Alastair Kneale's blog

News from the Celtic League:

The placing of a giant ‘NO’ sign by campaigners opposed to abortion in Ireland on the side of Ben Bulben mountain has prompted protest from the Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

The sign is 100 foot high and made out of plastic cladding. It has been erected with the landowners permission.

News from the Celtic League:

One of the consequences of the UK Brexit is that the UK Nuclear industry will separate its functions from Euratom that regulates safety standards across Europe in conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A year ago UK energy officials were suggesting that the new bilateral arrangements with IAEA would see the nuclear industry have standards set at a higher bar than the current IAEA/Euratom provisions (link - Reuters report September 2017).

News from the Celtic League:

Sellafield are in the dock again over Health and Safety issues although the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) statement gives little away about the nature of this new omission - although it apparently involves staff contamination in an area handling ‘special nuclear materials’.

ONR say they are tight lipped for ‘legal reasons’.

Its worrying to communities around the Irish Sea that the plants safety is once again under scrutiny:

ONR statement in full below:

“ONR to prosecute Sellafield Ltd

11 May, 2018

News from the Celtic League:

As the Isle of Man government were given the go ahead by Tynwald to secure the sealink to the United Kingdom via a purchase of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company a new fast craft sea link between the Celtic countries was also secured.

The Irish Times this week reported on the new ‘Dublin Swift’ HSS which  entered service last month and will link Dublin Port with Holyhead in Wales - a sailing of just two hours:

News from the Celtic League:

The value of the Council of Europe (CoE) and its statements are called into question in this report on BBC Northern Ireland:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44116786

News from the Celtic League:

Figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland prove conclusively that 50% of investigations into ‘legacy killings’ are targeted at republicans.

There has been a major furore in recent months stoked by military figures. Some British politicians including Ministers and retired senior army figures are suggesting that cases against former soldiers were being pursued disproportionately. These ‘lobbyists’ want a dispensation or limitation on prosecution so that alleged British Army murderers can get of the hook.

News from the Celtic League:

If there is one thing Ireland is noted for its rainfall the Atlantic westerlies make sure the country gets a good drenching. Consequently when it was suggested over a decade ago that water might need to be piped from the River Shannon in the West to supply Dublin City most people thought it was an elaborate hoax.

However the project is still live and indeed it seems that serious consideration is being given to piping water - using huge pipes the largest ever used in Ireland - from ArdnaCrusha on Lough Derg all the way to Dublin.

News from the Celtic League:

Earlier this month Ireland's Defence Secretary. Paul Kehoe attended two events over a four day period that could not have been farther removed from each other.

News from the Celtic League:

Celtic News reported periodically on the controversy surrounding the proposed new airport at Nante (Notre Dame des Landes) plans for which were abandoned this year.

Nantes is of course the old Capital of Brittany and was an integral part of the country prior to its ‘hiving off’ by the French to the department of Loire-Atlantique.

News from the Celtic League:

Emmanuel Macron President of France strives to portray a new image of French politics but when he turned up in Noumea, Kanaky (New Caledonia) earlier this month nothing had changed.

Old style French colonialism holds sway as the territory is about to vote later this year on self determination and the political elite in Paris want the ‘status quo’ to prevail.