A Rude Awakening
I was woken from my slumber at about 6.30 a.m. to be told about the Belfast Telegraph story on a new crisis, sorry, kerfuffle in the Executive. Half asleep, I learned it involved the Regional Development Strategy and got worried in case it meant getting across highly technical matters which I might not understand even when wide awake (e.g. what is the correct diameter for Belfast's sewerage, what should be the camber on any new motorway).
However after a couple of phone calls I got my head around it. The row over the "Shaping Our Future" document involved references to "Northern Ireland" being changed to "the North" and so on.
Jim Allister complained about the language in the document back in August. Now Peter Robinson has written to Conor Murphy expressing his anger at what he says are 157 changes made to the text as agreed by the Executive.
In one sense, I suppose this could be construed as fundamental, given that Sinn Fein's Regional Development Strategy is to strategically develop this region into being part of another jurisdiction. On the other hand, I can see why Naomi Long calls it breathtaking "pettiness".
Either way, I want my 30 minutes sleep back...
UPDATE: A senior Stormont source told me this latest row is indicative of the increasingly poor personal chemistry between ministers and expressed concern that the DUP and Sinn Fein might be getting themselves into positions from which it is difficult to back out. So maybe I am due more rude awakenings...
I'm 
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"Now Peter Robinson has written to Conor Murphy expressing his anger at what he says are 157 changes made to the text as agreed by the Executive."
Has he? All letters the First Minister sends must be approved by the Deputy First Minister.
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The letter from Peter Robinson must be written on toilet roll as it is useless without McGuiness's signature. Maybe Martin will come back off his holiday and admit that it his policy on seeking his seat in the executive is wrong and will get a transfer to another department where the British Taxpayer funds his wages and expenses.
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Mark, wrote
"On the other hand, I can see why Naomi Long calls it breathtaking "pettiness".
perhaps if the next pay advice notice from the Beeb was in euros instead of sterling the "pettiness" concern would convert into outrage.
If the mail is not picked up from the green boxes I imagine the affinity for the colour would rapidly fade.
The insidious attacks on the British institutions are somewhat reminiscent of "first they came for the Jews...."
If Niaomi Long and her ilk think that this is "pettiness" she clearly does not understand the mindset and capabilities of her republican colleagues. Poor history teaching perhaps?
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Over to you, CIRA.
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You miss the point -RJ- it was not the CIRA who changed the documents or painted the post boxes.
There is an anti-British streak in many nationalists and republicans that has to hide itself from scruitiny. They fear revealing their taught distrust lest the revelation impact their benefiting from British standards and culture.
Ireland will never be reunited unless the Irish renounce their independence from the rest of the UK. A much more sensible and pragmatic step that may benefit all the people. Silly tactics employed by the likes of the Irish News and Connor Murphy such as changing Northern Ireland to the north serve only to expose the inherent weakness of the case for reunification of Ireland. Dublin is more British than Belfast.
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Redflyfisher,
Nice off you to join us again. Any word on Jim Allister's expenses?
I have read some crap in my time but the best ever is your line where you say "Dublin is more British than Belfast".
Remind us where Dublin and Belfast are on the map and who governs them. Belfast is ruled by the Government of the United Kingdom, Dublin is ruled by the Government of the Republic of Ireland. Apart from people from other countries about 90% of the population of Belfast is made up of British Citizens. Dublin is like Belfast and is maybe 10% from other countries but the difference is Dublin consists of about 90% of Irish people who either pay taxes to the Southern Government or claim their dole. To say what you said is something I would expect from Jim Allister.
Stormontspy
P.S. In case you have forgotten us the taxpaying community would like to know -
1. How much did Mr. Allister claim for travel expenses from the European Parliament since his election?
2. How much is each individual employee/service provider in his office paid from European funds?
3. Does Mr. Allister pay European funds to any family members? If so, what for?
4. Who administers his website? How much are they being paid for that?
5. How many trips has Mr. Allister taken since election to the European Parliament?
6. What was the total cost Mr. Allister claimed back from the European Parliament for travel expenses?
7. Have European Funds ever been used to pay office rent to the owner/owners of his office at any time?
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I used to take your comments seriously, redflyfisher.
Now I realize you just say outrageous stuff that nobody really believes in order to get a reaction.
Just right too.
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redflyfisher:
"There is an anti-British streak in many nationalists and republicans that has to hide itself from scruitiny. They fear revealing their taught distrust..."
1. Shock. One side distrusted the other after all the history of the last 30+ years. Next you'll be telling me that in the past unionists weren't exactly too hot on the Irish either. More on this breaking news story at 6:30pm.
2. Hm, I don't seem to remember being taught distrust or hatred at primary school. Maybe we had a different curriculum than yourself?
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the agenda from certain people on here is quite clear
When you see people continuely ask only 1 MEP to answer such questions (as continuely listed) then they expose themselves and their agenda
but continue if you want. However it is pointless and you have shown yourselves to be simply out on a character assasination of Jim Allister rather than actually doing what you are for the "electorate"
Seems Jim Allister is rattling a few peoples cages all the time. Job done then Jim. Keep it up
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The agenda on here of some people is quite clear. Jim Allister supporters are intending on causing damage and destruction to the people of N. Ireland. As I have said many times and many times some people have ignored the facts and failed to listen or acknowledge what is better? The power sharing executive working or the folks on the street being killed and brutally injured for the sake of politics and religion? It is time society wised up. Day after day people are trying to deal with the grief the troubles inflicted on people. Bitter trouble makers should be locked up not for the sake of keeping them from annoying people with their stupid miss pronounced words but for the sake of peace. People like Jim Allister have the right to say what they want but have you not learnt that words and actions have consequences? By continually putting down one side of the community or other it only adds tensions. For the sake of our society is it not better to disagree and move on?
It is time to cross the divide and help the neighbours. Not throw stones.
If people are paying taxpayer’s money then why not show receipts. Jim Allister is telling people his expenses are on his website when they are not? As for the other MEP's are they issuing press statements every day calling for trouble?
Looking on Jim's website he is clearly misleading his own followers. He publishes a letter word for word of that he sent to the Permanent Secretary of DRD. Today he produces the letter he sent to DRD but this time there has been changes and sentences added. I am glad I have an education and not brain washed.
Jim do keep up your work. You are only convincing us the public that the TUV is nothing more than a bitter party intend on destruction.
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stormontspy
are you not exposing the absurdity of the whole executive process by saying "its either a working executive or people being killed on the streets"?
whos going to do the killing if there is no executive?
surely not SF/IRA? the party who now claims to be peaceful?
you have exposed one of the real problems with your statement. a statement you will regret I presume as surely you are not justifying threats and claiming that a party threatening its way to office is democracy?
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Traditional Unionist
I never for one minute suggested that I wanted injury or worse. Perhaps you could read the comment again. I said that people like Jim Allister are intending on causing damage and destruction to the people of N. Ireland. People like Jim Allister have the right to say what he wants including on those old expenses but as a QC does he not have the intelligent to realise that words and actions have consequences?
As I said traditional unionist it is time to cross the divide and help the neighbours. Not throw stones. It is quite clear Jim is intending on causing destruction.
How is TUV going to get to the Assembly when they won’t even field a candidate in Fermanagh? If you’re not in you can’t win.
In case you are slightly slow to realise there are other paramiltary groups than the IRA.
I think you need to ask Jim again about those expenses and also tell him that the public are laughing. Last year on the 29th August Jim said "Since public money is paying for these political advisers, the public is entitled to know everything about how they were appointed, who they are and how much they are costing us.”
Why will this used car salesman not come forward? Has he had private lessons from Margaret Ritchie on how to misrepresent the public in a child like way?
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I want peace. Do you?
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stormontspy
of course I want peace. But not at ANY cost. there is a difference
the choice of taking it at ANY cost or being threatened into letting the murderers into government is not the right way and it that kind of "peace agreement" is incapable of lasting anyway as if someone gets away with threatening its way to things it will continue to do that. You need to just look at some of SF/IRA statements recently to see threats
Indeed there are other paramilitary groups in the country. and they are all as bad as the other. The point is though that only ONE is currently in power in our country. the others arent.
The IRA have their political suits on at the minute. but how long until they stip down and reveal their terrorist "gear" again and don the masks when they dont get their own way?
I want a real peace process with nationalists and unionists working together. but I do not want loyalist terror squads or republican terror squads anywhere near such a process until they prove over a sustained time that they have changed their ways.
This process will not last as it is not democracy. It is an insult to democracy
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What is the alternative?
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The alternative is quite easy
the end to all structures of terror, the end of the unbelieveable position where MLA's one minute claim to support policing and justice and then the next go to an event supporting the attempts at killing those very things
The end of threats from any party, or any party holding the assembly to ransom.
The end of the ridiculous veto system
The end of mandatory collision
The end of relying on all parties to play ball and not hold up all the others.
If SF/IRA or any other party want to walk away some day then let them, but dont let this stop the assembly moving forward and carrying on. If a party wants to leave let them, dont give them the power like they have at the minute to bring down the whole assembly as they walk away.
Democracy is possible. but big changes are needed.
I can list more things if you want but will leave it there for the moment
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oh just to add, as I missed out a vital part of my point
Any party involved in anyway with any kind of terror event (ie attending events celebrating illegal terrorist groups activities) to be suspended/expelled from the assembly
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Why don't you bring back the old parliament of 30 years ago? That means that you get all the above but more importantly Allisterites like you will get a vote of Unionists 40 - Nationalists 14
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see yet again you try to make this about unionists and nationalists, or catholic and protestant as you have done previously
that has nothing to do with it. I couldnt have made that more clearly. and not once have I even hinted at what you have just said there
Read what I said again and you will find it has nothing to do with exluding nationalists or having them under-represented or anything like that
This is a about proper REAL democracy.
you asked me my alternative and I have gave it. I see it as a fine example of what any democracy should at the very least expect along with alot more.
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Jim Allister does not want any nationalists in Parliament. That is a fact. I like you am not a fan of Sinn Fein but you have to admit they hold something like 26% of the vote of the people of N. Ireland.
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