"Serious Consequences"
This morning I interviewed the First Minister about the latest comments from Sinn Fein T.D. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin threatening to withdraw ministers from the Executive if the stand off over devolving policing and justice is not resolved. Peter Robinson vowed not to respond to threats, then warned of "serious consequences" if an Executive meeting scheduled for September 18th does not go ahead as planned.
The DUP leader refused to spell out what those consequences might be, but a couple of possibilities appear to be in the air. In the old Executive Sinn Fein took David Trimble to court for refusing to nominate their ministers to go to North South council meetings. Perhaps Sinn Fein could be on the receiving end of similar legal action.
Another option might be resorting to the Independent Monitoring Commission. The IMC's headline role has been, until now, to keep an eye on paramilitary ceasefires. However they were also given a potential role overseeing if politicians at Stormont kep to their pledges. At the time it was speculated this might be deployed against the DUP's "empty chairs" tactic, but now the DUP could resort to the IMC in their battle with republicans.
Finally the Stormont Assembly and Executive Review Committee had been due to take the policing and justice negotiations forward. If there's no September 18th meeting that could be pulled.
I would call this a crisis, but out of deference to Barack Obama (see below) I think we should henceforth refer to difficulties at Stormont as a "kerfuffle".
I'm 
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Mark,
The DUP and Sinn Fein are sounding more and more like senior Civil Servants. Both parties are looking to pass the buck on everything to the other. What is needed now is a review!!
I think and this is only my opinion Sinn Fein are regretting signing up to Stormont. What have Sinn Fein gained? The union is now as strong as it ever was. Sinn Fein has lost countless supporters and now has to support British rule and the British Security forces. In a way Sinn Fein and especially Martin McGuiness has pledged himself to the Queen of the country by governing Northern Ireland with Peter Robinson.
What difference is it to Sinn Fein if Policing and Justice Powers are dissolved?
Sinn Fein as being part of the Executive have failed the people over the Maze Site, Victims' and Survivors' Commission, Classroom Assistants, Water charges, transfer test and what I feel is the biggest - Anti-Social Behaviour. In Sinn Fein's heartland and Gerry Adams own backyard the people have turned on Sinn Fein as they have turned a blind eye to what is going on? While I feel Sinn Fein will not lose many supporters they will not lose out as the SDLP will be dead in the water within 10 years.
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Interesting that Stormontspy ignores that the DUP have been miserable failures in government too and have hardly kept a single pledge made in their manifesto.
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There's a bit of similarity between Stormont Spy's comment that the DUP and Sinn Fein are doing nothing and then calling for an immediate review and the scene in Life of Brian where Brian is about to be executed. The PFJ leadership, on hearing the news, declares "Right! This calls for immediate discussion! A completely new motion, eh, that, ah-- that there be, ah, immediate action-- " ;)
In fact, there's a lot of similarity between the DUP and Sinn Fein with Monty Python...
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Luke_NI,
for the simple fact that the DUP cannot do anything without SF/IRAs say so.
This is the fudamental flaw with the DUPs current position and claims of being "in control".
they may well be in a position to deny SF/IRA of achieving any of their aims, however this also means unionism cannot acheive any of its aims either.
Dont get me wrong, I support a strong stance against SF/IRA as regards policing and justice. These powers can simply not be transfered to the assembly (which is totally unfit to handle it).
But we cann never have real proper government in this country under the current process.
Is unionism really that weak that its sole focus is on stopping SF/IRA rather than furthering the unionist cause?
Unionism has the majority in the assembly but cannot put this power to use due to the terrible agreement signed up to.
We need a totally new agreement if we are to ever get anywhere in this country. and by new agreement I dont mean a few tweeks in he current one like what happen at St Andrews
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Traditional uninoist- you seem to forget that Sinn Fein cannot do anything without DUP approval either, both parties are just as guilty in neglecting thier responsbilities to govern this country.
I agree, the current system doesn't work but how can we ever expect a better system when we have such immature and useless political parties?
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Luke_NI,
Well I certainly wouldnt disagree with you there on your last point.
The DUP and SF/IRA have both been guilty of shouting from the sidelines for years and complaining about the parties in control, ie SDLP and UUP. But now that they are actually in control they are showing just exactly how rubbish and unfit for government they are.
They both have been enormous failures, around the negotiating table and in stormont itself.
agreeing to an agreement that is totally unworkable and will never get us anywhere.
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Comment No 2
Luke you are absolutely right. What have the DUP actually delivered on? But it is better they and Sinn Fein are in Stormont so the images transmitted from Craigavon do not become the normal way of life again.
Comment No 3
For all we know Stormont is like the BBC sitcom "The Office" Peter Robinson is David Brent, Jeffrey Donaldson is Gareth and John O'Dowd is Keith Bishop!!
As for traditional unionist this is just what I expect of you. I note that you now call Sinn Fein Sinn Fein/IRA just like the Allisterites. Get Jim to answer Simon Hamilton's questions. In case you have forgotten these are -
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?
Jim is very quick to drive the boot into all political parties in the executive but as a champion for honesty he is not doing his work. It made very interesting reading to learn that Jim said on the 15th January "It will be no answer to try and divert attention by attacking me the messenger, let's have utter transparency, honesty and candour.? (Source: Jim Allister?s Website. 15 January 2008)
Right Jim over to you....
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stormont spy,
why did the DUP stop refering to by their real name anyway? ie SF/IRA?
is it to save them from continuely facing reality and admitting that they are partners with the IRA in stormont?
Infact seeing as you wish to continue to post your questions to Jim on here why dont I ask you to ask that political nobody Hamilton to answer that question....why do they no longer call SF/IRA by their real name?
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I don't believe it.
I don't know why the DUP stopped referring to Sinn Fein as SF/IRA. Why don't you get Jim Allister to put that in his next press release?
Traditional Unionist - We are all friends on here. Let me share with you some of my experience with Politicians. Every politician looks great doing something for the people. But when the media or constituents ask them to explain themselves they get stuck and spin lines. Take Gordon Brown for example. He is up to his eyes in mud so he isn?t happy and starts leaking new initiatives to get people on board. Then we take Jim Allister. Within hours of press statements on his website or the DUP's both parties are quick to retaliate. But when the mud is thrown (in this case questions to do with expenses) Jim starts hitting out and fails to answer questions. Then us the general public wonder why. Why will Jim Allister not once and for all publish his expenses? If you got your car fixed and the man got you to leave an empty cheque so he could write the cheque would you? No. So why should the public not know were public money is being spent? I pay my tax, National Insurance and whatever else every month and all government bodies produce accounts so we as the public see them and see if we are getting value for money. All 108 MLA's expenses and all MP's expenses are shown to everyone who takes an interest. So why will Jim not do that? Are you happy that an MEP who wants unrest can spend all around him and not produce receipts for it?
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That last answer from traditional_unionist sounds like the ones Sinn Fein rattle off when they get asked a difficult question i.e. "You shouldn't be asking me that, you should be asking the other lot this."
Wrong.
Whoever asks the question decides what to ask, and of whom to ask it.
Jim Allister clearly feels the need to hide the value of his expenses claim.
Keep asking, Stormontspy. Your tenacity and perseverence are admirable.
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He has answered any questions about his expenses that he has been asked by the powers that be at the EU as far as I am aware. So he has nothing to hide despite the attempts at hinting so on here and by the DUP machine (maybe those on here are part of that machine?)
Can I ask why you are not also asking about Ian Paisley snr's expenses throughout all the years he was an MEP?
or does he not qualify for the same scrutiny?....
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The last answer for traditional unionist is a typical response from an Allisterite. Why doesn?t he answer the questions for his own supporters like me!!! I would like to take this opportunity to re-iterate that most people like me don?t support the big 4 parties for one reason or another but it is better that they are sitting together talking and arguing their issues over the table rather than over a rifle and semtex. Funny when I mentioned that last week you never responded. You only hear what you want to hear. I am not a member of a DUP machine and I am just a member of the gang that prefers to have utter transparency, honesty and candour.
Looking at Jim Allister's website it is sad to read a letter that an MEP has sent to the Permanent Secretary of DRD. This is what I expect of an 8 year old. By stating -
1. I object to the import into these documents of republican speak for our country, Northern Ireland.
2. The constant references to somewhere called ?the North? is a calculated slight upon both the name and constitutional entity and integrity of Northern Ireland.
3. The text is riddled with such inaccurate and political language.
4. I really think it is quite shameful that Minister Murphy has imposed his grubby republican speak on planning documents.?
5. What is required now is
? Immediate withdrawal and reissuing of the document in a non-political form;
? Full explanation of how this political slight of hand was performed and the role therein of Civil Servants, who surely should have advised Murphy against this malevolent political action;
? Firm disciplinary action against Murphy for apparent breach of the Ministerial Code;
? And a learning by Unionists of this further lesson in the unworkability of mandatory coalition and the untrustworthiness of Sinn Fein.
What response would Jim Allister get? Probably something along the lines of -
Dear Mr Transparency,
Thank you for your letter. While I thank you for this letter I am not prepared to issue you with a response as you raise no valid points in which to answer. Maybe you should write to Mr Conor Murphy personally but ensure that when describing Northern Ireland please call it the "North". Also you say "Firm disciplinary action against Murphy for apparent breach of the Ministerial Code". What do you want me to do? Put him over my knee, beat his bum and send him to bed with no supper?
In your letter to Mr Murphy you may like to enclose a full copy of your expenses. Please ensure that these answer -
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?
You could also CC this to the DUP, Stormontspy and in fact all the tax payers in the North I mean Northern Ireland.
Regards
Permanent Secretary of DRD
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