News
NEWS IN BRIEF
NoRthERN IRELaNd
RoBINSoN aNd MCguINNESS to
attENd dEvoLutIoN MEEtINg
A planned meeting between First
Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy
First Minister Martin McGuinness to
examine plans for devolution of jus-
tice and policing powers has raised
some hope that progress is being
made on the issue.
The DUP and Sinn Fein-led
Northern Ireland Executive has not
met since June as a result of an im-
passe over the transfer of these pow-
ers from Westminster to Stormont.
The meeting of the two ministers
before a Stormont committee is to
take place behind closed doors on
Tuesday (18 November).
uda CaLL ‘to BE REady FoR
BattLE’ CoNdEMNEd
A statement by the Ulster Defence
Association (UDA) calling on loyalists
to “be ready for battle” was attacked
by the SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance
Party. In a declaration issued to
coincide with the First World War
commemorations, the paramilitary
organisation accused republicans of the impact of the downturn but they as students’ unions and academics’ and industries to remain competi-
“racism, ignorance and bigotry” and
will do nothing much to prepare us trade unions. tive. But the long-run is happening
of “challenging our existence at every
for recovery once the downturn is In the current global order, now and we need to prepare.
level”.
over. So we are bringing together Scotland cannot compete with “Universities Scotland wants
“We need more of our members
to participate in the challenges that
some of Scotland’s leading econo- emerging economies on labour to make a positive impact on eco-
lie ahead. They must understand that
mists to explain why our economic costs so it must concentrate on nomic policy in these tough times
the threat from Irish republicanism
future rests so heavily on investing in the advantage it does have, which and that is why we are pulling peo-
and nationalism has not abated: they skills and innovation.” is in advanced skills and technol- ple together to explain what our
are challenging our very existence
The national campaign will ogy, according to the professor. It next steps should be.
at every level,” it said. The call was
begin early next year with a series can only win in “a race to the top, “The short version? A knowl-
defended, however, by the Ulster
of private briefings to key decision never in a race to the bottom”. edge-intensive economy can no lon-
Political Research Group which has
links to the UDA. The group denied
makers such as senior politicians, “In the long run, any econo- ger be something we talk about while
the statement was a call to arms.
media groups and business leaders. mist will tell you that advanced banking on the bankers.” HM
It will then broaden out to target economies will be under pressure
dISSIdENt REPuBLICaN gRouPS higher education stakeholders such to produce higher-value products For full article, see Special Report page 6
aCtIvE, CoMMISSIoN WaRNS
Dissident republican groups have
been “especially active” in recent
months and are focusing their efforts
Call for rail network examination
directly on trying to kill a PSNI officer,
an independent commission warned.
The Independent Monitoring Com-
By Richard johnstone or see a new railway station cre- are then able to link that up on a
mission claimed in its report that The managing director of First ated, that can still be managed highly effective and efficient public
both the Real IRA and the Continuity
ScotRail has called for a thorough within the existing constraints transport network, and we don’t
IRA have been involved in a more
analysis of the rail map in Scot- of the network, then that’s good find ourselves caught in a situa-
intense series of attacks than at any
land to ensure the network is able news”. tion where there are bottlenecks
point since it began its scrutiny more
than four years ago.
to meet the future demands placed She added: “What’s really because there isn’t the capability to
on it. important for us going forward as link up.
EuRoPE
Speaking to Holyrood, Mary an industry is that we look at the “Let’s map out where there’s
Grant said that “in our franchise overall map of Scotland and look opportunities for further capacity
gERMaN ECoNoMy NoW IN
we will support any opportunity at where the hotspots of conges- to develop before we find people
RECESSIoN
to open or expand the network in tion are, and ensuring that where are thinking, ‘I can’t get anywhere
Germany has entered a recession af-
Scotland, and if there’s an oppor- we are building any schools, hospi- on the public transport network,
ter government figures showed that tunity for us to re-open a railway, tals or housing complexes, that we this doesn’t feel good, it doesn’t
14
| 17 November 2008 | Holyrood magazine |
www.holyrood.com |
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