This week i received the official certificate along with all my paperwork and a passport application form. Right now the UK has a general election only days away and if the Tory's win a majority they will unfortunately execute some bodged up Brexit straight away. Unfortunately the leader of Labour is a nutcase and so be storming home but his combination of marxism and racism means many can't vote for a party led by him.
Our best hope right now is that no party wins a majority and parliment is willing and able to continue pushing for a properly informed referendum.
Unfortunately there are many head winds here:
- Direct Messaging via Social media is still not regulated. Therefore this can still be used to messages to individuals which would not stand up to scrutiny.
- Various state actors are still manipulating our democracy and since it is politically expedidant the government seems to be withholding a report which says just that.
- Voter fatigue appears to have set in with the subject of Brexit and people was want to 'get it done'. However we know that even if you pass the 'withdrawl has started' stage it will be far from done at that point.
Its also become more evident that Trump is in Putin's pocket.
Again think about who stands to gain from all this Chaos, Putin and Trump.
Sunday, 8 December 2019
Monday, 18 November 2019
Applying for an Irish passport - part seven - Application accepted
On Friday 15th November i recieved an email from the Irish Department for Foriegn Affairs (DFA) saying that my application was due to be accepted and i just needed to re-confirm my address for posting back the documents. So far the process has taken 1 year and 1 month. I'd expect to get the status this month which then means i have the option to apply for a passport in the future if i so desire.
Actually this weekendi have a work trip to Italy and this highlights the need for free and simply access to our neighbouring countries.
For historical reference Brexit has changed alot and not very much. Boris Johnson negotiated a new version of the deal which puts N Ireland in a different customs status, however he couldn't pass that through Parliment and so they have all agreed to (or been bounced into) an election on 12th December. Its unclear what will happen in this election for several reasons:
a) The unregulated direct targetting of messages via social media by Leave via Facebook using Cambridge Analytica and Analytics IQ funded by a US billionaire has been exposed and blocked.
b) Twitter has annouced it will no longer allow political ads, however
c) Social media is still vulnerable to the unofficial political messages that are even less accountable and forwarded around between believers which re-enforce their perception 'its the truth'.
d) There is still no clear leader for Remain, no unifying message. Even politicians that have changed their minds will find it difficult to slow the inertia of years of the other side controlling the message
e) British mentality (or the 'bulldog spirit) to just 'get it done' regardless of whether it, on reflection, is a good thing.
At least the Lib Dems are now clear that if they win (outright) they will simply revoke article 50. However the I can hope for now is that the election does not deliver an outright majority for Boris or allow him to create an unholy alliance with Nigel. This could mean we get a more informed referendum and one that is not rushed through. However all of the above points would likely still apply.
Just remember who stands to benefit from a weakened UK and EU. Putin and Trump.
Actually this weekendi have a work trip to Italy and this highlights the need for free and simply access to our neighbouring countries.
For historical reference Brexit has changed alot and not very much. Boris Johnson negotiated a new version of the deal which puts N Ireland in a different customs status, however he couldn't pass that through Parliment and so they have all agreed to (or been bounced into) an election on 12th December. Its unclear what will happen in this election for several reasons:
a) The unregulated direct targetting of messages via social media by Leave via Facebook using Cambridge Analytica and Analytics IQ funded by a US billionaire has been exposed and blocked.
b) Twitter has annouced it will no longer allow political ads, however
c) Social media is still vulnerable to the unofficial political messages that are even less accountable and forwarded around between believers which re-enforce their perception 'its the truth'.
d) There is still no clear leader for Remain, no unifying message. Even politicians that have changed their minds will find it difficult to slow the inertia of years of the other side controlling the message
e) British mentality (or the 'bulldog spirit) to just 'get it done' regardless of whether it, on reflection, is a good thing.
At least the Lib Dems are now clear that if they win (outright) they will simply revoke article 50. However the I can hope for now is that the election does not deliver an outright majority for Boris or allow him to create an unholy alliance with Nigel. This could mean we get a more informed referendum and one that is not rushed through. However all of the above points would likely still apply.
Just remember who stands to benefit from a weakened UK and EU. Putin and Trump.
Saturday, 26 January 2019
Applying for an Irish passport - part six - Forgeign Birth application submitted
I have now submitted my FBR application to the Irish government with the ETA for review between 6-12 months. Its unknown how long this could really take because whilst i've been deligent in dotting the i's and crossing the t's its clear they have a surge of applications and no incentive to expedite the process.
It took me nearly four months to get to this point including phone calls, letters, ordering documents, translating documents, getting lawyer colleagues to notarise documents etc. Also it has cost ~£400 just to get to this stage and none of my children can benefit from this to Irish law (I would have had to have done this before they were born).
For historical reference its still unclear at this time which way Brexit will go. The PM seems to have control of the time table and is running out the clock to force the MPs into accepting whatever comprises the EU give us or No Deal. People should remember that even if the EU does concede on the backstop then they have essential won the negoatitions. They set the 'frame work' at the beginning which meant that if any of their red lines were not agreed then the process stopped. The main reason i voted remain was because i didn't think we could ever do well in such negotiations and i think i've been vindicated, a hollow victory of course.
Finally if anyone wants to understand how we got where we are then i recommend watching Brexit-the-uncivil-war on Channel 4. I fear that even if we had a second vote, and such tatics were no longer available, you still cannot reset the lies people have been told and more importantly the opinions they have formed because of them. We have many great values as britons but one aspect we do have is the ability to put our heads down and get the shoulder to the wheel in face of all opposition. i.e. People will stand by the position they have taken even if they secretly know its wrong, they can be intransigent.
Just listen to what some people say to opinion shows and you'll hear that most of the specific examples of reasons for Brexit are actually problems created by our own sucessive governments.
It took me nearly four months to get to this point including phone calls, letters, ordering documents, translating documents, getting lawyer colleagues to notarise documents etc. Also it has cost ~£400 just to get to this stage and none of my children can benefit from this to Irish law (I would have had to have done this before they were born).
For historical reference its still unclear at this time which way Brexit will go. The PM seems to have control of the time table and is running out the clock to force the MPs into accepting whatever comprises the EU give us or No Deal. People should remember that even if the EU does concede on the backstop then they have essential won the negoatitions. They set the 'frame work' at the beginning which meant that if any of their red lines were not agreed then the process stopped. The main reason i voted remain was because i didn't think we could ever do well in such negotiations and i think i've been vindicated, a hollow victory of course.
Finally if anyone wants to understand how we got where we are then i recommend watching Brexit-the-uncivil-war on Channel 4. I fear that even if we had a second vote, and such tatics were no longer available, you still cannot reset the lies people have been told and more importantly the opinions they have formed because of them. We have many great values as britons but one aspect we do have is the ability to put our heads down and get the shoulder to the wheel in face of all opposition. i.e. People will stand by the position they have taken even if they secretly know its wrong, they can be intransigent.
Just listen to what some people say to opinion shows and you'll hear that most of the specific examples of reasons for Brexit are actually problems created by our own sucessive governments.
Friday, 18 January 2019
EHIC and Brexit (an open letter)
(I've just sent this email to the feedback address for the NHS EHIC process. #peoplesvote)
To whom it may concern,
I have just renewed my son's EHIC and found the process quick and painless which is good.
However
i note that the letter which accompanies the new card does not mention
the risks associated with Brexit at all. i.e Despite the printed expiry
date on this card, it would presumably become totally defunct in the
event of a No Deal scenario.
Whilst i can assume this is
because the situation is rapidly evolving i think its important that
all card holders are reminded on all possible occasions about such
risks, especially as you come to rely on them.
I know my sons have needed medical treatment abroad in the past and having (or not on one occasion) this card in my possession made a significant difference in gaining access to treatment.
regards,
<Name supplied>
Monday, 24 December 2018
Applying for an Irish passport - part five
Alot has happened in the Brexit debate, even to summarise it here would take a long time. Right now the commonsn vote has been deferred into January. This seems to be a ploy to 'run out the clock' so that MPs are forced to chose between the 'negotiated' deal or no deal. To have a #peoplesvote there would need to be a law passed and there would be little or time to do that.
If it were a binary choice as implied then i would vote for no deal and take the hit, the 'deal' that has been negotiated is a trap which just defers the pain until a year or two later. Whenever we would leave we'd end up taking the blame for anything that happens including political violence.
All we can hope for today is that when the MPs do vote, they vote it down which in turn somehow leads to rescinding Article 50 or extending it. Again i could imagine extending would be the default option because it probably doesn't require a law to be passed and 'kicks the can down the road' (as any committee tends to do when faced with opposing views of the future).
I've supported the #peoplesvote campaign in a few small ways including posting leaflets to let people know what it is. I really like the way the campaign doesn't have any strong political views other than we need to have a vote because we've all learnt alot more. Lets hope it works.
Finally the EU itself has recommended that in the even of a No Deal there should be a period of Visa free travel, who knows how effective that would be. In any case, even if this whole process were cancelled i would be glad to be working on this project
Just before Christmas:
- I've recieved my grandfathers 'late registration of birth'
- I've recieved his new birth certificate
This means that I or my siblings can now in turn apply for our own late registration and then subsequently a passport.
If it were a binary choice as implied then i would vote for no deal and take the hit, the 'deal' that has been negotiated is a trap which just defers the pain until a year or two later. Whenever we would leave we'd end up taking the blame for anything that happens including political violence.
All we can hope for today is that when the MPs do vote, they vote it down which in turn somehow leads to rescinding Article 50 or extending it. Again i could imagine extending would be the default option because it probably doesn't require a law to be passed and 'kicks the can down the road' (as any committee tends to do when faced with opposing views of the future).
I've supported the #peoplesvote campaign in a few small ways including posting leaflets to let people know what it is. I really like the way the campaign doesn't have any strong political views other than we need to have a vote because we've all learnt alot more. Lets hope it works.
Finally the EU itself has recommended that in the even of a No Deal there should be a period of Visa free travel, who knows how effective that would be. In any case, even if this whole process were cancelled i would be glad to be working on this project
Just before Christmas:
- I've recieved my grandfathers 'late registration of birth'
- I've recieved his new birth certificate
This means that I or my siblings can now in turn apply for our own late registration and then subsequently a passport.
Saturday, 24 November 2018
Applying for an Irish passport - part four
Brexit is going terribly, I'm personally a bit torn here when i think of the politics behind it. Recently it looked like there was momentum towards a second vote but at this time it doesn't seem likely. The truth, as i see it, is that the MPs simply don't have the backbone to do the right thing here, even when there is an apparent opportunity. More over it is we the people that should carry a large chunk of the blame too, do we protest ? Are the protests getting bigger every day ? Where are big voices calling for a change ? How comes the Lib Dems (the only party against this process) aren't really gaining support ?
Who knows ... anyway my paper journey continues.
If this part succeeds then i can apply for a copy of his birth certificate and then onwards.
Who knows ... anyway my paper journey continues.
- Previous birth certificates returned and refunded
- New baptism certificate received
- Late registration of birth form sent
If this part succeeds then i can apply for a copy of his birth certificate and then onwards.
Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Applying for an Irish passport - part three
Latest update:
- The Irish General Registration Office actually believe his birth was probably registered and the certificate i have is him. However since he was registered very late and there was a fine for doing this, many people gave false dates intentionally. In these cases they trust the baptismal certificate
- However the baptism certificate has really degraded over the last 100 years, so guess what, i need to apply for a new one of these too
- There is a positive benefit to this though, it does mean that mum won't need to send her original baptism certificate in order for me to get the birth certificate.
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