Ireland in UK says NY Times

There have long been suspicions that The New York Times displayed a clear Anglophile streak when dealing with issues relating to Britain and Ireland.

It seems there is now some evidence to back up that fact after an Irish subscriber was told in no uncertain fashion that “Ireland is considered part of Britain.”

Colum Dillon, 32, wrote to the newspaper pointing out that Margaret Hassan the aid worker who was murdered in Iraq was also an Irish citizen after the paper described her as a British national. 

He was left stunned by the reply drafted by an Irish American, Michael McElroy who is employed in the newspaper’s ombudsmans office.

McElroy e mailed Dillon to tell him that his concerns were irrelevant because “Ireland is considered part of Britain.”

He wrote “ I’m not sure I understand your concerns as I’m sure you know that Ireland is considered part of Britain.”

Dillon was shocked, telling the Star Newspaper that it was very strange that “this guy, with an Irish sounding name like McElroy declares that we’re still part of Britain.”

The Star called McElroy to tell him that Ireland had actually become a fully fledged independent state sometime over 50 years ago. McElroy stated that he thought Hassan was from Northern Ireland and admitted “It is clear that I missed more than the point.” 

Hardliner as Irish Envoy?

The disturbing prospect of Elliot Abrams becoming the special envoy to Northern Ireland has been raised by an item in the Washington Post, which says Abrams may follow his boss Condoleeza Rice from the National Security Council post to the State Department.

The reports are that Abrams, probably the leading neoconservative On the National Security Council may well take over the role of Director of Policy Planning and Research from current occupant Mitchell Reiss.

Reiss of course is the current envoy to Ireland and he was always identified with the moderate Colin Powell wing of diplomacy as was his predecessor in the job Richard Haass, who was also envoy to Ireland.

Abrams is a much different character. He was almost jailed for his role in the Iran Contra scandal back under President Reagan when he was part of the swopping arms for hostages deal and he later denied it all to Congress.

In this administration he is a huge booster of the hardline Ariel Sharon policy in Israel and was vehement in support of American involvement in Iraq. God Knows what he would think about Northern Ireland is he was selected, but you can be absolutely sure he would be much more pro British than Irish. 

Walsh Visas Extended 

Congressman Jim Walsh head of the Friends of Ireland in congress has announced the Walsh Visa Program will be extended through October 2008. The Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program, created in 1998 by legislation sponsored by Walsh, is an employment and vocational training program that enables young people from disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland and the six border counties of the Republic of Ireland to live and work in the United States for up to 24 months. 

To date, the program has brought 1,101 people between the ages of 18 and 35 over from different communities, varying educational levels, and religious backgrounds, and has given them the opportunity to work in the United States for up to two years.

Walsh Visa Hubs are currently located in Boston, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Washington and employ approximately 25 full time staff members. As of April 30, 2004 the total Walsh Visa population was 429 participants working in the hospitality, banking, academic, retail, manufacturing arenas. 

“Socialist” Bertie Draws Ire

The Irish tabloids are still having a field day with Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern’s statement that he is a socialist. One paper has taken to calling him “Bolshevik Bertie” while another refers to him as “Che” Ahern. Still a third has taken to calling him “Red” Bertie.

The ridicule comes because some commentators believe that Bertie presides over an administration that has done more to make the rich richer and the poor poorer than any in Irish history.

Even The New York Times got in the act with a major story on Bertie’s statement, which he made in an interview on the occasion of his tenth year as Taoiseach.

Bertie is no fool however. He knows his government is essentially seen as uncaring by many middle ground voters and that he must present a softer more gentle image if he is to win the next election.

For those within his party who wanted to see him step down Bertie had only bad news. He says he will go on until he is 60 years old. He is 53 now, which means that some of the heir apparent sin the party will be cooling their heels for another seven years or so – barring a catastrophic result in the next election, scheduled for 2007. 

Gay Marriage Support 

The news that only half of Irish voters are against gay marriage may come as a surprise to some, but it is actually a very low figure.

Given that the US polls show that over 70 per cent oppose gay marriage in this country,, the fact that only half of the irish do shows the gap that has opened up between Ireland and the US on such matters.

It is inconceivable that Ireland would have voted this way a generation ago when the country was in the iron grip of the Catholic church. 

Now even the Catholic church seems somewhat sympathetic Catholic bishops last week spoke about “just treatment” and “consideration and respect” for gay couples.