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[Sinn Fein mayor slammed over failure to present award to army cadet]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15948835


Sinn Fein mayor slammed over failure to present award to army cadet


The lord mayor of Belfast has been criticised after he failed to present a Duke of Edinburgh award certificate to an Army cadet force member.
Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt said Sinn Fein mayor Niall O Donnghaile's decision not to present the award was "absolutely shameful".
Mr O Donnghaile said he was told "at the last minute" that an award was to be presented to a cadet force member.
He said someone else then joined him to present the certificates.
Mr O Donnghaile said he would be happy to meet the cadet and her family to explain his decision.
He said it was "nothing personal".
"At the last minute I was informed that one of the awards was to be presented to a representative of the Army cadet force," Mr O Donnghaile added.
"In order to avoid any unnecessary sensitivities to either party, it was arranged for the outgoing chairman of the organisation to present some of the certificates alongside me.
"Since becoming mayor in late May I have attended over 620 engagements, many of them in working class unionist communities.
"I take my responsibilities as being a mayor for all very seriously."
Mr Nesbitt said the mayor had "stopped half way through" his presentation and that the remainder of the certificates were presented by a representative of the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme.
"The problem appeared to be down to the fact that one of the recipients was from the Army cadet force," he said.
"This is absolutely shameful.
"So much for Sinn Fein's fine rhetoric about a shared future.
"So much for an Ireland of equals."
Alliance councillor Maire Hendron, the leader of the party's group on Belfast City Council, said she was "appalled at what happened".
"Being lord mayor is about representing and respecting everyone in the city of Belfast and I am deeply annoyed at Niall O Donnghaile's behaviour," she said.
"The message that this incident sends out is very troubling."
A spokesperson for the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme said its silver award presentations for Northern Ireland had been held at City Hall in Belfast for more than 20 years, and that "each year the awards are presented by the lord mayor".
"The Army cadet force is one of a large number of youth organisations in Northern Ireland which makes the Duke of Edinburgh programme available to all young people," they said.
"We are deeply saddened that this incident has overshadowed the tremendous achievement and voluntary contribution to the community by all young people who received awards on the evening."

Sammy Wilson referred to the crèche at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis at the Waterfront as "Long Crèche" and added -

"The babies were in cages, wrapped in blankets. They wouldn't eat their dinner either – and you want to see what they did with the nappies.

Can you imagine, Ah wee Seamus; dad would've been proud of him, 15 months, he's mastered a dirty protest already."

Just announced.

Believe in better

No happy ending in this one. Pretty grim.

Car crash tv but I wouldn't miss it.

Again, well done Dublin.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bertie-bags-40000-for-tips-on-celtic-tiger-success-2831887.html
FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is charging American companies a fortune to present a new lecture -- about how he transformed our economy in the Celtic Tiger boom.


The man targeted by many as the architect of our crippling recession, is charging more than $40,000 (€27,554) a time for speaking engagements with the elite Washington Speakers Bureau.

During the lecture, Mr Ahern offers tips to bosses of leading firms on how to be competitive.

The former Fianna Fail leader has been employed for a number of years as one of the highest-paid speakers with the bureau -- whose motto is 'Connecting you with the world's greatest minds' .

In his latest lecture -- entitled 'Prime Minister as CEO' -- he tells listeners to adopt Ireland's Celtic Tiger as a model of economic growth.

Last night it was described as "bewildering".

Bosses of the bureau refused to reveal the number of times Mr Ahern has been hired for engagements.

However, a well-placed source said he is now one of the most sought-after of the 346 speakers on their books.

His fee, which is listed as being more than US$40,000, is in the top bracket and shared by just 57 other mostly American speakers, including former US President George W Bush.

A gushing profile, listed on the website of the bureau, pays tribute to what many regard as Mr Ahern's greatest achievement in office -- his key role in forging the Good Friday Agreement.

But it is his speech on the economy which promises to reveal how Irish citizens accepted "short-term sacrifices to achieve long-term gain", which has raised most eyebrows.

The outline of the speech reads: "Leading the turnaround of an entire country is akin to the constant evolution companies and organisations must undergo to remain competitive.

"Bertie Ahern dedicated his career to re-inventing his country's economic and political stakes in global affairs. He persuaded his fellow politicians and citizens to accept short-term sacrifices to achieve long-term gain.

"His ability to persuade his constituents to follow his vision provides lessons for even the most seasoned executives."

In this thought-provoking presentation, Mr Ahern describes:

His approach to developing and executing a successful long-term vision.

How to persuade employees, customers and stakeholders to participate and embrace change.

What every leader must do to achieve large-scale success.

How to successfully bring people with you by building consensus.

Labour TD Ciaran Lynch last night said he was astonished that companies would want to employ Mr Ahern to give them advice on how to be competitive.

And he said the news would sit badly with the majority of the Irish population, particularly people crippled by debt due to "the errors made when Mr Ahern was Taoiseach".

He added: "It's absolutely bewildering, particularly given the worldwide coverage of Ireland's economic collapse, that he's being promoted as a strategic thinker for companies.

"The mismanagement of the Irish company happened under his watch and it must be frustrating for the Irish public to hear about the huge payments he's getting for this speech, while so many of them live in desperate situations."

Mr Ahern also gives three other speeches for the bureau -- 'Leadership in Changing Times: What It Takes to Succeed', 'The Future Role of the European Union on the World Stage' and 'Peace Through Inclusive Dialogue: Ireland's Journey'.

- Nick Bramhill

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/14257153.stm

Things seemed, ahem, spikey between them.

I vaguely remember adding it or MSK as another channel on my Sky box last summer but it only worked for a while. Anyone know if there is a workaround on Sky. Really want to see the Leinster Final on Sunday.

Is it gone or moved to a different address?

Who the f**k do they think they are?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/gaa-managers-refuse-to-talk-to-rte-over-brian-carthy-treatment-2667497.html

I think everyone will agree Walter has earned his retirement, looks like guiding Glasgow Rangers FC to a third successive SPL title, a tremendous achievement when you think of the quality, or lack of, of this current Glasgow Rangers team.

Well done Walter.

The Times

Severiano Ballesteros, who has been battling against cancer for more than two years, is said to be in a serious condition at home in northern Spain after suffering "a severe deterioration in his neurological state".
The news was placed on the 54-year-old Spaniard's website by his family, but contained no other information.
Sources close to the family, however, suggested that after four operations to remove a brain tumour, discovered in October 2008, and countless sessions of chemotherapy, Ballesteros was now facing his toughest test yet in his fight against the disease. Few were holding out hope for his survival.
The news was greeted with sadness at the Spanish Open, taking place near Barcelona, with Jose Maria Olazabal - one of Ballesteros's closest friends and former Ryder Cup partner - needing to be consoled by Miguel Angel Jimenez on conclusion of their second rounds today. Overcome with emotion, neither player was able to speak.
Ballesteros has remained upbeat about treatment over the past 30 months, but he lost the sight in his left eye and much of the feeling down one side of his body. It was also believed that while much of the tumour had been removed the cancer was being kept in check, no more.
The five-times major champion has been keeping a close interest in the game and was involved, alongside Olazabal, in helping to promote Madrid's bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup - the decision for which will be announced on May 17. His dream, he said in an interview with The Times, would be to hit the first shot off the 1st tee as an honorary gesture. "That would be fantastic. I'd be very proud," he said from his home in Pedreña, northern Spain.
Ballesteros, for whom the champion's dinner at the Masters was held in his honour this year, was philosophical about his condition although was prone to moments of deep melancholy. "God has given me a mulligan," he said of his battle for life.
For so long the face of golf in Europe, Ballesteros topped a poll of 1,000 followers of the game in Britain who were asked to name their favourite European Ryder Cup player. It is a safe bet that the man who single-handedly revived the game in Europe - winning the Open and the Masters by the time he was 23 and going on to lift three more major championships - would also top the poll for favourite European player of all time.

1 Bale
2 Nasri
3 Tevez

Anyone got one recently, and if so how long to get it?

Heard two men arrested in North Antrim in the last day or two.

Supposed to be good, if a bit fucked up.

Eamonn Mallie tweeting that a man and woman found shot dead in Legahory estate in Lurgan.

Just saying, like.

Just do a software update and it will be in your "applications" tab in your dock.