A selected audience from a diverse range of sectors received hot-off-the-press expert analysis from Stakeholder Communications CEO Tom Kelly before engaging in a wide-ranging discussion of the results and their political and economic impact.

Tom Kelly said, “Evolve continues to bring together key opinion formers from the worlds of business, politics, government, and media. The level of engagement and the variety of views shared was encouraging. The nature of the forum is that we can host events of all shapes & sizes and this briefing and discussion really demonstrated that flexibility.”

Key talking points in the discussion were the shock defeat of First Minister Peter Robinson by Naomi Long in his East Belfast heartland and the projected impact of the polls for the next Assembly election and any resulting Executive. Conversation moved onto the UK government and the various options for coalition that were now in play.

Tom Kelly said, “All sectors engaging in the political & policy debate is a key driver in a healthy democracy and government. Evolve provides these opportunities and I hope individuals and organisations will engage with us as we continue this type of discussion.

Jack McConnell Former First Minister of Scotland & Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA

Evolve – Northern Ireland’s new public policy forum got off to a flying start with its first event in the Ulster Hall yesterday. The sell-out event, which including public, private, not-for profit and education sector, heard keynote speaker Jack McConnell deliver an engaging presentation on the experience of devolution in Scotland and how the administration coped with challenges over the past decade.

Delegates at the event also witnessed one of the most significant political speeches in recent years when the First Minister Peter Robinson outlined a radical new vision of how devolution could operate in Northern Ireland.

Belfast’s First Citizen, Lord Mayor Cllr Naomi Long MLA welcomed those attending expressing her delight that the Ulster Hall was regaining its proud heritage of being one of the ‘crucibles of political debate’ following its restoration in recent years.

Powered by Stakeholder, one of Northern Ireland’s leading public affairs companies, Evolve’s role is to spark debate between Government, business and academia, and provide a platform for both public and private discussion.

Tom Kelly, CEO of Stakeholder Communications, said: “We were encouraged by success of the first ‘Evolve’ event. The levels of engagement between speakers and delegates proved the need for a new vehicle between government and citizens, both private and corporate. I would like to express our thanks to our three speakers, Jack McConnell MSP, First Minister Peter Robinson MP, and The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Naomi Long MLA as well as the sponsor for the first seminar, Steria.

Evolve will run a series of seminars throughout the year to discuss how devolution has evolved to the present day, how it operates now and how it may change in the future. As well as wider constitutional issues, Evolve will also discuss local government, the economy, arts and culture, health, education and constitutional affairs.

Outlining his vision for Evolve’s future Tom Kelly said: “It is our hope that Evolve will develop a life of its own and discussions are already at an advanced stage with a number of exciting speakers.”

To view more images from this event, please got to the gallery section of this site.

An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen

The next two months will be crucial for Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his government and the poll ratings will provide little comfort. Cowen is right when he says it does not matter whether his ratings stand at 15 per cent or 55 per cent as the job remains the same. But there is no doubt that the government has lost public confidence and that Cowen, like his British counterpart, has failed to inspire.

The taoiseach appears bewildered by the scale of the problem he faces. Unfortunately for his nervous colleagues, his legendary bulldog skills seem somewhat toothless as his Dail performances are at best lacklustre.

Nevertheless, with all the issues facing Ireland now the last thing the country needs is a general election.

It must be tempting for Fianna Fail to cut and run. It would be much easier to be in opposition for the next three or four years.

Eamon Gilmore seems to sense that too and despite his party’s strong showing, knows that playing second fiddle to a Fine Gael-led administration will not be as easy as it presently seems. The Irish electorate are a fickle bunch and the rising tide of public support may not last if a bruised and bitter Fianna Fail hit the opposition benches.

Fianna Fail, like Labour in Britain and perhaps the SDLP in the north, is a party that appears to have run out of steam – it is persisting rather than existing.

The Labour project appears finished and they are now banking on some unknown revelation damaging Campaign Cameron in the eyes of the electorate. This is more of a prayer than a strategy.

Cameron does not have to do or say anything as Labour seems paralysed. Gordon Brown is about as skilful as Frank Spencer when it comes to political savvy. If he laid a golden egg he could not find anyone to buy it.

Both Cowen and Brown are finding that it’s not easy to inherit power from charismatic leaders like Ahern or Blair. The wooden Al Gore encountered the same problem post-Bill Clinton. Cowen and Brown, mistakenly like Gore, opted to tactically distance themselves from their predecessors – with disastrous results.

Moreover, that Fianna Fail did not even consider the option of ‘national’ government will be remembered as one of the great political follies of the present administration.

That they dithered over the issue of the Irish banks and now appear incapable of selling their rescue option is pure incompetence. Yet Fine Gael declaring their opposition to Nama is playing a dangerous game of fast and loose with the Irish economy. There is no doubt this may come back to haunt them if in government.

The bizarre aspect of all the ongoing political shenanigans is the slow-burn courtship of Fianna Fail with its potential northern support base.

Apparently, they held another ‘forum’ in Northern Ireland with two government ministers present. The choice of location – Downpatrick – was not lost on the SDLP. Fianna Fail says this is not about elections but it will unnerve those in the SDLP of a nervous disposition.

Though, to be honest, this is an unnecessary political distraction for Fianna Fail at this time and an unwelcome intervention for the SDLP.

Of course, the left-leaning, latte-sipping Luddites of the middle class and intellectually elitist, mainly Belfast, SDLP are looking forward with relish to a change of Irish government as if in some way it will rescue the fortunes of their party.

They mistakenly judge that those who favour Fianna Fail organising in the north do so because they are in government.

There is an inevitability about Fianna Fail being organised for northern elections by 2016. It’s pointless of those in the SDLP to continually ignore or complain about the independent actions of another political organisation. They should look to their own house.

The SDLP languishes because its political touchstone is its diminishing membership which appears increasingly out of sync with the wider mood of its potential electorate. When the SDLP asks where to go next, it asks itself.

For the past eight years, with the exception of south Belfast, the SDLP has had no electoral bounce. It’s time to leave the woolly comfort-zone and strike out for new partnerships, whether it’s internally in Northern Ireland or in a north/south context.

No-one should welcome the demise of politics as represented by the SDLP but when everyone knows the lyrics, its time to change the song. As they say fortune favours the brave, not the bewildered.

Scotland’s longest serving First Minister to address new public policy forum

Jack McConnell, Scotland’s longest serving First Minister has been announced as the inaugural speaker for Northern Ireland’s new public policy forum, ‘Evolve’.

Speaking at the Ulster Hall on 8th September, Mr. McConnell, who was Scottish First Minister for six years, will give an address on the theme of ‘How can Devolution Deliver?’ Scotland’s experience of Holyrood is often cited as example of what devolution can deliver and close links already exist between the administrations in Belfast and Edinburgh.

Organised by Stakeholder Communications, one of Northern Ireland’s leading public affairs companies and sponsored by IT solutions provider, Steria, Evolve’s remit is to spark debate between Government, business and academia, and provide a platform for both public and private discussion. Senior representatives from the Northern Ireland Executive are also expected to speak at the event.

Jack McConnell said: “I am pleased to be speaking at the first Evolve seminar, and particularly pleased to be talking about devolution. Scotland and Northern Ireland have a strong bond and while we took different paths to devolution, we have much to learn from each other about making it work.

“I believe that Scotland’s young parliament has changed our country for the better, with an increased population, better schools, more jobs as well as improvements in services and our legal system.

“And we have forged a new, stronger relationship with the rest of Europe and elsewhere in the world.

“This is the real test of devolution and its institutions – not whether the process of government works for politicians and civil servants, but whether it delivers for the people. I have no doubt that devolution has been good for Scotland and will be good for Northern Ireland.”

Tom Kelly, CEO of Stakeholder Communications, added: “The First Minister, Peter Robinson recently said that it was time to sell the benefits of devolution and we agree with his mission to do that. Gerry Adams once said that politics was too important an issue solely to be left to politicians. We believe it is the responsibility of all people of goodwill to spell out those benefits of devolved government through debate and discussion based on experiences from home and abroad and the concept of ‘Evolve’ is our contribution to that process. We hope over the next twelve months to provide fora, both private and public, which will encourage debate, responsible decision-making, idea generation and the sharing of best practice in the pursuit of bolstering confidence and good governance on behalf of everyone in Northern Ireland who believes in the benefits of devolved government.’

“The Ulster Hall has been the scene of some famous debates, dating back to the visits of both Randolph Churchill in 1886 who was against devolution and in 1912 his son, Winston Churchill, who was for devolution – although Winston never actually made it because a crowd blocked his way. Thankfully the debate has moved on and we now have a fully functioning, widely supported local Assembly. What more apt place to host a discussion about how our new institutions can improve the social, economic and political life of Northern Ireland?

Tony Rice, Client Director for Steria in Northern Ireland said: “Steria is delighted to be a strategic partner in the Evolve public affairs forum project that promises to break new ground by initiating debate and discussion on devolved government in Northern Ireland. As a company that works closely with the public sector here Steria sees first-hand the progress that is being made under the devolved administration. This series of events will help us all learn more about what has been done, what is being done and what can be achieved in the future.

“Providing cutting-edge IT solutions to the public sector means we in Steria have to maintain a focus on how markets and technologies change. How the Northern Ireland Government may react to changes in social, political and economic environments could have a huge impact on our business. Evolve is therefore of great interest to us and we look forward to engaging with what promises to be very interesting and informative debate and discussion.”

Evolve will run a series of seminars throughout the year to discuss how devolution has evolved to the present day, how it operates now and how it may change in the future. As well as wider constitutional issues, Evolve will also discuss local government, the economy, arts and culture, health, education and constitutional affairs.

Anyone wishing to attend should contact breda@stakeholdergroup.com or visit www.evolveni.com.

Contact

Carl Whyte
Stakeholder Group
Tel: 02890 339949

Notes to Editors:
Evolve will lead the debate on how devolution moves forward by inviting speakers to an ongoing series of seminars discussing a wide-range of issues, including local government, the economy, the arts and culture, health, education and constitutional affairs. Evolve provides a platform for Northern Ireland’s opinion formers and decision makers to learn from examples of best practice from fellow EU partners, as well as international governments.

The late Jade Goody

Brian Cowen is taking a beating in the polls because he is ‘telling it as it is’. But the ‘tell it as it is’ camp has a new champion: President Obama.

Speaking to the conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, he literally told African Americans to stop blaming others for their misfortunes.

The US president said: “No more excuses. No-one writes your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hands and don’t forget that. That is why we have to teach our children – a new mindset, a new set of attitudes because one of the most durable and destructive legacies is how so many in our community have come to expect so little of ourselves.”

Oh, for an Obama at Stormont instead of the liberalising, nanny tosh from people who just won’t take responsibility or ask others to do so either.

Instead of putting pressure on parents to set an example to children and to take responsibility for their actions, we get a children’s commissioner trying to take more responsibility away from parents by preventing those that do care from chastising their own children for wrong doing.

Or the nonsense in our education debate over selection which actually diminishes the aspiration and much perspiration needed to succeed.

The least everyone wants are performing schools whether they be vocational, grammar or all-ability schools. But good schools need good, committed teachers and in some cases schools are being let down by teachers who are so not committed.

Under performing schools are also failed by uninterested parents. Parents who don’t see the value of education and who won’t take responsibility for the quality of lives they bring into this world. ‘Cop out’ parents, who are let off the hook of responsibility by well-meaning policy wonks.

President Obama threw down the gauntlet to ‘opt-out parents’, saying: “put away the Xbox, put your kids to bed at a reasonable hour, raise your children’s expectations by looking beyond the dreams of becoming a basketball player or rapper.”

His remarks could easily find targets here as testified by the thousands of parents whose aspiration goes no higher than pushing their children towards instant but fleeting fame in reality TV shows like The X Factor or Big Brother.

When we see recreational violence on the streets of north Belfast the question has to be asked: “Where are the parents?”

In a world where the late Jade Goody can be a role model we are in a sorry state. When Michael Parkinson said as much he was berated for snobbery. Parkinson, who was born in a council estate, whose father walked eight miles to a mine where he spent 10 hours to be paid 35p a shift.

When Parkinson’s father took him down a pit, Parky jnr remarked: “You would not get me down there for a 100 quid a shift”, to which his father replied: “That’s good but be warned that if you ever change your mind and I see you coming through those colliery gates I will kick your arse all the way home.”

Parkinson and my own father are of the same generation. The values instilled by their parents are ageless and classless.

Watching my father leave at 6am to go work 40 or 50 miles away as a joiner on building sites and coming home at 7pm, I did not need convincing when he said that “a pen is easier carried than a shovel”.

In our council estate many of the children I played with are now doctors, lawyers, teachers, civil servants and those that took the vocational route are equally successful as business people, garage owners, plumbers, joiners and hairdressers.

One family from our council estate now boasts two lawyers, a teacher, a doctor and an architect. Not bad for an area where we built our own ladders.

But as President Obama courageously said, “We have to say to our children yes, if you grow up in a poor neighbourhood you will face challenges that someone in a wealthy suburb does not. But that is not a reason to get bad grades or to cut class. That’s not a reason to give up on your education and drop out of schools”.

Some lessons are too easily forgotten.

Punch Magazine anti irish propaganda 1867 Guy Fawkes

How it must have made the English chattering classes and gentry laugh. After all, back then the Irish were not regarded as fit to rule themselves. While the Celtic Tiger may now seem rather timid and while we like to present ourselves as urbane and modern, the British media interpretation of us remains very much as caricatured as in the days of Punch.

Look at the roles played by Irish people on TV. Back in the 1970s who could forget O’Reilly as the useless Irish builder in Fawlty Towers.

The same actor played a one-armed Irish dishwasher in Robin’s Nest.

Of course, back then it was common practice to have a go at the Irish. The stock in trade of every comedian’s repertoire contained the proverbial, Englishman, Scotsman and Irishman, with the latter usually the butt of the punchline.

The odious Bernard Manning was overtly racist. Jim Davidson, the soldiers’ favoured comedian, loved taking the ‘mickey’ out of the Paddies, all allegedly in the name of good old-fashioned fun.

Technically speaking we live in a more politically correct world. Sometimes too politically correct. Muslims seem to be the most protected of minority species. It’s totally taboo to say anything about them or their religion without an avalanche of thought police and moral custodians landing on your head.

But what of the Irish?

Surely in this more integrated age we are more protected than before. Manning is dead. Chubby Brown is confined to video and Jim Davidson is off screen. But take a look at your TV.

In everyone’s favourite, Coronation Street, the main Irish character for many years was a wife-beating alcoholic killer with a voice that could cut glass. Nowadays, the O’Connors are portrayed as some kind of rural Irish stereotypes more likely to be found in a version of Glenroe 35 years ago when The Late Late Show was still introducing sex to the Irish nation after Saturday night confession.

Mind you, Coronation Street also gave us the bunny boiler of an Irish nurse. The Irish depicted in EastEnders did not fare much better and in 1997 several episodes led to the intervention of the Irish ambassador to Britain.

Watch any episode of The Bill and the Irish invariably turn up as prostitutes, villains, alcoholics or drug addicts.

Even Channel 4’s trendy Hollyoaks has the most motley crew of Irish characters ever assembled outside of a Sean O’Casey play. One is a Belfast cross-dressing bisexual who has a brother who is HIV-positive and who came into the show as a bully and now contents himself with whatever illegal scam is going. They both have a female friend, Irish of course, who is a loud and foul-mouthed floozy.

The dysfunctional McQueens, a family of second-generation Liverpool Irish Catholics who find the time between sleeping with just about everybody, including the local priest, to sell images of Christ on toast and fill Holy Water bottles.

In the appropriately named Shameless drama, the two main protagonists are the Gallaghers and the Maguires and they don’t come more criminal, more stupid and more hopeless than these two gormless families.

It seems as if old-fashioned stereotyping is alive and well in the British media and we are still being portrayed as an underclass when the opportunity presents itself in the form of a storyline or character. Naturally, if there is an opportunity for a priest in a storyline, so much the better because, in the British media, Catholicism is inextricably linked to the Irish.

So if a priest is required, it will invariably be an Irish one but of the stage ‘oirish’ version.

One could be oversensitive about these things but sometimes it’s useful to notice how things are really being portrayed in the media as racial stereotyping of white ethnic groups is more subtle and subliminal than before.

We Irish are noted for our sense of humour and for making people laugh. We just need to make sure that the intention behind our portrayal is to make people laugh with us and not at us.