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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT has has welcomed Sinn Féin’s continued support of the PSNI, saying the withdrawal of such support would have been damaging to the strucuire of the Northern Ireland administration.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said that she hopes that the arrest and subsequent release of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, ‘doesn’t distract the parties in Northern Ireland’ from their job.
This job she said was not just about economic development in Northern Ireland, but of securing agreement on the issues outstanding since the Haass talks concluded without a deal.
“It would have been very destabilising if they (Sinn Féin) had withdrawn support for the police or policing service. I very much welcome that they have not, ” she said.
In his speech in Belfast yesterday eving, Adams said that he wanted to “make it clear that I support the PSNI” adding that “I will continue to work with others to build a genuinely civic policing service”
Villiers villiews that UK Prime Minster David Cameron spoke to Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday and that she has been in regular contact with Táinaiste Eamon Gilmore.
Adams was released yesterday after four days of questioning. He was not charged upon his release but a file is to be sent to the Public Prosecution Service who will determine if any charges are to be brought at a later date.
Villiers said that she was confident that the PPS will have sufficient Independence to take their decision and will not be subject to political interference.
“I’m confident they will make a decision based on evidence that is available in the case. I’m confident they are not influenced by any political interventions.”
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore echoed Villiers belief in the independence of the PSNI, adding that ”anyone who is arrested is a matter for the police service”.
Gilmore said that the arrest of Adams demonstrated that there is a need to deal with legacy issues from the Northern Ireland conflict and says that he is to speak with Congressman Richard Haass today to keep him updated with developments.
There may be another role for Haass in further negotiations he added
Speaking on the News at One, Gilmore said that negotiation on this issue had stalled as a result of the collapse of the James Downey trial and the subsequent debate about ‘on-the-run’ ex-paramilitarists.
Gilmore says that he ‘doesn’t take the view that the Haass talks have failed’ and committed to continued support of the process.
He was ‘disappointed’ with Fianna Fáil however for their criticism of the Governemnt’s approach.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain also spoke on the programme and advised that both the Irish and British Governments should be more ‘hands on’ in the dealing in the approach to future negotiations.
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Was there in 94 in Thurles Stadium, camping on that racecourse nearby. Great festival, no scangers. Prodigy and Sounds Crowd Orchestra on stage
@Rear Admiral: 76 pathetic little middle class bigots.. and counting!!
I was excited until I got to ‘vegan food stalls’
Jesus wept …
@Dara O’Brien: a chipper that does just chips.
@John D12: ah they’d find some reason to protest against that too
Feile was just some of the best times of my life! Best of luck to them.
Prosecco bars and vegan food stalls, while sitting down and listening to some orchestral mishmash of brewing up a storm… how can in even be called Féile?
Incidentally their next project is to produce a movie about 3 estranged sisters who make amends during a cross country road trip to attend a great aunts funeral in Nebraska… and call it Jurassic Park 5
@Stephen Boland: Quality comment!
Transvision Vamp in ’91, Wendy James
Happy days
Feile was not the first multi day music festival in Ireland
@Mark Johnson: what?
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: Lisdoonvarna and Macroom?
Castlebar…..”Occasion at the castle” weekend rock festival. Early 1980s.
Back in the days u could build a fire in the campsite and the after concert rave in the stands
Ah Jesus, brings back memories, some poor b&&&ard was always pushed over when in the portaloo.
Any yokes?
Geez sounds brilliant!!!
Great
Thurles music heads tried to revive Feile a few years ago too…..
@Mark Johnson: your comments are making no sense mark. What are you talking about?
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: pretty clear to everyone else…
Adding in the word classical is a great way of dissuading “people referred to as scangers” like the way classical music has been successfully used in subway stations to reduce loitering and crime.
Could be great, but flip-side is this (coupled with nostalgic acts) is going attract more “people referred to as ..ahem.. boring”.
@Jazz Buckler: Dinosaur Dads in Reni hats boring everyone about “the good aul days” and when music wasn’t Shite before slipping off hometown catch an episode of Catastrophe
No offence Tom but you lads are the rest of the bands mentioned had their day. What an awful line-up
Before my time but from all accounts although it may have been a Mecca for Irish bands it was an absolute hell on earth for Irish music fans. A badly organised gathering full of drunken louts with very little by way of proper facilities on the ground.
Anyway, this is the new smooth corporate hipster version by all accounts.
@Gene Dexter: nah, it was brilliant! You weren’t there, you wouldn’t understand.
@Gene Dexter: u can’t help yourself can you, don’t know who u were talking to but feile was great craic
@Gene Dexter: Ridiculous comments on every article. Quite a sad little life you must have, by all accounts.
@Gene Dexter: if anyone wants to know the definition of a “snowflake” they only have to look at your comment. You’re actually complaining about an event you were too young to attend. Despite that I speak for all of us that were there and just want to thank you for taking offence on our behalf.
Can I bring my granny?
Féile mo thoín. Bring back the old line up maybe.
Feile ’93. Had my first experience there in a tent with my best buddy (first love) while his cousin slept beside us.
A few dates wouldn’t have gone astray…
The rave on the stand beside the horse parade pumped with tunes from a ghetoblaster. Followed in the morning with a visit to the Hare Krishna tent to get a wholesome breakfast of beans and rice. Simple delights
The rave on the stand beside the horse parade pumped with tunes from a ghetoblaster. Followed by a visit to the hare krishna tent for a breakfast of beans and rice. Happy days
Rave in the stand beside the horse parade pumped by tunes from a ghetoblaster. Followed by a trip to the hare Krishna tent for a breakfast of beans and rice. Happy days
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