The Changing of the Guard
I suppose I could say you heard it here first, but I'm not into that sort of thing... This afternoon the new DUP team appeared before the cameras in the First Minister's Office, but reporters like myself weren't invited in. One can only presume that this was in order to exclude the possibility of questions about Iris Robinson's controversial comments on gays and lesbians.
Climate change sceptic Sammy Wilson will make a colourful choice as Environment Minister. The proud recipient of a "most anti-Green MLA" award, Sammy committed three gaffes in quick succession - he was late for the photocall, his mobile went off continually and he made a joke about banning all traffic cameras (presumably so he could drive to Stormont quicker) which might be considered inadvisable for a minister whose brief now covers road safety.
Gregory Campbell had been rumoured over the weekend to have delayed saying "yes" to Culture. Presumably his enthusiasm for soccer and TV ( he is a Bruce Forsythe aficionado) persuaded him.
The outgoing Culture Minister Edwin Poots went down fighting - telling Barry McElduff that he hadn't been indecisive over the Maze, and accusing other ministers of being "divisive" when they thought they were being "decisive".
The Sinn Fein Culture Committee chair accused the departing minister of displaying bad manners in the way he handled his last question time. The Speaker disagreed. A final sign, perhaps, that Sinn Fein will never forgive the Lagan Valley MLA for torpedoing the Irish Language Act.
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Well i suppose it would be naive to assume that MLA's are given these minsiterial positions because they would be best for the job. These positions have always been, for the most part although ofcourse with exceptions, used to boost an MLAs profile for a Westminister seat or to retain this seat.
This is blindingly obvious with Sammy Wilsons appointment as Environment Minister for N.Ireland. A Climate Change sceptic, a vocal supporter of having nuclear power plants scar our coastlines and having other questionable 'un-green' controversies in the past.... can Sammy Wilson really be the man for the job of protecting our fragile and threatened environment? I very much doubt it, as do many others.
Obviously giving Sammy Wilson the Green Wash Award for being the worst threat to our environment hasnt influenced the mind of Mr Robinson. Mabye next years green wash we will give to Mr Robinson for appointing the greatest threat to our environment as environment minisiter!
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Mark, does this mean that Sammy will be leaving his position on the Education committee or is he set to now be in two jobs he knows nothing about?
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North Antrim DUP MLA Mervyn Storey is the new chair of the education committee.
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