadership and influence within the sector, setting the benchmark for consultancies and public relations as a whole in Northern Ireland.
As for our own motley crew at Weber Shandwick, we were the bridesmaids extraordinaries with an award for Crisis Communications and a big bundle of short-lists. There’s always next year……
Full list of winners and runners are:
Category 1 – Corporate Communications
• Gold: JPR, Opening Doors at the New Executive
• Silver: MCE Public Relations, The Mortgage Shop. You talk, we listen
Category 2 – Not-for-Profit
• Gold: Coca–Cola Bottlers (Ulster), The Coca–Cola Marie Curie Cancer Care Appeal
• Silver: Peach PR, George Best Celebrity Golf Invitational
Category 3 – Internal Communications
• Gold: Phoenix Natural Gas, Phoenix Fifteen
• Silver: Police Service of Northern Ireland, Making the break – One Team, One Vision for modern Policing
Category 4 – Crisis Communications
• Gold: Police Service of Northern Ireland, The attempted murder of two police officers by terrorists in November 2007
• Silver: Weber Shandwick, Announcing the closure of the Nambarrie factory in Belfast
Category 5 – Business and Trade
• Gold: Peach PR, The launch of the Davy in Northern Ireland
• Silver: Morrow Communications, Semex UK
Category 6 – Community Relations
• Gold: Coca–Cola Bottlers (Ulster), Be active
• Silver: Northern Bank, Money talks
Category 7 – Public Affairs
• Gold: Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Campaigning for the ARTS 07
• Silver: Asitis Consulting, Campaign of opposition to the application by Tesco at Banbridge
Category 8 – Public Sector
• Gold: Department for Employment and Learning, Promotion of Northern Ireland Skills Strategy
• Silver: Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Northern Ireland Tourist Board 60th Anniversary
Category 9 – Low Budget
• Gold: Morrow Communications, Mackle pet foods
• Silver: Belfast Zoo, Lily the Lion
Category 10 – Consumer Relations
• Gold: Morrow Communications, “Irwin’s Bakery: Proud to be Pat”
• Silver: Morrow Communications, Britvic/Robinsons ‘Hydrating the Nations’ campaign
Category 11 – Best Use of Media Relations
• Gold: JPR, IKEA’s Belfast Assembly
• Silver: Inform Communications (NI), World Premiere of Lord Richard Attenborough’s ‘Closing the Ring’
Category 12 – Integrated Communications
• Gold: Crockard Communications, Country Sports for All
• Silver: Coca–Cola Bottlers (Ulster), Designated Driver
Category 13 – Corporate Responsibility
• Gold: Coca–Cola Bottlers (Ulster), Be active
• Silver: Northern Bank, MacMillan Banks on Northern
Category 14 – Best Use of New Media
• Gold: Morrow Communications, “Irwin’s Bakery: Proud to be Pat”
Category 15 – Best Use of Photography or Design
• Gold: JPR, Sofa, so good
• Silver: Navigator Blue, The Outlet Photography
Category 16 – Best Newspaper or Magazine
• Gold: Belfast City Council, City Matters
• Silver: Newtownabbey Borough Council, Source
Category 17 – Best Publication
• Gold: Stakeholder Communications, TQ Living
• Silver: Belfast Zoo, Events Booklet
Category 18 – Best Leaflet
• Gold: ASG Public Relations, Phoenix Natural Gas
Category 20 – Best Event
• Gold: Cathy Martin PR (CMPR), Belfast FashionWeek
• Silver: Belfast City Council, The MAD Awards
Category 21 – Outstanding Young Communicator
• Gold: Ross Williamson, Inform Communications (NI)
• Silver: John McCandless, ASG Public Relations
Category 22 – Outstanding Small Consultancy
• Gold: Cathy Martin PR (CMPR)
• Silver: Core Communications, PR that still packs a punch!
Category 23 – Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team
• Gold: National Trust, Small is beautiful
• Silver: Coca–Cola Bottlers (Ulster) PA + C Team
Category 24 – Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy
• Gold: JPR, The client comes first
• Silver: Aiken PR
Posted on November 26th, 2008Conall McDevittNo comments
I am writing this morning from the middle of Belfast’s newest free car parking zone. Our offices are nestled behind the BBC on Linenhall Street.
Fair play to City Centre Management for having the foresight to request this relaxation from the DRD. Lisburn saying they are now looking for one too. Bit late now. Better planning next year lads.
I’ll be counting the number of southern registration plates parked outside the window between now and Christmas.
Posted on November 25th, 2008Conall McDevitt2 comments
In one his greatest speeches just a week after 9-11 Tony Blair uttered the following words ,
‘the kaleidoscope has been shaken, the pieces are in flux, and before they settle we must reorder this world around us’.
As it turned out those remarks were more of a rhetorical high then a visionary statement.
Alastair Darling must never have thought he would end up living out their true meaning, for yesterday’s pre-budget report has changed things forever. Out the window went the text books and in came the greatest political play in a generation. The battle lines have been drawn and the next eighteen months will be one big labour gamble for a fourth term.
From O’Conall St it all looks fascinating. Will the North ride out the storm of Britannia’s back or will we watch again as the South rebuilds and leaves the old enemy in its wake?.
In the meantime traders in Newry and elsewhere along the border must be rubbing their hands this morning as they prepare for the daily invasion of southern shoppers. These border towns are bucking the recession and even amongst the most die hard republicans the chant is ‘long live the border’. Money talks, no matter what your political opinions.
Back to the big picture, one thing for sure. We are but bystanders in all of this and there seems little interest from our executive to change that. Something else that is lacking serious policy debate. Listening to some of our representative bodies respond to yesterday’s announcement on this morning’s radio was dissapointing to say the least….
Posted on November 24th, 2008Conall McDevittNo comments
To: Chancellor of the Exchequer
From: O’Conall St
Re: Pre-budget report
You are rumoured to be cutting personal taxation in order to stimulate the economy. We agree that cutting tax can have a stimulative effect but wonder whether cutting personal taxes are the best way to do this.
Surely cutting personal taxation will just increase consumer spending in an economy which is already overspent and when there is no personal savings base. How will it stimulate the economy more widely when their is no link that I am aware of between personal taxation and employment levels?
What you might wish to consider is cutting corporation tax. Over the past year we have been arguing strongly that corporation tax is a powerful economic stimulus tool. It motivates business to create more jobs. It also strengthens the business chain because it is equally attractive to a small business as a multinational.
Our humble suggestion is to focus on corporation tax and other measures which will create jobs, grow trade and attract investment.
Feel free to pop a few percent on those earning more then £150,000 though.
Posted on November 23rd, 2008Conall McDevitt1 comment
Sinn Fein has indicated that there are ten days to break the deadlock around the replacement of the 11 plus. 60,000 P5 and P6 parents now have a metaphorical gun pointing at their heads yet nobody is any clearer about what the basis for agreement might be and how it can be achieved before the Christmas recess when it has not be possible in eighteen months.
Mervyn Storey (DUP) and John O’Dowd (SF) talked politics at each other for ten minutes on today’s BBC NI Politics Show. There was not a single exchange on policy nor any discussion on the Church Leaders Initiative for example. John O’Dowd’s suggested finding a resolution on this issue was primarily a matter for political negotiation between the DUP and SF.
There is a lingering question in my mind however. How many people would trust these two parties with their children’s future?
Parents, teachers, trade unions, the business community and the churches are looking for real political leadership and an honest discussion on this issue. Surely presents an opportunity for the UUP, SDLP and Alliance to agree a common position on this issue and show us all that consensus can be reached when the interests of children are put first.
As it stands it looks awfully like we are heading for a race to the bottom.
