A few weeks back we put the call out to people and organisations within the Irish Republican community for interviews on what Irish Republicanism means to them.  We are aware that Irish Republicanism has a wide spectrum of different views from traditional abstentionists to constitutional republicanism.  We have spoke to most Irish Republican organisations and have interviewed some people and still to interview a few more.  This morning we woke to hear the BBC talking with Des Dalton the President of Republican Sinn Fein.  So we decided that our recent interview with Republican Sinn Fein would be very relevant and many will find it interesting.

This first interview is with Geraldine Taylor Vice President of Republican Sinn Fein.

Over the next few weeks we will be releasing more interviews in this series with IRSM, Sinn Fein, éirígí, RNU, Ogra Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail giving you a wide distribution of views and opinions from within Irish Republican politics.  

Inside Irish Republicanism : Interview 1 , Republican Sinn Fein from R8YourPolitician on Vimeo.

Read Full Article

We arrived at Stormont just after midday, the under 10's hurling & camogie games were almost finished.  At 12:30 the Edward Carson Trophy Poc Fada kicked off.  Those taking part included Gerry Adams MP, the Education Minister Caitríona Ruane , Barbara DeBrune , Marty Rogan, Mark Sidebottom, Conor Murphy , Tommy Gallagher and many more.

The sun was shining, it was the first time I had been to Stormont and it was also the first time an event like this was played at Stormont.  It was good opportunity to visit Stormont on this quiet August summer day and meet some politicians. 

Edward Carson it seems played “hurley” during his time in Trinity College. One of the highlights of today’s Poc ar an Chnoc on the Stormont estate was the celebrity Poc Fada, being played for the Edward Carson Trophy or An Corn Eamonn Mac Carsáin. As I got to the top of that long road to Stormont the iconic statue of Carson greeted us. The trophy depicted Carson in his classic pose but with a hurley in one hand and a sliotar in the other.  

The Poc Fada has been a part of Féile an Phobail for years and is run each year by Rossa Gaelic Athletic Club. 

Read Full Article

Members of the civil rights campaign group, the Real Fathers for Justice (Rffj), today held coordinated protests around the UK.

In Belfast where activists staged a demo last night then back this morning on the West link (the main route into the city from the M1), and in Middlesbrough, where demonstrators held a protest over the A66 into the city during rush hour.



The action is to highlight continuing failures in the family courts and the politician’s reluctance to deal with the problem.

Read Full Article

We had the first ever N.Ireland Leaders debate, who won the debate! Well it looks like they all failed poorly.  Don't know who the host was asking the questions but he fairly drilled them all on some hot topics.  

Peter Robinson fairly got laid into by the host as well as Sir Reg but he could clearly hold his own.  Robinson fairly killed the debate and discussion surrounding anything to do with Fred Frazier, the piece of land sold for £5 and his wifes dealings.  

Gerry Adams fairly laid into Margaret Ritchie and seemed very happy and confident clearly his campaign of non engaging with the electorate is working well.

Article continues...

Read Full Article

All today we will be running a Poll on the leaders debate.

You can view the Poll here > Leaders Debate Poll

R8 Your Politiciain

Read Full Article

click read more to see the full list

Read Full Article

On Saturday R8 Your Politician had the pleasure of interviewing Conservatives and Unionist candidate for south Belfast Paula Bradshaw.  We wanted to start our series of election interviews with candidates who the people may not know much about.  The electorate are used to watching the same Politicians on tv and the news media for years.  We thought we would start off by interviewing those that were not to well known to the electorate or first time candidates.

R8 Your Politician interview : Paula Bradshaw , Conservatives and Unionists Westminster candidate for South Belfast from Patrick Lismore on Vimeo.

Read Full Article

David Cameron invited everyone to join his 'Big Society' and take part in government today during the marathon launch of the Conservative Party elecetion manifesto. I thought yesterday's Labour manifesto was pretty solid, if uninspiring; this one seems to be full of good intentions that will inevitably fail. For a start, the Conservatives have been talking it up as 'a Californian manifesto' on the ConservativeHome website. Given the state of California's economy at the present time that might not be the best comparison to make. Cameron's insistance that 'we're all in this together' has been mocked by both Labour and the Lib Dems and been labelled 'DIY government'.

Read Full Article

Criminals Tighten the noose

Jesus what a shite day I am having. Woke up this morning as bright as a button only to read to my dismay about the passing of the Digital Economy Bill. What is the Digital Economy Bill? The Digital Economy Act 2010 is an Act of Parliament which includes provisions about:

the online infringement of copyright, including copyright and performers’ rights and about penalties for infringement
the functions of Ofcom
internet domain registries
the functions of the Channel Four
the regulation of television and radio services
the regulation of the use of the electromagnetic spectrum
the Video Recordings Act 1984
public lending right in relation to electronic publications
the bill proposes adding a clause to the Communications Act 2003 with the effect that Internet Service Providers could be forced to disclose details of their customers who repeatedly infringe copyright, on production of sufficient evidence, to copyright groups or face a fine of £250,000 for non-compliance.
ISPs to be required to block access to sites that allow "substantial" infringement.

Right browsing through all that Jargon you may think that seems fair enough it is Government trying to protect company's and artists against piracy but this is actually more sinister. This Bill will allow the unelected secretary of state for business, currently Peter Mandelson, to order the blocking of “a location on the internet which the court is satisfied has been, is being or is likely to be used for or in connection with an activity that infringes copyright”.

Read Full Article

Gordon Brown launched Labour's manifesto today and was immediately accused of being a Blairite by some of the more blue-tinged press. My initial reaction, after getting over a front cover that looked like something from the 1950's Soviet Union, was that it was actually pretty good. Granted I haven't read all 76 pages, but the main points look like the work of a party that has finally realised that it needs to to reconnect with an electorate disillusioned with politicians and politics. Depending on the political outlook of the paper you read it'll either be be a disaster or the first significant step in the Labour Party retaining power. If I get a chance I'll get a post up about the approach the newspapers in the UK have taken to this year's election later in the week. If they continue as they have started this campaign, the press here will never be able to criticise their US counterparts on the grounds of blatant bias again.

Back to the manifesto. To start with, I prefer the Labour election slogan of 'A Future Fair For All' to the Conservative message of 'Vote For Change', which sounds like something rejected by the Obama campaign in 2008. Labour's slogan should appeal to their grass-roots socialist supporters while remaining popualist enough for ordinary voters. I know the slogans were unveiled a while ago but I just thought I'd throw that in!

Read Full Article

As you would expect R8YourPolitician has been watching UK Politics now for the last year and now that the election has finally came, what a let down.  After watching that massive 2 year campaign to see Obama get elected and observing the amazing political campaign leveraging of social networking, social media and engagment.  

Things looked very promising in the UK, election had to happen in 2010.  A chance for the electorate to stand up, be counted and vote.  Remember the promised Lisbon Treaty ReferendumS, remember that War based on lies of Weapons of mass destruction.  Who can forget in a western democratic capitalist free market country the government stepping in and nationalising Northern Rock, pumping billions of the country's money into banks, bailing them out because they failed.  We will not even mention the expenses and lobbying scandals. 

This article is not about the above its about the trend data that we can see on the public searching for these common terms, Parliament, House of Commons and Westminster.

article continues ...

Read Full Article

 Thank God For the Tory's

Read Full Article

British Adams and McGuinness Attack Free Press in Ireland

BY BFClarkeNUJ 

Dublin : Ireland | Apr 05, 2010

Read Full Article

THE PATRIOT GAME - Ireland

BY BFClarkeNUJ 

article continues ...

Read Full Article

  Robinson Out

Read Full Article

Read Full Article

RURAL AFFAIRS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA
4th Meeting, 2010 (Session 3)
Tuesday 23 February 2010
The Committee will meet at 1.30 pm in Weigh Inn Hotel, Thurso, Caithness

Read Full Article

Read Full Article

Public Petitions Committee Official Report 9 February 2010

Read Full Article

Public Audit Committee Official Report 10 February 2010

Read Full Article

Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee Official Report 10 February 2010

Read Full Article

Helping the emergency services to save the lives of at-risk rural patients

Read Full Article

Read Full Article

Morning Mark

Open Question for you

You need to convince the public that climate change is happening and not just a reason to raise taxes. There is little if any proof that the global warming is anything other than what was going to happen anyway.

There have been many articles by respected authorities and scientists actually showing in the last 10 years the earth has ACTUALLY COOLED.

Globally what Britain does when China, Africa, Asia etc etc go unfettered is going to have such a minimal impact. 

Rate Mark Durkan

Letter was asked to Mark Durkan by John Davidson on Facebook 

Read Full Article

R8YourPolitician (Rate Your Politician) is a newly established reputation based E-Democracy rating platform for the public to rate and review Politicians.  It is an innovative new E-Democracy web platform that engages and empowers ordinary citizens through effective use of Internet technology.  Citizens can actively take part in rating politicians on a scale of 1 – 5 and leave a review.  Citizens can also put forward topics and questions for Polls.  Citizens no longer have to wait to the next election let Politicians know how they feel, they can now contribute to a Politicians reputation on a daily basis 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.  As Politicians are debating in Parliament or talking on the news citizens can be rating them and leaving a review.     Constant engagement and real time rating can now be integrated into daily political life.  Opinion polls are mentioned every week in the newspapers and the media.  The media does not tell you that these polls can range from a few hundred pounds to almost £12,000 per poll, possibly more how many citizens have that kind of money to spend on a Poll.  On the R8 Your Politician website citizens can put forward topics and questions for Polls and we can run them scientifically so that they can be used to support issues and causes that citizens are involved in.  That empowers not just citizens but the many pressure groups and community groups across the country that lobbies government; they can now have opinion polls to support their campaign and cause while they are rating their politicians.

Read Full Article

What is Social Media?

Here is some definitions;

1 : A category of sites that is based on user participation and user-generated content. They include social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, social bookmarking sites like Del.icio.us, social news sites like Digg or Reddit, and other sites that are centered on user interaction.

Source

2 : Online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other.

Source

3 : An umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words and pictures.  This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and "building" of shared meaning, as peoples share their stories, and understandings.

Source

I came across this video which prompted me to write this article.  The video is titled "Social Media in plain English"..................

Read Full Article

R8 Your Politician would like to take this opportunity to make Politicians aware that this website is here for them just as much as it is here for the public.

R8 Your Politician welcomes feedback from Politicians on how to better improve the website content and quality.  Politicians are invited and welcomed to submit articles for publication on the site and request changes and updates to their profiles and rating pages.  If you have an important issue or piece of legislation you are trying to create awareness about please send us the articles.

R8 Your Politician also welcomes and invites all Politicians to record and submit a short video so that we can add it to your public profile.

Politicians make sure we have all your official, updated profile information.  Emails will be sent to all Politicians asking for profile information.  Make sure to include links to everything you want added.  Blog links, Website links, Twitter & Facebook links. 

Lastly Politicians spread the word amongst your colleagues in your party.  Encourage your constituents to engage, rate you and leave a review of your work.

Read Full Article