http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ireland/ en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:27:17 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417780/posts France's public debt soared to a record 75.8 percent of output in the third quarter, official figures showed Wednesday, a week after Paris got a warning on its credit standing. France is hardly alone among European Union countries that have run up big debts... Greece has suffered sovereign downgrades this month...Fitch in November downgraded Ireland ... Fitch last week said all major governments with top ratings had to tame debt, targeting specifically Britain, Spain and France. France's third quarter debt-to-GDP ratio was up by 1.9 points from the second quarter to 75.8 percent, well in excess of the 60 percent... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417780/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:27:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417572/posts Newly-released documents have revealed the UK's "special relationship" with the US was under strain at the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles. The National Archives files show the murder of Lord Mountbatten by the IRA in 1979 did not prompt the response from the US that the UK had hoped for. While president Jimmy Carter expressed his "profound sadness" at the death, he made no reference to terrorism. Downing St privately said his failure to condemn the IRA was a "deficiency". The murder of Lord Mountbatten by the IRA on 27 August 1979 sparked shock and anger around the world.... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417572/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:35:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413659/posts WHEN US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice visited the Vatican in February 2005, she was caught off guard by Cardinal Angelo Sodano. After discussions on Iraq, the Middle East and religious liberty, Sodano asked her if she could do something about an irksome court case in Kentucky. As reported by John Allen, veteran Vatican correspondent for the US National Catholic Reporter ( NCR ), Sodano explained that the case, a class action to make the Vatican accountable for child sexual abuse by priests in the US, was a violation of the internationally recognised principle of “sovereign immunity”. The Vatican, as... Irish Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413659/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:24:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413655/posts Some were openly crying and wiping their tears as they wished Danny Foley well just minutes before he was due to be sentenced, while others shook his hand and literally patted him on the back IT was something that had to be seen to be believed. Fifty or so Listowel locals filing past the broken victim of a sexual assault to shake hands with and embrace the man who broke her. Some were openly crying and wiping their tears as they wished Danny Foley well just minutes before he was due to be sentenced, while others shook his hand and... The Kerryman http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413655/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:17:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413259/posts Gerry Adams is set to find Jesus in a new documentary. The Sinn Fein leader will present one episode of a seven part documentary called "The Bible: A History." The documentary will be aired on the popular British TV station Channel 4. The documentary will analyze the "contradiction between Jesus' teachings and the involvement of Christians, followers of other faiths, in conflict the world over." The documentary will also look at Adams' unique perspective on faith, as he is a "former supporter of political violence." IrishCentral.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413259/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:49:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2412494/posts The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, will ask the Vatican to remove four Irish bishops from office if they refuse to step down over the Murphy report into clerical child sex abuse cases in the Dublin archdiocese. The dramatic split at the top of the Catholic Church in Ireland has emerged over the refusal of some bishops to accept responsibility for the abuse scandals detailed in the hard-hitting report. Bishop of Galway Dr Martin Drennan, one of the four former auxiliary bishops who served in Dublin, is under pressure to resign to show “collective responsibility” for the abuse scandals.... Belfast Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2412494/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:37:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2411895/posts In 1922, the Vatican promulgated an instruction to do with what it called crimen solicitationis (the crime of solicitation within the confessional) and what it called the ‘‘worst crime’’ - the sexual abuse of children. The document was issued in Latin. No authoritative version was produced in English. The document was circulated only to bishops and under terms of strict secrecy. A new version of the guidelines was produced in 1962, but this, according to the Murphy Commission, was unknown within the Dublin diocese until some time in the 1990s. Desmond Connell, the former archbishop, told the commission he had... the post.ie http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2411895/posts#comment Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:22:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2411616/posts Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has apparently issued an ultimatum to four bishops embroiled in the Irish Catholic Church child sex abuse scandal — to either quit or be fired by the Vatican. IrishCentral.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2411616/posts#comment Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:11:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2411243/posts “We were devastated as a family. We were destroyed,” says Séamus T. “We went to court expecting some compassion. The system is upside down and backwards. The judge was worried about the rapists staying in school, getting evaluated, getting counselling and transportation. Everything is lavished on them. Nobody knocked on my door and said, ‘I’ll show you through the system’.” Séamus T’s appeals to first lady Michelle Obama, Maryland governor Martin O’Malley and state attorney John McCarthy have gone unanswered. He was treated with kindness by the Irish Embassy, which promised to intervene if he felt he was not being... Irish Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2411243/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:37:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2410957/posts An Irish company, Steorn, today began public demonstrations of an ‘over-unity’ device powered by rotating magnets. Developed over a six year period, the Orbo technology provides a new energy source to power electrical devices and cars. It is claimed to produce more energy than it consumes at a ratio of 3:1, which has led to considerable skepticism from the scientific community. In a Press Release, Steorn announced a six week period for public examination and evaluation in Dublin Ireland from December 15 to January 31, 2010. Plans exist to develop the Orbo technology for commercial production and distribution. If the... The Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2410957/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:26:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2405885/posts THE IRISH Catholic Church faces major reorganisation following yesterday’s meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and senior church figures. Following his meeting in the Vatican with Ireland’s Catholic Primate Cardinal Seán Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, a statement from Pope Benedict said “the Holy See takes very seriously the central issues raised by the [Murphy] report, including questions concerning the governance of local church leaders with ultimate responsibility for the pastoral care of children.” Pope Benedict would be issuing a pastoral letter “to the faithful of Ireland” in which he will “clearly indicate the initiatives that are to be... Irish TImes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2405885/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:13:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407226/posts The Government is to incorporate into law recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission (LRC) which would allow the use lethal force in defence of the home. In proposed legislation, which will publish tonight, the commission recommends that a person who kills an intruder should be acquitted of a charge of murder. This should be subject to certain conditions, it says. Speaking on RTÉ radio this afternoon, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the Government had prepared a Bill on the matter in 2007 but shelved the legislation pending the publication of the report by the Law Reform Commission. Describing... The Irish TimesThe Government is to incorporate into law recommendations made by the Law Reform Comm http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407226/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:47:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2406911/posts Dublin, Ireland, Dec 12, 2009 / 11:29 am (CNA).- Irish Catholics can expect "major reorganization" within the Church following the meeting between the Pope and Irish prelates on Friday regarding child sexual abuses by clergy in the Archdiocese of Dublin, according to an article published in the Irish Times. It is not yet known how far reaching these structural changes will be. Archbishop of Armagh Sean Cardinal Brady and Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin attended a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, papal nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, and other leaders from Vatican dicasteries to voice concerns and discuss solutions... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2406911/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:09:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406800/posts A new dissent Republican group may be forming in Northern Ireland. The organization would include dissidents that have defected from the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA. The group will not have a name, with the deliberate aim of confusing members of the security forces. IrishCentral.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406800/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:46:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406197/posts The Saudi Arabian government will open an Islamic secondary school for hundreds of Muslim students and Christian converts in Dublin. These plans were revealed in Arabic on the website for the new Saudi embassy in Dublin. The Saudis intend to use the embassy to "further develop our political, trade and cultural relations with Ireland." The Saudi ambassador to Ireland, Abdulaziz Aldriss, said, "Many Saudi students have found Ireland as a friendly destination to improve their English language skills and pursue their second and third-level education." Ireland has a Muslim population of more than 40,000 people, but there are only about... The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406197/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:04:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404976/posts STRASBOURG, December 10, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life advocates involved in the "A, B and C v. Ireland" case fear that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is preparing to issue "an activist" decision that could lead to the abolition of the pro-life amendment of Ireland's constitution. The ECHR heard arguments yesterday in the case that has been described as the "Roe v. Wade of Europe." Three women, two Irish nationals and one Lithuanian, who live in Ireland and obtained abortions in the UK, have complained to the Court that had they been allowed to have had abortions in... LifeSiteNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404976/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:57:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403895/posts The Saudi Arabian government has announced that it plans to open an Islamic school in Dublin. However, overseas Saudi high schools have come under heavy criticism in recent times. Schools in London, Bonn and the US have come under fire for providing text books that could be interpreted as advocating violence against other religions. IrishCentral.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403895/posts#comment Wed, 9 Dec 2009 19:02:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403844/posts Dublin, Ireland – As the United States engages in a heated debate over gay marriage, European Union countries are rapidly striding toward total recognition of same-sex civil unions, if not marriage. The most recent example is Ireland.Last Thursday saw Ireland become the latest country to edge toward marriage equality for homosexual couples. The Irish parliament read and debated the Civil Partnership Bill 2009, introduced by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern.Despite Ireland’s socially conservative image, opposition to the bill is virtually non-existent and will likely pass into law this month with widespread support from opposition parties Fine Gael and Labour as... CSM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403844/posts#comment Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:53:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403687/posts The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg Strasbourg, France, Dec 9, 2009 / 02:18 am (CNA).- Ireland’s constitutional amendment protecting the unborn could be overturned in a “pivotal” case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Some are calling the case “the Roe v. Wade of Europe.”Three women who sought abortions in Ireland sued under the European Convention on Human Rights to overturn the country’s legal protections for pre-born children. The three women, who obtained abortions in Britain, are trying to establish a “right” to abortion in Ireland in a case titled A, B, and C v.... cna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403687/posts#comment Wed, 9 Dec 2009 14:47:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2403103/posts Evangelical Alliance Ireland has controversially suggested that Christians should support a Bill that would extend the rights and privileges of marriage to homosexual couples who register their partnerships. The suggestion has drawn fire from other evangelical groups. The Irish Government’s Civil Partnership Bill would grant welfare and tax benefits on a par with marriage to homosexual and heterosexual cohabiting couples who enter a civil partnership. Evangelical Alliance Ireland’s General Director, Sean Mullan, claimed in a statement: “The Government is seeking to legislate for greater justice and fairness for co-habiting couples, both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. As Christians we should support... The Christian Institute http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2403103/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 20:02:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401779/posts Irish folk singer Liam Clancy, called the "best ballad singer I'd ever heard in my life" by singer Bob Dylan, is dead at the age of 74, his manager said. UPI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401779/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 01:57:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2396639/posts One of Ireland's best-loved priests, Father Brian D'Arcy, has called for the resignation of clergy who knowingly covered up for child sex-abuse priests. "This is not just in the Diocese, this goes right to the top in Rome," he said. IrishCentral.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2396639/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:13:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2390090/posts The Irish Justice Minister today demanded a rematch after a blatant handball by French striker Thierry Henry beat Ireland and put France through to the World Cup Finals. Dermot Ahern lashed out at governing body Fifa after the Republic of Ireland were cruelly beaten by the controversial extra-time goal. Dubbed 'Le Hand', Barcelona star Henry confessed to using his arm to control the ball before squaring for teammate William Gallas to finish. The Irish Justice Minister today demanded a rematch after a blatant handball by French striker Thierry Henry beat Ireland and put France through to the World Cup Finals.... Daily Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2390090/posts#comment Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:23:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2387542/posts The giant deer, also known as the giant Irish deer or Irish elk, is one of the largest deer species that ever lived. Yet why this giant animal, which had massive antlers spanning 3.6m, suddenly went extinct some 10,600 years ago has remained a mystery. Now a study of its teeth is producing tantalising answers, suggesting the deer couldn't cope with climate change. As conditions became colder and drier in Ireland at the time, fewer plants grew, gradually starving the deer. The discovery is published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. The giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus) has become famous over... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2387542/posts#comment Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:47:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386756/posts SNIPPET: "An Irish jihadist living in Pakistan’s Swat valley says he is preparing to wage war against British and allied troops in Afghanistan. Khalid Kelly, a former altar boy from the Liberties area of Dublin who used to be known as Terry, told The Sunday Times he is undergoing weapons training in Pakistan’s mountainous tribal region in order to fight jihad against the enemies of Islam. His dream is to face a British soldier in combat, although he would “settle” for an American, he said. “I’m already on the path to jihad. I’ve already picked up a gun and done... TIMESonline.co.uk - from THE SUNDAY TIMES http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386756/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:55:44 GMT