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Their perception is their reality
So, Secretary of State Peter Hain has delivered his programme for government heavily trailed speech.. and, as the BBC report, it's a wide ranging one, although the statement released by the NIO directs the focus away from his response to the orchestrated violence. The full text is here[PDF file] He appears, to me, to be calling for higher local taxation and lower public spending, but I'll focus on his reaction to the violence.. and his decision to give David Hanson another job title.

From the text of the speech[PDF] -

Violence is wrong – from wherever it comes: it does not pay and the recent violence has imposed a heavy cost on the communities in which it was carried out. The choice for loyalist paramilitaries is clear: play the political role that you claim as your motivation or face the rigour of the law as the mafia organisations into which you seem to have degenerated. You will not be allowed to terrorise your own communities. I have a message to those former paramilitaries who want to move forward to build a better Northern Ireland: leave violence and criminality behind and join the rest of us who want to create a new prosperous Northern Ireland. But I do accept that in many working class unionist and loyalist areas – as well, of course, as republican and nationalist areas - there are very real problems of social disadvantage, poverty and exclusion.[emphasis added]

Unfortunately for Peter Hain, that's been the government policy for some time now.. and not only does it not seem to be working, it's undermining the very society he claims to want to build.

And on to the complex problems involved -

I do not pretend that there are easy answers to the complex problems of these areas, many of which experienced the very worst of the Troubles and yet – despite considerable investment - have felt themselves to be the last to benefit from the increasing normality.

But significant progress has been made, not least by elected representatives, community leaders, churchmen and other faith leaders, and heroic individuals, many of whom I have been privileged to meet.

Significant progress.. hmmm.

But despite what has been achieved, I am conscious of the criticism that our own efforts as a government could be better coordinated, and services more closely connected to disadvantaged communities, and I do acknowledge the particular needs of loyalist communities. To tackle this I want to embark upon a process of intensive engagement with elected representatives and civil leaders from the protestant community.[emphasis added]

Particular needs?

I want to ensure that we reach a mature and informed understanding of the complexity of concerns and to formulate appropriate responses on the basis of partnership and within the broader context of a shared future for all in Northern Ireland.

I have asked David Hanson to take the lead in this.
But I want to make one thing absolutely clear. I have asked for this work to be taken forward on two clear principles. First, that the focus of Government support and funding must be guided by and through elected representatives, civic and church leaders, and established and proven community workers, of whom there are many.

David Hanson, Minister for Loyalist Alienation? Worth also noting the inclusion of the reference to established and proven community workers.

I have heard loud and clear the disgust of the good people of these communities who perceive public money being channelled into community projects under the influence of paramilitaries who speak the words of community work while undermining those very areas with racketeering and organised violence. Their perception is their reality: and I can understand that concern.

It's important to emphasise that line, because in it Peter Hain is actually denying that "public money is being channelled into community projects under the influence of paramilitaries".. that is only a perception according to the Secretary of State.

No doubt Peter Hain, and the NIO, will be pushing the other aspects of this speech, of which there are many. But the immediate focus will be, rightly, on whether the response to the orchestrated violence of the past two weeks supports, or further undermines, Peter Hain's claim that violence doesn't pay and whether the management of The Process is an obstacle to progress.


Comments (4)

While much of what he says on the economy etc is hard to argue I notice he skates over the abolition of grammar schools. No mention of how much this exercise is social enginneering is going to cost!
On politics it is the 'Henry Ford - any colour of car you want as long as its back' solution. You can have any type of politics you like as long it is Orange and Green.
Hain:
'I have a message to those former paramilitaries who want to move forward to build a better Northern Ireland: leave violence and criminality behind and join the rest of us who want to create a new prosperous Northern Ireland.'
Does that include allowing former paramilitaries or ordinary folk from working class areas join the Labour as full and equal members? Eh? No!
Hain:
"A Northern Ireland where your religion, political opinion, race, gender, sexuality, age or disability makes no difference to your aspirations - and where you come from does not affect where you want to go."
Unless you aspire to play a full part in the party politics of the state!
Rank hypocrisy - doing new from New Labour

Posted by: Elvis Parker at September 21, 2005 01:53 PM


[optimism] I would hope that rather than use this thread as another opportunity to launch into the same-old same-old discussions people would read down through the pdf on nio website - there is real issues to be addressed by an economically challenged region in 21st century.

And perhaps, maybe if we addressed these underlying issues of investment (not hand-outs to fly-by-night community groups) then the issues that crop up on our news and provide a living to our bloated political class might start to be solved

[/optimism]

Posted by: looking in at September 21, 2005 03:57 PM


...tumbleweed blows through the thread - and we have people moaning that the board has gone downhill...well come on read Hain's speech - not the guff the bel. tel wasted a page on but the substance that affects our future...and post something....

Posted by: looking in at September 22, 2005 09:18 PM


Many unionist politicians commented after the violence that occured within unionist areas around Belfast.

Many spoke of a unionist community starved of investment and struggling with social issues.

No politician mentioned the huge problem of drug abuse within our areas, no one mentioned a drug trade which is controlled by loyalist paramilitaries who openly sell their goods on the streets and alleyways of working class areas.

Our kids have no future because they are being poisoned by those who claim to be our protectors.

People need to tackle the real problem within our community and that is the slow death of a whole generation of our youth.

Posted by: eileen at September 22, 2005 10:17 PM



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