Voting rights in presidential poll for Irish citizens in NI would be constitutional shift of note
'It would be a truly historic occasion,' Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín told the Belfast Telegraph.
The constitutional significance of Aontú's bill to allow Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland to vote in presidential elections to the Republic shouldn't be underestimated.
If passed by the Dail and endorsed by a referendum, it would be too late for this October's poll to choose Michael D Higgins' successor, but the franchise would be extended to northerners for the 2032 election.
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The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland must read the small print in Ireland's growth success
These figures are, however, astonishing, just too good to be true – and they are. Irish growth is hugely inflated by the presence of large US multinationals in the high-tech sector, especially in pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The capital flows – investments, repatriated profits, IP ownership etc – and trade flows – imports and exports – associated with their operational activity and financial engineering, heavily distort the picture of what's happening elsewhere in the Irish economy. The lowest corporation tax rate in Europe (12.5%) and other sweeteners have helped to attract these US behemoths. This has already put the Irish Government in the crosshairs of the EU: last year the European Court of Justice required a reluctant Irish Government to claw back 13 billion euros from Apple on the grounds that unlawful tax advantages had been granted. Now, reciprocal tariffs of up to 50% are being threatened by the Trump administration: not good news for the likes of Pfizer, in Cork, which exports 80% of its drugs back to the US for finishing. Unsurprisingly, the high surge in Irish first-quarter growth is in large part due to stockpiling by these businesses in anticipation of new tariffs being imposed. Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, described Irish growth as 'leprechaun economics' where GDP is 'artificially' distorted by multinational tax strategies. He's right. The main lesson for Scotland is to avoid dangerous over-dependence on powerful multinationals and to try to keep on Trump's good side – at least until things change. Other home-grown development paths are always available. Ewen Peters, Newton Mearns. FM should call an NHS summit I RECENTLY read a letter, published elsewhere, from a group of senior health professionals who very crisply, in a blameless collegiate way, described a way forward for our NHS and Social Care. In essence they are calling for John Swinney to put aside party politics and call a non-political summit to discuss and review the way forward for our health service. We've had various summits most recently about the rise of far right so surely it shouldn't to too difficult to organise this considering it's the subject uttermost in the minds of most citizens' concerns. Of course these experts are not suggesting that a simple summit will solve all the ills of our health and social care but as the start of a cross-party approach, upon which there are many areas of common ground. Our politicians owe us this but sad to say, with another election looming, I somehow doubt anyone has the guts or ambition to grasp the health nettle and plot a way forward. Come on, John, do as you say and put the people of Scotland First. Ian McNair, Cellardyke. Summits are the height of delusion I KNOW that the SNP likes to pretend that Scotland is a sovereign state bestriding the world stage. After all, as Cabinet secretary Mairi MacAllan told Holyrood in February 2024, 'More often than not, world leaders are approaching the Scottish government asking for our advice on how we have managed to lead the way so successfully on a number of fronts'. If you believe any of that, you will believe anything. John Swinney's self-important contribution to this is to hold 'summits'. Did we ever hear positive results from the one in April when he gathered the not very great or good together to devise a strategy for combating Reform? That went well last week. Now he is to hold a 'summit' on the scourge of knife crime. Some angry Scottish nationalists on social media are asking why he isn't holding a summit on independence, instead, which gives an indication of their (lack of) interest in the wellbeing of Scots. A summit is normally understood as a meeting of world leaders on a pressing issue of international concern. Using it to describe the deliberations of a devolved authority on a serious internal problem is to indulge in delusions of grandeur. Par for the SNP course. Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh. Organising NHS staff properly IAIN McNicol's letter (June 9) gives a glowing review of his NHS treatment and he suggests that taxes should be increased to improve funding of this enormous organisation. Not everyone has been so well treated and many have to wait a very long time for treatment. I speak from some experience. Television is full of programmes about hospitals, emergency services, ambulances. et cetera. Even for a minor accident it is not unusual to have a couple of ambulances, a fast response paramedic, the Hazardous Area Response Team, the fire service, a couple of police cars and a JRU (Joint Response Unit). In many cases a helicopter is called in to add to the mayhem and sometimes sent away again as not needed. The scene is a sea of blue lights and all colours of high-vis jackets. What does all that cost and could it not be more economically organised? Then the scene switches back to the A&E department and here you can see a large number of staff milling around, sitting at computers. I don't think funding is the problem. I think it has more do with actual organisation, but with an enormous unionised workforce it will never be sorted out. David Gilchrist, Paisley. Child Payment has been a success THERE can be little doubt that the Scottish Child Payment (SCP) is one of the most progressive initiatives delivered by either the UK government or any of the devolved ones during the last 10-15 years. Author, political commentator and Oxford University Professor Danny Dorling acknowledged this at the weekend when he said the SCP had significantly helped tackle child poverty in Scotland while remaining almost entirely ignored by politicians in England, whom he accused of wearing 'unbelievable blinkers'. He added that for an eligible family, 'If you've got three kids that's about £4,000 a year extra – that means that your children can eat and eat well, I mean healthily'. Figures published in March indicated that 31% of children across the UK were in relative poverty compared with 30% a year earlier. In Scotland the rate was 22% compared with 26% for the previous year. The SCP is yet another example of positive change initiated by the Scottish government and as such, is in stark contrast to the 'change' promised but not delivered by UK Labour. As Professor Dorling intimates, it is strange that there is such widespread ignorance of it south of the border. Perhaps the Child Poverty Task Force set up by Keir Starmer will recommend its adoption right across the UK. Alan Woodcock, Dundee. Sarwar did well in his TV interview THEY say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The letter from S. McArthur (June 10) would suggest that the same seems to apply to political programmes. Contrary to the views expressed, I found Anas Sarwar's interview to be excellent. He dealt at length with issues relevant to the Scottish Parliament, which was what the by-election was all about and declined the invitation to dwell on issues for which the First Minister has no responsibility whatsoever. He answered at length matters which they are. As a Labour voter I was very proud. John Swinney, a nice man, demonstrated the pressures he had been under the whole week-end, and was understandably crestfallen. I am sure that I was not alone in being hugely impressed by the interview with Dame Jackie Baillie as the votes were being counted. Emotionally drained, she gave the honest answer that at that point the result was too close to call. It came as no surprise when we saw the Herald's picture of Dame Jackie in tears. As a Labour voter I thought that, not for the first time, she is the kind of person who gives politics a good name. Sir Tom Clarke, Former Labour MP for Coatbridge. Election count? IT would appear that the First Minister does not even have a basic grasp of maths – pretty essential, may I suggest, for this role. He claimed that the Labour vote at Hamilton 'collapsed by 20% from 50% to 30%'; this is a reduction of 20% points, the actual percentage reduction is an entirely different figure . Perhaps the Cabinet Secretary for Education could put him right? Mike Flinn, West Kilbride.
Scotsman
18 hours ago
- Scotsman
Courage on the seas, silence on our shores over Gaza
Scottish Green Party co-leader Lorna Slater In the early hours of yesterday morning, the world witnessed yet another brazen violation of international law by the Israeli government. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Madleen, a UK-flagged humanitarian aid vessel, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters while en route to Gaza. Aboard were 12 peace activists, including high-profile figures such as climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham and French MEP Rima Hassan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This ship was not a threat, Israel knew that before it had even left port. It carried no weapons, only vital humanitarian supplies - food, water and medicine for the besieged people of Gaza. Greta Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship Madleen Yet, despite the clear protections of international maritime law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Israeli forces boarded and seized the vessel in a violent, nighttime raid. Let us be clear, this was not just an attack on a ship. It was an attack on humanitarian principles, on international law and on the right of civilians to live free from siege and starvation. It was an attempt to silence the growing global demand for justice and dignity for Palestinians. Scotland and indeed the UK, cannot look away. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The presence of global figures like Thunberg and Cunningham on the Madleen highlights the international scale of concern over the continued blockade of Gaza and is putting the strongest of spotlights on Israel's actions facilitating arguably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. We must not allow the UK Government's silence to imply consent. Successive governments have remained complicit in the face of clear war crimes, continuing to arm and support the Israeli regime while turning their backs on the victims of its actions. With a UK vessel now seized and its passengers detained, the Labour government's refusal to speak out is both shameful and dangerous. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We cannot claim to stand for peace, human rights and the rule of law while funding, arming and enabling a regime that so flagrantly violates all three. We must demand action. The blockade of Gaza must end. The UK must halt all arms sales to Israel, suspend military cooperation and stand on the side of humanity. The Madleen's mission was to shine a light on the suffering of Gaza and the complicity of the international community in its ongoing tragedy. That light is now brighter than ever. What happens next will show whether the world is willing to act or merely watch. Lorna Slater, Scottish Green party co-leader
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million
The Chinese-owned social media firm said its UK workforce would expand to 3,000 this year as part of its 'deep commitment' to the UK. It will also open a new 135,000sq ft office in London's Barbican, which is set to open early next year. The group already has its UK headquarters in Farringdon, London, which were opened in 2022. TikTok unveiled the plans as it said it now has more than 30 million regular users in the UK each month, which makes the market is biggest user community in Europe. Adam Presser, director of TikTok UK and global head of operations and trust and safety, said: 'Whether through direct investment in jobs and innovation, or the wider economic contribution from millions of British businesses on TikTok, we're pleased to be increasing our investment and presence here in the UK, an important hub for TikTok.' But it comes after Cabinet minister Pete Kyle signalled he was looking at measures to restrict the amount of time children spend on their phones, including through a possible 10pm curfew. Mr Kyle was asked on Sunday morning whether he would look at limiting the time children spend on social media to two hours per app after the Sunday People and Mirror reported the measure was being considered by ministers. The Online Safety Act has passed into law, and from this year will require tech platforms to follow new Ofcom-issued codes of practice to keep users safe online, particularly children. Hefty fines and site blockages are among the penalties for those caught breaking the rules, but many critics have argued the approach gives tech firms too much scope to regulate themselves. TikTok's Mr Presser said that, as well as its UK expansion plans, the group also invests 'significantly' in safety. He said: 'What underpins our continued growth is our deep commitment to safety and to creating an enjoyable and secure digital space to sustainably support creators, entrepreneurs and the wider economy, which is why we also invest significantly in safety.' TikTok first launched its UK operations in 2018 and is financially incorporated in Britain. The group was fined 530 million euro (£446 million) by the Irish data protection watchdog last month for breaching EU privacy rules around transferring user data to China. The video-sharing app was also sanctioned for not being transparent with users about where personal data was being sent and ordered the platform to comply with data protection rules within six months. TikTok said it would appeal against the decision. The social media giant, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, has been under scrutiny from regulators around the world over how it handles personal data, and is also facing a ban in the United States over its China links, which the US government has said is a national security issue.
