Tag: northern ireland

Threat to minimum wage in Northern Ireland

Belfast Tue Jul 24, 2007 at 10:41:46 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I do hope this is silly season journalism, but this evening the BBC Northern Ireland website reports:


 'Prime Minister Gordon Brown is considering plans which could see the minimum wage reduced in Northern Ireland, it is believed.




Alan Johnson in the north of Ireland

repub Fri Jun 01, 2007 at 01:25:53 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

From the BBC today...



Sauce for the goose ...

Mark Wadsworth Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 09:34:29 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

A lot of people (on left and right) say that Scotland should not be allowed to have independence because ...



Northern Ireand and the rise of the far-right: will ethnic cleansing become a reality in Britain?

Mike Ion Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 11:29:54 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

John Kampfner has written a thought provoking piece in this week's New Statesman in which he argues that Northern Ireland, though on the verge of a historic power-sharing deal could end up with some kind of informal pact between hardline republicans and unionists that will virtually formalise ethnic cleansing in the province.



11+ reforms

steppenwolff Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 12:07:26 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I am currently researching the government's plans to abolist the 11+ and academic selection in NI. They want to install the failed comprehensive system in NI and remove the grammar school system. It is not wanted by the majority of parents and even English universities recognise the benefits of the NI education system.

We have the best results in the UK - 25% of the best UK results in 2.5% of the UK's schools apparently.

I passed the 11+ and went to grammar school (Ballymena Academy http://www.ballymenaacademy.org.uk/portal.aspx) so may be biases in favour of the current system but will try and present both sides of the argument in my full blog post next week.