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"A number of people are saying this is not just about water anymore" - Sunday Paper Review

Mick Clifford of the Irish Examiner, broadcaster and former politician Nora Owen, and former seni...
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Newstalk

11.22 30 Aug 2015


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"A number of people ar...

"A number of people are saying this is not just about water anymore" - Sunday Paper Review

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.22 30 Aug 2015


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Mick Clifford of the Irish Examiner, broadcaster and former politician Nora Owen, and former senior political adviser & Irish Examiner columnist Gerard Howlin joined Shane in studio this week for a look at the Sunday papers.

Given its continued prominence in the papers, the ongoing controversy over the existence of the IRA was a major talking point for the panel.

Former Justice Minister Nora Owen observed, "it surprised me somewhat that [PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton] used words like 'structures'. He was probably trying to get across the message that this kind of hiding of what was going on behind the scenes was all being done for a political reason.

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"It's probably not as structured as he implied, but nonetheless he was trying to get across the message that they have clear evidence that there are people who are still engaging in criminal activity... but also quasi political activity as well," she added.

Gerard Howlin said, "whatever about having put arms beyond use, the money has never been put beyond use - and this is at the core of what, in a sense, this is all about".

Speaking about the various claims made by senior Irish politicians, Gerard also argued, "everyone concerned is playing politics, let's be crystal clear about that. That's a given. A separate issue is whether they're right in the substance of what they say".

They also discussed the water charge protest held in Dublin yesterday, with Shane observing there is not as much coverage in the papers today as one might expect. Mick Clifford pointed out, "it seemed perhaps four or five months ago that they might be losing momentum, but yesterday showed that is most definitely not the case.

"The interesting thing now is that openly a number of people to the fore of it are coming out and saying this is not just about water anymore as far as they're concerned," he added.

Other stories covered included an expensive Irish mistranslation, and Fianna Fáil's 'gender problem'.

You can listen back to the full Paper Review below:


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